Debt Settlement

Winston sat on his chair within a specific room on the bottom floor of the central building, dressed in his pyjamas as it was the middle of the night.

He had summoned Nathan from where he was confined, and now the miserable husband of his most beautiful granddaughter stood before him with scarlet-red skin and torn clothes. Winston prepared to address the individual who had garnered his attention, the attention of the family head.

With a few hours remaining before dawn, the pervasive stillness of slumber enveloped the surroundings, rendering every corner silent.

Within the room, five individuals occupied the space. Winston's son, Haden, who also happened to be Nathan's father-in-law, stood alongside Nathan. Two special security guards stood watch, a precautionary measure in case Nathan decided to act out of line.

Nathan stood before Winston with his subtle, newfound grin—a touch of confidence that added a certain charm to his demeanor. To Winston and Haden, however, it felt like Nathan was subtly taunting them.

Despite the budding disdain for the man in front of him, Nathan adhered to his father's training. Politely, he bowed as he greeted the family head of his wife's family, a show of respect that belied the tension simmering beneath the surface.

"Good morning, Grandfather Winston."

Nathan received only a nod in response to his greeting, but he maintained a smile. "To what pleasure do I owe this summon?"

Winston sighed before addressing the matter at hand. "It has reached my ear that you almost attacked your mother-in-law out of fury after the news of the divorce got to you. I was told you blamed her for the divorce. Why do such a thing?" The family head's inquiry carried a weight of authority, demanding an explanation for Nathan's alleged actions.

Nathan frowned upon hearing the distorted information presented to him. He realized he had been painted as the villain, a victim of conniving narratives spun in his absence.

"Whoever said that was either blind or dumb," Nathan retorted, his small smile reflecting a defiance against the false accusations.

"Are you implying that my children and grandchildren are either blind or dumb?" Winston's furrowed brows revealed his surprise at Nathan's response. The unexpected counter was a deviation from the narrative he had anticipated.

"I didn't know it was them, but that might truly be the case," Nathan asserted, abandoning courtesy in the face of the perceived framing. The unspoken tension escalated as Winston refrained from seeking Nathan's side of the story, a deliberate choice that Nathan keenly acknowledged with his response.

Haden simmered with anger, his face flushed as he sat opposite his father, close to Nathan who remained standing, casually throwing general insults. Despite the visceral urge to confront Nathan physically, Haden restrained himself, recognizing that Winston held the final say in this familial dispute.

"I see. Since you have nothing to say regarding the incident, based on your recent actions, you will be punished. You shall pay the remaining debt of your father that the marriage contract did not cover, or you shall remain locked up until you do," Winston declared with gritted teeth, his anger simmering beneath the surface as he struggled to control his rage.

Nathan, unfazed, responded casually, "Sure." He shrugged with a grin. "I'll only do so under the condition that all I spent on my wife be returned to me." Nathan's counterproposal introduced a new layer of negotiation into the already tense situation, further complicating the resolution of the familial conflict.

Haden, unable to contain his frustration any longer, responded faster than his father. "If that little amount will do you any good, I'll have your one million dollars returned before the divorce papers are signed."

Nathan acknowledged Haden's offer with a nod and redirected his attention to the family head, his gaze unwavering as he awaited the resolution of the tumultuous exchange.

"Since that has been settled, you definitely have to sign the divorce papers," Winston declared with a smile, confident that the situation had been brought under control.

Nathan, however, challenged the assumption. "And why do I have to sign? I mean, I don't stand to gain anything from the divorce, do I?" he questioned, adding more complexity into the aftermath of their negotiation.

Winston's smile swiftly transformed into a frown as he realized the urgency of getting Nathan to sign the divorce papers. News of Marie's potential suitor and his parents visiting added a layer of pressure to expedite the process.

"What do you want?" Winston inquired, recognizing the need to offer compensation for Nathan's compliance. The earlier promise to cancel all outstanding debts now faced a challenge, given Winston's declaration that he had settled them all. "Would a million dollars be enough for compensation?" he proposed, seeking to expedite the divorce proceedings with a tangible offer.

Nathan shook his head. "So you can come back to frame me for owing your family an exorbitant amount again? No thanks. I simply request my sister be released, and that the necklace I gifted to Marie be returned."

"My mother would like for her daughter to have it," Nathan stated with a warm smile. He drew a clear line, expressing his desire to sever ties with the family and reclaim what personal connections and possessions remained entangled in the aftermath of the tumultuous marriage.

Winston turned toward his son, Haden, who immediately understood his father's unspoken directive and nodded. "We shall grant those requests," Haden confirmed.

Nathan wasted no time and briskly walked out of the room. "See you guys later for the divorce. I need my rest."

In a swift exit, Nathan left the building and soon found himself beyond the confines of the estate. The air outside carried a sense of liberation as Nathan distanced himself from the environment he now hated, leaving behind the complexities of the family that had entwined his life until a few hours ago.

The guards, following Haden's explicit command, let Nathan pass without hindrance. They anticipated his return, confident that the allure of reuniting with his sister and reclaiming the necklace would bring him back as promised. The estate maintained its silent vigil as Nathan stepped away, leaving the immediate vicinity but undoubtedly bound by the unresolved ties that lingered in the wake of the familial clash.

*****

As the sun ascended in the east, casting its morning light, the central building of the Nashville family estate buzzed with activity. Hundreds of people gathered, comprising relatives, in-laws, maids, and security personnel. The space was packed to capacity, and the majority of the estate's security was strategically stationed around and within the building, maintaining order and ensuring the event unfolded smoothly.

The day held a somewhat peculiar significance, marking the divorce between the most beautiful granddaughter of the family and the poorest son-in-law. As the clock approached 8:00 am, the designated time for the divorce ceremony to commence, everyone gathered for the occasion.

Twenty minutes elapsed, and the expected husband, the center of attention, was conspicuously absent, adding an air of uncertainty to the proceedings as the family awaited his presence.

The estate's grounds teemed with the hushed conversations of attendees, curious about the unfolding drama that awaited them.

Sera, Nathan's younger sister, stood among the crowd, visibly shaking in anticipation of her brother's arrival. Dressed in a casual gown, she had concluded her work as a maid under Nathan's request. Her hair, intricately braided into a large ponytail, was neatly rolled into a bun.

Despite the lack of makeup, her natural beauty radiated effortlessly, capturing the attention of those around her as she, too, awaited her brother's presence amid the unfolding family drama.

She had almost caused a ruckus when she arrived, easily stealing the spotlight from Marie. To prevent further disruption, she had to be taken to a hidden spot, diverting attention from the unexpected entrance.

Thirty minutes passed, and then fifty minutes also went by. The extended delay left the attendees increasingly curious and uneasy about the unfolding events surrounding the impending divorce ceremony.

"Where the hell is he?" Winston asked, his frown deepening with growing impatience. Regret started to creep into his mind regarding the decision to let Nathan leave, a decision that Haden had suggested.

Haden appeared the most tense in the gathering, the weight of responsibility bearing down on him as the one who had allowed Nathan to leave the estate. If Nathan failed to show up, he knew he would face repercussions from his father.

Haden, concealing his fear, forced a smile. "He may be useless, but he's definitely not a traitor. He will certainly come back for his sister."

At the mention of the word "sister," everyone began scanning the crowd for the beauty they had seen earlier, noting the striking resemblance with Nathan.

An hour passed, and just as Winston was about to erupt in frustration at his first son, Haden, they heard a car's honk. The sudden sound cut through the tension, capturing everyone's attention and signaling the potential arrival of the awaited participant in the unfolding divorce ceremony.

"I think he's here," Haden sighed with relief, grateful that Nathan had decided to show up at all.

As Haden's words concluded, the door to the central building swung open, unveiling a very handsome figure. The man possessed a strong jawline and a straight nose, exuding a handsome and confident demeanor. His ice-blue eyes held a piercing gaze, complemented by short, neatly combed and styled light brown hair. Tall and muscular, with broad shoulders and a slim waist, he stood as a striking presence, ready to face the impending divorce ceremony.

The amusing part was that he was dressed in a pair of black shorts and a white tank top, paired with black slides.

The unexpected figure left everyone taken aback, as they failed to identify who he was and why he was present. Adding to the curiosity was the peculiar sight of a big black rolling suitcase that he continued to pull behind him. In his other hand, he carried a small briefcase. The unconventional appearance only deepened the mystery surrounding Nathan's unexpected arrival at the divorce ceremony.

The entire hall fell into silence as two people immediately recognized the figure when he approached.

One of them, with a radiant smile blooming on her face, welcomed the unexpected arrival. The other, dressed in a black gown, had her face twisted into a frown.

The figure grinned as he got close enough to join the others, his presence casting a mix of surprise and anticipation among the gathering.

Winston scrutinized the figure closely, still attempting to identify him, when Marie spoke up. "Nathan, you're late."

"Sorry I arrived late. I had to visit the bank before coming here. The queue was quite long, and the process was hard, but I made it," he explained, his eyes fixed on the necklace around Marie's neck.

Stunned silence enveloped the room. Was this truly Nathan? The same poorly dressed Nathan? The one who always seemed malnourished? Even Marie found it hard to believe her eyes. He wasn't even this handsome when she first laid eyes on him. What the hell happened?

Nathan halted the box beside him and clapped. "Let's do this quickly. I've come for the debt settlement, but we need to be swift. I have other things to do." His assertive words broke the silence, redirecting the attention to the purpose of his unexpected appearance at the divorce ceremony.

Speechless murmurs swept through the crowd. If this was truly Nathan, wasn't he supposed to have bandages from yesterday's beating?

Heck! He was even supposed to have a broken left arm.

What the hell had happened overnight? The room buzzed with questions and confusion, the drastic transformation of Nathan leaving everyone bewildered and searching for answers.