The World Under His Fist

CHAPTER THREE

A scoffed laugh came from one of the others in the hall and a beautiful young lady– though not as beautiful as Lara Jane but shared the same lengthy brown hair as her– walked forward towards Lara Jane and Ansel.

She stood with her hands rested on her hips as she spoke. “Why must your filthy husband always go around embarrassing our family like this? Can't he have a little self-respect?”

Her name was Rachel Cree, Lara Jane’s younger sister. A scowl sat on her face as she spoke. “Fight with the security on grandma's birthday? Certainly that can't be forgiven.”

“That's right!” Rachel's fiancé, a handsome young man, stepped into the light. His name was Austin Royal. “We are the oldest grandsons of the Cree family, we should at least hold up a little self-respect if nothing at all. Don't you have any shame at all?” His brow arched.

Austin was more irritated by Ansel's presence than anyone else in the entire room. He was sure he hated him more than anyone in the entire city.

Austin had always had his eyes on Lara Jane and hoped to marry her. It was no surprise, since he wasn't the only one who felt that way.

Lara Jane– which most of them referred to as LJ– was probably the most beautiful woman in the entire Ferrera city and a lot of wealthy families were hoping to have her as their daughter-in-law.

Austin wished for no more than to have LJ as his own wife, but a useless nobody like Ansel was the one she ended up with.

“Why did we ever let him enter here in the first place?”

“Look at the clothes he has on! Such an atrocity!”

“I don't even want to get too close to him because I'm sure he might be stinking so badly.”

“We should have him kicked out.”

“Yes, let's kick him out.”

The guests began to agree with one another to have him kicked out of the party. Ansel could do nothing but stand there with clenched fists.

The Cree family were always embarrassing him, but he had never felt so scorned in his life. Anger caused his veins to bulge in his neck as he swallowed hard and his teeth clenched.

His feet seemed to be glued to the ground as beads of sweat formed on his forehead. He felt like he could explode from the anger that kept rising in him without control.

Austin stepped forward towards him and shook his head in a disappointed manner. He scrutinized Ansel with his squinting gaze as he spoke. "I don't even feel proud to have you as the second brother-in-law of the Cree family. Do you not have any shame at all?

"I offered you a job to work as a dry cleaner so you would not be so useless but you refused! You have a huge foolish pride!" He raised his hands in the air to show the size of Ansel's pride as he spoke. "And I swear that pride will be the death of you."

His rage had gotten to his throat and he felt like he could no longer contain it anymore. He clenched his fist.

No matter what they had to say about him, he had to stay and face the scorn just so he could get the money he needed for Mr Albert's safe surgery.

Grandma Cree spoke, silencing everyone. "I don't have time for this. Go ahead then, tell me why you are here."

Ansel swallowed, he didn't want to say it in front of everyone but he would not be given another chance to speak so he confessed. "I need to borrow some money from my wife to pay Mr Albert's hospital bills. The doctor has refused to continue treatment unless payment is made and I really need help."

People immediately began to snicker. "Borrow money from his wife? He is really so useless!"

"How could he say such a thing so boldly? He must have no shame!"

"How despicable!"

Grandma Cree barked a laugh. "Borrow money from Lara Jane? You must know that she cannot give you any money without my consent, it is my money after all so you are asking for my money."

Ansel breathed heavily and spoke. "If so then yes. Borrow me some money to pay at least half the bills."

Everyone was surprised by his tone. He didn't even show any signs of shame at all.

Lara Jane noticed the look of hatred and anger on her grandmother's face. She took a deep sigh and forced her lips into a smile. “Grandmother, I have to apologize for Ansel's intrusion tonight, but I must say, Mr Albert is the only family he has left, and he cannot afford to lose him. This alone makes his action understandable.

"I know it is within your reach, so please, help him just this once. You are such a kind and thoughtful woman, and I only hope your kindness can reach him this once. Please.” She spoke as softly as she could just so the rigid old woman could give her words some thoughts.

The old woman grumbled to herself before speaking. “You want me to help him so badly? Then I guess I can buy this… this is a favor I am willing to offer him and, in return, I want you two to get a divorce.”

Paul Bryant's ears pricked as he heard those words. He had already bribed her to convince Lara Jane to divorce her useless husband but he never knew she would do it so openly.

“Get a divorce and everyone will be happy. I will give him ten– no, no, twenty million dollars! If it isn't enough, I can raise it even higher and you, you will finally get to be with a man worthy of you. A man like Paul Bryant.”

Paul smiled brightly at Lara Jane. "Your grandmother is right, do the reasonable thing here Lara Jane. Everyone will be happy and Albert will get to live."

Lara Jane sighed. “Not this again.” She murmured to herself.

Grandma Cree was very persistent. "I want an answer now. Will you divorce him and make everyone happy?”