CHAPTER 1

"Happy birthday father, " Savador stepped forward with a gift in his hand, to present to his father in law, Mr Sanandrian.

His in-laws have organized a large and fancy party to celebrate the wealthy man's day. They invited all their rich guests to rejoice with them.

Mr Sanandrian has been receiving expensive gifts left and right, until Savador, his poor son in-law, who happened to marry his daughter, presented his own gift. A birthday card made by him.

"Don't you love it father? Savador made it with his own hands, " Emily, Savador's wife, shared.

Mr Sanandrian glared at this gift from his son in law. In disgust, he tossed it right at Savador's face. Leaving both Savador and Emily stunned.

"What kind of a filthy gift is this? Is this a joke? Are you trying to ruin my day? " He questioned Savador.

Savador felt his entire body shiver at his father in-law's words. Ashamed, he said, "I'm sorry father. I didn't have enough money to get you something. So I..."

"You decided to get me a card made from the poor man's home? " Mr Sanandrian questioned. Glaring right at Savador.

Savador felt embarrassed at once. He lowered his head down to apologize to him again. But Mr Sanandrian raised his voice and announced to everyone about the gift Savador had gotten him.

"My so-called son in law has brought me paper as my birthday gift. How pathetic!"

Laughter filled the party. Everyone laughed at Savador and mocked him for bringing such a gift.

This made Savador feel hurt, that he had to hide his face in shame and walk away.

"Savador, wait!" Emily called back, but he didn't listen.

"Leave him alone, Emily. Don't stress yourself about that poor man, " Her mother said, advising her daughter.

"He has forgotten that he's attending the rich's party and not the beggar's association," Jeremy, Emily's brother, bemocked.

Angry, Emily faced her family and scolded them for being harsh towards Savador.

"He was only trying his best to make you happy. You didn't have to do that, " Emily said.

But her family laughed out loudly at her words.

"Emily, I don't want a son in-law that's trying his best, but showing off wealth like his father in law, me, " Mr Sanandrian pointed out.

"That man doesn't belong here. He deceived you into marrying him for your money. You were meant to be with Carlos Montreal, the grandson of the richest man in the world, and not with that poor fool, " Mrs Sanandrain said, insulting Savador.

Upset, Emily showed her disinterest to their words and walked out on her family. Looking for Savador.

Unknown to her, Savador went outside of the mansion to sit alone. He couldn't take out his father in-law's harsh words and the people's laughter from his head. He felt awful.

Where he sat, he's visited by a maid named Mildred, who saw what happened inside. She came close to Savador and said, "I think your gift was sweet. It's really beautiful."

Savador looked at Mildred and thanked her for her support. But it still didn't help him feel better.

Mildred could see how sad he was. She sat next to Savador and told him not to give up on trying to win his in-laws over.

"I'm sure they'll accept you one day, " Mildred said, giving her support.

Hearing her, Savador managed to smile out. He thanked Mildred for her words of encouragement and promised to stay strong.

Just then, Emily showed up to meet Savador. Mildred leaves them both to be alone, while she returned back to work, feeling sad for Savador.

Emily apologized to Savador for her father's attitude and promised to support him always.

Her words brightened up Savador's heart. Giving him more reason to love her.

.

The next day after the party, Savador went to work at a company, where he works as a Janitor, cleaning offices and toilets.

After attending to the portion of his work, his colleagues_ other janitors_ suggested that they go on a break.

They all gossiped about their work and their wife's love towards them.

Savador, who was listening to them, couldn't help but think about Emily and her love for him. He felt like the luckiest man to have found the best wife in the world.

While they were walking to go and eat, a man calls Savador from behind. "Come to my office, Mr Rosario, " The man said, walking away.

That was the manager of the company. Savador wondered what he wanted from him. "Seems he wants me to clean up something," He assumed.

He leaves his colleagues and goes over to the manager's office.

Upon arriving, the manager ushered Savador to his right hand side at once.

Savador thinks he spilled something or broke a glass, and wants him to attend to it. But he's shocked to see a letter, handed over to him by the manager.

"What's this sir? " Savador asked, glancing at the letter in confusion.

"Your resignation letter. I'm sorry Mr Rosario, but you can't continue with us any more."

Savador is shocked to hear this. He feels his body quivering at the manager's words.

"But... But what have I done sir? I didn't do anything wrong for you to fire me. "

"Look, the company needs to reduce the number of staff in the company. It's sad that you fell among the names of staff to be fired, " The manager said.

Savador pleads with his manager to consider him, but no luck.

"Leave Mr Savador Rosario. You're interrupting my work," The manager ordered Savador to leave.

Still in shock, Savador leaves the manager's office and goes to get his things. His colleagues heard of his sacking and showed their concern for him.

Hurt, Savador leaves the company, thinking of his upcoming house rent and his beloved wife, Emily.

"How will I pay the house rent and take care of my wife? How will I break this news to her? She'll be devastated." Savador sluggishly makes his way home.

His head filled with worries and sadness, Savador has no choice but to break the hurtful news to his wife, Emily.

"I can't hide it from her. She has to know, " He said, arriving outside his home.

Stepping in, Savador realized how quiet the house is. He wonders where Emily is at, but hears a noise from the bedroom.

"She must be in the room, " Savador believed. Making his way to his bedroom.

On getting to the room, Savador opens the door and is shocked by the horrible scene before him.

Emily, his wife, riding the ass of another man in their bed, with so much pleasure. Screaming at the top of her voice.

"Yes! Give it to me! Ah! " She moaned.

"Emily! " Savador roared out in rage. Feeling his blood boiling.

His voice sends Emily jumping off her lover and revealing his identity.

"Carlos? " Savador gazed in horror.

"Shit! " Carlos exclaimed out. Grabbing the bedsheet to wrap his body up. Emily had already grabbed another, wrapping up her nakedness with speed.

Savador gazed at them in horror. His heart pounding and his body vibrating at the sight of his wife and enemy, Carlos, naked in his bed.

The image of Emily on Carlos, moaning out in pleasure, engulfed Savador. Sending him into an uproar of rage.

"You bastard! " He roared and jumped right on Carlos. Landing him with several punches to the face.

"Stop it! I said stop it! " Emily yelled at the other side of the bed, when she saw how Savador attacked Carlos.

Savador didn't listen to Emily. His heart has been broken and all he could think of at that moment is to vent his rage on Carlos.

"I'll kill you! You bastard! I'll kill you! " Savador roared again. Punching Carlos once more in the face.

Carlos soon over powers Savador when he successfully punched him right on the nose. Sending Savador falling to the ground.

"Get up you asshole. I'll make you pay for hitting me like the psychopath you are, " Carlos said, grabbing Savador off the ground for a punch.

Savador avoided Carlos punch. Using his body to push him away at once.

When he tried to strike Carlos back, a sounding slap came across his face at once. Putting a stop to Savador's rampage.

His entire body shivered at the force from the slap, which sent his face turning to the other direction.

His eyes came wide at this sudden strike. He couldn't believe it.

Slowly, Savador navigated his head to the point where he got hit, and saw Emily glaring at him with rage in her eyes.

"Emily? You... You slapped me? " He stared at her in shock.

"And I'll do it over again, if you lay those filthy hands on my boyfriend, you poor bastard," Emily sparked.

Savador gasped on hearing Emily's insult. This is the first time she'll ever insult or raise her hand at him. He wondered if what just happened was a dream. But it wasn't. He could feel his cheek burning from her hard strike.

Emily moved closer to Carlos and carefully cupped his face with her hands. "Are you okay, my love? " She asked Carlos, who groaned while rubbing his cheek.

Savador stared in shock. He couldn't understand what just happened. His wife is busy comforting another man in his presence, like he doesn't exist.

"Emily... Did you just call me a poor bastard? " Savador questioned her. Still finding it hard to believe that she had uttered such words to him.

When he asked, Emily and Carlos dropped their eyes on Savador. Suddenly, they burst into laughter.

"Were you deaf when I called you that or what? Isn't that what you are? Or were you expecting me to call you a rich man? " Emily questioned Savador. Crossing her arms against her chest with a smirk.

Savador gasped. He could no longer see his lovely wife, but a different person entirely.

"He's a fool after all, what did you expect from him, " Carlos mocked Savador. Causing Emily to laugh out loud.

"Shut up! " Savador roared at Carlos. Silencing Emily's laughter.

"I am talking to my wife and not you, you son of a bitch, " Savador insulted Carlos, who rolled his eyes at Savador, mockly.

"Emily..." Savador dropped his gaze on his wife. " You... How could you?"

Emily glared at Savador.

"You cheated on me with this bastard and dared to slap me for standing my ground? You called me a poor bastard for your illicit act?!"

"Oh, I see what's going on here, " Emily said. "It's that title called 'Husband' that's making you speak like a fool. I get it now. "

Carlos laughed at Savador. But Savador stared in stupor. This new side of Emily left him dumbfounded. He could no longer recognise the woman he married.

With no care or remorse for her action, Emily boldly shared the true reason behind their marriage.

"You think I married you out of love? No, I didn't. I married you to win a bet. A bet between Carlos and I," She revealed.

"What? " Savador couldn't believe his ears. But Carlos proudly told him that it's the truth.

"We made a bet to see how long she can stay in a marriage with a poor man. And I must say, she did quite well, enduring your foul order" Carlos praised Emily. Kissing her in Savador's presence.

Savador is unable to accept this truth. This means his marriage has been nothing but a game to Emily?

"I am fed up of acting like a good wife to a low class runt, " Emily sneered. She moves away from Carlos and takes out a document from her drawer. Tossing it right at Savador's feet.

Savador wondered what it was. Until Emily revealed that it's a divorce paper. Leaving Savador shattered at once.

"Sign that up and give me back my freedom. I'm tired of this pretend," She said.

Staring at the paper and thinking of Emily's cruelty to him, Savador storms out of the room without signing the paper.

He leaves the house in pain. Unable to bare the betrayal from his own wife.

.

At night, Savador stood close to the edge of a bridge, thinking of Emily and how ruthless she turned out to be.

He recurred the beautiful moments he spent with her, and cried when he realized all her love were nothing but bogus towards him.

His eyes welled up with tears, when he remembered her promise to be with him always.

"Lies. Everything was a lie. She never loved me. I'm nothing but a puppet before her, " He cried bitterly. Burying his face in his hands.

"I have nothing. No one cares about me. Everyone sees me as a poor and unwanted man. I can't... I can't take it anymore," He cried.

Broken and fed up of being a laughing stock by the rich, Savador made up his mind to end it all.

He slowly took his step forward to the edge of the bridge, closing his eyes and awaiting his end.

When he took his first step off the bridge to embrace death, a hand pulled him back at once. Sending Savador falling to the ground.

"What are you doing?" A voice questioned him.

Savador lifts his eyes and met an old man, holding him by the shoulder.

"Why did you stop me? " He questioned the old man, who stared into Savador's eyes and found them teary.

"Why did you pull me back? You shouldn't have done that. " Savador got off the ground, walking away from the old man.

But the old man didn't leave him. He held Savador back and requested to share in his pain. Savador didn't want to, but he succumbed after much persuasion from the old man.

Savador shares his bitter experience to the old man.

"I'm so sorry that you went through such a thing my son," He sympathized with Savador.

But it wasn't enough to heal his shattered heart. Savador showed his weariness to life and wished to die.

"I just want to leave this world for good. "

"Don't say that my son. I can't allow you to kill yourself because of someone's wickedness, " The old man said, holding Savador's hands.

"How can you leave this world without enjoying what belongs to you? " The old man asked.

His question leaves Savador confused at once. He faces the old man in disarray and asked, " What belongs to me? What are you talking about?"

With a light smile across his face, the old man said, "Savador... I want you to run my empire. "

Savador is confused by the old man's request.

"You want me to run your empire? What are you talking about?" Savador pulled his hands away from the old man. Unable to understand where all of this is going.

Seeing Savador's reaction, the old man apologizes to him at once. "My apologies. Where are my manners" He chuckled softly.

"The name is Pablo. Don Pablo Montreal," He introduced himself.

On hearing the name, Savador's eyes widened in astonishment. "Don Pablo Montreal? The richest man in the world?!" He gazed in shock.

Savador recognized the old man clearly. Indeed he's the great Don Pablo Montreal. Richest man with Trillions in his name. He's known around for his hard work and intelligence in the business world. And mostly, he's Carlos Montreal's grandfather.

"Oh, I guess you are familiar with my name, but not much with my face," Don Pablo laughed.

Savador didn't know how to react to this. He couldn't believe he was standing before the richest man in the world. It felt like a dream to him.

"I can't believe this. You, Don Pablo, you are here... Right before me, " Savador said. His excitement couldn't be hidden from the old man, who found it appealing.

Though his heart was filled with amusement, Savador didn't forget Don Pablo's offer. That got him confused even more.

"But why do you want me to run your empire? Your grandson, Carlos, is there. I'm just a stranger you met," Savador asked Don Pablo.

Hearing the word 'stranger', Don Pablo's mood changed sad. When Savador saw this, he thought he had said something to offend the old man.

"I'm sorry sir. I was just saying my mind. "

"I understand you son. It's not your fault. I'm upset with that word 'stranger', and how truly it has made the one dear to me, a stranger to me all these years, " He said, squeezing his hand into a fist.

Savador doesn't understand what Don Pablo means. He felt he was referring to a relation or Carlos perhaps. But he's left shocked by what happened next.

"Savador, you won't understand how happy I feel at this moment. I'm filled with joy, " Don Pablo expressed.

"Wait. How did you know my name? I never told you," Savador asked Don Pablo.

The old man smiles at him and gave his respond. "Savador... I am your grandfather," Don Pablo revealed.

Shocked, Savador stepped back from Don Pablo in disbelief. "My grandfather?! That's impossible."

"It's true. I am your grandfather."

"How can I have a grandfather when I grew up at the orphanage?" Savador questioned Don Pablo. Telling him the tales he was told about his family.

"My family died in a fire accident when I was just three years old. Everyone died in it. So, how can you be my grandfather?" Savador asked.

Hearing him, Don Pablo sighed and told Savador, " Not all your family died in that fire, Savador. Only my son and his wife died that terrible day. Your parents, Savador."

Savador felt his entire body shiver at Don Pablo's words. The old man moves closer to Savador and explains everything that happened.

"There was a party that night. A gas leaked out, which led to the fire outbreak. I was on my way when it happened. Only to arrive and learn that others survived, except you and your parents. That left me heartbroken for years, " Don Pablo shared the bitter tale.

Savador stared at him as he narrated how he sadly buried the ashes of his parents and him as well.

"All I could do was gaze at your photos with your parents, and wished you three where never in that fire. " He takes out a photo and shows Savador.

It's a photo of Savador as a child, holding his father and mother close. When Savador saw this, he felt his heart skip. Indeed these are his parents. He hasn't forgotten their faces.

"But after so many years, I learnt that you survived. Someone had rescued you that day from the fire. That made me happy," Don Pablo smiled, holding Savador by the shoulder.

"I had to start my search at once and traced you down to the orphanage that raised you. They told me about you and how you were brought in by a lady."

Savador stood frozen, listening to Don Pablo's words. He felt a strange feeling taking over him while looking at Don Pablo's face.

"They gave me your location and I had to come around to see my long lost grandson, my little boy, " He cupped Savador's face, with his eyes welling up with tears.

Emotions engulfed Savador at once. All these years he has been leaving in the slum like a beggar, facing harsh treatment from people, mostly the rich.

Savador broke down in tears and wrapped his arms around Don Pablo. Crying out his heart.

"It's okay my boy. I finally found you, " Don Pablo said, pacifying him.

Savador slowly lifted his head off Don Pablo's shoulder. He was still finding it hard to digest the sudden revelation of his identity.

"I'm your... grandson. I'm Pablo Montreal's grandson."

"And the true heir to my wealth, " Don Pablo revealed.

He let's Savador know that his father was his first son, before his death. His uncle, Carlos' father, took up the role as the first son and tried to reach up to his father's standard. But he broke his trust and left him halfway. Leaving Carlos with him.

"He left Carlos when he turned eighteen years of age. Leaving me to take care of the little man myself. I tried to make Carlos perfect, but his ways are just not right." Don Pablo sways his head sadly. Showing his unhappiness towards Carlos.

"Even the thought of leaving my wealth and empire in his hands, troubled me to the core. My plan was to will everything to an orphanage, before I learnt of you. That gave me hope and a will to live," Don Pablo shared, smiling at Savador.

"I want you to take over my empire Savador. It belongs to you. I promise to transfer everything into your name once you say Yes, " He assured Savador.

Still in shock from the whole truth, Savador requests for more time to think about it.

"I need to process everything," Savador said, smiling at Don Pablo.

His smile brightens the old man's heart. He gladly accepts Savador's wish. Giving him his card to contact him when he's ready.

"Just know that I'm here for you my son." Don Pablo embraced Savador.

His embrace leaves a spark of hope in Savador's heart. Making him feel much better and alive.

Soon, both grandfather and grandson went their ways. Savador returned back to his apartment, free of Emily's presence, and sat down to think of his grandfather's offer.

While thinking, Savador felt something next to him. He looks and sees the divorce paper from Emily.

He checks it and sees her signature on the paper. Savador thinks of her betrayal towards him and tightened his grip to the paper.

"Emily," He groaned.