CHAPTER TWO
"Rita, darling," Helen said sweetly, "don't waste your life with James. You deserve someone who can give you the life of luxury you were born into."
Stephen agreed. "Mark is everything James is not rich, powerful, and from a good family. Be wise, sister."
But Rita stood firm.
"I love James," she said. "And I will not betray him, no matter how much you pressure me. James and I made a promise to Grandpa never to leave each other"
Helen, frustrated by Rita's refusal, tried to manipulate her further. She arranged secret meetings between Rita and Mark, hoping she would be swayed. She even planned an engagement dinner, assuming Rita would eventually give in.
Meanwhile, James felt the weight of the battle. He saw how much pressure Rita was under and, one evening, he took her hands and said, "Rita, if leaving me will make your life easier, I won't stop you."
Tears filled her eyes. "James, my love isn't based on status or wealth. I chose you, and I will keep choosing you no matter what, you have forgotten the promise we two made to Grandpa before he died, in case you have forgotten, I haven't"
That night, Rita made her choice. She called a meeting to inform everyone that nothing will make her leave James for another man, James couldn't withstand the joy she made her that night, choosing love over wealth and status.
With nothing but their love and determination, James and Rita started anew. They built their life from scratch, with James working tirelessly to create a name for himself.
The Ray family had once been a symbol of wealth, power, and success, but in recent months, everything had started crumbling. A series of financial setbacks, business failures, and internal conflicts had pushed the family into a dire situation. The creditors were knocking, the banks were threatening to withdraw their support, and their empire was on the verge of collapse.
Desperation clouded every decision they made. And in that desperation, they saw only one way out is Mark.
Mark, the only son of the Prime Minister, was not just a man of wealth but also of power and influence. He had been interested in Rita for years, but she had always refused him, choosing instead to marry James. But now, with the family drowning in crisis, Mark became their only hope.
Helen, Rita's mother, sat across from Christopher, her husband, and Stephen, their son. The tension in the room was thick.
"We have no other choice," Helen said firmly. "Mark is willing to help us, but he wants something in return."
"We all know what that is," Stephen said, glancing at Rita, who sat silently in the corner of the room.
Christopher sighed. "James is the only obstacle left. We have to make Rita understand that this isn't about love anymore, it's about survival."
Helen's voice was cold. "She will divorce him. And James will have no choice but to accept it."
Rita looked up, her heart pounding. "You're selling me to him," she said in disbelief.
"Rita," Helen said impatiently. "This isn't about selling you. This is about securing our future. James has nothing. Mark can give you everything."
"I don't want everything. I want my husband."
Helen scoffed. "Love won't save this family."
But Rita clenched her fists. She wasn't going to give up on James so easily.
The Ray family organized a grand business anniversary event, using it as a cover to publicly introduce Mark as their savior. Guests arrived in expensive suits and dazzling gowns, but beneath the luxury was a desperate attempt to keep up appearances.
James had never felt more out of place. He knew he wasn't truly welcome among the Ray family, but tonight, it was worse than ever. He could see the way people looked at him like he was an outsider, a liability.
Then Mark arrived; Tall, confident, and exuding power, he walked into the hall as if he already owned it. People flocked to him, shaking his hand, singing his praises.
And then, during a private meeting with the Ray family, he made his move.
"I know about your situation," Mark said smoothly, placing a black suitcase on the table and opening it. Inside were stacks of cash, two million dollars.
Helen gasped. Christopher's hands trembled.
Mark leaned back.
"This is just a gift," he said casually. "A small show of goodwill. But if you want my real help, the six hundred million dollars you need, there's one condition."
He turned to Rita and smiled.
"I want Rita as my wife."
Silence fell over the room.
Helen was the first to speak. "That can be arranged."
James, who had been listening from outside the room, felt his chest tighten. He pushed the door open, his heart pounding.
"No," he said firmly.
Mark raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"
"She's my wife," James said, standing his ground.
Helen turned to him with a scowl. "Not for long." She slid a divorce document across the table. "Sign it, James. Stop being selfish."
James stared at the papers.
Christopher's voice was sharp. "You don't belong here, James. If you truly love Rita, you will let her go."
Rita's eyes met James'. There was fear in them, but also love.
James clenched his fists.
"No," he said again.
Then, without another word, he turned and stormed out of the event.
James walked through the cold night, his hands clenched into fists. His heart pounded with frustration. The humiliation he had endured at the Ray family's business anniversary was unbearable. They had treated him like an outsider's, an unwanted burden. Now, they were pressuring him to sign the divorce papers so they could sell Rita off to Mark, a man who was nothing but a privileged opportunist.
How did it come to this?