An Expensive Joke.

Donald plumped in to the mansion which he shared with North. The servants bowed and opened the door for him. He moved into the living room, in his full Majesty.

Though now in his mid fifties, he still wore his splendour, he was like a fine wine, which tasted better with time. His dyed grey hair added an extra amount of beauty to his face, he wasn't just wealthy, he also kept up with the trend.

He took an hour out of his tight schedule to exercise his body. After his wealth, the next thing he was determined to retain was his unique physique.

His figure made him stand out amongst other billionaire. He wasn't just gorgeous but admirable. He had been offered several modeling jobs, in the past. But he was of the notion that, a person who was readily seen, gradually lost his value, hence he rejected the multiple offers.

Though he was rarely active, he had the most following on social media. If the marriage between Stephanie and one of his sons didn't hold, and he ended up losing three-quarter of his wealth, his advisers were of the opinion that he should turn to social media, and his wealth was bound to flow back in a jiffy. But Donald saw the advice as being shameful and mediocre, and discarded it instantly.

North sat elegantly sipping from her cup of coffee, with two servants giving her a pedicure. She was clothed in a red flowing gown. Although Donald didn't treat her as a queen, she made sure to treat herself as such.

"Welcome sir." They servants greeted in unison. They stood, grabbing the ointment they used on North, as they excused themselves.

North respired slowly, she raised her eyes to look at him, her eyes were full of questions, she was surprised to have him home, especially since his most cherished son was hospitalized.

"Why are you home?" She asked glancing at him. Although Donald didn't show her much affection, she was determined to stay in the marriage.

It was a rare and golden opportunity to be married to a wealthy man like Donald. She was fully aware that both young and old craved to bear Wright, as their surname. Thus, she had to endure his shortcomings and fight to preserve her throne, not only for herself, but also for her son, Mike.

"Am I banned from my home?" Donald replied with a smirked as he sat on the sofa opposite North.

North stared at him warily, it wasn't just absurd for Donald to be home, but in the midst of such crisis, it was weird.

"You need me to do something for you, don't you?" North questioned with furrowed brows. Her mind pondered on what help the almighty Donald may need from her. After a while of her mind going to and fro, she realized it was a crazy question, since Donald could easily get anything he wanted.

"That's the reason I got married to you. You're pretty smart North." Donald replied, adjusting comfortably. North's face clouded in confusion. She hadn't expected him to confirm her earlier suggestions. She adjusted in her seat, anticipating his request.

Donald stared at her without uttering a word. Her ears were aching to hear what he had say, but she knew better than to pressure him. She just had to wait quitely till he was ready to spill.

"North?" Donald called calmly, as he tapped rhythmically on the white sofa. Donald was a huge fan of beautiful furnitures, he made sure that, the furnitures in his home weren't just beautiful, but upto date.

"Donald." North replied. Initially when they had gotten married, she called him by, sweet, romantic names. But after realizing that he had gotten her bestfriend pregnant. She hastily started referring to him with his name.

"You know that, Derrick's hospitalized right?" Donald said in a rhetorical manner.

North's lips arched in a smile, she instantly got an hint of what Donald was trying to say. For the first time in ages, she had had a genuine reason to smile at Donald.

With Derrick's initial refusal to consenting to marrying Stephanie, and him being hospitalized. It meant only one thing. That her son, would be the groom to the Stephanie. It was all she had hoped for since the moment she became aware of the contract Donald had signed. Her son wouldn't only be marrying the heir of the Noah's family, but he'll automatically inherit one quarter of Donald's wealth, and still be entitled to a share in Donald's will.

"North, Derrick's diagnosed with amnesia."Donald added. The news came as a surprise to North, as she went blank for a moment. She really wanted to laugh, but knew Donald would be furious at her, hence she suppressed the urged.

At that point she could only imagine what Brittany was going through, she felt satisfied that Brittany's heart felt wrenched, the exact way hers felt, when she realized that her bestfriend was pregnant for her husband.

It was on a Sunday afternoon after mass. Mike had just clocked four months. Donald not being a church goer, had stayed back to attend to some things.

On arrival, North had noticed fleet of unfamiliar cars, parked in the garage. She inquired from the security about the event ongoing, and was informed that Donald had an announcement to make.

Moving inside the house, she sighted some conversant and nonconvergent faces. Of which her parents and Brittany were amongst.

North hadn't seen Brittany since she had given birth. The last she saw her was on her way to the hospital, but Brittany never returned to the hospital, neither did she contact her to inform the reason for her disappearance.

"Brittany!" North called nostalgically. She was happy to see that her friend was hale and hearty, and also out of harm's way, but she was also angered by Brittany's attitude and didn't expect her friend of over fifteen years to act in such a manner.

"What happened to you?" North questioned calmly. The maids came in and took Mike away from her arms.

"I'm sorry." Brittany muttered quietly. North had alot to say to her, but after getting a look from Donald, indicating her to sit. She had to tackle Brittany later, but for now, she needed to concentrate on Donald, and also find out why he invited so much guest under such a short notice, and also without giving her prior information.

"Good day Ma. Good day Pa." She greeted her parents and sat besides them on the dinning table, as they responded to her greetings. She nodded to the greetings from the guests.

The maids served them wines into their glasses, and excused themselves afterwards.

Donald grabbed his glass of red wine, he scrutinized the content with his eyes, as though he was searching for filth. After being satisfied, he took a sip, and placed the glass back.

"I have an announcement to make.That's the reason I invited you all. My wife, my in-laws, my PA, my barristers, and Brittany." Donald paused to stare at the faces of his guest. North wondered what the announcement was, that Donald felt the need to invite Brittany, especially after her recent behavior.

"This may not sit well with some of you, but, what have happened, has happened. And the only solution is, acceptance and moving on." Donald said and sipped from his glass of wine again.

North was restless and was anxious to know what Donald spoke of. She calmed herself for a moment, she glanced at Brittany who sat face down. She knew right away that what Donald spoke of had something to do with Brittany. She discarded the negative feeling which built up in her, as she relied on the last brim of trust, which she had for Brittany.

" Brittany here is four months pregnant with my child." He touched her right hand which laid on the table.

North felt her soul leaving her. Her brain suddenly went numb, and all her zeal to leave had immediately vanished.

" Brittany's child, is my child, hence, she'll enjoy the full benefits of being the mother of my child. And if I drop dead today, she and my unborn child are entitled to my assets.." Donald was halted by the loud snare which was made by North.

In splits seconds, North had stood up from her seat as she grabbed Brittany by the hair.

" How dare you! You back stabbing and wicked bitch!"North yelled slapping Brittany across her face, as Brittany bent sobbing.

The guests in the room, aside from North's parents had stood to dissuade North's from harassing Brittany.

Donald grabbed North by the arm, and said sternly,

"This should be the first and last time, you ever lay your hands on her. Go to your room!"

"You can't betray me this way and go scoot free, No! Brittany you can't! You'll regret doing this to me!" North had yelled amidst tears as she stormed out of the dinning room.

"Being diagnosed with amnesia, he can't remember a thing. So, Brittany and I, agreed to painting a perfect relationship between him and Stephanie, so he could marry her without an hassle." Donald explained, staring at her for a retort.

North stood to her feet and let out a loud hysterical laugh. She knew Donald to be sensible and outrightly serious. She hadn't expected him to crack such joke.

After laughing to her satisfaction. She stared at Donald's face, and it was clouded with seriousness. She realized that it indeed wasn't a joke, and that he really meant what he said. The smile from her face instantly vanished.

"If I'm being correct, you want me, North, to play along in your deceits?" North questioned, pointing her index finger at her chest.

"Don't bother answering Donald, you knew better than coming to me. I won't do anything to help take my son's right away from him. Why do you love Derrick so much huh?.." she felt her voice cracked as she swallowed hard.

"No, Donald, I need to he educated on the reason you love Derrick so much. You're always ready to compromise for him. He flouts your rules all the time and doesn't even respect you half as Mike does. But you love him unconditionally and you're ready to risk everything just to make sure he profits."She paused to wipe the tears which had formed in her eyes.

"What did I ever do to you, Donald? What was my offence? Tell me Donald! Why don't you love Mike? Didn't you marry me as a virgin? Haven't I been obedient to you? Why treat our son this way?" She broke down in tears, as she cried uncontrollably.

Donald felt saddened by her outburst. He himself didn't have a reason to why he loved Derrick more. Right from infant, he had always given Derrick anything he wanted, and was stringent with what he gave Mike. It was just an act which happened subconsciously.

He stood up from the sofa which he sat, as he held her in for a hug, as she sobbed on his shoulder, while he caressed her hair. She disengaged from the hug and muttered,

"Never Donald! I won't align with you to strip my child of what he deserves."

" North..."

" I'll personally make sure that, Derrick is aware of the truth. I'll do everything in my power to endeavour that he remembers that he hated Stephanie's gut. And that marriage won't hold, trust me." She added as she walked out of the living room, pulling her dress along.