Chapter 8

While Jones was winning the hearts of some members of the Mackin family, some members’ hearts were being shattered. After a tough discussion about Jones’ being the heir of the family and the challenge faced by Drake from Jones’ entourage, the family decided to give every member some days to think about it and come back to a conclusion. Jones was happy to rejoin the family, but Drake was also giving him a tough time. Drake decided to visit his father at the hospital and relay the situation on the ground.

‘Jones has risen beyond our capabilities. But there is only one way to find his end…death!’ Said Bruno with a sickly and palpitating voice on his sick bed. Bruno had been crippled by the stroke. Except for everything that makes up his head to the neck and his left hand, his body was totally paralyzed. The doctor said he had eaten a toxic substance which was not detected exactly because it had been crushing him for a long time without notice. Bruno couldn't accuse anybody of his ailment because he was a sot and liked partying. Drake on the other hand, didn't try to fish out the cause, but nobody noticed.

‘Yes, that's what he will get. And I will use whatever in my capacity to make sure he doesn't become the heir of the family. But there is a problem, father.’ Drake fumed.

‘What is that?’ Bruno said with a shaking voice.

‘Some of us are supporting Jones as the true heir of the family. That is also complicating the issue.’

‘Don’t worry too much…’ he coughed rigorously and continued, ‘son, to finally kill a snake, you have to cut off its head. Let's take down their hope, so they will be hopeless.’ He concluded with another palpitating cough.

‘I understand, father. The battle line has been drawn for Jones already.’

Lana couldn't believe it when she heard about Jones' profound wealth, fame, and saving his family from the brink of shame and loss which had been the goes in the State. Had realized her mistake of listening to her parents divorce and accuse him of raping, whereas she was the one who betrayed and cheated on him. Jones was the source of her growing business before. Since she had been duped and dumped by the guy, and her parents' businesses had crashed due to inadequate funds, she couldn't make it again. She planned to go and apologize before Jones, because she knew he loved her so much but she was the one fucked up. When she got to his mansion, she wasn't allowed to pass the first gate let alone the second one. She started crying out of disgrace and regret when she told the guards she was his wife, but she was called a liar and warned to be arrested if she tried anything stupid.

‘Please even if it's a moment! Just tell him it's Lana.' She cried awkwardly, but nobody bites her. She decided to leave after much begging.

‘Stop the lady!’ The bouncer shouted, telling the guards. Lana heard that; she thought she was in trouble and started running for her life, she was followed by the guards. Then the bouncer yelled again, ‘I said you should stop her! If she escapes, you are in trouble!’ The guards doubled their speed and caught her. She was screaming and crying, ‘Let go of me!’

‘It is okay, Lana. Come over here. I'm the one who told them to stop you.’ Said Jones who had been coming to meet her but stopped in the middle of his compound. She was hesitant before she could gather her courage to go. She almost stumbled looking at the dazzling mansions, the luxurious cars, and the gallant entourages Jones had.

‘Why are you, Lana.’ asked Jones who sat like a king and surrounded by his bouncers, looking at her calmly.

‘I have nothing to say, Jones. I just want to apologize to you for everything my family and I have done.’ She moved closer to him, trying to touch him. ‘I have realized where I got it wrong, Dear. Please forgive me, and I promise you that I won't take your love for granted again even for a second.’ He stopped her from touching him.

Talking bossily, ‘If I forgive you now, Lana, what do you want to happen?’

Stammering, ‘I want you to marry me again, please.’

‘Oookay!’ said Jones with sarcasm. He stretched his right hand to the back and was provided with a piece of paper. He placed it on the table between her and her.

‘Wha? A divorce paper! Please don't do this to me, Jones. I'm so sorry…’

‘Sign the paper and leave!’ He rose and prepared to go in. ‘If she tries to prove stubbornness, carry her and throw her outside.’ He left inside.

‘Forgive me, please!’ She sobbed like an infant.

‘I can't. Only God forgives best.’ He said softly as he went in.

Lana looked beaten; she couldn't take the pressure of her feeling shameful anymore, she signed the divorce paper and ran cowardly out of the mansion. She knew it was over between them because when Jones was given a divorce paper, he tore it instead of signing for he loved her.

Drake had gone to influence the decision of some family members on whether Jones would be the heir or not by threatening them. How did Drake plan to win? He had lied to his father that the tax fees he used for an investment had crashed with it, but the business was favorable for him in reality. The Mackin Mansions that harbored the nobles were turned into the shelter of scramble and partition. They met after a week to decide. Everybody was present on time except Drake who was late. Jones knew about Drake’s opposition against him and what he could do to achieve anything, but the trillionaire was calculative on where and when to strike so that his enemy would have no more strength to survive it. Everybody sat round the long rectangular glass table in the guest room which was heaving the specialty of the family. Jones sat at one end of the table with his two bouncers. Wood, the eldest member of the family after Bruno, ordered the beginning of the meeting after prayer. Drake's mother, as the eldest woman, spoke first.

‘I don't want to start with this, but I don't have any choice other than to do it. Appointing Jones as the heir of the family will be a colossal decision. Why…he is a bad omen? His mother died immediately after she gave birth to him, his father died when he celebrated his graduation at 20, and my husband became a stroke patient the day he returned to this family after he ran away for years. I can say much, but this is enough to be evil.’ She said fearlessly. Drake entered immediately and she was uttering the last statement. Jones remained calm

‘Yes, we must shun evil!’ He entered and banged the table and started firing words without sitting or greeting anyone. ‘It will be unwise if we give the leadership of the family to the one we don't know is the source of his wealth, and the one who doesn't know how the family has been for over ten years.’ He paused and looked at everybody before he continued. They started to murmur, and then he stopped so that what he said might penetrate them.

Jones cleared his throat and talked. ‘Thanks to everyone who has shared his or her opinion. I don't have much to say, but all allegations raised against me are baseless. If anybody says I'm a bad omen, let the person prove to every one of us that I'm the cause of all the incidents. Or who is not worthy to crave leadership between those who have dashed the family honor to the ground for years and the one who makes a change one day? Lastly, if anybody is legitimately worthy of this position as me, let the family finalize.’ He gave a slight smile at Drake who sat directly opposite him.’ What Jones said had weakened those against him that nobody knew what to say and how to win him. Others shared their views.

Wood got up to address everybody. ‘Caution, everybody! Let us remember that we are here to establish the welfare and unity of this family, not enmity, so let's calm down. To all of us, it is clear that Jones is the right heir of the Mackin family and has what it takes to do it. But the problem is ‘does he understand how it is done? Will he succeed?...is that not your worry?’ He asked everybody.

‘Yes!’ They murmured.

‘By the power conferred on me by all the members of this family, this is my submission…’ he paused, everybody was silent and attentive. Wood made a quick decision in his heart boldly.

‘Jones will be the heir of the great family of Mackin…if he is able to get a legitimate wife and marry within 3 days. Failure to do that nullifies him as the right heir!’ He concluded without fear.

‘Yes!’ Drake banged the table and burst into laughter.

Jones didn't expect such a decision. How will a wealthy man like him get a loyal and legitimate wife and marry her within 3 days?

‘Why? I mean how will…’ He felt disappointed.