Chapter 3 CH. 3

"You're so pathetic!" Benard continued. "Why must you always embarrass yourself?" He spat angrily, his face flushed with anger and his expression hardening into a mask of fury.

"How dare you bring such a request here?" Mrs. Bernard joined her husband, her voice echoing through the grand hall.

The once festive atmosphere had suddenly evaporated, replaced by a tense uncomfortable silence.

Turning to face Christine, "You see why I never supported this marriage from the beginning?" Mr. Bernard's eyes lit up with anger. "I demand that you divorce this man immediately!"

"Father!" Christine exclaimed as gasps of shock echoed through the room.

"You'll divorce this man right here and now and that's final!" Mr. Bernard blurted out angrily.

Sons of Bernard's billionaire friends who had an eye for Christine seeing how beautiful she was rushed forward, hoping to be the perfect replacement for John.

"We support your decision, sir," one of them declared, his shoulders raised high, swelling with pride.

"Yes sir, your daughter deserves better than this beggar," another chimed in, stepping forward, his tone dripping with contempt. "I've always admired your daughter," he declared publicly.

Another young man stepped forward, "Yes sir, your daughter deserves someone who can provide for her and not someone who begs for money," he proudly proclaimed.

Christine, with her face pale with shock and embarrassment, fell to her knees beside John seeing that every attempt to pull him up on his feet had proved futile.

"Please father," she begged, her voice breaking. "Don't do this. He only asked out of desperation. He loves me and I love him too. Please, reconsider."

Her pleas fell on deaf ears as her mother and sisters walked up to her and pulled her up dragging her out. "You can't stay with him," Mrs. Bernard said firmly. "This is for your own good!"

"Come on, sis," Joyce, Christine's younger sister or sixteen chimed in. "How can you say you love that man who does nothing but to embarrass himself everywhere he goes?"

"No, please!" Christine cried, struggling against their grip. I don't want a divorce. I love him!"

"Can you just hear yourself, sis?" Joyce retorted. "What is there to love about him?" She spat angrily as her mother kept dragging Christine out of the room.

John watched helplessly as Christine was being dragged, her cries echoing in his ears. His heart ached with a mix of grief and anger, but there was nothing he could do.

"You're going to agree to divorce my daughter right here and now," Mr. Bernard sneered as the guests burst into laughter.

Feeling defeated and totally humiliated, John managed to rise to his feet, ready to take his leave when his phone suddenly vibrated in his pocket.

He pulled it out and saw a text message from an unknown number. With trembling hands, he opened the text message and saw the words that changed everything:

[YOUR EXILE FROM THE MOXLEY'S FAMILY HAVE BEEN REVOKED. YOU NOW HAVE ACCESS TO ALL THAT IS NAMED WITH THE MOXLEY'S ACROSS THE GLOBE.]

He couldn't believe that when he thought everything was over, the universe decided to smile at him, just when he needed it the most.

The Moxley's family's wealth and influence which he had once lost due to his wayward life in the past, were once again within his grasp.

He looked up, his eyes shinning with new found determination. The end to his mockery had finally come and he wouldn't have to beg to pay for Mama Pat's hospital bills any longer.

At that moment, Mr. Bernard's fury, the scorn of the guests and the heartbreak of Christine's tears all seemed to fade away.

A sly smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he slid the phone back into his pocket.

"What's funny?" Mr. Bernard asked, unable to understand the reason behind his sudden smile.