Chapter two

Seven years ago, when Chris was a mere 18 years old, he was expelled from his home, from his family. Their strict family tradition demanded he pass the family trial to reclaim his birthright, that is, his position as the heir.

He was smart and innovative. He had been involved in his father's company at a young age so he had strategies enough for him to start up a company. 

He founded his company while still in college while juggling his college studies. 

In no time, his innovative strategies and tireless work ethic set his company in an outstanding position, making it among the top 10 enterprises in the city.  

It was a rule in his family that every member had to experience being a commoner, without wealth and affluence. It was to instill the awareness that they were privileged and many people didn't have what they had - so they wouldn't be too proud and pompous.

All the hard-earned profits from Chris's company were seized, leaving him with a mere allowance of a few hundred dollars. The family's intention was clear – they wanted Chris to experience the hardships of not being wealthy, and of poverty.

At the juncture of his life when Chris was at his lowest, grappling with the trials of his family's tradition, he crossed paths with Anneliese. She was a bright and ambitious young woman, studying business administration, a year behind him in their academic journey. They met at a club meeting. 

They started as friends, frequently meeting up in the school library to study side by side. They shared a love for books, and the quiet corners of the library became their sanctuary.

Their relationship blossomed after Chris graduated, while Anna had one more year of college ahead of her. He remained by her side, helping her study for her exams. 

Upon his college graduation, his family presented him with a modest, inexpensive house as a reward. However, he had other plans.  Anna had always wanted to own a real estate agency and he knew she would thrive in it. 

Instead of keeping the house, he made a selfless choice, he decided to sell the house and handed over the proceeds to Anna, for her to start up her business. 

This was shortly after they got married. Because Chris had connections and acquaintances in Real Estate, he secretly made them partner with Anna's company, which made her company rapidly ascend. 

In just three years, her business joined the ranks of the top 100 in the city. 

Chris wandered the dark streets, heartbroken. His life didn’t seem real anymore and for a moment, he started to suspect that perhaps he was in some sort of dream but he wasn’t aware of it. 

Dreams usually felt real when one was in the midst of them right? Maybe after tonight when he had a good sleep and enough rest, perhaps that was when this entire nightmare would come to an end. Maybe he was still stuck back in that time.

His phone suddenly rang. Startled, he answered, "Hello?"

"Master Chris," his butler's voice crackled on the line, "I have important news. There will be a family party tonight, and they plan to announce you as the rightful heir. You need to attend, and your wife must accompany you."

Chris, still in a state of emotional turmoil, replied, "Potter, this is so sudden. How is this possible?"

The butler's voice held a hint of urgency as he responded, "There's much to discuss, but we must prepare for the evening. This could be your chance to reclaim your position. You must come with your wife."

"What if... Look, I don't have a wife."

"What do you mean you don't have a wife, sir? Everyone knows you got married."

"Well... Marriages don't last forever. We parted ways."

"Oh, so sorry."

There was an awkward silence for a few seconds before Mr Potter spoke up again. 

"Will you make it to the party? It is quite important."

"Alright, I will be there," Chris replied. He needed something to distract him anyway.

"Alright, sir. We'll be expecting you in an hour or two."

The call ended and he wondered what next he was going to do. He had nothing. No wife, no clothes to dress into, absolutely nothing. He was stranded. 

As night fell, Chris arrived at the venue. It was his family's mansion. The Robinson mansion looked just as he remembered, a testament to centuries of tradition and wealth. 

It was framed by tall, meticulously manicured hedges and wrought-iron gates that offered a glimpse of the opulence of the house.

The mansion itself was a stately structure, built of rich, weathered stone, and adorned with intricate architectural details. Its windows glistened with the warm glow of chandeliers within.

The gate was open. He hesitated, a wave of nostalgia washing through him before strolling towards the entrance of the main house, where the party was held.

He approached the front entrance which had a towering, arched door that was imposing yet inviting.  

"Invitation, sir?" The stern doorman inquired, blocking his way.

He didn't recognize him. Probably a new staff. Old staff would have recognized him right away and excitedly admitted him in.

"I'm family."

"Indeed. I would like to see some ID if you don't mind."

Chris smiled wryly at the doorman's suspicious gaze. He reached for his phone in his pocket, deciding to call Mr Potter. 

As Chris attempted to call his butler, he suddenly heard a woman's laughter. He could recognize that laugh anytime, anyway, even in his sleep. 

He turned to see his wife, or rather, ex-wife, Anna, approaching arm in arm with another man. He recognized the man. He didn't know him well enough but he had seen him a few times on social media and in the news. 

He frowned and furrowed his brows. She didn't see him immediately. When she did, her face registered shock. 

"What are you doing here Chris? Are you following me?"

Chris's jaw clenched, and he retorted, "No, I have my reasons for being here. Who's this?"

She seemed uneasy. She saw the anger that burned in his eyes. Her voice dripped with uncertainty and embarrassment as she replied, "This is Carter, he's a business partner." She tried her best to keep her face clear of emotion, and her voice stable. 

"I see." He eyed her for a bit. He didn't believe her. They looked so loved up and the way her eyes sparkled when she laughed at something he said. It was the same way she laughed with him when they were together. When he was her only friend. When life was good.

Carter gave Chris a sidelong glance.

"Look who we have here. Our loser ex-husband." He sneered. "You know, I want to thank you. Thank you so much for not knowing the worth of the woman you had. And I'm glad she realized she deserved better. Because now, I have the opportunity to take care of her. To treat her how she deserves to be treated. Right Love?"

Anna didn't answer. She just gave a nervous smile. She wrung her fingers and glanced at Chris, then quickly looked away.

Chris frowned. Not wanting to engage in any argument that could ruin the evening, he replied coolly. "Well... You're right. You got yourself a good one. I'll leave you two to enjoy your evening." he replied and turned to leave.

Anna's disappointment was evident in her eyes. She did like Carter and they had been flirting and going on dates for a while. She couldn't hide her disdain for Chris as she muttered, "Always running away."

Beside her, Carter, picking up on her frustration, called out to Chris.

"Hey, are you here to find a job as a waiter, buddy? If that's the case, I might be able to help. I have a good relationship with the host of this party."

Chris's jaw tightened and he clenched his fist.