The Return of the Desired Heir

Chapter 4

Cathy was rendered speechless as Neal handed over the paper back to her. It was what she had always wanted, to be reunited with her lost love. But now, she wondered why she doesn't feel so great about it? 

She should be happy.

Just as she forced a smile, Tina stepped out.

The moment Tina's gaze settled on Moise, they instantly lit up. “Moise, my darling!” she drawled, all grins. “I hope the journey here was not so strenuous?”

Moise glowed, basking in Tina's laudation. "Not at all.”

Tina cut her gaze first to her daughter, then to Neal. Her expression hardened and she sneered. “What are you still standing there for? Get out of here and go prepare coffee and tea.”

“I will not do that, ma'am Tina,” Neal said, his voice not as respectful as his words.

Tina scoffed. She fully turned to Neal. “Have you gone mad? What do you mean you won't do it?” She put her arms akimbo, “What exactly is your usefulness in this house?”

Neal shrugged, indifferent. “I guess there's no use now. I already signed the divorce agreement with Cathy, so I no longer need to serve the Nelson family like a slave,” he said pointedly, getting his point across.

Tina looked pleased. She looked between her daughter and Neal. “Seriously?”

Cathy, whom’s gaze had been on Neal, displeased, turned to see her mother’s arched brows.

Cathy nodded, refusing the urge to snap at her mom.

Tina clapped her hands. "Wonderful! This is such a good day. Moise is here and Neal is leaving!”

Cathy, clearly deaf to her mother's words, began, "Do you have somewhere to go?” She didn't wait for Neal to answer her question. "If you want, you can stay in the Nelson household as a servant.” She shrugged and let out a nervous laugh, “After all, we have all gotten used to you serving us." 

After Cathy's words, Neal was glad that he'd signed the divorce papers. How can she ask him to stay back as a servant? He refused the urge to shake his head in sorrow. He had not at all expected things to end like this. 

Moise looked between Cathy and Neal. His gaze lingered on Cathy. Her words made him uneasy but her look disturbed him even more. There was an indecipherable look in her eyes as she kept her gaze fixed on Neal. She wasn't even looking at Moise. It was as if Neal was the only person in the room worth her time.

His gaze went between them again and he just hoped that Cathy had not fallen for Neal. 

Tina sneered, glaring at her daughter. “The family does not need garbage like Neal as a servant.” He turned to Neal, "Go get your things and leave immediately.”

Tina's urge to get rid of Neal didn't surprise him. He simply made his way past them to the utility room. He picked up the only luggage he owned, a portable frayed duffel bag.

Cathy’s brows pulled down when Neal walked out. “Is that all?”

“What?” Neal quipped, wondering what more she expected from him.

“Is that all you've got?” She clarified, her gaze on the bag in his hand.

“Yes,” he simply answered. 

Cathy seemed shocked. “You've lived here for so long and you have nothing of your own? We paid you $3000 dollars every month! What do you use it for?”

In truth, Neal had used all the money to pay for Beverly’s medical treatment. He didn't even keep a penny to himself.

“This is all I have,” he responded.

Cathy couldn't believe her ears or her eyes. Was Neal trying to trick them? To make her feel guilty for the divorce. Or did her family really treat Neal unfairly? 

As Neal turned to leave the villa, Moise hypocritically offered to walk him out.

He made a show of pressing a kiss to Cathy's cheek. “I'll be right back, babe. Let me walk him out." 

Outside, Moise's gaze fell on Neal's neck and he suddenly froze. Then, he sneered. “You stole that!”

“What?”

“I know you are a pauper but I didn't peg you for a thief.”

Neal cast him a side glance, not taking him seriously. “What are you yapping about?" 

Moise had stopped walking, but Neal didn't care. He moved ahead. All he wanted was to keep a reign on his growing temper as he'd always done and just get the heck out of the villa.

“The necklace around your neck, you fool, you stole it.”

Neal frowned. He halted in his tracks and turned back to see Moise standing a few feet behind, his eyes shooting unwarranted accusations at him.

Neal's hands reflexively grazed the necklace as he replied. “This is something I've owned since I was a child. How could it have been stolen?” He gave Moise a once over. “You should learn to confirm your suspicions before blurting out accusations.”

“You liar!" Moise was insistent. "You stole that necklace. It looks expensive. In fact, it is expensive and your mealy $3000 could never buy it even if you save up for months. You must have stolen it from the Nelson family,” he accused as he abruptly reached out and grabbed the necklace from Moise’s neck.

It was not the sting of the necklace around the skin when Moise dragged the necklace that infuriated him, it was the audacity he had to pull it, and maybe the pent up anger since he opened the door for the self egoistic bastard.

Without thinking, Neal dropped his bag and reached out to Moise. He hit him on the face. It was so fast that Moise didn't see it coming. 

He lost his footing and fell to the floor. Before he could stand, Neal was already over him, and he started to give him blows fueled with anger and rage.

Neal yelled as he tried to dodge Neal's blows but that wasn't even possible. Neal didn't give him the chance to.

Moise struggled to sit. Thick sticky blood dripped from his nose and mouth. Yet, he looked around, hoping no one was witnessing his shame, trying to fight back.

With Moise vision blurred, he watched as Neal picked up his darned tattered bag and walked away, out of the villa without a word.

For long minutes, he stayed there, humiliated, seething as he tried to garner the strength to walk inside. Neal could have won now, but he'd get back at him. He'd show him that he was not one to be trifled with.

Eventually, shivering, he got up from the floor. He couldn't even stand straight, he was bent, his back hunched as he clutched his tummy and tottered back to the mansion. He instantly felt he must have broken a few bones.

When he reached the door, he leaned against it and weakly scraped at the door.

Cathy's eyes widened when she opened the door and Moise fell in her arms. If it wasn't for her mother behind her, she'd have toppled backwards and landed with a painful smack on the floor.

“My goodness! What happened? Who did this to you?” She rushed out, eyes widened. With the help of her mother, they helped him to one of the sofas.

“Neal,” Moise moaned pathetically. “That man is a devil. A wolf in sheep's clothing. I merely pointed out the truth and he beat me up.”

Tina and Cathy stared, shocked.

Cathy wondered how possible it was for Neal to do that.