"James, let's get a divorce," James' wife, Lilian, spoke with a hard and cold tone.

James froze immediately after he heard those words; his fingers trembled a little as he continued cutting the cabbage that he had placed on a cutting board, trying to act as calmly as possible.

A divorce?

Why? What could've possibly gone wrong?

"You can't be serious, right?" James asked with a chuckle, wishing deep inside of him that what she just said was a joke.

"I am serious, James. I want a divorce as soon as possible" Lilian repeated, getting seriously pissed off.

James paused, dropping the knife before turning towards his wife. "But....why?. Is there anything that you're upset about? You can tell me, and I will try to make changes. I will--"

"James, I've had enough of this bullshit life we are living! Just take a look around! Does this place look big and beautiful to you? We've been living like this for four years!" Lilian yelled and James flinched.

The house that the family of three was living in was a medium-sized house with two bedrooms and a living room. It took James, who was a delivery guy more than a year to build this house. When the house was still being built, Lilian was always unhappy and nagging about the littlest things.

Lilian believed that James was just a poor guy her grandfather had forced her to marry. He had failed to move up to her expectations countless times. During her birthday, James decorated the whole house with love-shaped balloons and roses. He even cooked her favorite meal and bought her a diamond necklace worth $78. However, the moment Lilian entered the house, she went ballistic, smashing the roses with her foot and bursting the balloons.

And when James offered her the necklace, she threw it out of the window and into a pile of mud at a corner. "I don't know what my granddad saw in you that he had to force me to marry a poor wretched thing like you! Have you ever been to Lucy or Joan's birthday parties? Their husbands throw a very massive, well-decorated grande party with a cake towering the height of up to 6 humans put together!"

James apologized and promised to do better. James thought that things would change for the better after the birth of their daughter, Lily. How wrong he was. Things didn't change. Lilian and her family, except for Lilia's grandfather, still hated and disgraced him to date.

Even after doing everything to make her happy. He did his delivery work, cooked, cleaned, took care of their baby, and tried his very best to provide for them but none of them moved Lilian.

Just last week, her grandfather passed away and now, she was asking for a divorce.

"What about our kid, Lily? You can't let her grow up without a father" James spoke softly. He knew how it felt to grow up without a father, heck, without a mother too!

He didn't want his daughter to know that feeling.

"What kid? Lily isn't even yours, so you shouldn't care about that," she said, her voice dripping with malice.

James felt like he'd been punched in the gut. His eyes widened, and his breathing hitched. "What...what are you talking about?" he stuttered.

Lilian's chuckle sent shivers down James' spine. She popped a gum into her mouth, chewing slowly as she continued, "Isn't it obvious? Lily looks nothing like us. You saw me pregnant, saw her born...but she's not yours."

"Lily's father proposed to me last week after the death of my grandfather and we would be getting married next week. Isn't that great? He is 10 times richer than you could ever be in your next life, plus he has a great body, too. Let's get a divorce and ---"

"When?" James interrupted with a question, making Lilian raise an eyebrow.

"Huh?"

"When exactly did you cheat on me?" James asked, anger and disappointment laced his voice. He clenched his fists beside him as his body quivered.

Lilian grinned as if his pain and everything that was going on now were amusing. "Don't call it cheating, if not I would feel like a bad person"

James gritted his teeth as his fist tightened more. It was his way of trying to stay calm and not give in to his anger.

Lilian's gaze seemed to glaze over, lost in thought. "It was a month after we got married...I was with him." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "He came inside me that night. I thought it was just a mistake, that I wouldn't get pregnant."

James' face contorted in anguish.

Lilian's expression transformed, a sly grin spreading across her face. "But I did get pregnant. And when you asked me to go to the hospital, I lied. I told you it was just stomach discomfort.

"I went to the hospital only to find out I was pregnant. I knew I had to do something. I wanted to abort Lily at first, but the doctor said my body was too weak for an abortion, so I decided to pin her on you. I got naked that night and we had hot sex for hours"

Lilian smiled once again as she took sensual steps towards him before pressing her breasts on his chest. "There are only two things you got better than him, handsomeness and a nice big dick. Damn, you poor but you got some hell of stamina"

Lilian touched his belt buckle with her fingers. "One last time, James. For old times' sake." Her voice dripped with sarcasm. "You might not get this chance again...in this lifetime or the next."

James pushed her away from him before asking once again, "Who is Lily's dad?"

"Mr. Bill," Lilian said and James gritted his teeth. Lilian's boss. James always suspected that they shared a relationship other than a boss-and-employee relationship when Lilian got promoted from a newcomer to a secretary the very first week after getting a new job, but he didn't want to accuse her without evidence.

How stupid of him.

Suddenly, the sound of a car honking was heard and Lilian jumped up, squealing like a little child who was just given candy, "Oh my, Bill is here to take me out for wedding ring measurements"

Lilian took fast steps out of the kitchen and into the living room to find Bill already standing there. The man had a dark suit on and an expensive carate watch made out of pure Silver, costing more than $9, 000. He seemed to be a few years older than James.

"Honey, James agreed to the divorce," Lilian said happily as she hugged Bill's right arm.

"Oh? And here I was thinking he was not going to accept so easily. At least, he knows his place" Bill said with a chuckle, "Let's face it, James, you were never in the picture, not really. Lilian only stayed with you out of pity. She was waiting for someone like me all along—a real man who can give her everything she deserves"

James stood motionless, his eyes fixed on Bill, but his face betrayed nothing. He didn't flinch, didn't blink. They just stared as though the words bounced right off him.

"Lily's better off without a broke, loser dad like you. She deserves someone who can provide for her, not someone scraping by on tips. I'll show her what a real father is like"

Mr. Bill clicked his tongue, clearly irritated that his jab hadn't gotten a reaction. He took a step closer, "Look at you—barely getting by. And then look at me—wealth, success, and now, your wife and kid. No wonder Lilian chose me. You're out of your league, pal"

"Just a few more days after the divorce is finalized, and she'll be calling me dad. You know how easy it is to manipulate a kid like Lily at that age. She'll believe anything her guardian tells her. I could even convince her you're the villain in her story, like Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty. Imagine her hating you for---"

Before Bill could complete his statement, a hard painful punch hit his jaw. The sound of the punch echoed through the now quiet living room, and Bill's head snapped back. Bill felt a wave of pain wash over him, his vision blurred, and tears pricked at the corners of his eyes as he struggled to speak.

"Don't you ever call Lily's name with your vile mouth, if you do so again, I will kill you"

Lilian took a step back in fear.

For four years of their marriage, Lilia had done countless things to get James' pissed off. Ranging from destroying the necklace James had bought for her to even referring to him as her servant in an overcrowded supermarket, but he never snapped.

Not even once. But this time...

It seemed like James' punch and the sound of Bill falling to the ground were too loud cause they got the attention of Bill's bodyguards, who were standing outside the house. They all rushed in and attacked James who didn't hold back.

But their numbers were just too much. After a few minutes, he was restrained and beaten up before being dragged to the police station, where he was locked up for assault.

Bill didn't leave the police station without telling James, "I can give you a chance to get out of prison even though you hit me. All you have to do is bow your face to the ground in front of me and I will show mercy"

Bill was just 30 years old but was already amongst the top 20 richest men in the country. He's handsome, popular, and has millions to his name along with powerful connections. James was the very first person to ever have the guts to hit him and it was like a huge slap to his pride.

James slipped his hands into his pocket and walked into the prison cell, not bothering to give him a reply. Bill immediately went ballistic, screaming at him and ordering the guards to make James' life in prison a living hell.

Bill wasn't just bluffing. James was beaten up with wooden sticks by more than twelve prison inmates from all sides. James didn't react, his face expressionless as fists connected with his jaw.

That day passed in a haze, and the next, Lilian arrived at the prison cell alongside Bill, tossing a thick stack of documents onto James's lap. 'Sign these,' she said curtly, her voice dripping with disdain. 'They're the divorce papers.'

James signed it and they left. With Bill's influence, James was sure he'd be in prison for at least three months, however, as he was washing one of the lieutenant's smelly clothes and socks. A prison administrator unlocked his cell.

"James, your bail has been taken care of. You're free to go"

James' was taken aback and wanted to ask questions but decided against it. He abandoned what he was doing and followed the prison administrator out. Immediately, James stepped out; a bulky man, a towering figure with a thick beard and scars on his face, strode towards him.

"Sir James" The bulky man bowed his head to the ground in front of him, "The patriarch would like to speak with you, please follow me"

For the first time in his life, someone spoke to him with genuine respect. Despite not knowing who the mysterious "Patriarch" was, he decided to follow the man closely. The bulky figure led him to a stunning Bugatti La Voiture Noire. Its exceptional quality and sleek design outshone even the luxurious Bugatti Divo packed at a corner.

"Young master, please get in," The bulky man said, opening the door of the Bugatti and gently pushing James closer to the door.

Young master??

James gazed skeptically into the luxurious car. An old man was seated comfortably inside with his legs crossed and a cup of coffee in his hand. He took a little sip then his eyes swooped over, staring right at James. A warm smile braced his lips as he spoke, "I know you might be a bit skeptical by this old man's impromptu invitation but don't you worry, I don't plan to do anything bad to you. I just want to let you know your true identity"

"My true identity?" James scoffed, finding everything funny.

"Yes please, just a few minutes," The old man said, his eyes begging him, and in the end, James decided to stay.

"Go on"

"James, I have something important to tell you. Something that will change your life forever."

James kept quiet, waiting for him to go straight to the ducking point.

"I'm your father," The old man says, his voice trembling.

James stared at him for a moment before crossing his arms. "Oh really?"

James would've argued back and yelled at the old man, calling him a liar and all that but the striking facial similarities between the two made him shut his mouth. For some reason, he wasn't as happy as he thought he would be if he met a family member one day.

"I know you might not believe me, but I am, and I can prove it," The old man said, dropping the mug aside and moving towards James. He takes James' left hand and unbuttons his sleeves, pulling them upward to expose a dark tattoo.

It was circular, slightly imperfect, with an arrow pointing upwards, emerging from the middle to the top and a slash/cut: A long, diagonal line cutting through the circle's side.

James had been with this tattoo forever, and he never really gave it any attention.

"I have a similar tattoo. This is our family's crest" The man said before lifting his shirt a bit and turning his back toward James. Indeed, he had a similar tattoo engraved on the lower part of his back.

"And what reason did you thoroughly think through for abandoning me?" James said sarcastically.

The old man takes a deep breath, "I know. I'm the one who left you at the orphanage. I did it to protect you."

"Protect me? From what?"

The man explains, his words pouring out, "I have too many enemies, James. As the CEO of XY Corps, The largest company in North America, and a well-known billionaire in the world. People wanted to hurt me, and I knew they'd target you, too. I had to keep you safe."

His eyes lock onto James'.

"I've taken care of my enemies, but I can't guarantee that more would not appear; however, you are all grown now. It's safe for you to know the truth. I want to make amends, James. I want to be your father."

James asks, "And... What is your name?"

"My name is Robert Williams"

James nodded, finding the name very familiar. He would just have to browse when he gets home.

"I'm willing to earn your trust, Son. I'll do whatever it takes."

Robert handed James a sleek black VIP card. "This is for you, Son. You can withdraw any amount, purchase anything you desire, and take care of your needs. The pin is 6438"

James looked at the sleek black VIP card in his hand and then at Robert, "Tell me, what's the limit on how much I can buy with this card?" James asked.

Robert smiled. "There is no limit, Son. This card grants you unrestricted access to my wealth."

James raised an eyebrow. "No limits? That's impossible."

Robert chuckled. "For you, Son, nothing is impossible. This card is linked to my personal account, and I've authorized unlimited transactions."

James stared at the card, finding everything that had been going on for the past few days hard to take in.

Robert assured him, "And you don't need to worry, the card has state-of-the-art encryption and security measures. You're safe."

"This is...incredible."

Robert continued, "And there's more. I want you to inherit XY Corps one day. You'll be the perfect successor."

James shook his head. "I am not interested in any of your companies."

Robert focused his warm and desperate eyes on James. Sighing heavily, he said, barely concealing a quiver in his voice.

"James, this is important and I want you to know it: do take your time learning how slow or fast it is to grasp the basics of how XY Corps operates. Examine the work processes, get in touch with the upper management, and align with the company's values. But I don't want you to take so long to do so, Son."

James furrowed his brow in a frown. He, for some reason, was feeling the seriousness of the moment.

However, Robert's sadness changed into seriousness, 'I am suffering from cancer, James. In the last stages. There is this guilty conscience of dying without making sure XY Corps has a future that makes. It makes me restless'" Robert said.

Robert's voice shook with love and sadness. "I have chased after the dream of building this empire that I have had and I am sure that it will outlive me. Out of everyone in the world, you are the only person I can depend on to carry on what I have worked for. Hurry and grasp what you need to know, James. Makes me proud. I will not be here forever."

James nodded, a glint of steely resolve in his eyes.

While ROBERT'S weak hand clutched the hand of JAMES, his eyes were very desperate. "This is a good one, James. Promise me you will look after XY Corps, defend its history, and...make it flourish. Do not allow my purpose in this life to be in vain."

JAMES replied rather firmly. "I promise, Robert. I will not disappoint you."

The tension upon ROBERT'S features once gradually lessened after hearing that.

As James prepared to leave, Robert said, "Why don't you move into my mansion? You can live with me or I can have them build a larger and more comfortable mansion."

James declined. "No, thank you. I have a home."

Robert understood. "I respect that. But know you're always welcome."

"Do I have a brother or... Sister by any chance?" James' asked. Robert was an influential man and it was very normal for him to have more than one son.

"No. I had a son before you were born, but he was taken away from me and your mother. We found his dead body, later on," Robert said, forcing a smile.

"Oh...." James muttered, not knowing exactly how to feel and what to say. "Okay, I will be leaving then. Goodbye"

*****

The next day, James visited the bank to withdraw cash to buy some groceries and a few other household necessities, like a TV, cause he didn't have one. He arrived at 10:00 AM and as he approached the VIP section, a woman recognized him.

The woman's gaze swept over James' casual attire. "I think you've lost your way, James. This is the VIP section. It's for esteemed clients, not..."

She paused, her tone dripping with disdain.

"...not someone like you."

James stared back at the lady, finding her familiar then he remembered. She was one of Lilian's friends. James couldn't remember her name but all he knew was that it started with M.

"Leave, or else I will call security," She continued. "You can't even afford a decent meal without her family's handouts. You're a parasite, sucking the life out of others and you dare to come to this section."

James ignored her and presented the black VIP card.

Her gaze narrowed as James handed her the black VIP card.

"Where did you get this?" she asked, suspicion evident in her voice.

James raised an eyebrow. "It was gifted to me."

Her expression turned incredulous. "Impossible. This card is reserved for the world's elite. Only five individuals hold this card, and the minimum account balance is $100 million."

She eyed James' casual attire and remembered his delivery guy reputation.

"You're a freeloader, living off your wife's family's money. There's no way you can afford this."

Her mind was made up. "You stole this card."

James' expression remained calm. "I assure you, I didn't."

Mary sneered. "Save it for the authorities. I'm calling security."

Just then, the bank's owner, Mr. Thompson, approached.

"What's the commotion?" he asked with a frown on his face.

The woman pointed at James. "He's trying to withdraw money with a stolen card."

Mr. Thompson's expression changed as he took the card, examining it with carefulness. "This is...impossible," he muttered. "This card is reserved for billionaires, the world's richest individuals on at least three continents."

The woman stared at him in shock for a few minutes. Billionaire?

Richest individuals?

Nah, those words didn't fit James' description at all.

"Sir, I am very sure he stole it. This guy is my friend's husband and he can't afford three meals a day! He is well known for being a useless, poor... "

The woman was interrupted by a loud, heavy smack on her right cheek. Her cheek reddened immediately and tears clouded her eyes. Her hand flew to her cheek in shock and her eyes widened in disbelief.

"Your stupidity can cost me my company so just shut up!" Mr Thompson screamed at her. "This exact type of card can't be stolen! Mr. Williams probably gave him the card himself"

Just a few minutes ago, he was in his office, typing on his laptop and sipping a mug of coffee when, all of a sudden, his phone rang. It was from Ken, one of Mr. Robert William's trusted bodyguards. He threatened Mr. Thompson that he would destroy his bank if he didn't do something about the commotion in the VIP section of the bank. Mr. Thompson abandoned his work and ran to the VIP section.

Mr. Thompson glared at her. "How dare you embarrass our esteemed client? Apologize!"

The woman's face turned pale, her heart thumped loudly in her chest. Mr. Williams gave James this card himself?

The woman stuttered, "I-I'm sorry, sir."

"Your services are no longer needed." Mr. Thompson couldn't have this type of careless person as a worker in his bank ever again.

He turned to James, falling on his knees. "Sir James, Please accept my sincerest apologies. You won't be treated this way again."

"No worries. Just do your job."

With the withdrawal successful, James purchased the TV and a few other things that he had always wanted. It took him up to an hour to fix everything. He smiled. If Lily was here, she would be very elated and would dance around the living room happily. Unfortunately, she was not with him right now; she wasn't his child, so he had no right to try and claim her.

Suddenly, a knock was heard, and James opened the door to see Lilian standing there in a red body hug gown with a smug look on her face.

"What do you want?" James' asked.

"Don't think I am here to give you another chance" Lilian chuckled, "Well, I am here to give you an invitation card to my wedding next week Monday"

She dipped her hand into her purse and pulled out an invitation card, "Even if you don't have a reason to come, at least come for the free food. Bill is rich enough to not only prepare a grand wedding ceremony for me but there's also a chance for poor people like you to eat to your fill."

James was about to reject the invitation, however, he changed his mind at the last minute. He took the invitation card from her and tried closing the door but Lilian stopped that from happening by using her foot to block the door.

"I knew you would never turn my invitation down the moment you heard free food," Lilian said mockingly, "I am leaving. I am afraid that if I stay here much longer, I might contact your poverty"

She squeezed her face, disgust evident in her face as she walked away.

James' took some steps back into his small living room before grabbing his phone. He dialed a number and waited patiently for the person on the other side to answer the phone.

"I never expected you to call back so quickly"

"I've decided to take over completely as your successor and the new CEO of XY Corps"