Hidden Mask of a betrayed son-in-law

“Your wife still looks gorgeous, even after many years.” 

Derek read with trembling hands, the message that popped on his phone with an unknown number. And just as he was still contemplating on who was the sender, a picture followed. He was reluctant at first to click “open”. But after a while, he opened it. It was just two hands held together. Some parts of their legs were showing. And that was exactly the clothes and shoes, his wife had stepped out with that morning. 

Derek had been married to his wife, Maureen for years. Though he knew, Maureen was not into him, because he looked just like an ordinary poor man. Her family too despised him so much but one condition led to another and they got married. 

Four years of love from Derek, was like a fruitless adventure. Because the moment her ex-boyfriend returned, the story changed. 

He could clearly identify his wife's hand in the picture, it was so clear and real. He had hoped that after all this years, she would grow fond of him at least. 

Derek frustrated and shattered, dialed his wife's number but she didn't pick. He sat down on the couch, stood up again. He paced around, hoping it was not what he was thinking. He dialed again but she didn't pick up and just then, the door opened and Maureen entered. 

“Hey! You are not picking up your calls?” Derek queried standing up from the couch. 

“Oh! I was already close.” She replied back, flinging her heels and dropping her bag on the couch. 

“That was still not an excuse for not picking up ur call!” Derek questioned, his anger rising up quietly. He was trying to initiate a conversation that would lead to the whole picture and message thing. 

“Derek! Please don't start! I'm literally very tired and exhausted,” she threw at him, heading to the fridge to get a bottle of water. 

“Oh really! Tired from having some fun with God knows who!” He fired at her, vibrating in anger. Maureen walked up to him, stared at him from head to toe, and without saying a word, she walked into her bedroom. 

“Come back here! Maureen, I'm talking to you!” He yelled at her as he purposely followed her behind. “Anytime, I want to discuss something important with you, you push it off, I'm your husband for crying out loud!” 

“That's where you got it all wrong! I absolutely owe you no explanation of where I go and what I do. And of course, we can't have a conversation because there is absolutely nothing important to discuss, you can't talk business! So discussions with you is just so useless!” Maureen cut him short immediately, drawing both brows together and rolling her eyes. 

Those words pierced Derek's heart. Maureen had never respected him before, there was no conversation between them. They had been under the same roof, yet living like strangers. He had been the perfect husband, working his little paid job and still keep the house in check. Just to make her happy and look useful in her eyes. But she is so blinded by wealth and business affairs. 

Derek brought out his phone, and opened it. Showing her the picture and the message. Maureen's eyes widened at first, but then her lips curved into a soft smile. 

“Oh, Nicole won't just stop with all these compliments!” She chuckled, covering her mouth with the back of her palms. 

“Oh! I never asked but thank you for telling me his name, Nicole. You have no shame whatsoever, you go about holding hands with random guys, forgetting you have a husb…..”. 

“Husband! You call yourself a husband? Yet you hang around my father's company like a bedbug. For your information! He's not just a random person, I'm a public figure so I roll with billionaires, that's my kind!” She retorted Immediately, hanging her right hand in the air for him to shut up. 

Derek was stunned at her words but not surprised, “you and I know that, without me in that company, you would have been dragged to the mud!” He fired at her, not giving her the opportunity to humiliate him. That company bears his secret financial support, his sweat and intelligence. And she just opens her mouth to say anything.”  

“Look at you! Carrying your shoulders up like a hero. If you are so perfect with building companies, then why haven't you built your own company. Yes! So you don't just sit there and talk shit!” she growled at him. 

Derek couldn't take her insults anymore, he stormed out of her room. Headed outside, he picked out his phone and dialed a number. “Meet me at the hotel, right now!” He said and ended the call immediately. 

He entered his car, and headed straight to the hotel. Before he reached there, Jaden was already sitting and waiting for him. 

“Boss! You sounded like you want to kill someone or probably eat them raw,” Jaden said looking up to Derek as he sat down beside him. 

Jaden Wills was Derek's right hand man, his personal assistant that no one knows about. Jaden knows every truth about Derek Romano and his family. They had partially grown up together and stayed through the wars. 

Derek ordered a drink. He didn't just sip the drink. He drank all at once. 

“Easy! Man,” Jaden said patting Derek by the shoulder. “Maureen again?” He inquired curiously. 

Derek nodded painfully, “This time, it's something worse. I know she is stubborn and she doesn't like me but today something changed.” He muttered, pressing his eyes with his fingers. 

He took out his phone and showed Jaden the picture and the message. 

“I think she's Crossing the line! Is she taking you for a fool?” Jaden blurted out angrily. 

“I just need you to do something for me, I need to know who has this contact, and who the guy is!” He turned to Jaden. 

“He seems to know me so well!” Derek concluded.