Slade to Herondale: A Son-in-law's Rise to Power

CHAPTER 3: Divorce!

“You…you want a divorce?” He stammered, unable to believe his eyes.

“Sign it quickly. I'm tired of keeping up with you,” she pushed, handing him a pen.

“Poor boy!” Ryan called out. “With my money I can have your wife and there is nothing you can do,” Ryan said, groping Katherine with his large palms and she did not resist. Anger built up in Allen as the urge to punch Ryan overwhelmed him.

“Katherine please. I promise I’ll work harder,” he begged, kneeling and grabbing her hands softly.

“Slap!” Katherine’s palm landed on his cheeks and he landed on the floor. “Work harder?” She scoffed. “You don't have the potential to become rich. You’ll die poor and alone,” she said again, kicking the package towards him.

“If you don't do what she says, I’ll make sure you regret it for the rest of your life!” Ryan warned, still holding Katherine to his embrace.

Rubbing his hands on his burning cheeks, Allen realised no amount of begging would save him so he quietly picked himself up, collected the pen and signed the document.

“You got what you wanted but mark my words, you’ll definitely come back begging and by then, you'll regret it!” Allen warned, his eyes cold and full of rage.

“You're nothing and that's all you’ll ever be!”

“I left your bags on the balcony,” Katherine said, with a laugh.

Allen stormed out in anger, taking his only belongings with him. Many thoughts ran through his mind as he contemplated on calling his only friend Jose to let him spend the night or sleep at the company he worked. He quickly dialed Jose’s number on his phone.

“Hello,” Jose picked from the other end.

“Hey, man,” he started. “I wonder if you could let me crash at your place tonight. Katherine threw me out,” he pleaded.

“I thought you said you were planning a surprise for her,” Jose asked, confused.

“She surprised me with divorce papers instead,” Allen explained.

“I’ll tell you more when I get there.”

Just then, the sound of screeching tires dragged his attention and a line of at least seven exotic cars drove towards his direction. When they got to where he was standing, they stopped and some men dressed in black rushed out of the vehicles.

His heart raced with him thinking he had committed a crime or something. “Could this day get any worse?” he muttered, bowing his head.

“I’ll..I’ll call you back man,” he told Jose, ending the call, still trying to understand what was going on.

“Greetings young master Herondale!” they chorused, bowing their heads.

“What?!” He asked, confused.

“You've got the wrong person.”

“No, you are the one we are looking for,” an old man said, walking out of the first car. He couldn't believe who he was seeing dressed in expensive clothes and riding expensive cars.

“Mr Calloway!” he called out loudly, his eyes almost popping out of their sockets. “How is this possible?”

As far as he knew, Mr Calloway was just an old frail neighbour who could barely afford to eat three square meals then how could he afford such luxury cars. These thoughts clouded Allen's mind.

“I’ll explain everything when we get to the mansion. Now, you need to hurry. Your grandmother is waiting,” the old man said.

“Mansion?”

“Grandmother?” Allen blurted out confused.

“You are the heir to a great fortune and you are needed to claim ownership of your family’s wealth but that is all I can say,” Mr Calloway explained. “Please, take this diamond ring as a homecoming gift,” he added, stretching out a box with a beautiful ring laying inside.

“You mean I’m rich?” Allen asked, partly doubting with excitement building up inside of him as he collected the ring. It was the famous Le Roux ring which costs millions of dollars. “Could it be his biological family?” He wondered, with a smile playing on his lips.

He felt like running back in to tell Katherine that he was finally rich as he couldn't contain his joy.

“What are we waiting for?”

“Let’s go,” he urged, with a wide smile on his lips, wondering how he moved from being Allen Slade to Allen Herondale in two minutes.

While driving, Allen couldn't help but admire the luxurious car. It all felt like a dream come true. He was served every kind of drink he wanted in just a short drive and they were ready to do anything he wanted as young master Herondale.

In a few minutes, they arrived at a big beautiful building and Allen couldn't believe what he saw. It had a big black gate at the front and a water fountain in the middle. The building itself screamed luxury with hyacinths draped all over it. He was still admiring it when the voices interrupted again.

“Welcome home young master Herondale!” the men in black chorused as they lined up in a perfect arrangement.

They opened the door for him like he was some sort of royalty and Allen couldn't help but feel like one.

“Where is my grandmother? Where is she?” he asked, impatiently. “There is so much I want to know.”

“Of course, young master. This way,” Mr Calloway said, leading him through a large door. The interior left him in awe. The walls were coated with gold foils and a silver chandelier hung right above his head. The right had stairs and the wall was covered with different artworks.

“These are just some samples from our art gallery. It's one of your family’s businesses and it will be yours very soon,” Mr Calloway said and a smile crept to Allen’s lips.

Allen continued to follow Mr Calloway happily and he led him to another room. The room had luxury and vintage written all over it like it popped out of a seventeenth century castle. An old woman sat there as maids tended to her needs. Immediately she saw him, her eyes brightened like her strength had been renewed.

“My grandson,” Madam Ophelia called out with her frail voice, gesturing for Allen to come closer. Her fingers caressed his face gently. “I'm sorry it took so long to find you. It's all thanks to Mr Calloway.”

“I have so many questions,” Allen finally spoke. “I want to know about my family.

“Who is Mr Calloway?”