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@ ODILI ONUOHA
2025-04-13 07:47:06CHAPTER FIVE
The golden rays of the sun filtered through the bedroom curtains as James stood before the mirror, adjusting his old clothes. He was supposed to attend a wedding that day, an event where the entire Ray family would be present. It wasn’t an occasion he was particularly looking forward to; he knew it would be another gathering where Helen would belittle him, where Mark would flaunt his wealth, and where he would be reminded, once again, that he didn’t belong.
Rita, his wife, had begged him to accompany her.
“James, please,” she had said earlier that morning. “You’re still part of this family. Even if they don’t see it, I do.”
He sighed and kissed her forehead. “I’ll try my best to be there.”
But just as he was about to leave, his phone buzzed.
Charles JP company.
James frowned. His uncle, his father’s younger brother, hadn't called him in years after he was disowned by his parents. The last time they spoke, James had been struggling to find his place in the corporate world. Charles had always been distant but respectful, a man of power who rarely interfered in family matters.
Curious, James answered.
“James,” Charles’s deep voice came through the line, steady and commanding. “I need to see you. Now.”
James straightened. “Is something wrong?”
“No,” Charles said. “In fact, I have something that could change your life.”
James glanced at the time. He was expected at the wedding soon, but something in his uncle’s tone told him that whatever this was, it was far more important.
“Where are you?” James asked.
“My house.”
James didn’t hesitate. “I’m on my way.”
The JP family estate was nothing short of magnificent an architectural masterpiece that reflected wealth, power, and legacy. As James pulled into the driveway, he was greeted by a row of security personnel who immediately escorted him inside.
Charles was waiting in his study, a glass of whiskey in his hand. He was a man in his late fifties, but he carried himself with the authority of someone who had commanded empires.
He gestured for James to sit.
“I won’t waste your time,” Charles said, his gaze sharp. “I’ve been watching you for years. Your resilience, your intelligence, your hard work. And I know how the Ray family has treated you.”
James clenched his jaw but said nothing.
Charles continued, leaning forward. “I have watched JP Industries from the ground up and I have monitored every aspect of the business, and made sure it is well effective. It is a billion-dollar empire, and I need someone I can trust in this business. I have watched your dedication, commitment and ability.” He paused before saying the next words deliberately.
“I want you to be the president of JP Industries.”
James felt his breath hitch.
President?
His uncle wanted him, the same man the Ray family mocked, the same man Helen had threatened, the same man who was once cast out by his biological family to lead one of the most powerful companies in the country?
James met his uncle’s gaze. “Why me?”
Charles smirked. “Because you’re a fighter. Because I see a leader in you. And most importantly because I know you’ll never let anyone control you again.”
James inhaled deeply, his heart pounding.
For years, he had fought for recognition. He had endured the humiliation, the sneers, the insults. And now, here it was a new beginning.
He didn’t need to think.
He already knew his answer.
Lifting his chin, he met Charles’s gaze and extended his hand.
“I accept.”
As James left the estate that evening, a newfound confidence surged through him. He had entered Charles’s house as a struggling man with no power, no authority, no true control over his life.
But now?
Now, he was the president of JP Industries.
Now, he was his own man.
And as he drove past the towering gates, one thought echoed in his mind:
The Ray family had no idea what was coming.
James arrived at the Ray family mansion precisely at the agreed time to accompany Rita to the wedding. Despite everything the humiliation, the disrespect, and the ongoing family drama he had made a promise to his wife, and he intended to keep it.
As he stepped out, the glances he received from the household staff and a few family members passing by were filled with the same disdain he had become used to. His attire, though simple and elegant, lacked the extravagance the Ray family preferred.
He adjusted his suit jacket and strode confidently towards the entrance.
But just before he could enter, he was intercepted.
Helen stood at the doorway, her arms crossed tightly over her chest, her eyes scanning him like a predator sizing up its prey. Next to her stood Susan, his sister-in-law, who had recently returned from her studies abroad.
Robert, Grandpa Ray’s younger brother, was also present, looking unsure but clearly swayed by Helen’s judgment.
Helen didn’t even attempt to conceal her disdain. “Where do you think you’re going, James?”
James held her gaze steadily. “To the wedding. I’m accompanying my wife.”
Susan scoffed, rolling her eyes. “Looking like that?” She gestured at his suit. “Do you ever think about appearances? You embarrass this family every time you step out.”
Robert sighed, rubbing his temples. “James, listen. This is an important event. There will be dignitaries, business associates, and people who matter. We don’t need unnecessary distractions.”
James felt his anger simmer beneath the surface. A distraction. That’s what they saw him as someone unworthy of standing by Rita’s side in public.
Helen stepped forward, her voice lowering to a sharp whisper. “We’ve tolerated you enough, James. Why don’t you make things easier for everyone and stay behind?”
James squared his shoulders. “Rita invited me. I’m going.”
Susan laughed mockingly. “Why are you so stubborn? It’s not like you belong in this family. We all know why Grandpa Ray took you in, but let’s not pretend it was because you deserved it.”
James clenched his fists, inhaling deeply to control his temper.
Before he could respond, the sound of heels clicking against the marble floor interrupted the confrontation.
Rita appeared at the doorway, her presence commanding attention. She was dressed in a stunning, deep-blue evening gown that shimmered under the lights. Her hair was styled elegantly, and her expression was unreadable as she took in the scene before her.
“What’s going on here?” she asked, her tone firm.
Helen was the first to recover. “Nothing, dear. We were just telling James that perhaps it would be best if he skipped the wedding. It’s a high-profile event, and”
Rita’s eyes narrowed. “And what? He’s my husband. He’s attending.”
Susan scoffed. “Rita, be serious. Do you really want him standing next to you in front of everyone?”
Rita lifted her chin. “Yes. Because unlike all of you, I actually respect my vows.”
A tense silence fell over the group.
Helen’s face darkened. “Rita, think carefully”
“I have thought carefully,” Rita interrupted, stepping beside James and taking his hand. “And I’m done letting any of you treat him like this.”
James glanced at her, surprised by the firmness in her grip.
Rita turned to her mother. “If James isn’t welcome, then neither am I.”
Helen’s expression flickered with frustration. “You can’t be serious”
“I’ve never been more serious,” Rita said. “Now, if you’ll excuse us, we have a wedding to attend.”
She pulled James forward, leading him past her stunned family and into the house.
As they walked towards the car waiting to take them to the wedding venue, James gave Rita a sideways glance.
“You didn’t have to do that,” he said quietly.
“Yes, I did,” she replied without hesitation. “I’m tired of them treating you like an outsider. They need to learn that you’re not going anywhere.”
James felt a warmth spread through him at her words.
For years, he had endured humiliation from the Ray family. But tonight, as he walked beside his wife, he realized something.
He wasn’t fighting this battle alone.
And for the first time in a long while, he felt like he truly belonged.