CHAPTER TWO

Sheila frowned, yanking out the piece of paper with a bank logo sticking out of the mailbox, and with piqued curiosity she made her way back into the house. She proceeded instantly to rip the letter open and caught a glimpse of the name Thompson, to whom the letter was addressed. With a frown, she skimmed through its content. Her eyes widened with shock, soon replaced with irritation and anger.

At the sound of approaching footsteps, she moved her attention from the letter to watch hier father descend the stairs. 

She growled, handing him the letter. "He hasn't made any money." 

"What do you mean?" Her mother's voice followed as she exited the kitchen.

"Keith is a broke loser," Sheila said.

Her mother chuckled dryly, although her face showed no sign of amusement. "Tell me something I don't know."

"His bank wants him to file for bankruptcy," her father explained.

Her mother's brows scrunched up in consideration, "But then those jobs?"

"He just leeches unto us that good for nothing." Her father ranted.

"We shouldn't have to house-sit a fully-ass grown man. Although he proved to be useful with chores," her mother sympathetically shook her head. 

"Go get the divorce papers, it's time we put it to use." Her father said in sheer determination.

...

If anyone had told Keith he would go back to doing menial jobs, he would never believe. He had been twenty-seven and rich, with his life going according to plan. His business had been blooming and anyone would give anything to be in his place. He had his woman too, fitting and perfect. But now he's broke as hell and still twenty-seven, everything changing from the day that should have been his happiest. 

Keith worked in silence, the conversation he overheard earlier had dampened his mood. Life has proven to be a difficult task. He not only had to deal with rumors and meddling people but also the Hockings. Aside from feeling out of place with the Hockings, his father-in-law's judgment is enough to keep him depressed. At first, it began with Sheila's attitude, then went on with Mr. Hockings' harsh comments, and even though Mrs. Hockings pretended to be at his side; she proved worse as she would harshly work him like a housemaid.  Sincerely, he wasn't bragging about paying their debt, he just expected better understanding and patience from the Hockings about his situation since they did help put him in it.

A loud noise from his phone disrupted his thoughts, he flinched in surprise quickly reaching for his phone. He frowned in shock staring at Sheila's name displayed on his screen. 

"Sheila, everything okay?" He blurted into the phone the moment he picked it up.

"No, Keith. I want you here now." Sheila snapped, she sounded angry, he noticed. Not giving him a chance to reply she hung up. 

…

Keith arrived at the Hockings' house panting heavily and the moment he stepped into the house, he knew something was wrong. The Hockings family all sat in the sitting room while Sheila paced the room. They had been waiting for him.

"Everything alright?" Keith asked, worried.

"I want a divorce," Sheila said.

 Keith staggered back in shock. "Excuse me?"

Sheila tossed a paper at him. "Sign it."

Still confused, he stared incredulously at his wife, surprised by how vile she sounded. He searched his brain for what could have pushed Sheila into such a decision.

"You are broke to zero penny and swimming in debts, and making no money." Mr. Hockings spoke up. 

He stared audaciously at Mr. Hockings. So this was about money, he couldn't say he was surprised about Mr. Hockings' attitude but then with Sheila, he certainly hadn't expected it. Even though they've he'd their problems divorce was such a drastic step. "It's not easy bouncing back with nothing, I'm doing all I can." Keith tried to explain.

"You are not only a liability but also a burden to my family." Mr. Hockings spoke for Sheila.

He wouldn't be a burden if things had happened differently at the wedding, he wanted to say but stopped himself, "Give me more time." 

"You've become such an obstacle, a mistake," Sheila replied with no sign of sympathy.

What In the world was going on? The last person he expected this treatment from was Sheila especially since he got into this mess trying to keep her out of trouble. She had no right to call him a mistake when everything he does is because of her, he wasn't working his ass off only for himself. But for both of them. She and her family were the ones being inconsiderate and impatient.

"I wasn't a mistake or an obstacle when I was paying the debts," he defended.

"Don't guilt trip me. I didn't force you to pay the debt. You wanted to play hero," Sheila's words poured out like acid.

"Play hero?" He repeated, baffled by her theory. Was that seriously what they thought? How could they think that with the sacrifices he made to keep them out of trouble? "What I did was save all of your asses, and what has it gotten me?"

"A letter demanding that you file for bankruptcy because you are heavily indebted," Mr. Hockings said, clearly mocking him.

"You are one to talk, Mr. Hockings, you weren't brave that day with Frank," Keith mocked. 

"And you keep bragging about some small token." Mr. Hockings yelled.

One hundred and ten million dollars was a small token, he repeated in his head with a humorless laugh. If he had that money now, if he hadn't given it away that day he wouldn't be in such a situation or have to face humiliation over doing a good deed. "Then pay me back the one hundred and ten million since it's a small token."

Mr. Hockings jerked to his feet. "You keep bragging about what you have done for us. Well, how about what we have done for you?"

"You ungrateful idiot." Mrs. Hockings gasped.

What did they ever do? He thought.

"Did you guys ever care about my feelings? Did you think I would just get back millions overnight?" He frowned, suddenly overwhelmed with anger. "You won't treat me like trash after everything. There will be no divorce, and if you guys are so concerned about my finances, pay back my one hundred and ten million."

He tore his gaze off Shelia's parents when he heard Sheila huff, she kept her gaze on him, as she pressed her phone against her ear. "Since you are keen on making things hard."

He frowned, "Who are you calling, Sheila?" 

"Wait and see, I'll show you hard," Sheila said angrily. 

"I don't understand you. I did it all for you, I saved your family from peril and this is how you repay me" Keith yelled, pointing a finger at Sheila, shaking with anger, "They could have taken you away, but I..."

He couldn't complete his statement as the door pushed open and to his surprise the man who caused the trouble he was now, Frank came bursting through the door with about six men behind him.

"Are you okay?" Frank asked Sheila, sounding surprisingly soft Keith wasn't sure if he heard right or maybe his anger, but Frank sounded and looked almost protective as he approached Sheila. "I heard yelling, are you guys okay?" Frank asked again, moving to stand between Sheila and her parents.

Keith's face scrunched with confusion, was that worry he saw on Frank's face, or was his anger clouding his judgment? He watched how the Hockings cowered closer to Frank and how they all visibly relaxed in his presence.

He glared at the people before him but his gaze settled on Sheila accusingly, "You called the loan sharks on me?"