The Shadow Man

RIGHTFUL HEIR: PART I

"Did you hear, Jessica plans to divorce her husband?"

"Hmm, I heard from Madam Blake that her son has finalize the divorce papers."

Jacob was aware of the divorce agreement as well. He once sneaked into her wife's room and saw the papers. As of now, he was actually carrying the paper and had signed it. As he was already prepared to leave them.

Outside the Blake's house, a woman was standing, all upset and in tears. She rang the doorbell as Father Blake answered as he was already informed by his son that the woman would be coming not long. His daughter had warned him first that he needed to act all surprise to make sure their plan worked.

"Who are you?" Father Blake asked.

"Chairman Blake, what are you doing by the door?"

"Chairman, let's go already."

However, the man did not move when his friends were calling him, so they decided to go to him and see what was happening.

"What did you say?" Father Blake yelled in surprise from what he just heard; the woman in front of him was all in tears. It made him wonder if the woman was acting as if she was an actress or was, she really that upset from his yell. "You said, Jacob, my son-in-law is your child's father?"

His friend who had overheard the conversation quickly walked away. As they just heard some private matters, they quickly went to their represented partners as they told them what they had just witnessed.

"Dear, I just overheard Chairman Blake said that his son-in-law impregnated a woman."

"What, but isn't he married to Jessica."

"He is a man still, maybe he was not satisfied and wanted more."

"What not satisfied, Jessica has been busy with her carried and just because of that he dares cheat on her."

Despite they were all aware of the fact Jessica was the one who cheated on the man first, as they were on her side, they felt angry towards the man.

Father continued to converse with the woman as he noticed some people were passing by acting all curious. His two friends must have share what had happened already as there were people inside the house.

"Wait, come inside first. I'll go get my family and son-in-law." Father Blake escorted the woman to one of their seating areas. As she left the woman who was still in tears, some of the guests started peeking to see who the woman was.

"Hey, isn't that woman an actress?"

"That's right, but she isn't that famous."

It was not long when Father Blake returned with his family along with Jacob, who was already aware of everything. As he saw the woman, he became shocked to see her tears look all so real. 'Did they threaten her or something?'

"Jacob, what is the meaning of this?" Father Blake inquired as he pointed his finger at the woman seated on the sofa.

"I don't know what you're talking about, I don't even know who she is." Jacob replied unbothered by everything showing no interest at all.

"Father please calm down, there must be some mistake her. Excuse me miss, who are you and why are you looking for my husband." Jessica spoke in such a gentle and kind manner. Those nearby who heard her praised her for her manners. She was indeed the perfect wife making everyone to start cursing Jacob.

"I'm sorry Miss Jessica, but you see…" She cried as she shakily handed a piece of paper to them.

It was Tom who took the paper as he looked at it first, acting all shocked from what he had just seen. He then glared at the man who seems to be unaware of everything, "You b*stard, what is the meaning of this!"

"Brother, what are you doing shouting at my husband for." Jessica became angry as well as she moved forward to protect Jacob. "What is that anyways?"

"See for yourself." Tom handed the piece of paper to Jessica. Deep inside, he felt like laughing as he and his family were such good actors. He thought, 'Maybe I should star in a movie as well, maybe I could win an award.'

As soon as Jessica finished reading the piece of paper, she looked blankly at the woman and approached her instead of confronting Jacob. "You, what do you want? You want money, don't you? You dare…"

"Jessica calm down dear, what is going on?" Mother Blake said as she pulled her daughter away, who was about to drag the woman. As they needed to make things so realistic, she pulled her daughter so hard, which almost caused Jessica to lose her balance. As the piece of paper flew away, one of their guests took it.

"My word, it's a pregnancy test result."

"Pay-what result?"

"The woman is three weeks pregnant."

People stared whispering as they stared disgustingly at Jacob, who still looked unmoved by everything.

"Jacob, dear, what is the meaning of this?" Jessica started acting like a top actress as her tears started rolling down her face. "Is she, did you really?"

"Like I said, I don't even know her at all." Jacob responded as he went closer and questioned the woman. "Who are you? And, when did I even do such a thing to you."

"I'm sure you don't remember but it was back …." The woman started explaining everything, those nearby were such that such a thing happened. "I was drunk that time too and was resting in my room, I thought the person who enter was my partner but I eventually found out it wasn't you. If you don't believe me, you can go ahead and check the surveillance footage back in the hotel."

Her tears were as large as raindrop. Her acting was even far better than Jessica's. People were so moved by her acting that they really thought everything was real and not set up.

"Jacob, you b*stard, you dare cheat on my sister when she is this good to you." Tom burst towards Jacob and punched him in the face.

Jacob who already saw Tom's fist heading his way, didn't move at all. He let the man directly hit him, causing him to stumble on the ground. Tom did not stop from one or two punched; he vented out all his frustration and only stopped until he saw fresh blood was coming out of the man's lips.

"Tom, that's enough." Father Blake said as he pulled his son away. Even though his son had gone too far, he didn't care at all at the man and just watched him as he slowly got up.

Everyone witnessed what happened and showed no pity towards the man. As Jacob got up, he gazes at the people all staring at him. He continued to look all indifferent and only looked down at the ground.

"How could you do this to me?" Jessica cried all pitifully as he stepped away from Jacob, all disappointed.

"Was it really I who did it?" Jacob Wayne said as he looked at his family, especially at his so-called brother-in-law.

"You-"Mother Blake said whilst staring furiously at the man. She panicked, looking around as there were people around worried that their plans with all go to waste. "You have lived in our home for free all these years. We didn't ask for a single cent from you. Yet, you repay my daughter's love by cheating on her."

"Ha-ha, you all sure play a good act." Jacob laughed as he watched each of the Blakes start pointing all their fingers at him.

"You b*stard, I never like you in the first place. My sister should just have divorce you from the start. Yet, we she pitted you since your family didn't care for you at all." Tom yelled, causing those around them to be shocked. "You own family didn't even bother to attend your own wedding. Yet, it seems they are far more interested in their adopted son's wedding. See, you have nothing yet you act so arrogant right now."

"Jessica, you better divorce this man right now. What's the point in being with him? He has a child already with another woman." Mother Blake insisted as she nagged on to her daughter's arms.

Suddenly, everyone was silent when they saw the man pull out something from his inner pocket. It was a folded document.

"You want us to divorce." Jacob then took out the piece of document and signed it in front of all of them. "So, I'm giving it to you." He then tosses the signed divorce papers to them without a single word and walked away without looking back.

Everyone was in shock when they saw the papers flying in the air. Even the Blake who was acting earlier were now for real, in shock. They did not expect that the man was already aware of the divorce. The fact he had the papers with him, he must have known about their plans.

The party ended as soon as Jacob left. The family was left behind with the woman.

"You, here…" Tom gave the woman a bag of money, as he was pleased with everything. "You can go, don't you dare reveal to him what happen or else."

"I won't, I promise." Leslie said as he grabbed the bag of money and left.

They didn't bother asking if whether the girl wanted to keep the baby or not. The fact the unborn child does have the blood of the Wayne, the Wayne might suddenly show interest towards the man.

"What should we do, it seems he was aware from the start." Jessica panicky, she said as she worried about what was to happen.

"Don't worry, what's important now is that the two of you have finally divorce. What are you so worried about anyway."

"What if the Wayne will be interested in that woman?" Jessica said as she continued to look at the woman from outside the window who was walking out of their gate.

"As if, if they don't show any interest to you. Do you think they'll be interested in some unknown girl?"

Jacob, who was walking along the street, was in deep thought, wondering what he needed to do. He was wondering if whether he should go home or not. He didn't really want to bother his family with his affairs. However, it seems his family thinks differently than him.

It hadn't even been an hour or so when Jacob left Blake's residence when a man in a black suit was already following him from behind.

"What are you doing here?" Jacob turned to face the man as he sighed in disbelieve at how fast the news reached his family.

"Old Master is looking for you."

Jacob didn't bother arguing nor resisted. He just went inside the car that appeared out of nowhere and stopped right in front of him.

'Damn it, that old man sure has so many ears.'

After a few hours' drive, they finally returned to Wayne's main residence. It was the home of the Wayne elders. It was where he grew up, away from his parents.