Underrated Secret Billionaire

Chapter 2: The Price of Letting Go

Jalen stood motionless, the weight of the cheque still lingering in his hand as though it carried the stench of insult. The paper might as well have been drenched in kerosene for how much it scorched his pride.

He stared at Tiana with quiet disbelief, her expression smug, as though she had won some twisted game.

His fingers curled tightly around the edge of the cheque, his jaw clenched. For a fleeting moment, his mind played with the idea of striking her; not out of hatred, but because she had crossed a boundary no one ever should.

But he held back.

It was not just the law that restrained him, but something deeper, something in his upbringing that told him that no matter the provocation, a man should never raise his hand against a woman. If it had been Andrew — Tiana’s older brother, who spoke to him like that, fists would have flown.

No doubt.

Jalen exhaled deeply, long and slow, before lifting his eyes again. There was something about the finality of the moment that made him feel detached from his own limbs. He forced a wry smile, one that held no joy, only surrender.

“I agree to the divorce,” he said quietly.

He placed the cheque gently on the centre table, like one would return a cursed item. Without waiting for a response, he turned toward the door, holding just the wedding ring.

Evelyn clapped slowly from the corner, the sound laced with mockery. “Oh, how noble,” she said sarcastically. “At least you know your place.”

But deep down, her stomach churned. The cheque was Tiana’s idea, her ‘parting gift,’ and Evelyn had only gone along with it because she knew it would humiliate Jalen.

Yet the fact that he returned it so easily, as though it meant nothing, made her furious. He was not supposed to walk away with dignity.

Nina scoffed from the couch. “If he hadn’t dropped it, I would have snatched it from his hand myself,” she said with a grin.

Tiana turned sharply. “Nina, please. This is not your fight.”

“Isn’t it?” Nina asked, raising a brow. “You married him. We all had to suffer him.”

Jalen had reached the door, but something made him pause. Slowly, he turned back to face them; the three women who had, not long ago, called him family.

His eyes swept across their faces with a sardonic smile, a bitter laugh escaping his lips. He shrugged, as though the entire scene amused him, then turned around again and walked away.

Tiana’s eyes followed him as he disappeared through the door. Her hands dropped loosely to her sides, her breath shallow.

“Why are you staring like that?” Evelyn asked, rising from her seat with narrowed eyes.

“I’m not staring,” Tiana replied quickly, lowering her gaze.

Evelyn stepped closer, her eyes full of suspicion. “You are worried.”

“No, I’m not,” Tiana said, shaking her head.

“Yes, you are,” Nina added, eyes sharp. “Why? You should be celebrating. You’ve finally gotten rid of him.”

Tiana remained silent, her lips pressed into a thin line.

Evelyn circled her like a hawk. “Why do you look like you’ve lost something?” she asked. “Is it that you still feel something for him? Is that it?”

Tiana turned away, but Evelyn grabbed her arm and forced her to face her. “Answer me, Tiana! Do you still love him?”

“No!” Tiana said coldly. “I’m above his level now. He no longer belongs in my world.”

Those words gave Evelyn pause. She took a step back, nodding slowly, then pulled out her phone and began typing swiftly.

Tiana frowned. “What are you doing?”

“Nothing important,” Evelyn muttered. “Just sending a message.”

“To who?”

“Don’t concern yourself,” Evelyn said, slipping the phone back into her purse. “What matters is this, you must forget Jalen. That chapter is closed. You are a Brooks, and you will marry a man who can reflect your status. A billionaire. Not a struggling man trying to catch up.”

“I have no intention of marrying anyone,” Tiana replied coldly.

Evelyn sighed with exasperation. “You’re not serious. You’ll change your mind when you see what I have planned.”

“I said I’m not interested.” With that, Tiana turned and began climbing the stairs to her room.

Evelyn remained at the base of the staircase, watching silently. Once Tiana’s door shut, she folded her arms, her lips tight with displeasure.

Upstairs, Tiana leaned against her bedroom door, her chest rising and falling in uneven rhythm. The silence inside the room was too loud.

For years, she had convinced herself that Jalen was nothing more than a phase, a mistake she had to correct. But now that he was truly gone, the emptiness startled her.

It wasn’t love, at least she didn’t think so but something had been severed, and the ache it left behind was undeniable.

Outside the villa, Jalen walked towards his car, the weight of finality settling into his chest. Each step felt heavier than the last. He had lost more than a marriage; he had lost his sense of belonging.

“Leaving without a goodbye?”

Jalen turned to see Andrew; taller, though two years younger than him, stepping out from behind a pillar.

“Andrew,” Jalen muttered under his breath. “What do you want?”

Andrew approached, arms folded. “I heard my sister gave you a cheque. A million dollars, abi? Very generous.”

Jalen said nothing.

Andrew’s smile widened. “Hand it over.”

Jalen let out a short laugh, more from disbelief than amusement. “I returned it.”

Andrew’s brow lifted. “Liar.”

“Call your mother,” Jalen said, folding his arms.

Andrew frowned and dialled quickly. “Mum, did he—” He paused. His expression changed. “Okay.” He hung up and stared at Jalen. “So you really gave it back? Are you mad? Do you know what you just threw away? That’s money you will never earn in your entire life.”

Jalen turned to walk past him, but Andrew blocked his path.

“You’re pathetic. You should become a beggar. That suits you better.”

Jalen’s smile vanished. “Move.”

“Or what?”

Andrew pushed him. Just a nudge but it was enough.

In one swift movement, Jalen grabbed Andrew’s arm, twisted it, and sent him sprawling to the ground with a solid kick. Andrew tried to retaliate, but Jalen’s movements were swift. Within seconds, Andrew was on the ground again, groaning in pain.

“I’ve tolerated you long enough,” Jalen said, his voice low. “Next time, I won’t be this gentle.”

Andrew spat blood to the side and laughed through his pain. “You think this is over? Even if I die and come back, I’ll still deal with you.”

Jalen shook his head and walked away without another word.

Andrew lay there for a moment before dragging himself to his feet. He retrieved his phone with trembling fingers, dialing a number.

“Tiana,” he gasped, adding dramatic coughs for effect. “He attacked me. Jalen. He beat me up for no reason. I was only trying to talk to him, he went crazy.”

“What?” Tiana’s voice was full of shock. “He did what?”

Andrew grinned, pressing his bruised cheek with his palm. “Yes. Can you imagine? He just snapped. I didn’t even provoke him.”

As he ended the call, Andrew smiled to himself. The anger in his sister’s voice told him everything he needed to know.

She was going to make Jalen’s life a nightmare. And that was exactly what he and Evelyn had always wanted.