RISING FROM THE ASHES

The evening was refreshingly cool, the city’s neon lights pulsed like beacons among rows of white street lamps, casting a silvery glow over the city as traffic flowed steadily.

Meanwhile, in the midst of all this, a delivery bike was riding as fast as he could with the aim of quickly delivering packages to clients.

After about an hour of riding, the rider, Davis finally stopped his bike at a big and luxurious hotel with a domineering name, "Lux Hotel".

Entering into the hotel, Davis was awed by the impressive architecture. It was truly a masterpiece - a sight to behold.

Of course, he couldn't be blamed for feeling this way, it was his first time entering into this hotel. If it were not for delivering a package to his client, he would not have had an opportunity to step into this hotel; after all, the lodging fees were incredibly high.

Davis approached the reception and quickly announced his purpose.

"Hello, good evening, I'm here to deliver a package to room 15.

Although, Davis was not well dressed and looking wealthy, the receptionist still treated him politely and spoke with a sense of professionalism.

"Welcome to Lux Hotel. Please, give me a minute, while I confirm your appointment. I'm sorry for the trouble."

Davis chuckled with a response, "Of course, it's no trouble. I understand it's your job. Please go right ahead."

After two minutes, the receptionist looked up from her computer, "Thank you for waiting. You can go in now."

Davis nodded and began to move but he paused and turned back to the receptionist asking with an embarrassed smile, "Please, where is room 15?"

The receptionist simply smiled as she directed him, "Upstairs on the second floor."

Davis thank her quickly as he left to find the room.

It didn't take long before he found it. Getting there, he knocked on the door, announcing his arrival.

"Sir, your package has arrived."

The room door opened as a young man stepped out, his face wet which signified that he had just come out from the bathroom. He was on a singlet and towel.

Davis handed him the package.

"Sir, please sign here." He said with a smile.

The young man also replied with a smile on his face. "Just hold on."

That moment, he called out to his partner in the room, "Babe, the package is here. I have a surprise for you."

"I'm coming," a femine voice responded, her voice dripping with excitement.

The voice sounded familiar to Davis, the delivery man, but he just shrugged. While waiting, the young man opened the package, the contents were a bottle of wine and a packet of condom.

Davis saw the contents and wondered why the young man had ordered a bottle of wine from outside when he could simply get it in the hotel. However, it was none of his business as his job was just to deliver.

Just as the young man's partner stepped out of the hotel room, it felt as though time froze. Davis gaze was fixed on the woman as his expression alternated between confusion and anger.

The woman herself was in shock as she had never expected to see Davis standing right there. She kept staring at Davis in shock as words struggled to come out of her mouth.

Finally, with a stutter she asked, "What are you doing here?"

The young man who had opened the door for Davis remained unfazed, standing as though none it was none of his business. However, the cunning smile he wore on his face was evident.

Stepping forward, the young man held the woman fondling her as he asked, "Babe, do you know this delivery man? If you do, because your face tells it, I could just tip him some change. After all, he brought us a condom and a bottle of wine. What do you think?"

Davis had an ugly expression on his face. Davis Gardner was a delivery man and also popularly known for his status as the married son-in-law of the Logan family. The Logan family didn't value him and looked down on him since he was poor and had no powerful background. He was treated even worse than a dog.

Davis got married to the daughter of the Logan family, Scarlet Logan three years ago. Scarlet was known and respected as one of the most beautiful women in the Logan family. Infact, not just the Logan but the whole of Havana. Though, not a very big city, it was quite popular in the country.

Three years ago, Davis was saved by Scarlet's great aunt when his life was in danger, after saving him, she made him marry Scarlet. Nobody objected since Scarlet's great aunt had a good status in the Logan family and Davis was well treated but after she passed away three months later, Davis' life became a living hell.

His mother and father in-law didn't like him one bit and scolded him at every opportunity they got. Infact, in their home, he was no different from a servant. Everyday, he woke up early to make sure all the house chores was done - he cooked, washed the dishes and also went to work to make deliveries.

However, he never complained even though he was tired of being treated like a lesser human being. No matter what he did, he was never appreciated but even also blamed for things he didn't do.

It was not wrong to call Davis a nominal husband. Since he was married, he had never touched or even seen Scarlet unclad. He usually slept in the store room but since his wife didn't treat him too bad, he decided to keep enduring the ill treatment for her sake, and also because of her great aunt who had saved his life years before.

Scarlet herself didn't like Davis much but she didn't really treat him so badly even though she was cold to him. She even refused to divorce him and rejected several suitors for him. To Davis, she was a perfect wife and he wouldn't ask for anybody else.

But now seeing this situation, he wondered if she had been pretending to be virtuous all along. Of course, the partner to the young man who Davis just delivered the packets of condom and a wine fo make merry after was none other than his precious wife, Scarlet Logan.