005

Mulan's POV

Armed with the marriage certificate, I made my way towards my father's mansion beaming with smiles.

My mother is going to live and also, we wouldn't be struggling anymore.

The thought of it made my smile broaden and with each step I took, it seemed like I was walking on the air.

On arrival, I quickly made my way into the living room, asking a maid to fetch my father which she did promptly.

After what seemed like forever, father, Sandra and Freya appeared on the top of the stairs and together, they all began climbing downwards.

Ignoring the mocking look on their faces, I pulled myself up, my hands resting on my side.

“The last time you came around, I asked you to return with your husband, where is he now?” It was father who spoke.

His tone was harsh and unwelcoming but I wasn't bothered by it a bit.

Once I get my inheritance, I have no business with the Easton's anymore. Since the mockery was temporary, I will have to bear it until then.

“I'm sorry, he couldn't come but here…” I pushed out the photocopy of our marriage certificate.

Reluctantly, he relieved me of the certificate and to my horror after a few minutes of a grave silence, he threaded it into minute pieces and then tossed them at me.

“What do you take me for, a fool, huh?” He said through his teeth, his veins popping out in anger.

Wondering why he had reacted that way, I pressed my lips into a thin line, trying to come up with a reason before questioning him but I couldn't find any.

“But father…” I left my words hanging.

The intensity of the gaze from the three pairs of eyes right in front of me made my skin crawl as I clenched my fist by my side.

“I should have reached out to you immediately when you stepped out that day.” Father's broke the silence.

Clearing his throat, he pushed his hand into his pockets with his chest puffed out.

“I never included you in my will.” He shrugged as if it was nothing while my eyes began to hurt.

At this point, the only thing I could think of was my mother who had a slim chance of survival in the hospital.

With my hopes now crashed against the rock, my legs gave way, making me fall on the floor butt first.

“You must be delusional to think that father will hand over his wealth to you.” Freya smacked her lips as she and her mother shared a mocking chuckle.

“You're my husband's greatest mistake he keeps regretting each day.” It was Sandra's turn to speak this time around.

Numbed to my bones, I was unable to speak or react to their words.

Grabbing the arm of the chair for support, I slowly pulled myself up.

“I don't care if your mother lives or dies, don't you ever come here again.” Father spoke with a stern tone.

With tears blinding my vision, I pulled my feet towards the exit and just when I was about to step out of the living room, I halted.

Swirling around slowly, I locked eyes with my father before shifting my gaze from one person to the other.

With a firm voice and clenched fist, I said, “I won't let this slide.”

Without waiting for their response, I stormed out, banging the door shut.

All through the ride home, I was able to hold back the tears that had blinded my vision completely but the moment I stepped in with my back against the wall, it began to flow down my cheeks in torrents.

“What am I going to do now?”

Times without number, I asked myself this same question but I had no response for it, leaving me even more frustrated.

Exhausted from crying for too long, I fell asleep only to wake up to the sound of my ringing phone.

Without checking the caller ID, I placed my phone against my ear and with a husky voice asked, “What?”

“Are you sleeping out?” The masculine voice on the other end seemed familiar but I couldn't place it.

Trying to come up with a face for him, he spoke for the second time, “I wasn't expecting you to keep to your end of the bargain, you already got what you wanted.”

He hung up.

Still trying to comprehend what was going on, I dug my hand into my purse, pulling out my business card and then it clicked.

Dammit!

With my mother's life on the line, I couldn't think straight anymore, making me forget about the cripple man from earlier who gave me a fighting chance.

Dialing his contact, I hoped he picked up considering the way he had sounded on the phone earlier.

To my delight he did before the lines could disconnect, “I’m sorry, I didn't mean to… I mean…”

“I will text you my address, we need to make things official.” He hung up again.

No matter how much I tried to shake it off, I couldn't.

He might be crippled and confined to a chair but that doesn't change the fact that this man wields some kind of authority I just couldn't comprehend.

His aura was unmatched, making him look like one of the top guys when he wasn't anywhere near them.

“This is so frustrating.” I bit my lower lips as I slowly pulled myself to my feet.

After signing the contract to make our union official just like he had termed it, I'm going to pay my mother my last visit.

No doubt, she wouldn't be able to survive this.

And I didn't want to be present when she finally gave up the ghost as I wouldn't be able to forgive myself.

The drive from my home to his was about thirty minutes which left me exhausted.

Grasping my purse, I walked up the door but before I could connect my fist to it, he pulled it open.

“Come with me.” He spoke through his teeth only to start wheeling his chair into the house.