Man Of Honour: Never The Loser, Ex-wife!

The Engagement

By the time Isaac mentioned two more several-million-dollar drinks, and the family's embarrassment was increasing, he finally asked for a glass of water.

Madea rushed off to get it, glaring at Julian as if he were the root of all their problems.

“I apologise about that, Mr Anderson. Now that we know what you like to drink, we will make sure we have it when next you visit,” Carlos said brightly.

“Oh, it is fine,” Anderson said with a benevolent smile. “The ones I mentioned are the least expensive of my kind of drinks, actually. I just thought every home would at least have that.”

Carlos cleared his throat at the subtle insult. Julian almost laughed at the irony of it all.

The man who had never spared him a kind word, despite his dedication all these years, was bending backwards for another man and even taking insults without a word?

Money sure does make a lot of difference. If only these fools knew.

Susan looked uncomfortable as she changed the topic. “Isaac, about the scandal…”

“Yes, my love,” he responded as he laid his hand on her creamy thigh.

The sight hardly caused a stir in Julian's heart as Susan flicked him a glance, as if she gave a damn.

Isaac suddenly looked angry as he said, “Nobody humiliates me like that and gets away with it! I already have the entire staff fired for their security breach. They could not find who made the video, so I will be suing the hotel too! They messed with the wrong person.”

“I knew you would handle it, Mr Anderson. You are such a capable man,” Madea said as she rushed in with the water.

It had taken her a while to find the glasses, as she had not had to do such a thing in the past five years.

“Anyone can see you are the right fit for my daughter. Unlike some idiot,” she sneered as she bent to offer the water to Isaac.

Isaac lifted the glass, took a sip, wrinkled his nose for a moment, and then placed the glass back with a smile at Madea.

“Thank you, Mrs Gibson. This is… refreshing.”

Madea, who was not so sure he really liked it, smiled awkwardly and hurriedly said, “Why so formal? You can call me Mum.”

“Of course,” Julian mused with growing disinterest.

He knew he should just leave and save himself from further pain.

Still, he had something to finalise.

Only then would it truly be over between him and Susan.

Also, he was not the shameless one, so why should he hide away?

“My dear, Mr Anderson was just telling us how he intends to save our family from this scandal,” Carlos said a little impatiently.

“Of course. I am sure you agree that an engagement between our families is the best solution. Right, Mr Anderson?”

“My family does not need saving. We are doing fine,” Isaac said pointedly.

“But mine does,” Susan snapped in frustration.

Madea gave her a look before she turned to Isaac and said, “I know your family's status might not let this affect you too much, Mr Anderson. Still, if nothing is done about this, no one can predict the extent of the damage. My daughter is not the only one in that video. And my husband and I have been around in the circle of the elites long enough to know that they frown upon immoral acts. So, what do you say about the engagement? It is a fitting solution, right?”

The saccharine smile Madea used in delivering the whole speech did not mask the underlying meaning in it.

An angry muscle ticked in Isaac's chin. Still, he nodded amiably at her as he pretended to think about it.

What these social climbers did not know was that he was the one behind the recording.

He had been having an affair with Susan for a while, but whenever he told Susan that they should make their relationship public, she would always find excuses, saying it was not the right time or something else.

Everyone in Jetrovale knew of her worthless househusband, but the more time he spent with Susan, the more he was beginning to think she had feelings for the trash despite her hostility towards him.

So, he took matters into his own hands.

Now that they had no choice but to beg him to accept their daughter, her foxy mother still dared to use veiled threats on him?

Well, he would let them think they convinced him.

Let them smile now. By the time he got the main thing that made him woo Susan, he would be the one having the last laugh.

“You know, you are right, Mum. An engagement is really the best thing.”

He ignored the “I-told-you-I-got-this” smile she gave her husband.

Instead, he held Susan's hand and kissed the back of her palm lovingly. “I will do anything to save you, my love. Even though my parents already have many heiresses lined up for me to choose from, you have my heart. So yes, let's do this. Let's get engaged.”

Susan did not really seem enthusiastic as she nodded and smiled.

He wondered if it was because it sounded like he was doing her a favour.

Which, of course, he was.

Before he asked her why she looked like the idea was being forced down her throat, her mother clapped gleefully.

“See that, dear? I told you Mr Anderson is such a reasonable man. We finally get ourselves a worthy son-in-law.”

“You are right, Madea,” Carlos said with relief in his voice.

None of them spared Julian a glance.

“I have a condition, though.”

“What condition?” three voices echoed.

Isaac could not help but enjoy the varying degrees of desperation he heard in them.

Perfect.

He let the pause drag before he stated firmly, “The engagement should be announced today.”

“What? But…”

“No buts, Susan,” Madea said hurriedly. “Of course, Mr Anderson is right. What a forward-thinking man. The earlier we make the announcement, the faster this can all go away. It is settled then. We will make the announcement this morning and do the engagement party tonight. It will take some heavy work, but we will get it done,” she said excitedly.

“I like how your mum thinks,” Isaac said with satisfaction. Then he reached out to caress her cheek. “So, what do you say? Be my fiancée?”

For a split second, Susan's gaze went to Julian.

Out of habit, his breath backed up in his chest as those mesmerising eyes that hardly focused on him were doing so now.

“Maybe now, she will realise that nobody can ever love her like I do.” The unbidden thought tightened Julian's heart.

Instead, Susan turned away instantly.

She smiled sweetly at Isaac and said clearly, “Yes, let's get engaged today, Isaac.”