Chapter 2

"Didn't I warn you to never repeat the word 'sorry' in front of me?" Mrs. Elizabeth barked in anger.

"Get out of my sight, return to the kitchen, and prepare lunch," She yelled at him.

He quickly returned to the kitchen. Contemplating on what he could possibly cook which wasn't going to end his mother-in-law scolding him again. He asked the main maid, but she told him to prepare what he feels would be liked by the woman. Even the maids of the house were beginning to look down on him.

Grilled Chicken, beans, fried rice, and mashed potatoes were served on the dining table; fully prepared by Jace.

He went upstairs and informed Elizabeth Bradley. Two minutes later, she was down, ready to devour what her son-in-law prepared for lunch.

"Taste the food!" Mrs. Elizabeth instructed.

"Did you say something, mother?" Jace asked, to be sure that's what his mother-in-law really wanted from him.

"Are you deaf? Didn't you get me? Or did I speak with water in my mouth? I said you should taste my food. Maybe you've poisoned it." She said.

"Why would I poison you? You are like a mother to me." Jace said with disturbance mixed in his tone.

"Of course you have so many reasons for poisoning me. For example, wanting to rip me off of my hard-earned money. You think I don't know you need money to save that old witch who raised you up?"

Few months after Jace got married to Amelia, the woman who took him from the orphanage fell sick. she needed 500,000 bucks for her heart surgery. Unfortunately, Jace didn't have that kind of money.

He discussed about it with his wife, but she didn't also have the money since she was facing issues with her company. Without knowing, Mrs. Elizabeth overhead their conversation.

Back at table, he took a spoon from the old lady's side and tasted the food.

"You might as well leave now. Have had enough of you and your troubles." Mrs. Elizabeth shoved her hand to the door, requesting him to leave. He simply nodded his head and took his leave. This time he didn't leave for the room as he always does anytime he gets scolded. He rather sneaked out of the house without anyone knowing about him departing.

When he arrived at the gate, he thought it wise to beg from his mother-in-law, since she was aware of everything. He gathered the courage he would be needing to talk to her and went back inside.

"Mother, please help me." Jace said, his aura full of desperation.

"I thought I asked you to leave my presence?" Elizabeth asked as her eyes scanned his whole body.

"Save a soul, mother. If you can lend me 500,000 bucks to safe madam Gouvan, then I'll be very grateful." Jace said reaching to her legs.

"I don't want you to be grateful for anything. The only thing I want you to do now is to leave immediately, or I'll have my boys throw your belongings out of my mansion." She said with a lot of disdain.

Jace quickly left her sight as she ordered. In the middle of nowhere, he kept walking without even knowing where he was going. His mother-in-law's words might have caused him to behave this way.

He tucked his hand in his pocket and found a twisted 20 bucks note in them. Just in the corner, there was a bar, he went inside and sat on one of the seats. Maybe after taking two strong drinks, they were going to suppress the heavy load he was carrying in mind.

Seated there for close to forty-five minutes, no one seems to be paying attention to him. Not even the bar waitress who spotted him. He was then forced to wave his hand at her.

"Hey, lady, serve me a strong drink." He said.

"You pay before being served." The waitress said.

"Do you think I'm going to run away with your money?" He questioned.

"Why not? We don't even entertain your type in our bar. Give me the money, or get lost." She hissed.

"What type am I?" He was curious.

"I need the money, don't make me call the security." Jace brought out the twisted bucks in his pocket and paid for the beer. " Good! I'll serve you today. But don't wear those bargain clothes and come here next time, or else I'm personally going to drive you, not the security." She sighed before taking her leave.

While sipping his drink peacefully, his phone rang in his jeans. He quickly brought it out, thinking it was his wife who came back, not seeing him she decided to check on him. The smile on his face vanished away when he saw a private number splashed on his phone.

He ignored the call as he wasn't in the mood to answer. The phone rang the first time and the second time without him picking up. Next, it rang the third time, and that's when Jace decided to pick up the call. He was so nervous that he decided to pour it out on the innocent person who was calling.

"How dare you call an unknown number more than twice? Don't you have eyes to see you are calling an unknown number?" He exclaimed bitterly.

"Young master, Jace Winston, is that you?" The person said over the phone, his voice low and intimidating.

"Young master?" Jace asked over his end. Why would someone refer to him as young master?

"Yes, Young master Jace. It took me a whole lot of effort to obtain your number. Can we meet? I have a lot to tell you." The person said.

"Are you sure you aren't talking with the wrong person? Because I am not a young master somewhere." Jace said, annoyance mixed in his speech.

"Where are you, Young master? Please let's meet. I want to explain things to you." 

"Who are you and what do you want from me?" Jace finally summoned his courage and asked the man. After having gone through hell in the hands of his in-laws, he wouldn't let anyone else mess up with him.

"It is about your father, " The caller said, his voice growing softer.

"What?!"