The Hidden Emperor Returns

Chapter 1

“This has to be a joke of some sort, right?” Marcus Leopold blurted out, his face laced with utter shock. He managed to force the words out of his mouth as they stood in the middle of The Forrest Corporation’s CEO’s office. 

He stood there, handsomely dressed in a black suit that seemed to shine when rays of light touched it. The modest attire matched his handsome build and well-chiseled chin. 

 

Sitting behind the table in front of him was a beautiful lady elegantly dressed in a red lace dress, her demeanor cold and distant. 

“What is the joke here? I want to tell you that at the gala, I would appreciate it if you could stay as far away from me as possible, please. I am begging you to do this so I will have a chance to talk to the founder of SuperEon Industries.” 

Lauren spoke to him as if she were talking to a toddler; it was as if she wanted him to keep his distance from her so she could talk to the man of her dreams. 

Lauren Forrest Leopold, Marcus’s wife and the CEO of the Forrest Corporation, was anything but a calm lady.  “Lauren, you do realise that I am your husband and I am trying.” 

“Here you go again with this. I am not asking much from you, am I? We might go to the party together, but I want to enter there with Keith by my side as my partner so we can be able to close a deal with the biggest industry in this country.” 

“So I will stand by and watch as another man walks in with my wife by his side? I don't know how you are thinking of all this, but this shouldn't be done! I know you want to get the deal, but isn't it better to hold a man who isn't even your husband?” 

“You should see the foolishness there!” Marcus raised his voice; he was looking at his wife, trying to understand what she was trying to do. 

“Don't you raise your voice at me!” Lauren pointed to him; she was looking him in the eye, walking closer to Marcus. 

“For three years, I have worked so hard to make sure that I would get to this spot, and you have been nothing but deadweight to me!” She was looking at Marcus like he was nothing but a normal man and not her husband. 

“And if you don't want to do things the way I see right, then you can leave my life… Because I will not be dragged down by the likes of you.” 

Marcus was moved when he heard what his wife thought of him; he was looking at her, and words couldn't come out of his mouth.  "Deadweight? "

Marcus stood there stunned to hear what she had to say; he had never expected her to say all that. If it had not been him, the Forrest family would have sunk underground three years ago.

They would have never even had the chance to see the light of fame if it weren't for him. The very pinnacle of success, Lauren thought, she had gotten was all because of him. 

“What are you trying to say, Lauren?” Marcus was looking at her; he was not sure what he was hearing or what Lauren wanted to say. 

She looked at him; it was like she just wanted him to leave. “I am saying, if you can't handle the idea of me being with someone like that, then you are allowed to leave, you’re nothing but a burden and deadweight!” 

“Mother was right, you are bad news, and keeping you close would mean that you would keep me in a spot for the rest of my life.” Lauren rubbed her head. She pulled something out of the file on her table and handed it to Marcus. 

“Take this; it should help you survive without me. It's a check for $4,000,000.” 

Marcus was looking at Lauren and hardly expressing how he felt. But he felt like a stranger looking at someone whom he had followed only to be left to drown. 

“Is this what all these years together are worth to you? This string of measly numbers?” Marcus asked. 

Lauren raised a brow; she was a bit surprised to hear what he had to say.  “Won’t this be enough? You can name your price; I will gladly add more.” 

Marcus stood there, looking at her. The pain and disappointment were evident in his eyes, seeing how she thought he was asking for more money. “So, you are telling me to leave this marriage after these years?” 

Lauren let out a sigh of frustration, leaning back in her chair. “If that is what you wanted to say, then please, I don't have the luxury to tell you why.” 

She had grown into the country’s number five woman, with a net worth of 200 million dollars, with countless men throwing themselves at her in Suntril City. Marcus, from all the angles, she couldn't see him in her league anymore. 

“Hmm, I never thought that all these years of love, countless nights, and all those little dates would end with you throwing numbers at my face. Well, it's no surprise there. You are now CEO of the Forrest Corporation, Suntril’s Top girl with men moving all around trying to make you theirs. And there is me, the nobody who is clearly not in your league, Ms. Lauren Forrest.” 

Marcus smiled bitterly as he looked at the woman whom he adored.  Lauren’s demeanor was still icy and aloof. “If that is all you have to say, then I don't know what to tell you, Marcus; just take the money.” 

“I don't need it.” Marcus cut her off. He was looking at her, and his eyes seemed detached. “I don't need your $4 million alimony f*e; I can do well without it.”

Marcus slowly got up. He took off the wedding ring he had on, placing it on the table. He was about to walk away.  

“Marcus, take this money; we both know you need it to survive. Put your goddamn pride aside and take this money, you small-time medical instructor. You need this money; it will help your institution.” 

Marcus ignored her; it wasn't like 4 million dollars was something that was so dearly needed.  “Lauren, why don't you let him leave?” 

A voice rang out from the side; Marcus recognized it. He turned to see a woman dressed in expensive attire, with priceless jewelry decorating her hands and neck.  “Hello, Mother.” Marcus smiled. 

It was none other than Hillary Forrest, Lauren's mother and Marcus’s former mother-in-law. “Please, don't soil my name by calling me mother.” She raised her hand, looking at Marcus. “Filth like you shouldn't even be allowed to speak to me.” 

Marcus had a smile on his face, but it was a painful one, looking at them talk to him like that. “Sorry for wasting time; I will take my leave now.” He slowly turned. 

“Please, if you're leaving, then make sure that you clear your belongings from the mansion!” Hillary didn't waste any time saying that. 

“With you gone, Lauren can finally get together with Jordan Hills, a multi-billionaire who wanted to be with my darling daughter for a long time, but the likes of you were blocking him from coming.” 

Marcus, a bit surprised, looked at Lauren with his brows. “Hills? The infamous Hills Consortium?” 

Lauren rolled her eyes, She wanted to get him to leave the office as soon as possible. “Yes, that Jordan Hills. If I get connected to the Hills family, then it would mean the Forrest corporation would have the chance to get connected with political bodies, the military, and people of high power.” 

“We all know he is even connected to Ace of the City, the Hidden Emperor himself, so it would mean more money and connections for us.” Hillary smiled, looking at Marcus; it was a mocking smile. 

Marcus nodded as he kept smiling. “I see. Well, then, I wish both of you the best in life.” 

He was about to walk away when he paused. “Lauren,” 

She looked up to hear what he had to say.  “Don't complain when the light goes out.” Marcus smiled as he left the office, shutting the door behind him softly.  “What did he mean by that?” Lauren turned to her mother. 

“Ah, leave him; he just lost his shelter; he is bound to say pitiful things. I am glad you got rid of him.”