Burning with vengeance: The runaway Heir

The sun was scorching hot as summer was finally here. The streets of LA however were filled with cars hooting and overtaking each other, passengers walking on the pathways as everyone busied themselves with their businesses. Richard navigated his bike before branching and driving his old delivery bike to promise dishes where he worked as a delivery guy and a waiter.

He had just parked his bike and retrieved his delivery box when the voice of his boss called from inside.

" What are you doing standing there? Hurry up and help me." The lady bellowed, sending him a glare his way before strolling Inside the small eatery.

Although Mrs Clark, his boss, has always been overly harsh on him, she was the only person willing to hire him even with his disability.

Limping his way to the cafe, he started taking orders from the already impatient customers and did his best to attend to their needs.

Although the eatery was not always Parked, it was different at this time of the day considering that it was lunch time and many working class people would drop by for an afternoon bite.

The small cafe was not fancy but was clean and affordable, that's why people would prefer this place for a quick bite.

After the lunch rush hour was over, the number of customers decreased and the eatery was almost left empty.

" There's a delivery to make downtown, three Streets from the main road at Pinewood resident, house number twelve." Mrs Clark said, handing Richard a takeaway box.

" Don't take long,you have to help me clean the place and close up." She added only to have Richard scratch his head awkwardly. He had an hesitant look on his face, like he had something to say yet didn't Know how to do it.

"What?" Mrs Clark asked impatiently, he could tell that Richard had something to ask of her again. She just hoped he wasn't asking for an advance payment because that will be the last thing she will give him after paying him only two days ago.

" Boss, can I leave early? you see, it's our wedding anniversary and I wanted to get something for my wife." Richard asked politely.

It's been five years since Cassy and him got married. Although his marriage was practically going down the drain with Cassy always yelling at him, he was determined to salvage it and what best than to get her a gift for their fifth anniversary.

Mrs Clark rolled her eyes at Richard's request. Although he was a good worker and did his work diligently, she never approved his marriage to Cassy. Not because he wasn't worth the lady, it's just that she knew that a marriage between a rich and spoiled lady with a pauper like him will never work. She, of course knew that from experience since she was once in an arranged marriage with a wealthy Man and the despise and hate she received left and right from her husband's family got her single and childless for the last thirty years.

She might be harsh on Richard but after working with him for the last five years, she had come to like him for how hard-working and polite he was.

" Whatever, just go." She dismissed him, walking away to continue cleaning up the place.

" Thankyou Boss." Richard yelled from outside, a huge grin on his face.

He's not stupid to not see that Mrs Clark, although strict with him, treated him well.

She treated him better than how his in-laws treated him. Shoving those unpleasant thoughts at the back of his mind, he made his way to his delivery bike, secured the delivery box , ignited the bike and left for the said location.

After Richard delivered the takeaway, he made his way to the famous jewellery branch shop in Los Angeles called El Passion.

His wife Cassy had taken a liking on a certain bracelet which was trending six months ago.

It was expensive and Richard didn't have enough money to buy it for her. Now that in a few days it was going to be his and Cassy's fifth wedding anniversary, he decided to get the bracelet for her.

Richard was Sure that Cassy was going to be over the moon after seeing the gift he bought for her.

It's been two years, precisely one year after the birth of their daughter Melvin that Cassy's attitude towards him started getting worse.

At first, Richard decided to give her time to figure things out, maybe after that, their relationship will return to normal.

Things however started getting even more ugly. Cassy started hating Melvin, their daughter, for no apparent reason.

She would yell at the girl and make sure to keep her distance from her own daughter.

Richard confronted her about it and the answer he got shocked him to the core.

" I don't have a daughter. She is your daughter. Meeting you and marrying you was a mistake but the biggest mistake I ever made was giving birth to that bastard." Cassy had spat venomously, making Richard's mind momentarily go blank.

He fought himself not to lay his hands on the woman he loved and walked out of the house.

After that night, Cassy moved back to her family house, leaving Richard and Melvin to what she called a pigsty house.

She went back to live in the Mansion owned by her parents.

Cassy would rarely visit their daughter and the few times she did, Richard had to beg her to spend time with their daughter somehow.

Their relationship as husband and wife crumbled and they were only married in the paper.

Richard however holds the hope that maybe one day Cassy will come back to her senses and return to them, her family.

It's been two years and he's still holding on to that hope. He hoped that with the gift he was planning to give her on their anniversary, she would finally come back to them.

Smiling to himself, he made his way to El Passion.

He was greeted by a female sales Lady.

" Good evening sir, what can I do for you? " The Lady greeted respectfully.

Richard smiled at her.

" It's okay Miss, I'll just look around first." Richard replied as his eyes surveyed the designs on display.

Richard was about to proceed to the next shelf when someone called out his name.

" Richard! What are you doing here at El passion? Do you think any Dick,Tom and Harry can make their way here? You can't even afford even the cheapest item from El Passion, so what are you doing here stinking the place with your poverty?"

The voice was high pitched, attracting the attention of the customers at the shop.

The attention of most of the customers was now on Richard after they heard the woman's claims.

Turning around, Richard cursed inwardly. Of all places, why would he run into Selina Williams here? She is his wife's best friend and gas always sought ways to embarrass Richard infront of his wife. She never fails to remind Cassy of what a huge mistake she made by marrying a loser like him.

Richard has always stomached all insults in the fear of confronting her and getting into a beef with Cassy who seemed more protective of her friends than him.

Actually, Selena's words could not be considered wrong. Compared to the Prestigious Parker family, he was nothing but a pauper. He was a disabled man and on top of that he was poor with no family whatsoever so he definitely knew more than anyone that he didn't deserve her.

He met Cassy and the two of them fell in love. Although others warned Cassy about marrying him, she still went ahead with their marriage and lived happily together. That's until Melvin was born that things between them started going South.

Smiling awkwardly, Richard waved at Selena.

" I came to get my wife a present." He informed, hoping that Selena would leave him alone.

Hearing Richard's words, Selena scoffed disdainfully.

" Buy Cassy a present? Do you think you can manage to get anything to Cassy's taste? You don't even have enough money to feed and clothe yourself, how are you going to afford anything fancy for Cassy?" Selena uttered, her eyes filled with loath.

Looking at her, Richard could not help but wonder why Selena hated him so much. Yes, he was poor but did that mean that he was no human?

It was fine when his mother-in-law humiliated him and called him names but what right did Selena have to talk to him in such a matter?

It's not like she was related to his wife in any way apart from being friends.

" I only want to get something for my wife in peace and leave. I don't want to create trouble." Richard said and started walking off. He had zero intentions of listening to Cassy's stupid remarks. He was in a good mood and wasn't going to have some chic ruin it for him.

Richard had just taken a few steps when Selena's words halted him in his tracks.

" Since you are penniless and unable to afford anything from here, do I conclude that you are here to steal?" Selena asked.

Turning to look at the sales lady and the security men who had already arrived to look at the scene.

" You should be careful letting people like him here in this shop. You might not know when you lose something of value and are forced to pay." She said, making sure that she said that out loud and everyone in the shop heard her.

Richard's blood boiled to the accusation made to him. He turned and glared at Selena with menacing eyes. The Aura surrounding him changed and the air in the shop dropped drastically.

Seeing this, Selena was taken aback and shivered unconsciously.

The Richard before her seemed to have transformed to something else. But she straightened her back almost immediately after remembering how she managed to humiliate him in the past and he did nothing to retaliate. She figured out that whatever she saw was nothing but her imagination. Afterall, how could the good-for-nothing poor husband of Cassy exude such a domineering aura.

It was unbelievable and far-fetched considering that he was nothing but a disabled pushover.

" I may be poor but I have never taken anything that didn't belong to me. Be careful what you accuse others of." Richard said and walked away.

He was no longer in the mood to shop anymore so he walked away, leaving everybody dumbfounded.

Richard then took a stroll casually to another jewellery store and was thankful that they sold the bracelet he was looking for.

After paying for the bracelet, he left, boarded his bike and left for home.

It was six in the evening when he arrived at the neighbourhood he resided in.

Since he was not able to pick his daughter from school, an old lady living next door offered to help him pick Melvin from school and look after her until her father got home.

Walking to the kind lady's house, he knocked and his daughter opened the door for him.

Richard crouched down to pick his daughter up and carried her inside where the old lady was seated.

" Good evening grandma?" Richard greeted. The old lady had insisted that Richard call her grandmother and he readily complied.

" Richard, you are back? I was about to call you. The little girl has been burning up and I think she's running a fever." The old lady Informed.

Placing his palm over his daughter's forehead, Richard confirmed that his little one was running a fever.

" She has been running a fever frequently these days. I'll take her home and feed her some medicine." Richard informed her.

He had just finished tucking his daughter to bed after her fever subsided when the door to his condo was knocked.

Walking to the door, he opened it only to find Cassy standing there.

She had no expression on her face but Richard could not control how happy he was to see her.

" Come on in." He said enthusiastically, sidestepping to allow Cassy to step inside.

Cassy scoffed before making her way Inside. She eyed the house with disdain. It could clearly be seen that she would rather be anywhere else apart from here, making Richard wonder why she came in the first place.

Looking at her expensive clothes and thousand dollar handbag, she appeared to be out of place in this old and dilapidated house that had nearly no furniture.

" Should I get you something to drink?" Richard asked awkwardly. He didn't Know why he offered to get her something. Apart from a glass of water, there's nothing else he could offer her.

" Do you have anything to offer apart from tap water?" Cassy mocked.

Richard shook his head and Cassy scoffed.

" I am not here to catch up with you. I brought you these?" Cassy said, retrieving what looked like papers before passing them to Richard who stood stunned the whole time.

" What are these?" Richard asked. Something about the papers filled him with dread. He could already guess what the papers were about but he forced himself to keep his cool, praying against fate to be wrong about his suspicions.

" I believe you know how to read." Cassy said, glaring at him.

With trembling hands, Richard opened the first page and the words " DIVORCE AGREEMENT" stood out.

Richard stumbled and almost fell down If it wasn't for his fast reflexes.

" You want to divorce me?" Although he seemed calm, only God knows the turmoil inside his heart.

" Don't look so surprised Richard. You knew that this day will finally come so do me the favour and sign those papers. After today, we can go separate ways and have nothing to do with each other." Cassy said, looking unfazed as if whatever she was saying wasn't anything serious.

" What did I do wrong Cassy? Tell me and I'll rectify it, just don't divorce me." Richard pleaded, going as far as kneeling and holding Cassy's knees.

" You know what you did wrong? Your existence alone is a mistake. I wish I never get to see you. You Know what you can do for me? Just get lost. Get away from this city, if possible disappear from this country. I never want to see you anymore."

A tear slipped from Richard's eyes after he heard what his wife said. He could not help but wonder what went wrong and where?

They were happily married and everything was going on well so what got into her?

" Is this about William Carter?"

The moment those words left Richard's mouth, he regretted it almost immediately. He didn't want to bring up the matter about William Carter to Cassy but after she served him the divorce papers, he could not think straight anymore. Actually, Richard had spotted his wife accompanying William Carter to dine in fancy hotels. He never brought that matter up because he didn't want to suspect his wife for cheating on him.

He thought if he ignored everything and behaved like he was oblivious to everything, Cassy would eventually go home to him and their daughter.

His wife's family didn't fail to rub in his face the fact that Cassy deserved someone better like William Carter. He was a second generation heir to the Carter family.

The Carter family could be considered a second tier family in Los Angeles while the Parker family was a third tier family.

Richard was aware of the fact that William Carter was interested in his wife and was blatantly pursuing her.

Seeing the divorce papers, he finally believed that Cassy had all the intentions of leaving him, the poor useless husband and marrying someone of her class.

" I'm sorry,I didn't mean to say that?" Even when things were at this point, Richard still thought there was hope between him and Cassy. He was determined to fight for his family, fight for his wife and daughter.

" Does it matter now? Whether you say sorry or not, I don't fucking care. I just want you to sign those divorce papers. I won't make things hard for you and your daughter and we can forget that we ever met in this lifetime." Cassy remained calm about the whole matter. She seemed unfazed when Richard asked her whether William Carter was the reason she was divorcing him.

It's like she didn't give a damn about what he said nor was she trying to hide it.

" She's also your daughter." Richard countered, albeit softly.

" I don't have a daughter with a loser like you. You should be thankful that I kept her for nine months and gave birth to her. I should have gotten rid of her the moment I realised that I was pregnant. The two of you ruined my life. I would be glad if the two disappeared from my life." Cassy Said with distaste. Her words did not surprise Richard. He knew that his wife hated their daughter to the core. She was her own flesh and blood, the fruit of their love so why would Cassy hate her so much.

He often wondered how a woman could hate their child with so much passion after carrying her in her womb for years. Turns out Cassy hated Melvin because she was sired by a poor cripple like him.

He could bet that if William Carter was the father, Cassy would definitely love the child.

" Don't joke around Cassy. Please give me a chance to make things right. I will work hard and provide for you and our daughter. I even got you our anniversary gift." Richard reported, fumbling his pockets bad retrieving the bracelet he painstakingly used all his savings to buy.

Cassy eyed the bracelet with disdain before picking it and walking to the window and flinging it away.

" What kind of an old fashioned bracelet is that? It's been six months since that stupid bracelet dominated the market. Who said I want to wear outdated designs?" Cassy scoffed. She seemed unapologetic about what she just did.

Richard watched as his three months worth of salary was thrown away and on top of that got a scolding from his wife. He could not believe how cold-hearted the woman before him had turned out to be. Looking at the woman he once loved and still does, he could hardly recognize her.

" But you said that you liked it the last time we Saw it?" He asked weakly. He was hoping that Cassy would see his sincerity and reconsider her decision of divorcing him but after watching her reaction upon seeing the gift he bought for her, he lost hope and his heart plummeted.

" That was six months ago you fucking idiot! What's the need of wearing something that's out of fashion or did you just want to embarrass me infront of my friends." Cassy rebuked, annoyed.

" I spent my savings to buy that for you." Richard confessed. His heart felt like it was being gripped and squeezed painfully, making his chest to tighten.

" All the reason I should stay the fuck away from you lest you and your daughter infect me with your poverty." Cassy sneered.

Richard was about to say something when he heard sniffling sounds. His head whipped to the pathway leading to the bedroom and he caught sight of his daughter who stood there, with tears painting her beautiful face.

" You made her cry again." Richard accused, his expressions hardening.

" I did nothing but tell the truth. You should deal with it if it hurts.I'm leaving. I don't want to waste any minute more here. Sign those papers if you know what's right for you and your daughter." Cassy said and with that she turned and left, slamming the door angrily that the whole room vibrated.

Richard walked to his daughter and kneeled in front of her as he smiled at her.

" What's the matter baby? Why are you crying? I thought you were sleeping? Did you need something here?" He bombarded her with questions in an attempt to steer her mind away from anything she might have heard from his conversation with Cassy.

" You guys fought again." It was more of a statement than a question.

" No baby, Daddy and mommy just..."

" Is it because of me? Mommy hates me." Before Richard could conjure lies,Melvin interrupted him.

She sounded dejected and lost. Who wouldn't be after the venomous words his wife just said about her?

" Listen baby, that's not it. Mommy is just going through alot now but she will come around. She's just confused. She loves you." Richard tried to explain but Melvin pushed him away and ran back to her room crying.

No child is supposed to ever hear their parents confess their hate for them.

His relationship with Cassy was becoming unhealthy and it was starting to affect his daughter.

To Richard, Melvin was his world and he would hate it if his daughter started hating him. He didn't know if he could have the energy to continue living if Melvin hated him.

Standing from where he was crouched earlier, he wiped the lone tear that escaped his eyes and made his way to his daughter's small room.

Pushing the door open, he saw Melvin covering herself completely, leaving not a single part of her body at view.

" I'm sorry." He uttered softly before turning to go back to his room.