Chapter 4 CH. 4

John paid no attention to Mr. Bernard's question as the smile spread more across his lips, causing the laughter in the room to suddenly die down.

Bernard's sharp eyes narrowed, suspicion and curiosity mingling on his face. "Didn't you hear me? Why are you smiling? Do I sound funny to you?" He demanded, all in a single breath.

"I agree to the divorce," he said calmly taken Mr. Barnard and every other person who had been laughing at him, aback.

Mr. Bernard, even though wanted the divorce, suddenly became concerned, wondering what sort of message John had received that had made him agree to divorcing his daughter without any hesitation.

"And one more thing," John added, the smile on his face unwavering. "I'm also agreeing to allow these young men who desperately want my wife to also have her but only one condition."

A murmur of surprise rippled through the room. Christine, who was struggling in her mother's and sister's grasp, looked at him with wide, pleading eyes.

John continued, stating the condition, "Since they all claim that I'm useless and good for nothing, let's put that to test. You'll be throwing different challenges at us. If they can prove themselves better than me in these various challenges, I'll step aside willingly."

A burst of laughter erupted from the gentlemen who thought they were better than John, considering the fact that their fathers were billionaires and friends to Mr. Bernard.

"You think you can beat us?" William Rollingstone, son and heir to the wealthy Rollingstone dynasty scoffed, his eyes gleaming with arrogance. "This is really going to be amusing."

"You really want to throw us a challenge for Christine?" Andrew Marriott, another young man and son of Bernard's rich billionaire friend, asked, stepping forward. "Get ready to lose at your own game." He sneered.

Bernard, sensing an opportunity to finally dispose of him, smiled a cold calculating smile. "Very well," he said. "Let's hear what you have to propose."

John turned to Williams and Andrew who had been the loudest in their contempt. "You pick the challenge," he dared them, his eyes meeting theirs without flinching. "Any test of skill, strength, money or whatever you deem fit. Within the next thirty days, try me."

"Did you just add money to the challenge?" Joyce asked, bursting into laughter.

Everyone in the room joined in the laughter as well. Williams and Andrew exchanged glances, their competitive spirits ignited by the challenge.

"Fine!" Williams exclaimed, stepping forward with a smug grin. "We'll each choose a challenge but don't say we didn't warn you."

"Agreed!" John replied, his confidence unshaken. He was sure he'd be able to stand up to them no matter where they'd bring the challenge from.

"Now, let's make it official," John continued. "Thirty days from now, if either of you can beat me, I'll walk away. If not, you'll leave me and my wife alone."

Mr. Bernard's smile widened. "This will be interesting," he said, already imagining John's humiliation.

Christine was still left grappling with everything that was unfolding before her. She had no idea what it was that John was thinking, but she couldn't help but feel that it was a wrong choice he was making.

She was confident that if John should go ahead with the challenge, he'll definitely lose to one of the two men and she wasn't ready to be married to someone else other than John himself.

John turned towards her, seeing the doubt in her eyes. He gave her a reassuring look, silently promising her that he would do everything within his power to keep them together.

He was ready to face Williams and Andrew and to prove to them that no one could take his wife from him, not when he was now a true Moxley once again.

Mr. Bernard shook his head, a way of telling John that the challenge had ended for him even before it could begin.

"Alright, let's get this started," He smiled cunningly.