Chapter 8

'What the heck?' John exclaimed inwardly.

Without wasting a second, John turned to confirm his suspicions.

He cursed again. This can't be, how was it possible? What connection did she have with his father? Can she recognize him? Who was this man she was holding so tightly? The question kept coming but there was only one way they could be answered- he needed to comfort her.

Even with that mask on her face, he found it so easy to recognize her.

He remained mute, waiting for her to make the first initiative. He wanted her to recognize him. He wanted her to say something that would make him know that indeed, she recognized him.

Damn, she even had a smile on her face.

"Good day sir, I am Mrs. Grey."

"Sir?" He muttered without realizing that his voice was loud enough for both his mother-in-law and the man beside her to hear.

"And I am Mr. Kendrick, one of your father's business associates."

Again, John was shocked. Of course, with an immediate effect, he recognized who the fuck this man was. He was the same man that his wife had mysteriously gone crazy for and the sole reason his mother-in-law has wanted him to file for a divorce.

But at the same time, he couldn't let his emotions get the best of him, else, he exposes his identity.

"So how may I help you?" John asked with a creased forehead, sizing the good-looking man with his gaze.

Never in his life had he ever seen his mother-in-law with a smile but there she was, smiling like a fool as she stared at Kendrick. He didn't want to think to the drastic side but with the way Mrs. Grey had held Mr. Kendrick, it would only make sense if one thinks that she was the one who was getting married to him.

"Since your father will be retiring, and you become in charge of his companies, I would like to propose a stronger alliance between our firms."

John couldn't get more irritated. Never would he do such. He can't possibly help Kendrick get more money, only for his ex-wife to enjoy it. Instead, he would stop at nothing to see that The Kendricks' name fell to the mud.

Without the will to hide his objection, John confidently blurted out. "No, I wouldn't want that." He said, his gaze fixed on his mother-in-law whose smile had now turned into a frown.

"This would be beneficial with both our firms, if you wish, I can drop by the headquarters for a–"

"This lady, who is she to you?" John interrupted with his gaze still fixed on his mother-in-law.

"Oh, she is my mother-in-law, my wedding with her daughter is in a week, if you wish, I could invite you."

John had wanted to say something that might reveal his identity but was stopped when he saw his mother-in-law gesturing for someone to come meet them.

Heart beating and heavy sighing, John couldn't believe what… who he was looking at. His wife.

She looked so happy and of course, beautiful as she approached them. He had expected that she would go to her mother who had called for her but to John's surprise, she went to embrace Kendrick. The next second, she gave him a quick kiss before turning to face John.

He hoped she could recognize, at least. She was his wife, she should be able to recognize him with or without the mask but no way, she was just as oblivious as her mother.

She stretched forth her hand for a handshake but instead of receiving it, John chose to just stare at it which brought forth a weird silence. Beatrice knew that it was her queue to place her hand back in its previous position.

"You look like an already married woman," John said, clearly waiting for her to deny the fact that she had never been married.

"Oh, I was married to some good-for-nothing man but we are now divorced. Soon, I will be Kendrick's bride." Beatrice uttered with so much confidence.

"Good for nothing?' He asked.

"Yes, but like I said, we are now divorced." She said,

John could only sigh. This was too much to bare. Now, he had heard it from the horse's mouth, his determination for payback became more intense.

With nothing left to say, John turned his back on them, trying to walk away but before they could call for him, Mr. Sebastian's voice echoed through the loudspeaker.

He called for everyone's attention and then called for John to come join him on the stage.

"As everyone knows, my son who will be my successor is back and I will use this means to announce my retirement plan."

A wave of whispers followed suit but with one order of silence from Mr. Sebastian, they were all made to keep mute.

"My son, John, is now the CEO of my firm. All my properties have been signed to his name but his identity will remain a secret for security reasons."

Anyone in John's shoes should be happy with what Mr. Sebastian had said but the case was different for John, whose gaze was still fixed on his wife and her supposed husband-to-be.

He understood that it was because of money she ran to Kendrick. What happens if he was to show her that the man behind the mask was her husband? Would she leave Kendrick at that spot or would she still consider getting married to Kendrick?

But John's trance was greatly cut short by a yell from his half-brother, Luke. His eyes were red and swollen, almost seeming like he had just finished a long section of crying.

"No! It's not possible. You can't do this, Father. He left you, so why do you want to give all that you have to him?" Luke asked.

"We are leaving." Mr. Sebastian uttered. He took John by the hand and walked down the stage. He got no time for this. He had delivered his message, so he had no business staying at the event just to exchange words with Luke.

****

"Can you tell me more about the Kendricks?" John asked as they got into the car.

"It seems you must have met one of them, they are one of my rivals but I keep them as my business associates."

"Not anymore, they took something that belongs to me, my wife," John said with so much disgust. He was now in charge, he decides who stays and who leaves. His father's money will make it easy to ruin the Kendricks' wealth and name.

His wife can never escape getting married to a wretched man, he promised himself that.

"You mean Miss Beatrice? She's no good to you. You need to understand that with the kind of power you now possess, you don't need some fuck up gold digger. I think you should let that young man be. He will soon realize the woman he desperately wants to marry." Mr. Sebastian said, irritated by the fact that his son still had that petty thief in his mind.

He was now in money and should have women to his dispense but John seemed to disagree with this.

No way! He can't let this slide. Yes, he had the money but there was one thing he didn't have- payback. He wanted his wife to know what she had just missed and at the same time, thank her. If she and her mother hadn't betrayed his trust, then he would never have thought of going back to his father.

With gnashed teeth, John blurted out. "No! Do you expect me to let them go scot-free after ridiculing me? I won't do that. You have given me access to your wealth, then allow me to use it."