Hurting

"What do you mean by impossible?" Shirley asked her husband, angrily.

"It seems a few days of my absence gave you leverage to do whatever that pleases you" he strolled towards Shirley.

"What impetus do you have to employ another servant without my permission?" He takes his seat on the couch crossing his legs.

"I... I'm your wife for heaven's sake, Blake. I think we need more servants and also need to fire Emeralds!" Shirley yelled.

"Keep the hell shut, woman! Emerald remains my maid as far as I'm concerned" he sighed.

"If you want my peace, get this man out of my sight," he said.

"Thank you so much, Daddy. I know you will never conform to evil" Christine chirps happily, he smirked.

"Blake, this man will be our daughter's driver from now on," Shirley said vividly.

"And if I don't agree?" he turned to his wife, raising a brow.

"I will withdraw from the current deal with your Asia investors" Shirley said confidently staring straight into her husband's eyes.

What boldness? She had little or no respect for her husband, truly, her fame and inheritance keeps her marriage going.

Publicly, they are one loving family but privately, they hate each other's guts.

"I dare you" he said slyly in a stern tone, Shirley stepped backward in confusion.

He showed little or no fear. It looks as if he is well off without her help.

"But, this deal is super important to you," Shirley said cryptically.

"I won't repeat my statement" he gave a last look at everyone, before leaving.

The intense atmosphere begins to drift freely as Emerald and Christine heave a deep sigh of relief.

"I.. I will take Christy to school now" she stammered as she left the room with Christine.

"Argh!!!" Shirley screamed in anger.

She doesn't like it when someone goes against her or makes her feel powerless. It hurts her more, especially when Blake doesn't get afraid of her threats. In the past, Blake normally succumbed to her word especially when she threatened him with his company's deal but now, he seems courageous and fearless.

"I will crumble him bone to bone and turn him into a lifeless puppet man until he realizes I'm the source of his wealth" she said dolefully in ire as she gradually pumped her fist.

Ashton, who had been silent observing the troll of events, cleared his throat.

"Ma'am, are you still giving me this job?" Ashton asked politely.

"Are you deaf? Get lost!" Shirley yelled at him angrily.

"Yes, yes" with his head bow, he rushed out of the room.

Shirley hardly admits defeat neither can she stay away from being adamant. Blake traveled to the state for a business meeting and she single handedly employed Ashton even after Emerald and Christine disagreed.

Ashton started working as driver and gardener in the Blake's mansion, and because of his good behavior and to displease Emerald, Shirley favored Ashton alot by gifting him with expensive accessories and cash.

Absent Blake, Ashton has been working for almost a week now.

Ashton called in sick and because of Shirley's likeness towards him, she allowed him to rest in the guest room. Emerald drove Christine and her mother to the popular city mall.

"I told you not to come down from the car" Shirley fired at her.

"I'm sorry ma'am. I will head back inside" she attempted to leave the mall.

"No, I want her to be with me. She knows my taste more than you do, mum" Christine informed her mother in a cold tone, Shirley nodded irk.

They strolled into the mall, purchasing nice outfits, heels, shoes, jewelry, and some other needed equipment and after a while, Shirley made payment and they left the mall.

They returned back to the mansion during the evening after the little outing and all of them were worn out. Especially the driver, Emerald.

With shopping bags in her arms, they entered the living room.

"I'm so tired…" Shirley stopped halfway in shock and they gasped in astonishment.

"What happened here?" Christine said rhetorically with their eyes wandering around the living room which is now empty.

From the long HD Television down to the armchairs and center table, air condition, fan, clocks, dining wares, curtains, golds and diamonds, everything was missing.

"What happened here!!??" Shirley screamed almost her lungs out in petrification.

"I... I ... Where have all the properties gone?" She rushed out of the kitchen that seemed to be empty aside from the sink and garbage can.

"Mum, what happened here?" Christine shook her mother's hand, Shirley was lost in thought and confusion.

What is she going to say to her husband and how will he react? Their whole fortune went overnight without any trace.

Unfortunately aside from Emerald, the other maids are off duty during weekends.

"CCTV.. check the CCTV camera now!" Shirley stammered with her wobbling legs as she rushed to the stairs, climbing impatiently.

She followed from behind with Christine.

"Are there no guards on duty or something? How will they steal all the properties in broad daylight without anyone's notice" she said.

"You better keep shut and never spill what has happened to my husband" Shirley warned lividly, her facial expression frightened her but she did not bulge.

They stand behind the computer operator while he tries to scan out the event during the week in the CCTV.

"It's too late" Christine whispered frantically and they turned back, Blake standing at the door staring at them.

"What happened here?" he asked in a serious tone.

"Honey... you see..." Shirley tries to explain the confusing situation.

"Ma'am, you need to see this" the computer operator said and everyone's attention swayed back to him.

"What is it?" he asked, pulling Christine to the side, his hand grazing on her skin which sent shivers up her spine.

She swallowed nervously trying to focus on the large computer screen.

The video coverage started playing and surprisingly, it rolled back from last week displaying the event. Something shocking came up, Ashton coming out from the master's bedroom with a gold chain and rings, he was smiling happily.

The camera showed Ashton frequently indulging in stalking and harassing the female maids, the call he made was recorded and the most heartbreaking action happened - Ashton collided with a truck driver to steal out all the properties owned by the Blakes.

"Him?!" she spilled surprisingly with Christine.

"I... How come?" Shirley cried out.

"I thought I told you not to take him in?!" he queried in disgust.

"What do you think I could do? I wanted you to feel how I felt when you stood by a maid!" Shirley said.

"Oh really? I took the maid in for our child, did I ever harass the maid? Why are you so selfish and evil?" he questioned with contempt and disdain burning in his eyes.

"You have no right to raise your voice at me, I'm your wife!" Shirley shouted angrily.

"Exchanging vulgar words in front of a child isn't advisable" she paused.

"How about we think of a way to arrest Ashton rather than unwarranted rants?" she suggested courageously and Christine smiled and waved her thumb at her, she responded with a short nod.

"Track that truck and their current location, look into this Mr. Ashton" he said vividly.

"Yes sir" and he left the room, we sighed in relief.

"How dare this man raise his voice at him?" Shirley hits the seat angrily and leaves the room.

The search for Ashton commenced in the city and based on Blake's status, other private individuals helped to sponsor the search.

Blake rolled on the long black seat with his eyes on documents, beside him was Jason who's going through some online affairs with the laptop.

"Any news on the man that robbed my mansion?" he asked.

"Yes sir. He was last spotted at New Day High School, very close to your house" Jason paused.

"But sir, it will be best to increase your house security system first" Jason added.

"Employ the engineering staff to do that, today" he said.

"On it sir" Jason nodded.

"He has so much guts! Unsatisfying human" he smirked scornfully.

Suddenly, someone barged into his office without knocking.

"How dare..." he stopped his statement immediately he saw the person, it was his wife, Shirley.

"I dare you! I dare you!" Shirley yelled at him, approaching his desk.

"You seem to have forgotten what I mean to you!" Shirley fired notwithstanding.

"I.. I will excuse you, sir" Jason leaves the office, he knows what Shirley's attitude is like.

"You surprise me time and time again, Shirley" he stood from his seat.

"Blake Thompson, I'm sick and tired of you" Shirley paused.

"I want to see how wrecked and frustrating your life will become without my influence and fame" Shirley laughed mockingly with a loud voice.

"What are you implying?" he asked cryptically.

"You seem not to know where I'm driving to, yet" she strolled closer to him, this time they were staring at each other without blinking.

"I want a divorce, Mr. Blake," Shirley said confidently.

Her words came too fast and the only action he could react with was laughing scornfully.

"Divorce?"