Two
1233 Words
Lucas paused, staring at the old woman with complete shock! She knew a lot about jewelry so why wasn't she saying anything??
"But grandma, you should really look again to see--"
"--what is the meaning of this! Are you saying I'm dumb and old now and I can't recognize something as authentic and original like this?? Apologize to Bruce right now!" She demanded.
Lucas's face was a mask of anger now. It wasn't that this woman didn't know it was fake, she just didn't want to embarrass Bruce in the presence of everyone. She knew...
"I still don't like the fact that you had to hit Lucas! Even if he made a mistake." Chloe tried to defend him.
"He lied against your cousin. Was I supposed to kiss his hands for a reward!" Mrs Smith spat out. Then she faced Lucas, "now, apologize you worthless i***t. Go on, apologize to Bruce right now."
"Still, hitting people is wrong. Grandma, you should apologize first." Chloe insisted.
Mrs Smith was so furious you could see fire raging in her eyes as she yelled at Chloe. "Are you questioning my audacity? You of all people? How dare you!"
Lucas sighed. He didn't want to drag Chloe into this, "it's fine. I will apologize." He walked over to Bruce. "I'm sorry for wrongly accusing you, Bruce." He said calmly.
Bruce snickered as he leaned forward to whisper to Lucas. "Did you really think grandma will let someone like you embarrass me like that? She must have obviously knew it was fake but then, shame on you ha!"
Lucas shook his head, disappointed in such a family. There was nothing he could do now anyway, everyone would believe Mrs. Smith.
A few while later, the banquet started. The whole commotion had died down by now. Lucas was sitting with the maids, whether he wanted to or not.
While he was eating, a maid rushed in shouting so loudly. "Some people are here with gifts! Lots of gifts!"
Mrs Smith stopped her arrogantly. "Hey, stop making noise like that! Who's here?" She didn't remember inviting anyone else, especially someone who could afford such gifts as the maid was exaggerating.
"It's someone from the Armani family!" The maid responded.
"Armani? But I don't know any Armani..." Mrs Smith thought.
The only person who shared that surname was Lucas, but no one can ever relate him to this rich man with gifts.
“Rhodonite heart art from Brazil worth ten million dollars!”
“Ten brand new edition sports cars from the Armani automobile!”
“Limited edition diamond jewelry complete set!”
“Private dining experience at the Armani cusino for twenty guests!”
“Five floating homes; aka some of the finest yachts!”
The person kept on listing the items and soon, the whole room was filled with gifts! Everyone just stared with their jaw dropped.
"And finally, a cheque of one hundred million dollars for a birthday gift. Excuse me then," he turned to leave after placing the attractive cheque at the center of the table where everyone could see.
Mrs Smith, who is an opportunist, didn't want this chance to slide like that! "Which of our beautiful princesses are your family attracted to? This must be a marriage alliance, right?"
The man shook his head in dismissal. "I was just asked to deliver these goods. I don't have an answer for you. Excuse me." He turned and walked out, the whole room behind still resting in silence from the shock.
Meanwhile, Chloe couldn't help but chuckle nervously. As the rest of the unmarried ladies in the family smiled and blushed, excited to be married into this Armani household, she was the only married woman! She couldn't fantasize like them.
"It must be me. I mean, look at this hourglass physique!" Said one of the unmarried ladies in the room.
"Ha! Beautiful face is more precious. Who wouldn't want to get married to a pretty girl to have pretty babies?" Another one said.
"No way. Unless this heir is blind!"
Even before they understood the situation more clearly, the ladies had already begun to fight over the fortune.
Bruce nudged Chloe on the shoulders. "Everyone is fighting for good things here, but you can't relate! Haha!"
"Does this mean my family is really trying to make amends?" Lucas buried his head in thoughts, his mind drifting away from the commotion. "But I still don't care." He decided.
"Enough! Stop acting like barbarians." Mrs Smith said. "It hasn't been decided yet but once we know who the bride will be, I will give these gifts to her. So for now, I will be holding on to them."
After the party, Chloe and her parents left immediately, leaving Lucas behind. This party had embarrassed them too much.
Chloe locked herself in the room as she got home.
Meanwhile, both her parents Donna and Victor were having a fit outside. "This is your damn fault, don't you think! If only your useless father hadn't forced my precious daughter to marry that poor loser!" Donna raged.
"Hey, shut the f**k up woman! My father is not useless. Still, I don't understand why he insisted Chloe marry Lucas!" Victor said in a puzzling manner.
"Do you think I care anymore? I do not! Everyone else is living large! Look at your sister always rubbing her wealth off in our face, while I'm stuck with you!" Donna said.
"So? Divorce me. Why are you still here then?" Victor sneered. They fought a lot over everything! "But you are not so completely stupid."
Donna flinched, about to respond with rage, but Victor cut her off. "How about we tell her to divorce Lucas? It's been three years, I'm sure my father can forgive us now."
"Of course I think the same! She has to let go of that loser!" Donna agreed instantly.
Victor frowned all of a sudden. "You know how grandma can be. What if this brings shame to our family? Everyone in town knows she is married already! Divorcing Lucas now might taint our reputation."
Donna gripped Victor's shirt tight, pulling him closer to her in a violence manner. "I don't care. Do I look like I do?? Besides, once she marries this rich man, do you think anyone else would care anymore? All they would be talking about will be how rich we are now!"
Victor pulled himself free from her grip, still frowning at how she had dragged him like that. But he was starting to see some sense in what she said. He too wanted to become richer, better than his proud sister!
Just then, Lucas made himself visible as he was about to make his way to his room. The cold faces of Chloe's parents would have killed if bare looks could. But he ignored it.
They were talking about him too, some things he could make out.
"...filthy loser. I hate him!"
"Our daughter have do divorce him. He's really a loser."
Suddenly, the door barged open and Chloe walked out. "Mom, dad, I've been over hearing you since, and..."
"Thank goodness! You have agreed to divorce him!" Donna screeched in excitement.
"That's a good choice, my love. We're gonna be rich!" Victor too added.
But Chloe's face was bold and fierce. "I have decided not to divorce Lucas."
All faces turned to her in shock. "What!?"
- Writer
