Indulging The Billionaire: My Son’s Secret Father.

Chapter 3

~~Joan’s POV~~

I fish out my phone from my bag to see whoever was calling with my shaky hands. A helpless sigh escaped my lips as ‘Dad’ flashed across my screen.

I raised my head to see that the man I was talking to had disappeared again, just like yesterday night after he saved me. However, his hurtful words still lingers.

What right did he have to judge me? I wanted to scream, argue, defend myself, and shout at his face that he didn’t understand anything.

However, he was nowhere in sight. At the last ring, I accepted my dad’s call, waiting for his scolding, and he didn’t disappoint.

“You disgracefully ingrate. How dare you divorce your husband without my knowledge?” The sharp scream of my father entered my ear through my phone’s speaker. I couldn’t help frowning. How did he know that I and Michael had divorced? It’s not even up to two hours.

“Dad…,”

“Shut up. I’m still talking, Joan!” He reprimanded before I could ask any question or defend myself. I’ve always been the submissive type.

Not wanting to call attention to myself, I walked to a corner of the hospital parking lot which had no one in sight. Before I could rest my back on the car closest to me, my father yelled loudly again.

“Get your f*****g ass back here before I lose my f*****g mind. You must explain yourself today?” I didn’t have the opportunity to say another word before he hung up on me, leaving his angry words behind.

I unlocked my phone to check the news circulating about me online for the first time today. I wasn’t bothered by it earlier, however with the news of my divorce reaching my father so fast, I knew my divorce must have been reported.

“Yoo, isn’t that ex-Mrs Lewis?” A familiar voice echoed behind me just when I finished watching a short video of how my husband humiliated me yesterday at our anniversary party.

My eyes met with Lilian, who had a smug look on her face. She was walking towards me with Irene, my ex-husband’s mistress.

I really wanted to rush towards Irene and tear her into pieces, blaming her for ruining my marriage, but I was able to control myself. My hands clenched tightly into fists beside me, trying to control the rage brewing in me.

I acted as if I didn’t hear Lilian. With a straight face, I moved away from the car, making my way out of the parking lot. I didn’t take more than two steps when I felt someone grab my hand, making me stop in my tracks.

“Take your hands off me, Lilian.” I breathed out without turning back, trying to control my anger.

“What if I don’t?” Lilian replied, her hand tightening around my wrist like a vice.

“Then don’t blame me for getting physical with you.” A loud slap echoed across the parking lot as my right palm connected with Lilian’s cheek. She released my hand from her grip, her palm resting on her assaulted cheek.

“How dare you slap me, Joan?” Lilian screamed as she lunged at me, her manicured nails aiming straight at my face. I didn’t flinch.

Before her hands could reach me, I grabbed her wrist mid-air, twisting it just enough to make her gasp.

“Keep your hands away from me, Lilian. You have done enough.” I warned as Lilian tried to free her hands from my grip.

“Let go of me!” she shrieked, struggling against my grip, but I held firm. The fear in her eyes flickered for a second before it was replaced by pure rage.

“Joan, are you insane? How dare you hit Lilian?” Irene rushed forward to pull me away from Lilian. I was really pissed off.

I really wanted to push her, smack her hard on the face, but remembering that she was pregnant, and if anything happened to the baby, Michael won’t let me off, I swallowed my anger.

With a slight push, I let Lilian go, who sucked in cold air as her lower back hit the car door.

“Stay away from me. The next time you come close to me or insult me, I will teach you a lesson you will never forget.” Both of them shrunk their heads, but their gazes filled with hatred.

I turned around and walked out of the parking lot, making my way to the entrance of the hospital where I could get a taxi. I could still hear Lilian’s swear and Irene’s voice, but I didn’t turn back.

I have a big battle to fight at home. Confronting my father wouldn’t be easy. However, I already made up my mind to choose my happiness from now on. I’m done dancing to the tune of my parents.

I boarded a taxi and drove home. Twenty minutes later, I stood in front of my parents mansion, looking at the tall gate of the building I grew up in, unpleasant memories rushing in.

I shook my head to clear my mind. No more running. I entered a password and the gate swung open. I strolled in, making my way to the front door.

“You bastard. Who do you think you are to divorce your husband without my approval?” A teacup was thrown in my direction the moment I walked into the living room.

I was caught off guard. The teacup hit my forehead before making contact with the tiled floor, hitting the floor with a clang, and breaking into pieces.

The sharp sting spread across my forehead instantly, followed by a warm trickle that I didn’t need a mirror to confirm. Blood.

For a second, everything went silent.

Not because the room was quiet—but because something inside me snapped into place.

Slowly, I lifted my hand and touched my forehead. When I pulled it away, my fingers were stained red. I stared at it, then let out a quiet, humorless chuckle.

“So this is how you welcome me home, Dad?”

My father stood in the center of the living room, chest heaving, his face twisted with fury. My mother sat on the couch, her eyes darting between us but saying nothing.

“You have lost your senses!” He thundered, pointing an accusing finger at me. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done? How would I finalise my business dealings with the Lewis group after all this mess you’ve created?”

I straightened my back, ignoring the throbbing pain in my head. “Dad, not only did you care about why I’m putting on a hospital gown, nor did you ask me the reason why I divorced Michael.

All you do is blame me for everything. Am I even your daughter at all?” I yelled at my father’s face, tired of his controlling behavior.

“You bastard! How dare you blame your father for your mistakes?” My mother stood up and walked towards me angrily.

I never expected her to care about me. It was no news that my own parents hate my guts. I watched silently as she made her way to me.

“Get on your knees now and apologize to your father. You are coming with us immediately to apologize to Michael and also beg him not to divorce you.” She barked at my face, her eyes regarding me like I’m nothing.

“Never mom.” I stood my ground, not scared of any of them. “I will never go back to Michael. He never loves me. Being together is a torture to both of us.” I locked eyes with her, not backing down.

“If you can’t bear to part with him, you can marry Colette off to him since I’m not your only daughter.” My lips curled up as I took in the horror look on my parents face.

“Joan!” I could see my mother’s neck vein twitching, her fingers curling like she was holding herself back from slapping me.

“That’s enough.” My father shouted, stepping forward. “And for you, Joan, do you know what damages your impulse would do to this family name and business?”

He didn’t wait for my response before calling over two bodyguards that were standing not far away from the door.

“Take her to her room and make sure she looks presentable. We are going to the Lewis mansion.”

“Yes boss.”

“No Dad, you can’t control me.” I stepped back instinctively as the bodyguards advanced.

“Watch me.” He replied coldly.”

One of them reached for my arm, but I jerked away, my heart slamming against my ribs. “Don’t touch me!”

“Joan, stop being difficult,” my mother snapped. “You’re only making things worse for yourself.”

“What are you waiting for? Grab her.” My dad commanded, making the second bodyguard grab my wrist tightly this time.

“Let go of me!” I struggled, trying to free myself, but his grip only tightened.

“Sir—” he hesitated slightly, as if unsure.

“I said take her upstairs!” my father barked.

I can’t be subdued by my father. If that happens, I’m going back to Michael and that’s against my will.

“I said let go!” I shouted, shoving against him with all the strength I had.

For a split second, his grip loosened and I took it. I twisted out of his hold, stumbling back but quickly regaining my balance, my chest rising and falling rapidly.

I didn’t wait. Clutching my purse tightly, I turned and bolted for the door, my slippers hitting the marble floor in sharp, hurried steps.

“Stop her!” my father’s voice roared behind me.

But I was faster. I reached the door, my fingers trembling slightly as I yanked it open. Cool air rushed against my face, a stark contrast to the suffocating tension inside.

“Joan, don’t you dare step out of this house!” my mother’s voice followed, laced with panic now.

I didn’t turn back. Instead, I broke into a run as hurried footsteps followed, my heart pounding wildly in my chest. All that worried me was the entrance gate.

It’s as if God was helping me. The moment I rushed towards the gate, a car was coming in. I didn’t wait to check out who was in the car. I took the opportunity to rush out of the gate before it was closed and I succeeded.

I hurriedly waved down a taxi that was making its way towards me. It stopped and I took the chance to hurriedly get in.

“Quick, take me out of this exclusive district.” I shouted in panic as I watched the bodyguards running closer.

The taxi drove off quickly, and I breathed a sigh of relief. Although I don’t know where I’m going, or what awaits me. But I wasn’t going back.

Not to that house, and never to Michael.