Ch.3 Regrets
1146 Words
"It appears there is nothing left I can do here to defend myself," Vaughn paused momentarily, his gaze drifting indifferently over everyone in the room.
"If that is truly what you desire..." Vaughn unexpectedly cut off his sentence, inciting irritation among the family.
"Out with it! "What do you mean, you scoundrel?" Nick demanded brusquely.
"Hey... hey! Were manners not taught to you by your parents? Vaughn responded dismissively."
" Vaughn, you scoundrel. A worthless son-in-law you are. Get out of my sight! Stella shouted angrily.
"If I leave, what becomes of the divorce agreement?
If I don't sign the consent form, then that vile woman remains my lawful wedded wife," Vaughn said with a laugh, though his heart was filled with spite.
"You're a loser! Who are you calling vile, you wretch?" Noelle cried out with rage,advancing to slap Vaughn. But then...
Snap!
Noelle's hand, primed to strike Vaughn's face, was effortlessly caught by him.
"I won't let your filthy hand touch my noble face again," Vaughn snapped back, flinging Noelle's hand away so fiercely she stumbled backward, nearly falling over.
"How dare you, Vaughn. In my house, laying hands on a woman so casually," Grandma Harrington bellowed in fury.
"Revered Grandma Harrington!" Vaughn mockingly mispronounced the family matriach's name to taunt her.
"Who is striking whom? Surely, you saw for yourself that it was this vile woman who tried to slap me first," Vaughn argued in his defense.
"You're a villain, Vaughn! The nerve to alter our grandmother's name to your liking! Nick raged in response.
"Ha... someone's angry."
"And what of it if I change names on a whim? Isn't it the case that all of you have done the same to me? So let's be fair," Vaughn taunted contentedly.
" You...!
"What about me? Want to hit Mr? come on if you dare," Vaughn challenged with an intimidating air, stepping toward Nick, who retreated behind Grandma Harrington.
" The audacity of you, Vaughn! Call the guards! Beat this man down," Grandma Harrington yelled, losing her composure.
"Several family members rushed out to summon the ever-ready household guards.
Moments later, five brawny, menacing-looking guards appeared and encircled Vaughn without a command.
Their arrival didn't intimidate Vaughn, who
Instead burst into boisterous laughter.
"Ha..ha.ha. These are the 'guards'? Five
runts like you?" Vaughn mocked disdainfully.
"Come at me if you wish to taste my fists,"
Vaughn goaded them.
Provoked, all five guards charged at him
Simultaneously.
Yet...
Thud!...thud!... Crash!..thud!...slap!
Suddenly, Vaughn moved. Before anyone fully grasped the situation, the guards were now scattered on the floor, some crashing into tables and walls, windows shattering. Four lay unconscious, while one howled in pain, his arm dislocated.
Everyone present was stunned. Vaughn, who had always been known as weak and
Submissive, was suddenly strong? Had he
Been concealing his strength all this time?
"Fools. Spit.." Vaughn expressed his disdain
for the best guards.
Glancing over each family member with a
look that dared them to meet his eyes, all
Shrank from his gaze in fear.
"All this time, I've borne your oppression in
silence, your insults, your disdain!"
"For the love I had for Noelle, I endured
your ridicule, your contempt as if I were a
beast to be cursed at will."
"But no longer! Remember this"' Vaughn declared furiously.
"Bring me that agreement. I'Il sign it with
pleasure,' he demanded.
One family member hurriedly presented the
divorce papers, trembling with fear.
Vaughn snatched the papers roughly, glancing over their contents and proclaiming...
"Remember this day. One day, I will repay
your treatment of me a hundredfold."
"I will ruin your entire family. I'Il bring you down to begging!" Vaughn shouted as he signed the document and flung it in Grandma Harrington's face.
That treatment fueled rage among the
family, though only inwardly; after
witnessing Vaughn's proven strength, they
dared not openly defy him, including
Grandma Harrington,who sat shaking with repressed anger in her grand chair.
After all, if five strong guards couldn't stand
against Vaughn, what chance did they have?
No one dared to counter or insult Vaughn
anymore as before. They fell silent, not even
daring a whisper, including Grandma Harrington.
Once Vaughn had vented the anger and
indignation that had festered within, he
confidently strode out of the Harrington family meeting room, grabbing the meager two sets of clothes he owned from a backroom, stuffing them into a worn bag.
As he left, no one impeded him, all quietly
seething.
Once Vaughn had exited the gates, the family's discussions erupted.
"That defeatist thinks he's someone!"
scoffed Grandma Harrington releasing
pent-up fury.
"Nick! Find someone strong to deal with
that scoundrel, Vaughn!"
"Let him be crippled, or better yet, killed"
Grandma Harrington commanded, slamming her fist on the table.
"It's settled, Grandma. Have no worries
I know some heavies who can handle that
dirtbag" Nick assured, full of confidence.
Hearing Grandma Harrington orders, the
family was stunned but understood her
wrath. Vaughn a son-in-law had dared to
demean their family head.
Of course, they supported the decision to
eradicate Vaughn through a third party, their
anger matched by Noelle's, incensed at
being labeled a vile woman by her ex-husband.
Later, with evil intent, she fantasized about
one day tearing the insolent words from
Vaughn's lips.
Noelle's parents, too, were outraged by
Vaughn's conduct toward their daughter but
felt powerless-capable yet cowed by Vaughn's overwhelming strength.
For now, action would come from Nick,
the family's principal heir.
"This meeting ends here; the outcome is
determined, and that wretch is expeled
from our family."
"Now let us rebuild the Harrington family
business' declared Grandma Harrington with vigor.
"And for you, Noelle. Reconnect with Mr.
Vincent."
"Extend my regards. This Saturday, I invite
him to dine with us, celebrating your
divorce from that repugnant ex-son-in-law,"
Grandma Harrington continued energetically.
No one dared contradict Grandma Harrington; they all looked uneasily at Noelle.
Their family business hung by a thread,
dependent on Noelle forming an alliance
with Mr. Vincent, a powerful HR manager
within the colossal Velmore Group
subsidiary.
Their ventures were struggling financially
after Mr. Vincent unilaterally canceled several of their contracts. That's why they were so desperate to match Noelle with Mr. Vincent,sacrificing the useless Vaughn: a parasite and blight upon the family.
They believed that if Noelle had a special
relationship with Mr. Vincent, their contract
bids would become effortless, at least
according to their cunning minds.
Once the discussions were over,
Grandma Harrington rose, leaving behind her throne.
The family members dispersed, except for
Noelle and her parents.
"Now, free of that loser, I am content to see
such a worthless man leave our lives,"
Stella remarked happily.
"I'm also relieved. I've endured, but Vaughn's actions towards our family have filled me with anger!" added Luke, heating the situation.
"I hope Nick quickly finds someone to
exact our retribution on that scumbag"
Noelle thought privately.
- Writer
