TRASH HUSBAND TO TRILLIONAIRE EX-HUSBAND

Chapter three: The divorce

Benjamin paused and turned back to meet Jackson Voss's gaze.

  "Grandfather Amos Hayes is dead." Jackson delivered like news bulletin headlines.

 Without asking, he continued.

  "He died last night. He made me promise him that I will find you wherever it takes." He paused. "He apologized for everything he'd done, for neglecting his responsibility justifying anger against protecting his son and grandson while putting them at risk."

 Before Jackson continued, he produced the Velvet Box again.

  "He asked me to hand this over to you," He stretched the box out to him. "Everything you need to know is inside."

 "I need to see my daughter." Benjamin said impatiently with the voice of someone who knew priority. 

Inside the Premium ward was a far cry from the regular ward: Cutting-edge machines and everything that suggested wealth transformed for survival.

 Aria laid on the bed, his eyes flushing with colour looking different in the way that lifted his spirit. Her innocent, delicate and soft smile was back.

 "Dad." She called out.

 Benjamin rushed to the bed, holding her small arms gently, almost carefully.

 "How are you feeling now? Are you okay now?" He asked, touching her all over her gently.

 Aria nodded her head. "I am fine, Daddy." She nodded at the door. "Uncle took care of me."

 Benjamin turned to see Jackson standing there, walking in with a pink Teddy.

 "This is for you, Aria." He gently placed it beside the bed. "Thank you uncle. Thank you uncle." Her cheek flushed, grabbing the Tebby with excitement. 

 Benjamin stood up with a smile, relief coursing through him seeing her daughter recover.

  He turned to Jackson and collected the box. Inside, an envelope was carefully placed with a black card with a single sleek letter H.

  "The envelope contains a letter written by your grandfather. And the black card is linked to his multiple businesses across the state. Contained $800 million balance currently." 

  Benjamin's jaw dropped.

  Jackson continued, his voice carrying across with calmness and professionalism.

  "Grandfather's Will will be announced by his lawyer tomorrow morning. All Hayes family members would be present." Jackson said with an edge. "He had arranged everything in your name. Only I know about it. Inheritance worth trillions belongs to you, Master Hayes."

  Benjamin's jaw dropped.

He couldn't speak immediately.

  "Why me..." He asked, still in shock. "...after everything. After he threw us out. Why had he made that decision?"

  "Because he regrets everything and wants to make things right again." Jackson said,  "and only your father is worthy of handling his empire."

  "He's late."

  "He knew." Jackson said. "And he blamed himself for his death. He couldn't show up for years because he felt guilty. He wants all his Estates transferred to you."

  Jackson produced another card. Plain. Black Polished surface with gold numbering crawling across the middle.

  "You can call me anytime you're ready to come home, Master." He said, stretching out the card.

  Benjamin collected it.

 "I'll let you know."

  Jackson gave a last bow, straightened his suit then walked out. 

  Benjamin stared at the box— $300 million encased in plastic, his grandfather's last letter and Jackson's contact card.

  "Dad, is everything okay?" Aria asked smartly. Benjamin turned to her with a bright smile. Hearing her speak with clarity lifted his spirit higher. He set the box on the bed and leaned closer to her, holding her hand gently. 

  "How are you feeling now, baby?" He asked softly, looking all over her with concern.

  "I feel powerful now, daddy. More powerful." She tightened her finger, straining her small muscles to display her power.

  Benjamin chuckled in amusement, caressing her hair gently. "I see, baby. I see You're always powerful."

  A doctor walked in and bowed gently in respect before he went ahead to check Aria.

  He nodded with a satisfied smile. "The surgery went successfully," he said. "She's recovering fast. If you want, she can be discharged immediately, Mr. Hayes."

  The next morning Benjamin woke up early. He stepped out of the kitchen with breakfast inside a food box for Aria when the entrance door burst open. Hannah stumbled in, her appearance slightly disheveled. She reeks of liquor and cologne that didn't belong to her. She slammed the door shut behind her.

  "What a night.." She released a heavy breath in exhaustion, sent her heel flying across the room and slumped onto the sofa, the one she recently replaced because she complained the old one gives her backache. "..my back is hell, I need a massage, Ben."

  Benjamin's jaw tightened in anger. She expected her to ask about Aria immediately.

  "You spent the night outside." Benjamin said, his voice tight.

  She exhaled sharply. "You know I was...busy." She rolled her eyes. Something flickered behind lashes that was irritation.

  "Too busy to attend to your daughter when she needs you? You neglected her, Hannah." Benjamin's voice dropped disappointingly, staring at the woman he married for four years.

  Hannah turned to look at him now. Her expression shifted from exhaustion to anger in second. "You're making it sound like  I'm a monster for chasing my career." She sneered. "You have no idea what it takes to work behind those doors. Yesterday was different. Richard Carlson wanted a collaboration. I'm going global. I needed time. I needed space."

  She continued nonchalantly.

  "You handled it, you always did— Homeworks, Aria's assignments. She's your daughter too. So don't stand there like a wall of judgement and speak like I'm a devil for chasing my career."

  She relaxed into the sofa again, shaking her head and exhaling sharply through her nose. She picked up her phone and scrolled through Ins*****m without bothering about asking about their daughter like she never existed in her world.

  Benjamin set the box on the table and really stared at her now. 

"Your career is more important than Aria? You can rent a Penthouse for $10 Million for another man when your daughter needed $5 million for her surgery. The only thing she asked for was your care, your presence. But you gave her nothing."

  Something finally cracked in her mask that wasn't guilt or remorse. It was just pity.

  "It was.... a one-time opportunity." She shook her head, her composure snapping back into place. "You don't get it, Ben. You always don't. Some things require sacrifices and—"

  "— and among that is your daughter's happiness? Her life?" 

  Her expression cracked again. This time it was a flicker of guilt that didn't last three seconds.

  Benjamin shook his head in disappointment. "Aria deserves better than this." He reached out for the envelope he'd prepared the previous day on the dining table and slapped it down.

  "I want a divorce.”