Chapter 3 "Pride and Prejudice"

“Father! This is too much!” Sonny complained.

“Right! W-Why are you giving that much authority to a mere secretary?” Victoria followed.

“Pardon. I didn’t say that I will give the corporation to Gaston. I said, he will temporarily manage the corporation,” Harold explained. “I am not sure who is the most qualified person to own Hamington. Until then, Gaston will manage it.”

“Grandpa. This is unfair,” Jules added. “Let’s say that the b*stard… I mean, that Gaston won’t inherit Hamington. Still, do you expect us to bow our heads and listen to him? My pride cannot take this.”

“A perfect leader can bow his head if it means lowering prejudice and ego.Gaston worked under my care for years. To put it simple, while everyone caused troubles, Gaston and I founded Hamington. There’s no other perfect person who can guide Hamington other than him. So, I want everyone to prove me that I am wrong.”

One by one, piercing gaze went to Gaston’s side. He became the public’s enemy. Well, Gaston was used to this.

“Gaston,” a sweet voice appeared. Divine, who kept quiet for a long time, finally spoke. “The Chairman is right. You have the ability to maintain the quality of Hamington.”

“Divine! Are you out of your mind? Why are you siding him?!” Jules shouted.

Divine ignored her brother and continued,” But, can you really do it? Can you handle Hamington? If you decline, then I think there’s nothing left to talk here.”

Brows raising, Gaston stared at the beautiful lady.

He was in love with Divine ever since they were young. But when he was abandoned, he realized that Divine was only using him.

‘This woman wanted me to accept the offer,’ Gaston said in his head.

Divine would only like to take advantage at Gaston’s one-sided-love. Sorry for her because Gaston has woke up from the abyss of her manipulation.

“Handling the Hamington, it does not sound bad,” Gaston said.

Loud buzz echoed around, coming from the servants who heard Gaston’s answer. Even Jurgen, who knows how humble Gaston is, had his mouth opened. He didn’t expect that his friend would accept the offer!

‘Is he serious?!’ Jurgen asked inwardly while staring at Gaston.  

“I accept the offer, Chairman,” Gaston said as he smiled back at Harold. “After you stepped down, I promise to handle Hamington in your way, until you found the rightful heir.”

“You!” Jules shouted as he stood up from his seat. He dashed towards Gaston, grabbed his collar and pulled him upward. “You must be crazy!” he said before he punched Gaston into the the face.

Chairs’ legs scratched onto the floor. All stood up as they watched Gaston fell onto the ground.

“Jules!” the Chairman went on berserk after seeing his grandson beat his favored secretary.

Victoria only gasped, while Sonny gritted his teeth as he calmed himself. As for Divine, she went quickly to Gaston and held him in her arms.

“Oh my. Your lip is bleeding!” Divine gasped while looking at Gaston’s bleeding lips. “Are you alright?”

Gaston wiped the blood on his lips before he smiled at her. “Y-Yes. I am fine.” Then he looked back at Jules.

Seeing Gaston act like he was really, Jules felt more annoyed. “W-What?! He deserved that!” Jules defended. “You d-dare to covet something that does not suit a pathetic person like you!”

“Jules, enough!” Divine warned. “Don’t be childish. This is our Grandpa’s will. If you react like that, then that means rebelling against Grandpa.”

Breathing heavily, Divine looked at Harold and asked.

“Grandpa, Jules is really wrong this time. Will you let that kid act the way he wants? Especially, towards Gaston who will manage the Hamington from now on?”

“W-Woah!” Jules exclaimed, unable to believe what he was hearing. “Sister, you are so sly. You became a total different person! Now you started clinging with that loser? You…”

“Jules,” Harold said with a cold voice.

As if all sound muted, everyone looked at Harold.

“For disobeying my words, you are grounded for week.”

“What?! Grounded? Am I a child?!” Jules complained.

“Do you want to be grounded? Or you want me to not give you a single money until the day I die?” Harold warned.

With his threat, Jules pursed his lips. He scrunched his fingers into angry cannonballs while blaming everything to Gaston.

“My decision is final,” Harold  continued while lifting his chin. “Anyone who opposed will lose the chance to be the heir. You understand?”

A bloody fight to get the power will start. All have determined look on their faces. Except one person.

While everyone was in grimace, Gaston was smirking.

***************************************

Gaston held his aching lip while walking around the mansion. Then someone called him from the back.

“Gaston!”

He looked back and saw Jurgen, running towards his side.

 “Dude, you were so unpredictable back there. Are you really serious? You will manage the Hamington? That’s the same as suicide attempt!”

‘You once told me that I should die for you. And now you are worried?’ Gaston laughed inwardly.

He would not like to touch a disgusting friend like Jurgen. But Gaston had no choice. He endured touching  Jurgen’s hand and shook it off away from him.

When Gaston did not reply and only had this eerie expression in his face, Jurgen was confused.

“You look mad at me. Why?”

Hearing the question, Gaston turned his fists into steely clamps. He’s not just mad. Right now, he was suppressing himself from killing Jurgen, who probably doesn’t remember anything.

”Is this because I told Miss Divine that you like here?” Jurgen asked.

Gaston frowned. He recalled that there was an event when he drank with Jurgen one night and then accidentally confessed that he likes Divine.

“Dude, sorry. I was so drunk last night. When I saw Miss Divine, it accidentally slipped from my mouth,” Jurgen explained as he tapped his mouth.

‘What a show. You stole Divine from me, yet you act as if you really supported me.’

“I think I heard my name just now.”

Jurgen and Gaston both looked at the woman who approached them.

“I am pretty sure I heard my name from afar,” Divine said.

Gaston’s eyes went to her, and stayed there. This is the first time they looked straight at each other, and Gaston did not feel pleasant.

“N-No!” Jurgen declined while shaking his hands mid-air. “We didn’t talk about you, M-Miss Divine. I swear.”

“Really?” Divine uttered while smiling, She looked back at Gaston and gasped excessively while staring at the cut on Gaston’s lips. “Oh my. Jules was so childish. I am still mad while I am thinking how that person punched your face.”

Divine raised her hand and about to touch his lips.

“I think we need to mend this as soon as possib…”

She stopped uttering when Gaston suddenly moved backward away from her.

A moment of silence swept the space.

Did Gaston just avoid Divine? Even Jurgen was surprised.

Keeping his head down, Gaston’s voice has returned.

“I am fine, Miss Divine. Please don’t be bothered.”

Divine scowled. She allowed Gaston to call her without formal endearment. But now, he’s acting as if they aren’t close.

“But I am not okay,” Divine said. “I don’t feel good after seeing Jules do whatever he wants. It breaks my heart every time you suffer.”

Sardonic laughs almost slipped through Gaston’s mouth.

Who had her heart broken? Divine?!

Preventing himself from laughing, Gaston lifted his head and peered into her eyes. “You… hate it when I suffer?” he asked in a slow pace.

“Of course! We were friends, after all,” she said.

His mouth shut as sob rose in his throat. Great pang gripped his heart, and a pining melancholy made his eyes feel so hot.

‘I could not believe I fell in love with a two-faced woman like you!’

He kept the shout inside him. Gaston took deep breaths to hold his horses and calm down.

He should not cry. Gaston does not want to show how vulnerable he is in front of Divine. Never again.

“But don’t worry, Gaston. Since Grandpa gave you the privilege to handle Hamington, I am sure no one would dare to hurt you again,” Divine added. She leaned closer to him and fixed his necktie. “You made the right choice, Gaston. I am so proud of you.”

Gaston’s expression turned nonchalant as seconds passed by. No matter how deep his love for Divine, he won’t condemn hypocrisy.

“To celebrate your success, why don’t we go out for a drink? It’s my treat,” she offered with a wink.

“A drink! Wow! Can I come?!” Jurgen excitedly asked.

Divine stared at Jurgen as if saying how rude he was for being unable to read the room. Noticing that, Jurgen quickly apologized.

“I am s-sorry, Miss. I know that you should not think of coming your way. How foolish of me. Anyway, I hope you two enjoy your time together. I will go now.” He turned around and about to walk away.

“Instead of treating me, why don’t you grant me a wish instead?” Gaston responded which made Jurgen stop.

Curious, Jurgen looked back at Gaston.

“A wish?” Divine repeated. “It is rare for you to ask a favor. Of course, I will. Just name a thing.”

Gaston raised his hand. He pointed to Jurgen and said, “Fire Jurgen.”

Both Jurgen and Divine were lost for words.

“Kick him out of this house. That is my wish.”