Rising to the Top for Revenge

Chapter 3

One year later …

"Let me accompany you during the divorce proceedings, Mr. Dave ."

Dave raised his hand, signaling to Michael not to interfere with his affairs.

"Let this be my concern. You don't need to come, stay here until I return."

Michael wanted to protest, but the firm gaze from Dave made him refrain from objecting further. The man nodded in understanding.

With his sharp suit, he gave off a drastically changed impression.

"One more thing, don't call me Young Master, I don't want others to know my current identity, just call me Mr. Dave . I want to know how far they treat me," Dave continued.

Confidently, Dave entered the courtroom for his divorce proceedings, facing the judge who was already prepared in front of him.

Not long after, Selena arrived with her boyfriend, Victor, walking side by side, capturing everyone's attention.

Selena's glamorous appearance added a certain allure to the spectators.

Selena then took her seat, in the place provided for her alongside Dave .

She turned, displaying a smirk after seeing the face of her soon-to-be ex-husband.

"Long time no see. How have you been? I thought you'd kill yourself unable to accept the misfortune that befell you."

There was a mocking tone behind Selena's words. However, Dave didn't react at all. He remained cool, observing every detail of the proceedings.

"Hah! Do you think with the appearance of someone well-off, you can convince me to come back to you? Can you even afford the rent for the clothes you're wearing right now?"

Dave clenched his fists.

The woman kept trying to shake Dave 's mental state, possibly hoping to make him falter.

"Darling!"

Selena then called her boyfriend to approach her briefly before their hearing would be decided.

With concern, Victor came over to her.

"What's wrong, sweetheart? Are you afraid of catching poverty by being so close to him right now?"

Victor grinned satisfactorily before delivering a slap to the man.

"I know, we don't like him. But, can you give him a few bills? I just feel a little sorry. I'm afraid he'll end up behind bars again because he can't afford to pay for the clothes he's wearing."

Selena put on a mocking sad face.

Dave 's face now looked very flushed, his grip on the bench was visibly tight.

"Please, the unrelated party should return to their seats."

The judge's instruction managed to catch Selena and Victor's attention. The man then briefly kissed his girlfriend's forehead before returning to his seat.

"Mr. Dave Ramirez and Miss Selena Warles, are you sure about this divorce? Miss Selena, can you explain the reason for your divorce petition?"

Selena nodded, standing tall with a slight bow of respect to the judge.

"May I speak, Your Honor? Until now, I have never felt adequately provided for, even though it's clearly his responsibility. He never made any effort. Instead, when I started working to meet my needs at Victor's café, he accused me of cheating."

Selena shed tears, smoothly delivering the lies.

"One more fatal thing, he has become a parasite to my father's company. He embezzled funds from the Warles company. So, I think that's enough. There's nothing left to defend."

Victor handed a tissue to Selena, who sobbed, deeply immersed in every role she played.

"Alright, Mr. Dave , do you want to reject this petition?"

Dave stood up straight, shaking his head decisively.

"Regardless of what Miss Selena says, I don't want to comment on anything. All truths will come to light in due time. I accept this divorce."

Selena fell silent, gazing at Dave intently.

For a moment, there was no regret or intention to stop at all in Dave 's gaze.

Selena was momentarily stunned, noticing the profound change in her husband.

The sound of the gavel ended Dave and Selena's divorce session, marking the end of their lives together.

****

"Stop!"

As they reached the terrace of the courthouse, Selena's voice called out for Dave to stop.

Feeling no more ties and with the woman's right to command him, Dave intentionally deafened his ears.

"I said stop! Don't you have ears?!"

Dave turned around, quickly pulling his arm away, feeling disgusted at being touched by the woman.

"Don't you dare behave rudely with my lover!" Victor suddenly appeared with his fierce gaze.

Dave remained silent, folding his arms in front of his chest.

He knew Selena, who always wanted him to beg to stay with her, couldn't accept it when he acted differently.

"You immoral, poor man! You should be ashamed! Only a poor man who has nothing and deludes himself into having everything like you is not worthy to speak to me!" Selena scolded him.

"You will never find any woman willing to stand by a poor man like you."

Victor then opened his wallet, took out some dollar bills, and threw them right in Dave 's face.

"Pick them up! Or you'll end up back in jail because you can't afford to pay the rent for your dignity."

They both laughed.

Dave remained silent, calm as if he hadn't heard anything.

"Mr. Dave ..."

Before long, Michael arrived. From inside the car, he could see how his master was humiliated and embarrassed in front of many people who had just come out of the courthouse.

He couldn't stand it anymore, so he hurried to his master.

At the same time, the custom-made Lamborghini VIP car worth $800 million arrived to pick them up.

Seeing this, Selena and Victor couldn't believe it. They continued to ridicule Dave to belittle him.

"It seems like your ex-husband has lost his mind, darling. Have you sold your conscience to buy all this wealth?" Victor mocked Dave .

The strong fists now successfully ignited a fire of anger within Michael. He wanted to slap the man, but was immediately stopped by Dave .

He signaled Michael to stay silent, not needing to say anything.

"It would be better if the money from selling your conscience is used for your daily needs! Don't use it to buy your dignity like this. Don't end up selling your other organs later on."

Selena and Victor laughed smugly.

Dave , seeing all of this, then bowed down, picking up several dollar bills belonging to Victor.

"Look at that, darling! I knew he would take the money too," they both laughed again.

However, their laughter instantly stopped when Dave walked forward and stopped right in front of them.

"Thank you for your sympathy. But, I cannot accept dirty money obtained through wrongful means."

Dave placed the money right on Selena's hand, turned around, and walked into the car with his bodyguard.

Selena, as if realizing her lover's silence, then turned to look at him.

"What are you thinking? You can't possibly think Dave has actually become wealthy, can you?" Victor looked at Selena, shaking his head quickly.

"Of course not, darling. How could I ever think that? I'm sure it's all just a game he's playing. He certainly wouldn't want to appear low in front of us."

Selena smiled in agreement with her lover's thoughts.

"Yes, you're right, Victor. Dave will soon be begging to borrow money from us." Selena smirked, imagining how Dave would beg to her.