THE AWAKEN RAYMOND WEST STRIKE BACK

Chapter 5

At that moment, Megan’s brother suddenly cleared his throat, the sound sharp and deliberate, cutting through the tension in the room. His expression was hard, his eyes fixed on Raymond with open hostility.  

“I don’t even understand why everyone here is trying to convince him to accept compensation,” he said angrily. 

“Why should we compensate Raymond at all? He doesn’t deserve a single cent.”  

He took a step forward, his voice rising.

 “What about the three long years he’s wasted in this family? Three years of nothing. Three years where he achieved nothing meaningful for us. Three years of empty promises promises upon promises while this family became a laughingstock because of him.”  

He scoffed. 

“Those three years should be the compensation. This contract we’ve secured is us collecting what we’re owed for the time he stole from this family. Raymond deserves nothing. Absolutely nothing.”  

He gestured toward Simon. 

“Just listen to what Simon said. He’s already secured the city contracts. That means state contracts are next. After that, national contracts. Altogether, we’re talking about five hundred million dollars.”  

Immediately the room grew still.  

“And Simon just said he could double it,” Megan’s brother continued, his voice thick with excitement. 

“That means a billion dollars. A billion. So tell me why on earth should we compensate Raymond when he’s been draining this family for years?”  

His face darkened.

 “In fact, he shouldn’t be compensated at all. He should be kicked out of this family. We all know Raymond is trouble. He’s too proud. He won’t bow. He won’t work under Simon.”  

He shook his head firmly. “So why keep a troublemaker among us? That would be foolish. The best solution is simple.”  

His eyes locked onto Raymond.  

“We kick him out.”

However Megan’s brother wasn’t done. His voice grew louder, fueled by contempt that had clearly been building for years.  

“Raymond should be on his knees thanking us,” he said bitterly. “He should be grateful. But look at him standing there with his shoulders raised, acting proud, clinging to that tiny little accomplishment like it’s something monumental.”  

He let out a harsh laugh.  

“That so‑called accomplishment? That’s the payment we’re taking for the three years he wasted our sister’s life. Three years he dragged this family down. Three years of promises, excuses, and absolutely nothing to show for it.”  

His eyes swept over Raymond with open disdain.  

“There will be no compensation for you. Like I said earlier, you should be kicked out. Just look at you still standing tall, still trying to act dignified.”  

He stepped closer, lowering his voice but sharpening every word.  

“Imagine a failure like you daring to be proud. A failure who hasn’t achieved one tangible thing in three years. You couldn’t secure major contracts. You couldn’t elevate this family’s name. You couldn’t even build your company into something stable. We practically handed you an opportunity by stepping in, and you’re still here acting offended.”  

He straightened up and delivered the final blow without hesitation.  

“You should just be kicked out.”

At that moment, Simon finally cleared his throat, the quiet hum of conversation fading as all eyes turned toward him. He rested one arm over the back of his chair, his expression calm but deliberate, the kind of composure that felt rehearsed.  

“Now, I’m not usually the type to involve myself in matters that don’t concern me,” he began smoothly, “but in this case, I think I need to say something.”  

He looked briefly at Raymond, his tone carrying a faint touch of superiority.

 “I don’t like it when someone is wrongly accused especially someone like Megan. She doesn’t deserve that. Megan isn’t the kind of woman anyone should be pointing fingers at or accusing of things she didn’t do. She deserves far more respect than this… far more than what she’s getting right now.” 

Simon took a slow sip of his drink, then leaned forward slightly, locking eyes with Raymond.  

“You have no idea the kind of pressure Megan has been under,” he said. 

“You have no idea what her family’s been telling her. They’ve been pushing her to leave you for years pressuring her to cut you off completely, to erase every connection between you two. But she refused. She told them no.”  

He glanced briefly at Megan, giving a soft, performative smile.  

“She refused because she believed in you, Raymond. She really did. She believed you would come through. She believed there was still something good in you worth waiting for.”  

 Simon then set his glass down and straightened up, his tone cooling into quiet accusation.  

“But what did you do with that faith, Raymond? You turned around and backstabbed her. You accused her your own wife of betrayal, of cheating, when she’s done nothing but protect your interests. Even now, she’s fighting to make sure your idea doesn’t go to waste, that all your effort actually leads somewhere.”  

He shook his head slowly.  

“Megan did everything she could to secure this deal, to make sure it didn’t die halfway. She saved it, Raymond. She saved what you started. You call it betrayal…”  

He paused, letting the weight of his words settle in.  

“But honestly, I call it loyalty.”

 Simon exhaled slowly, as though he were disappointed rather than angry.  

“Instead of being grateful,” he continued, his voice calm but cutting, “you stand here pointing fingers at the very person who chose to stand by you.”  

He gestured toward Megan.

 “Do you even realize who she is? The kind of family she comes from? The reputation attached to her name? She didn’t need to lower herself into struggle. She didn’t need uncertainty.”  

His eyes swept over Raymond with quiet scrutiny.  

“You came from nothing, Raymond. No powerful background. No influential surname. No legacy behind you, you're just a poor Orphan.”  

He leaned back slightly.

 “Megan could have married into any established, reputable family. She could have had security, good life from day one. Instead, she chose you.”  

The room was silent now.  

“And instead of thanking her for believing in you, for defending you even when her own family questioned her choice, you’re standing here accusing her. Making her look like she’s the villain.”  

Simon’s voice dropped lower, sharper.  

“Tell me something, Raymond. If not for love, what would someone like Megan be doing with an orphan like you?”