The Emergence of the Legacy Man

CHAPTER THREE

Keith flinched, staring at Sheila from where she stood almost completely shielded behind Frank with a smirk plastered on her face.

"Not so brave now, are you?" Mr. Hockings mocked. 

He kept his gaze on Sheila, staring deep into her eyes wondering what happened to the kind and considerate Sheila. Her attitude hurt the most because she was his only hope and solace against the hardship of the world.

"Did he bother you?" Frank asked Sheila with a worried frown and that caused an unsettling feeling within Keith. 

Keith glared in confusion, then asked Frank, "Why would you become friends with the Hockings? What's with the sudden friendship?" 

Frank smirked, "I don't see any problem, Keith, they are free from their debt, there is no reason to hold a grudge. You should be concerned with yourself or have you forgotten your responsibility, Keith?"

Keith knew Frank was right and he had something more concerning to be worried about. Frank was here to collect the rest of his debt and even if he had so many questions concerning what just went down and why Sheila would call Frank to bust him. He cursed himself for his rashness and hopelessness in the situation. 

Keith felt his defensive demeanor slowly slip as panic eased its way in. He couldn't believe this was happening to him. He gave his all to this family and for his love for Sheila. "I just need time..." He gulped. 

Frank threw his head back and laughed, "I don't have time."

Keith doesn't have time to put up a defense as cops troop into the house and towards him in quick strides.

"Wait, Frank, let's discuss this please." Keith hated how his voice broke. "I have some money but I just need more time." He pleaded, his eyes darting from Frank and Sheila, praying silently for sympathy.

"Oh please," Sheila said, "You can't properly fend for yourself, where would get such money."

He growled, "Stay out of this," he yelled, his anger finally taking over.

Frank lunged forward, "Don't yell at her, you bastard. Take him out of here." He told the cops angrily.

He gasped and made to move but was immediately grabbed by at least two men. "No, please Frank." 

Keith's pleading went to deaf ears as the cops shoved him roughly out of the house. He strained his neck to see Sheila and to his surprise, she stood so close to Frank who had an arm around her waist. His eyes widened and It wasn't long before he was being bundled away. 

…

Keith sat on the cold hard ground of the holding cell, with his back to the wall and hugging his legs to himself for warmth. It had only been two days in this hell hole but it felt like forever, his stomach grumbled loudly and he heaved a deep sigh in exhaustion. 

Sheila suddenly popped into his mind and subconsciously a smile slipped onto his lips, thinking about her blonde hair and beautiful smile but the smile immediately vanished from his face, an image of the Sheila he encountered that day he got locked up in this God-forsaken place flashed into his mind and his heart ached. That Sheila had been brutal enough to want a divorce and treat him like he meant nothing. 

He could remember the first time he met Sheila, it had been love at first sight. Aside from a sweet captivating smile, she had been supportive and kind, although she hadn't been there during most of his struggles she still stuck to him as he grew and for a long time in years, Keith had felt loved and appreciated.

Keith always knew Sheila's father hadn't always been on his side, In fact from the very beginning Mr. Hockings showed very little interest in Keith, and most times he felt he would never approve of him and agree to him marrying his daughter but Sheila would always comfort him and just like she had promised her father did give his blessings. Thinking back now, Keith knew Sheila's father was always controlling and money hungry, and maybe that was why Sheila acted that way. Keith straightened up, pondering hard on his thoughts. He knew Sheila adored her father and acted on her father's wishes most times, sometimes even saying no to dates because her father wouldn't agree. 

It had to be her father, he concluded. The Sheila he knew adored him and wouldn't say such mean words. It just so happened that her parents were a bad influence on her. But that didn't justify his foolish haste with such a drastic decision. He could have said no, or maybe just paid a part of it. But instead lost everything he worked so hard for. 

He just hadn't expected it to be so difficult and time-consuming to become financially stable again. Keith had been confident that things would work out as they had before, allowing him to reach a net worth of over one hundred million dollars. However, it did take some time to get started when he was desperately searching for a way. He worked tirelessly, risking everything with his investments and relying on his secret sources without any support, until he finally succeeded. But now, everything he had worked so hard for was gone before he could even fully appreciate his success, all because of his foolishness.

Keith wasn't completely certain if he regretted giving away the money. Although it was a reckless decision, it saved Sheila from being taken away. On that day, Sheila didn't look like she needed saving from Frank, his subconscious retorted, causing him to flinch. Keith refused to dwell too much on the closeness of Sheila and Frank. Keith knew she had simply been under the pressure of her parents who played on her innocence and pushed her into the stupid things she did that day and spoke to him so harshly. Sheila wasn't one to care about money, she didn't care before and it still hasn't changed. It had just been her selfish and money-loving parents.

But Keith couldn't help but think: what if Frank had never shown up on the day of the wedding? What if they hadn't posed a threat? What if he hadn't needed to let go of all the money he had worked so hard to earn? First, he and his wife would be happy in their own space because he would have followed through with his plan to buy Sheila her dream house as a wedding gift and take her to Paris for their honeymoon. Then he wouldn't have had to deal with her parents because they'd be in their own house minding their business. He wouldn't have to worry about gossip and people's assumptions. He wouldn't have to work menial jobs to pay up debts. And most important he would have never met Frank and he wouldn't be in this holding cell thinking about what-ifs and doubting his wife. 

"Keith Thompson, you have a visitor." A firm voice said from the other side of the barred gate.

His eyes widened and he shot up his feet with so much energy that he felt faint and dizzy. But none of that mattered now, someone had come to see him. Hope rose from his chest, filling him with enthusiasm. It should be Sheila, he prayed quietly to himself and hopefully she would be alone too. It would be better to handle her alone without the interference of her parents, then it would be easier to convince her to see reason. She was probably here to tell him that all this was a misunderstanding and she was wrong.

Keith grabbed onto the cold steel of the barred gate of the holding cell, peeping outside expectantly, his heart filled with silent prayers.