The World Under His Fist

CHAPTER TWO

All the way there, Ansel kept thinking about how to get himself into the event. He tried calling his wife again but the call kept getting declined. Jeremiah was still with her phone no doubt.

But he could not turn back.

When he arrived at the Cree mansion, security blocked his path. The broad chest man placed a hand in front of Ansel and spoke in a gruff tone. "Where do you think you are going? Were you invited to the event?"

Ansel kept his tone cool. "I'm family, i don't need an invite."

The other security man recognised him immediately. "Aren't you the family's useless son in law? Weren't you ordered to stay away from this mansion? Are you planning on spoiling the special day?"

Ansel immediately spoke up, denying such claims. "Of course not! I'm just here for my wife, her number isn't going through and I'm worried."

"Worried? You should know you are not wanted when you can't reach her. She's probably in there enjoying herself with Mr Paul Bryant so just stay away."

"Paul Bryant is in there?" Ansel was suddenly filled with so much anger.

Paul Bryant, the city's billionaire who had been after his wife for years. He had done everything to get Lara Jane to divorce Ansel but Lara Jane didn't seem to be interested in such ideas.

Still, Ansel always felt weary when he heard his wife was around Paul. Who knew maybe this time, Paul would be lucky in convincing her to marry him? Was that who she was with that she didn't take her phone with her?

"Where is your respect? You should address him with respect!" The security barked at him.

"Where is your respect for the son in law of the Cree family?" Ansel demanded but rather than a response, he was mocked by their laughter.

Ansel was still thinking when he saw his wife and Paul Bryant walking through the compound of the house. He immediately yelled out, trying to push his way through the two men. "Lara Jane! Lara Jane! Lara--"

One of them sent a punch to his gut and threw him roughly on the marbled ground. "What the fuck is wrong with this useless piece of trash?! Can you stop being such an embarrassment for such a prestigious family? Go away and stop causing a scene!"

Lara Jane noticed what was going on and decided to check it out. Besides, she had heard her name. "what is going on here?" She asked as she approached them, Paul Bryant by her side.

"Nothing ma'am. You should go back inside." One of the security guards said.

The other one supported his colleague. "Yes ma'am, it's just a miscreant. You should go back inside where it's safe."

Lara Jane nodded and turned to leave but then she heard his voice.

"Lara Jane!" Ansel called out as he rose to his feet. "It's me! Lara Jane!"

Lara was surprised to hear her husband's voice. She rushed towards him, pushing the guards away. "Ansel! Oh my goodness! Are you okay?" Her eyes widened with worry.

She snapped at the guards. "Are you two out of your minds? Do you not know him?"

"We do, that's why we stopped him when he tried to go inside and create a scene." They said proudly.

Lara Jane turned back to her husband and helped him to his feet. "What are you doing here? You know you weren't invited! You should have just stayed at the hospital like you said." She said firmly.

"I know and I'm sorry, it's just that you weren't answering your phone and I needed to talk to you urgently." Ansel explained.

"What's going on?" Lara Jane asked him.

Paul Bryant spoke up before Ansel could respond. "Why are you interviewing your husband in front of the security? You are degrading him. Come inside let's talk about where the prestigious people are." He said with a smile.

Both Lara Jane and Ansel knew it was only a trick to take him to where he would be embarrassed. Lara Jane shook her head and wanted to deny but Paul Bryant cut her off.

"I insist, or else I will cancel everything."

Ansel wondered what he meant by that. Before he could ask, his wife instructed. "Let's go inside."

Ansel didn't want to defy her, so he followed them inside.

Grandma Cree was smiling and happy as she greeted her guests, but as quickly as a calm water could turn into a tsunami, the smile on the old woman's face turned into an ugly frown as she saw Ansel walk into the hall.

Her voice was like a rising storm and her words rained down on him as sharp daggers. “You ungrateful useless bastard! How dare you come here?”

The entire hall fell silent at her words as she raged on. “What are you doing here?!"

"Grandma he--" Lara Jane started but Paul Bryant cut her off.

"Grandma, let's calm down and hear him out. He was fighting with the security guards and getting his ass whooped when I saved him. Let us all hear him out."

Everyone chuckled upon hearing Ansel was being beat up.

Ansel refused to let himself be ticked off by them, he had a more important thing than his pride to settle. If only Lara Jane would just let them talk alone.

Lara Jane walked forward, all eyes falling on her, and she stood in front of Ansel. “Grandma, I must apologize for my husband's mistakes, he is plainly ignorant, he didn't mean to cause any trouble for you.”

Ansel felt anger flicker inside him at her words. Ignorant. He wasn't that at all. He knew she was trying to protect him but he wished she would not do it like that. "Lara Jane, I'll leave, I swear I will. Just give me a minute, you're who I need to talk to." He reduced his voice so only she could hear what he was saying.

Lara glanced at him, anger burning in her usually serene gaze.