Chapter One

"And who allowed this cursed child into my house?"

"Who let this bastard in?" The man's voice thundered.

"Sir, he was adamant and forced himself in," one of the guards stammered, glancing nervously at Alex.

"Please, I need your assistance. My only sister is dying, and I have no one to run to except for you. Please, uncle," Alex pleaded, his voice trembling with desperation.

"I will not repeat myself. Get this animal out of here!" The man's cold command echoed through the room as two heavy-set men seized Alex, their grips like iron. He struggled, his eyes never leaving his uncle's face.

"You promised to always help me! You promised to be there for us after our parents died," Alex screamed, struggling against the men pulling him, his eyes locked on his uncle.

"My sister is lying in that hospital bed, lifeless. Please, just assist us with any amount," Alex pleaded, his voice breaking.

His uncle turned away without a word.

****

"We're sorry, we lost her."

It was a memory that Alex never got over. The pain of losing his sister, the feeling of helplessness in the face of his uncle's cruelty, and the haunting thought of not being able to save her tormented him continually. It fueled his determination to change his circumstances.

But ever since then, nothing has changed. Alex's situation remained unchanged. He continued to be the person everyone spat on. Despite his efforts to break free from his past, the world seems determined to keep him in his position, denying him the opportunity to rise above his circumstances and prove his worth.

Alex Thompson strolled into the workplace parking lot, grinding his worn sneakers on the pavement.

Another day, another dollar—or a few dollars in his case.

He worked as a cleaner and delivery driver, juggling low-paying jobs just to make ends meet. Mr. Parker, Alex's boss, took great pleasure in belittling him, making him feel like dirt.

As Alex approached the office, a heavy feeling settled in his chest.

He pushed open the door. His eyes swept across the room, noting the hushed conversations and the way people quickly looked away, avoiding his gaze.

He was used to it, being looked at and avoided with disgust.

But something was off now. Alex's stomach churned. Something was definitely off.

"I wished I had met you before my wife." He heard his boss's voice as he got closer to his office.

Alex chuckled; it was a line his boss used on practically all of the ladies he had brought into the office.

"Uhu." The lady blushed in response.

Mr. Parker, a man whose wedding ring was more a formality than a vow, had a reputation for slipping his hand under skirts whenever the chance arose.

Within a moment, he could only hear gentle groans. One of these sounded familiar. It had to be a lady that his employer had brought into his office at least once, if not more.

"Your deadbeat husband cannot hit you like that, can he?"

Alex's stomach dropped. "She's married?" he whispered, barely audible.

As he got closer to the door, their voices got louder.

The lady's voice sounded more familiar than just whom his boss had brought more than twice.

Respecting his boss's privacy, he stood at the door hoping they'd be done soon enough for him to enter.

"I-" The lady mumbled.

Alex grew more concerned, he placed his ears to the door.

"Right there," she murmured under her breath.

Alex froze. The voice, unmistakably Lisa's, his legally wedded wife.

He hesitated, unsure whether to enter. The silence that followed intensified his curiosity. After pounding over his decision for what felt like an eternity, he opted to remain outside for a little longer.

After a moment of waiting outside the door, he began to hear their voices again.

"Say everything you've ever said about your deadbeat of a husband." Mr. Parker panted.

"He's good for nothing. I regret ever marrying him." Her voice, was breathless, followed by a chilling, "Alex is a pauper."

Alex burst through the door, his chest heaving with anger. His eyes fell upon the scene before him — there was Lisa, his legally wedded wife, and Mr. Parker.

Alex staggered, the betrayal hitting him like a physical blow.

"Damn it all!" Alex seethed through clenched teeth.

"Ah, Alex," Mr. Parker sneered, straightening his tie with a mocking grin. "Perfect timing. You can witness your wife's infidelity firsthand."

Lisa hastily adjusted her dress, her face contorted with guilt and fear as she met Alex's furious gaze.

She stammered, trying to find the right words through her panic.

"Alex, I can explain," she pleaded, her voice trembling. "It's not what it looks like."

"Not what it looks like?" Alex echoed. "I think it's exactly what it looks like." His heart pounding in his chest.

"You and my boss?" He ran his hands in his hair.

"What would you have me do?" Lisa questioned. "You never made enough money. I was married to you out of pity, Alex, and I can't continue to live in pity."

Each word struck Alex like a sharp blade. She was right. She married him out of pity, and he married her out of indebtedness. He was indebted to her family.

"Lisa, I tried. I tried to provide for you. I do everything." Alex said with a shaking voice.

"Your everything is not enough." Lisa interrupted.

"Hold it." Mr. Parker interfered. "May I remind you, Mr. Driver, of how much you earn and how much your woman uses in maintaining herself? Where do you think she gets all that she uses?"

Alex ignored his boss's words. "And you think sleeping with my boss is the solution?" Alex fought his tears.

"I ask again Mr. Husband, what would you have me do? I mean, you barely earn enough to feed yourself let alone feed me. Just take a good look at yourself, look, you can't be associated with me let alone to be called my husband."

"I'm done with your lowlife self, Alex." She added.

He stood there shaking his head in pain.

"You know what? You're fired, young man," Mr. Parker gloated. "You're not even worthy of working for me."

Alex's eyes widened in shock. Fired?

"How dare you compete with a woman with me? Who are you? Who is your father?"

Alex could barely comprehend the vastness of what had just occurred. In a matter of seconds, he had lost both the lady he loved and the job on which he depended.

Lisa turned to him, her face expressionless as he stood there, stunned.

"I'm sorry, Alex," she said, but her voice cold. "You brought this on yourself. I deserve better."

"Lis- Lisa." He stammered. "Don't hurt me, I love you."

"Enough!" Mr. Parker threw in, stepping between them. "Get out!You don't belong here. And don't even think about coming back."

"Lisa, look me in the eye and tell me you don't love me." Alex's voice trembled, and his vision blurred with unshed tears.

Lisa laughed sarcastically. "Does love pay the bills?"

"Say it!" Alex screamed out.

"Alex Thompson, I do not love you. Deal with it." She spat.

Alex stumbled out of the office, his mind reeling. The reality of his situation hit him. He was jobless, heartbroken, and humiliated, all in one day.

"Hey, Alex!" Mr. Parker called after him. "You'll never amount to anything! You're nothing!"

Alex kept walking, tears pricking at the corners of his eyes. He felt like he'd hit rock bottom.

He walked in the street for what seemed like forever. His thoughts stormed, his head pounding, as millions of thoughts whipped into him.

Just then he heard a familiar voice call out his name, "ALEX!"