ABANDONED KING GETS HIS LOVE CONTRACT REVENGE

Chapter one; When is all fell down.

Ethan's Pov;

Sally's behavior since the past few weeks has been indifferent, so this was the reason. She has finally succumbed to her mother' s quest to divorce me. I was sitting at the far end of the dining table when Sally's mom tossed some pictures on my face.

They hit me before dropping to the floor, I bent over and picked all up, photos that I never knew existed, my hands raised in mid-air almost handing on Sally's face. Sally's face was bruised with scars from several beatings.

That never happened, I have never raised my hands on Sally before, I loved her so much and she knew that, I looked at Sally I wanted her to say something but she was standing behind her mother, holding her arms and trembling, she couldn't even meet my gaze as if it was too much of a burden.

Mrs Tyler has never liked since the beginning of it all, she wanted her daughter to marry for connections and more money so to continue building the family name but instead her daughter married for love. She couldn't even attend the wedding as she couldn't bear seeing her daughter marry off to a pedigree like me.

Their daughter and mother relationship was destroyed because of me. I went to her mother bearing gifts every time I had the chance to, enduring the insults and abuse that rained down on me but my mother in-law never backed down.

Sally assured me that as long as our love grew stronger day after day that we had nothing to worry about. I believed her since love conquered all but that was only a lie posing as a truth to mislead the poor.

"I knew you have always been a gold digger, you are no good for my daughter" she paused and pulled Sally to the front uncovering her skin as if flaunting stage faked scars to the lawyer "You are nothing but a wretched soul looking for someone to leech on"

Mrs Tyler accused.

"Sally .... Why are you not saying anything?"

I asked. My voice hoarse and dry. I could swear that those scars weren't there yesterday before she left for some urgent appointments in the morning.

The lawyer nodded and looked at me in disgust, as if he wasn't paid to act the way he did. I looked at the photos again and yet I still couldn't believe that technology has gotten this better.

The lawyer handed me a paper and pen to sign with.

"Miss Sally wants a divorce on the stand of domestic violence and illegal taking of funds for personal usage from my account"

The lawyer said.

"This is absurd, I have never done any of this that I'm being accused of"

"I suggest you sign the document now before this issue escalates and we will be seeing frequently in court so I reckon you it and end the bad blood between the two parties"

"Sally..... are you just going to keep mute?"

"The paper also states that you are not to claim any property that doesn't have your name signed as the owner"

The lawyer said as if hurting my pride wasn't enough.

I wanted to call out to Sally again, she was the woman I once loved, there should be some kind of love still left in her, I wanted her to say something.

The memories of the promises she made to me came flashing back, she held my hand and swore that she was going to stay by myself but there was, letting go of me when we have already gone this far.

Her mind was already made up, there was nothing I could do or say to change anybody's mind in the room, if I kept going I would be made an even bigger fool.

I took the pen, I hesitated a bit before signing the divorce paper, looked at Sally then took a deep breath before finally signing the paper.

"Where do you think you are going young man?"

Mrs Tyler said.

I was headed for the stairs and I didn't think there should be any explanation since it was obvious I was going to pack up my things.

"To get my clothes"

I responded then immediately regretted it.

" My daughter Sally here, clothed you, sheltered and feed you and the divorce paper stated that you shouldn't leave with any item that doesn't indicate your proof if ownership"

"I should still be able to get my clothes"

"You wear them doesn't mean that you bought them, use the door"

Mrs Tyler said before turning to her daughter. My pride and heart was damaged all in a night, it felt unreal because I never expected this from Sally.

Now it all made sense, for a reason she never wanted to have birth. I pleaded with her to have at least one child but she refused with the excuse that she wasn't ready.

I respected her decisions back then, and now I look back some things that didn't make sense then began to do. I walked out of the door and promised never to come back to Sally no matter how I loved her.

Tears rolled down from my heart as it ached from the heart break. I didn't have no one to go stay with the night. I didn't keep friends because Sally didn't want me associating with people since she was a bit of an introvert.

I walked on to see if I could get a cab, it already late but hopefully I saw one. He just dropped someone off. I got in with no destination in particular but stopping at a bar was all I came up with.

I walked in to the bar my head bowed to the floor, my phone in my head. I didn't want to turn on my phone just yet, because there was one thing I was sure of the news will all of the Internet.

I ordered a glass of tequila and a bottle of whiskey hoping to drown myself with alcohol.

Chapter Two: Burn It All Down

The tequila hit first. Then the whiskey. Both burning down my throat, one after the other like I was trying to drown something that refused to die.

The bartender didn't ask questions. Maybe he'd seen enough wrecked men tonight to know when to keep quiet. Good for him. I didn't want to talk. Talking meant remembering, and remembering hurt.

I kept my eyes on the counter, tracing the thin line of condensation from my glass. The sound of laughter floated from a corner booth, couples, maybe, celebrating something stupid like anniversaries or promotions. For a second, I almost turned to look, but I stopped myself. I didn't want to see happy faces tonight. I didn't want to see anything that reminded me of what I'd lost.

My phone buzzed for the tenth time. I flipped it over and saw her name again Sally. I let it ring until it stopped. Then I turned the phone off completely. She didn't get to do that. Not anymore.

It's funny how quiet heartbreak sounds. It's not screaming or throwing things. It's just silence, the kind that eats you from the inside.

I stared at my reflection in the mirror behind the bar. I looked older. Not in a "time has passed" kind of way, but like something had been scraped out of me. My eyes were red, not from the alcohol, but from everything I'd tried not to feel.

"Another round?"

the bartender asked.

I nodded. He poured without a word. The man was a saint.

As the glass slid toward me, I thought about that house, Sally's mother's house the smell of expensive candles, the ticking of the damn clock on the wall that made everything feel slower. I could still hear her mother's voice in my head. You're a disgrace, Ethan.

Maybe I was. I couldn't even defend myself. I just stood there and let them destroy me. Because somewhere in my stupid heart, I thought Sally would speak up. I thought love meant she would.

Turns out, love doesn't mean anything when money's in the room.

I lifted the glass and drank again, the burn sharper this time. "Cheers," I muttered to no one, "to being a fool."

The man sitting two stools away looked at me like I'd grown another head. I didn't care.

I was angry not just at Sally, not even at her mother but at myself. For believing in something so fragile. For thinking love could fix the way people looked at me. I worked my ass off for that woman, gave her everything I could. And in the end, a few pictures were all it took to erase me.

I wanted to laugh, but my throat tightened instead.

Maybe I wasn't good enough. Maybe she was right to let me go. Maybe the whole thing was doomed from the start.

My hand trembled slightly as I reached for the glass again. I caught myself halfway and set it down. The room was starting to spin a little, or maybe it was just me. I rested my elbows on the counter, pressing my palms against my face.

"Get it together, Ethan," I muttered under my breath. But even that sounded hollow.

The truth was, I didn't know who I was without her. Everything I did, every late-night code I wrote, every job I took, it was for her. And now... what?

Now I was just a man with a broken ring finger and too much pride to cry.

A song played low through the speakers, something slow, full of strings and heartbreak. I hated how fitting it was. I wanted noise, something loud enough to drown out my thoughts. But this bar was made for pain. Soft lights, slow music, cheap comfort.

I grabbed the whiskey again.

"This one's for you, Sally," I whispered before finishing it. "And for the bastard I used to be."

The door opened, cold air cutting through the warmth inside. Someone walked in, tall, confident. I didn't care enough to look. Not until I heard a voice I hadn't heard in years.

"Ethan Hank? No freaking way."

I turned slowly. My eyes blinked against the dim light. Derrick Statham. Of course. The last person I expected to see tonight.

He grinned, that same easy grin he always had in high school, the one that made girls blush and guys want to punch him. He clapped me on the shoulder like we were old pals.

"Man, it's been what.. ten years? You look like hell," he said, half-laughing.

I tried to smile, but it didn't stick.

"Thanks. That's what betrayal does to you."

His grin faded a little.

"Rough night?"

I huffed. "You could say that."

He slid onto the stool beside me.

"Talk to me. You look like you're carrying a whole damn building on your back."

I didn't want to talk, but something about the way he said it, casually, not pitying, made me give in. I told him everything. Not neatly. Not clean. Just raw, broken sentences spilling out between swallows of whiskey. The lies, the pictures, the silence, the moment I signed the papers. By the end, my throat was dry again, and not from the alcohol.

Derrick just sat there, quiet. No judgment. When I finished, he let out a slow whistle.

"Damn, man. That's cold."

I nodded.

"Yeah. I think I finally get it now. People don't care how much you love them. They care how much you're worth."

He leaned back, looking thoughtful. "Then make them care. Make them see what they threw away."

I scoffed.

"With what? My empty pockets and bad reputation?"

"Maybe not for long," he said. "I'm building something, AI systems, machine learning tech. It's big, but I need someone who gets it. You were always the brain, Ethan. You helped me pass physics for Christ's sake."

I stared at him for a long second, unsure if I was drunk enough to believe him.

"You're serious?"

"As a heart attack." He smirked. "Do you want to stay here drinking or build an empire that'll make those people regret ever crossing you?"

I didn't answer right away. My head felt heavy, but somewhere deep down, something flickered. Maybe it was anger, or maybe it was the last bit of hope I hadn't killed yet.

Finally, I nodded. "Alright. Let's build it."

He grinned and raised his glass.

"To get revenge, then."

I lifted mine too, the amber liquid trembling under the light. "To revenge."

We drank. The whiskey burned again, but this time it didn't taste like defeat. It tasted like the start of something dangerous.

As I walked out of the bar later, the night air felt colder. My shirt clung to me, the smell of smoke and alcohol thick on my skin. But I didn't care. Somewhere inside, I felt alive again, not whole, not healed, but ready.

They took everything from me. Now it's my turn.

Chapter Three; The Beginning of the Rebuild

The next morning, I woke up with a headache that felt like someone had split my skull open. My tongue was dry, my stomach churned, and the faint smell of whiskey still clung to my shirt. I didn't even remember how I got home.

But I remembered Derrick's words. Build something that'll make them regret it.

For a while, I just lay there, staring at the ceiling of my tiny apartment, the kind that smelled like old paint and damp walls. There was no sunlight, just the dull hum of a city that didn't care. I used to hate mornings like this, but right now, I didn't mind the silence. It gave me space to think.

I kept replaying last night, the bar, the drink, the deal. It almost felt unreal. I wasn't sure if it was the alcohol talking or if I had actually agreed to help Derrick build a company from scratch. But something about the idea pulled at me. It gave me a reason to get up.

So I did.

By noon, I found myself standing outside an old warehouse that looked like it had been forgotten by time. Paint was peeling off the walls, and the front door squeaked like it hadn't been opened in years. A single banner hung loosely over the entrance: Statham Technologies.

I smirked.

"This is your empire, huh?"

I muttered to myself before stepping in.

Inside was chaos wires everywhere, computer parts stacked on tables, energy drink cans on the floor. Derrick was in the middle of it, hunched over a screen, his tie loose and hair messy.

When he saw me, he grinned.

"You showed up. I was half expecting you to ghost me."

"I thought about it," I said, dropping my bag on the table. "Then I realized I've got nothing better to do."

He laughed.

"That's the spirit. Come on, I'll show you what we're building."

He launched into an explanation, AI integration, automation, algorithms, words I'd already known but hadn't thought about since everything fell apart. The more he talked, the more I felt that old spark wake up inside me. The one that used to push me through sleepless nights and endless lines of code.

We worked that whole day, then the next, and the next after that. I lost count of the time. There were nights we didn't even sleep, just coffee, energy drinks, and the hum of computers.

Somewhere in those long hours, I started to feel alive again.

But it wasn't easy. I'd stare at the screen and suddenly see her face, Sally's in the reflection. Her voice would echo in my head, telling me I wasn't enough, that I never would be. My hands would freeze, and I'd have to force myself to keep typing.

Derrick noticed one night. "You good?" he asked, his voice breaking through the noise of the computers.

"Yeah," I lied. "Just thinking."

He didn't push, and I was grateful for that.

The truth was, I wasn't okay. I was angry, and broken, and still haunted by the idea that somewhere out there, Sally was fine, maybe even happy while I was here trying to rebuild a life from ashes. But anger can be fuel. I used it.

Weeks turned into months. The system started to take shape as an intelligent platform that could learn user behavior and adapt. Derrick called it "Neura." I didn't care about the name. I just cared that it worked.

Every milestone felt like a punch to the past. Every new line of code was me saying, You didn't destroy me.

One night, around 3 a.m., I leaned back in my chair, rubbing my eyes. The warehouse was dark except for the glow from our monitors. My head buzzed from caffeine, and my fingers ached.

Derrick was pacing behind me, running numbers. "We're close, man. A few more tweaks and we can launch a prototype."

I nodded, half-smiling.

"Have you ever thought about how far this could go?"

He grinned. "Far enough to make you untouchable."

I didn't say it, but that word, untouchable, stuck with me. That's what I wanted to be. Not happy, not healed. Just untouchable.

The first investor meeting was a disaster. I hadn't shaved in days, my suit didn't fit right, and halfway through my pitch, my hands started shaking. They weren't impressed.

We left that room humiliated, but Derrick just laughed.

"We'll get the next one," he said, slapping me on the shoulder. "You've got to stop looking like someone ran over your heart, though."

I wanted to tell him they had, several times but I just nodded.

The second meeting went better. Then the third. By the fourth, one investor finally said yes. That was all it took. Money started coming in, and so did the pressure.

We moved from the warehouse into an office. Sleek floors, glass walls the kind of place that made people take you seriously. Derrick was in his element, shaking hands and talking big, while I stayed behind the scenes, building. I didn't want fame. I just wanted results.

I started changing too. My reflection in the glass didn't look like the man who begged for love anymore. My eyes were sharper, my voice steadier. I still had bad nights, but they didn't own me the way they used to.

I was learning how to bury the softness, how to make peace with the hardness growing in me.

Sometimes, though, when everyone else was gone, I'd stand by the window, looking out at the city lights. I'd think about Sally, about the way she looked when I last saw her guilty, small, afraid. I'd wonder if she ever thought about me.

Then I'd catch myself and shake it off. "No," I'd mutter, "you don't get to live in my head anymore."

And just like that, I'd go back to work.

Six months later, the first demo launched. It didn't just work, it took off. News outlets picked it up, tech reviewers praised it, and suddenly, Derrick and I weren't just two guys in a warehouse anymore. We were something bigger.

When I saw the first article headline, Statham Technologies Unveils Revolutionary AI System, I felt that familiar mix of pride and bitterness. Derrick's name was everywhere. Mine was mentioned once at the bottom.

I didn't say anything. I didn't need to.

I knew this was just the beginning.

That night, I went home, poured myself a glass of whiskey, and stood on the balcony. The city lights reflected off the glass, bright and distant. For the first time, I didn't feel small.

I raised the glass toward the skyline.

"To the man they thought would never rise again," I whispered.

Then I drank.

And for the first time since everything fell apart, it didn't burn.