Chapter 3.

"Honey," Michelle called out, her brows scrunched into a frown.

However, Mark didn't reply. There were too many things roaming in his head. But then he wanted to ask just one question.

"Did you by any chance accept to get a divorce?" He asked and Michelle shook her head frantically.

"No, I didn't. I would never do that and you know that." Michelle said, going to stand before Mark.

He could see the honesty in her eyes but then from the slight shaking of her voice, he knew that she was hiding something important from him.

"What are you hiding, Michelle?" He asked suddenly and her eyes went wide.

"Did they threaten you? You can let me know, I'll do anything to get them off our backs." Mark said, taking hold of her shoulder.

"I-i, S-she…" Michelle began, stuttering. However, she was cut off by the sound of Mark's phone.

"Shit!" Mark cussed as he took out his phone again. He angrily connected the call and it turned out to be his brother-in-law, Philip who was away in another country, he wasn't aware that they were married. He only knew they were dating as he was informed before by his mother.

"It's Philip." Mark mouthed and then placed the call on the loudspeaker.

"Brat, what are you whispering about?" Philip asked in an overly loud tone, making Michelle cringe in disgust.

"What does he want?" Michelle mouthed those words and Mark shrugged.

"What do you want, Philip?" He asked in a harsh tone.

"Quit talking to me that way," Philip shouted over the phone and Mark was starting to think that shouting ran through their blood.

"You have no use for the family and you go about looking for jobs. You're tarnishing our family's image. You are not fit for us at all." Philip continued to scream over the phone.

"I didn't get married to any of you guys. So shut the fuck up." Mark said, slowly and threateningly.

"Also, what does it have to do with you if I go about looking for jobs?" It has nothing to do with you so stay the fuck away from us." Mark yelled over the phone this time.

He was starting to lose his cool and it wasn't nice.

No one would want to believe that Philip was the CEO of the family business. He didn't act like one at all.

On the other side of the phone, Philip was momentarily dumbfounded at Mark's words.

He had not spoken to Mark for a long time and he never knew that Mark was so bold now.

However, he was quick to recover from his momentary shock and he decided to threaten Mark.

"You know I could get you kicked out of your tiny hole called a house. I don't care if Michelle is kicked out with you, she can always come back to the family, I don't know why she is with you."

Philip laughed mockingly and then he continued, "As for you, you have no freaking family to go to. You're just an adopted son, living off scraps and crumbs." Philip said finally and he burst into another round of mocking laughter.

On the other hand, Mark was seething. One thing he disliked greatly was being called an adopted son.

Sometimes, he wished he could turn back time and stop his adoption process.

But then he wouldn't have met Michelle if it happened.

Michelle then suddenly held Mark's arm. She was trying to comfort him, as she knew his deepest sorrows.

Mark took a deep breath and then said, "You know, I have always wondered if you had a real job." His words were simple with a hidden meaning.

"Look who is talking," Philip said. His voice was incredibly calm now as he didn't like being mocked over his job.

"You have been going around for interviews. Sending proposals to different companies but you just never knew that we have blocked all means for you." Philip said and Michelle's eyes widened.

She just never thought her family will go to such an extent to punish Mark and break their marriage.

"What do you mean, Philip?" Michelle asked. She had been quiet ever since, trying to keep her cool.

"Oh little sister, are you there?" He snorted and then continued, "Mother demanded that every company in the city reject your fucking boyfriend's application or proposal right on sight. Isn't that glorious?" Philip explained and let out a mocking laugh.

"How does that sound, huh? Powerful, right?" Philip asked, proudly.

Michelle couldn't keep her balance and Mark was dumbfounded at the level of hatred they had toward him. She had to sit on the bed, to steady herself.

He could see how unsettled Michelle was and he was about to disconnect the call when he heard Philip's next words.

"Now, if by tomorrow, Michelle is still with you, she will be disowned. I heard she is pregnant for you, that's great but that baby wouldn't be accepted." Philip threatened and Michelle gasped.

"We are now ma_" Michelle didn't finish.

The call was then disconnected by Philip. s

She wanted to inform him that they were now married and no longer dating.

"Philips!" Mark said to himself, he didn't care about the threat made but those two words rang in his head.

"Are you pregnant?" Mark asked immediately and Michelle had a horrified expression on her face.

She never wanted Mark to find out about their baby that way.

"Yes…" She answered finally.

"Why didn't you inform me, huh? How did your family know about it?" Mark asked.

"They have been monitoring every one of my moves. Also, my mother has threatened to terminate my pregnancy if we don't get divorced. She threatened me." Michelle said, her eyes turning red but she had no more tears to cry.

"Shit!" Mark cursed. He didn't like how incompetent he was. He couldn't even protect his wife.

"I can never let you go, Michelle. And our baby is here to stay. I have waited for this for a long ass time." Mark said while moving closer to Michelle.

He took her by the hand, and his gaze turned gentle.

"Thank you, Michelle. For fighting alongside me. I'll make sure to protect you and the baby." He declared and then placed a kiss on her hand.

"I believe in you, Mark," Michelle said and stood up to her feet.

"How is my baby doing?" Mark asked with a big smile on his face.

He loved the idea of having a baby and he wouldn't shy away from his fatherly duties.

Also, he would finally have a complete family and he couldn't wait one bit. He just needed to get things in order.

"Do you think it's going to be a girl? I don't want a naughty boy." Mark continued to rant about the baby and Michelle smacked his shoulder.

"The baby had not even formed yet. You should relax." Michelle said playfully. Her eyes are crinkled in laughter.

The threats that were made toward them was quickly thrown to the back of their mind.

In one swift second, the couple embraced each other, lovingly.

As they stayed in each other's embrace, they both had their thoughts in mind.

Michelle was worried about Mark's safety. She didn't let Mark know but Elizabeth had also threatened to get Mark harmed.

On the other hand, Mark was confused about how he was going to protect his wife and baby. He had no money and connections but he had the brains.

Breaking away from the hug, he said, I'll be right back."

Michelle frowned at his words at first, but then she nodded finally.

She watched as Mark walked out of the door, and her eyes watered.

That day, she found out that Mark had initially asked her mother for a job but he was turned down.

She felt greatly embarrassed that she had asked him to ask her mother for a job, earlier.

"It must have been too hurtful for him," Michelle said to herself, as she tried to imagine how Mark felt when she made that suggestion.

She coveted his calmness, even after her mother had insulted him continuously. The threats that were made against them didn't set him off guard.

However, she knew he was keeping things to himself.

Michelle's eyes turned redder, at these thoughts.

Sighing loudly, she sat on the bed to think of what to do. Coupled with that, she was starting to feel pregnant. And she resolved to take care of herself and keep her marriage to Mark intact.

She couldn't fathom the thought of losing him in any way.

Outside the house, Mark had stepped out to get an audience with a friend.

He had resisted calling up his friend but now he needed all the help he can get.

He was willing to throw away his pride and ego, just to protect his wife and baby.

Mark didn't bother to get a cab because he knew that he wouldn't get one.

As he walked on the side of the road, a Lincoln Limousine parked beside him but Mark continued to walk forward.

He just never thought such a nice car wouldn't stop over, just for him.

However, three hefty men, dressed in black suits, stepped out of the car. They immediately pulled a black bag over Mark's head and dragged him into the car.