– Getting Surprised Instead

*****

“Hehehehe. Do you know, I learned from a very trusted source last night that a powerful, erudite, and prominent Grandmaster is coming to our city today.”

“Huh? A powerful, erudite, and prominent Grandmaster?”

“You—you hadn’t heard the news?”

“Seems so.”

"Ugh! Whatever. According to the news, the prime minister, all the First-rank family leaders, and other major figures in our city have been at the airport since last night, waiting to welcome this god disguised as a man."

“Huh- Wow!”

*****

“Are they talking about me?”

Xavier, who had just entered the city and was appreciating the massive changes around him abruptly mumbled as he came to a stop, staring at the two men in suits walking before him.

He frowned intently the following second before subconsciously looking at the crowded walkway opposite him, which contained people going to work.

Xavier quickly joined and blended into the crowd to listen to their chatter and as it turned out, everyone was animatedly discussing the same topic: the arrival of an Erudite, powerful, and distinguished Grandmaster, a god of war, and a highly esteemed figure, as they call it, coming to the city.

The more Xavier heard the crowd’s gossip, the more astounded he became before he eventually did not know whether to laugh or cry.

“Didn’t I warn those guys that I just wanted to live a low-key life?” he wondered speechlessly before sighing helplessly as he imagined how his seemingly low key life would have been ruined even before it began if he had let himself be dropped off at the airport.

Xavier instantly felt a cold shiver run down his spine as the image of himself being knelt to by all the various leaders of the city crossed his mind. He swallowed hard and quickly shook his head.

“Fortunately for me, I’m smart enough to change the route,” he mumbled as he swallowed hard, and with that, decided to stop sightseeing the city that had changed so much in the past five years, almost appearing strange to him.

“Time to go see my woman,” he abruptly muttered and his eyes brightened so much in the following second before his breathing quickened with pure joy.

“Five years isn’t easy at all!” he sighed heavily with a nostalgic tone, momentarily losing his composure—something he had rarely done in the past five years.

Unable to wait any longer, Xavier hailed a taxi and got in. A little over thirty minutes later, he arrived at his destination and got out, then looking at the house that had barely changed in the past five years, his eyes grew bloodshot.

This was the house he had bought for himself and his fiancée five years ago, which they would move into after their marriage.

Xavier clenched his fists once again, adding all strength and causing them to crackle hard.

Five years ago, he was just an ordinary young man from a humble family who managed to labor hard and work his way into a middle-class financial position.

Although not big, he managed to start his own company and buy a house on a mortgage, while also owning a small car.

That was almost all of Xavier’s dreams back then and just as he was about to achieve the last, by marrying the woman of his dreams, everything was changed by an unforeseen incident that led him to jail.

Recalling all this, Xavier failed to handle the drop of tears that fell from his eyes.

He sighed heavily, then with his eyes having turned red from his contrasting emotions, pushed open the door he had yearned to walk through for the past five and walked into the villa.

It was still pretty much the same except for some little changes here and there.

Xavier’s heart couldn’t help but melt at this, at how his fiancée was still taking care of the villa and making sure he would meet it as he had left it.

‘It shows that she still loves and cares about me,’ he thought and the massive love he initially felt for Jennifer increased by several folds.

Perhaps all the powerful jade beauties, numbering in the hundreds, who had always envied the woman who had captured Xavier’s heart, would immediately commit suicide if they were to know that such a simple thing as taking care of a house would deeply touch the godly entity’s heart and cause his love to grow exponentially.

Unaware of this, Xavier, unable to contain his anticipation to see the face he had been longing for and imagining days and nights for the past five years, quickened his pace and began searching for his wife, eager to surprise her with his return.

“Could she be in our room?” he mumbled to himself after failing to find Jennifer anywhere else in the small villa and once Xavier muttered this, he wasted no time and quickly made his way to the master bedroom.

As he reached the door, his heart began to pound wildly with nervousness.

Right now, he was no longer the scary entity known as Master Xavier. Instead, he was just a weak young man who was going to die from nervousness and goosebumps.

Many imaginations quickly surge through Xavier’s head in the span of seconds before finally, he pushed open the door that felt heavy.

“Surprise!!!” he announced loudly, his voice filled to the brim with unhidden joy, but in the following second, his voice hung and his face became stiff.

Right on the massive bed before him, the matrimonial bed he had bought five years ago to be used by himself and his fiancée after they got married, two naked bodies were tightly entangled with each other, and they both seemed to be having their climax.

Xavier’s heart and body froze in an instant.

He couldn’t react nor do anything, feeling as though he were dreaming, and following this, his eyes widened in shock, and his jaw nearly dropped to the ground from disbelief.

– Another Shock

*****

Of all the things Xavier had visualized his first meeting with his fiancée would be after five years, this definitely was never one of them.

He remained dumbstruck for a long time, gaping, with his head pounding hysterically in disbelief as he stared at the couple who wouldn’t tear from each other even after his intrusion, only stopping after they finished having their climax.

They finally glanced toward the door, wondering about the person who had dared to intrude on their room.

“Which motherf*cking bastard are you?” Victor, a short man with an unremarkable appearance, demanded with rage while Jennifer’s eyes grew cold, unable to believe that someone had dared to barge into her room while she and her partner were together.

Infuriated, Jennifer quickly rolled herself into the duvet on the bed and leaped to her feet, pointing aggressively at Xavier.

“You!!!” She barked, wanting to curse but then she went into a daze the next second, unable to believe her eyes.

“How—how could it be you? Weren’t—weren’t you only supposed to be back 15 years from now? How—“ she stuttered with shock, disbelief, and panic, staring at the face she had almost forgotten.

As soon as Xavier, who was still struggling to process what he had just witnessed, heard Jennifer, he found himself smiling in the most heartbreaking way anyone had ever seen.

“Yes, how could I be back now when I was sentenced to 20 years in prison?” he asked self-mockingly, his voice raspy and unlike his usual tone.

Meanwhile, a frown immediately spotted Victor’s face when he heard the exchange between his woman and the stranger, and being the possessive sort of person he was, became so ugly in an instant, glaring at Jennifer.

“I…” Jennifer immediately returned to her senses from this glare and subsequently, the expression of panic and disbelief on her face disappeared, only to be replaced by mockery.

“Don’t you know him?” She inquired, pointing at Xavier in disgust.

Still infuriated by how his woman had communicated with another man, Victor’s eyes flashed aggressively. “How am I supposed to?” he asked darkly and Jennifer smiled wickedly.

“He was the bastard you threw away into prison 5 years ago.”

“Huh…”

“Huh…”

It wasn’t only Victor who was dumbstruck, Xavier was as well.

His face returned to being dazed as he heard Jennifer, unable to believe how she had just addressed him.

“Did—did you just call me a bastard?” He asked with shock, making Jennifer give him the sort of stare he had never received from her since knowing.

“Aren’t you one?” She inquired with derision before seeming to have recalled something.

She immediately smirked. “Isn’t even calling you a bastard me trying to respect you when I was supposed to address you as a…. Priisoonner.”

That was all Xavier needed to hear.

His heart shattered into millions of pieces in an instant and he became suffocated.

“You… you… you just called me a—a prisoner?”

“And so what? Aren’t you one?” Jennifer snapped back, with contempt and sarcasm, causing Xavier to tremble, almost fainting the next second.

His ears began to ring hysterically as those words echoed repeatedly. Xavier’s eyes turned crimson red as he pointed at Jennifer in disbelief. “You… you actually dared to call me a prisoner?” His voice shook badly.

If anyone who had known Xavier during his time in prison saw him now, they would be completely stunned, feeling the need to repeatedly check their eyes and ears to believe what they were witnessing. The man who was always known for his unwavering calmness was now shaking uncontrollably.

“You—you… have you forgotten the reason I was imprisoned?” He suddenly inquired.

“Hahahahah! Obviously, I sent you to prison!” Victor, who had initially been too stunned after what Jennifer revealed to him abruptly laughed out loud.

He was a young master of an influential third-rated family, and for this reason, he had always been having his way since he was a child.

One thing he particularly enjoyed was taking other people’s women, especially right in front of their partners, but he had never experienced this level of fervor before.

He couldn’t help but tremble with excitement, wondering what Xavier must be going through, returning from prison and finding his fiancée and the person who sent him to prison making out in his house and on his bed.

….

After he finished speaking, Victor thought Xavier would completely lose it, thereby giving him the chance to teach him a lesson for the second time.

Contrary to his wish, however, Xavier did not react.

He only spared Victor a single glance before ignoring him, dumbfounding both Victor and Jennifer.

“You…” Jennifer opened her mouth, but then Xavier interrupted.

“My eyes might be deceiving me but isn’t that the guy who almost raped you five years ago?” he suddenly asked, glancing back at Victor as though he just recalled the face.

Both Jennifer and Victor instantly exchanged gazes, but in the next second, beamed.

“And thanks to you, we got together,” Jennifer responded making Xavier’s tongue become tied for a second with astonishment.

"I—I attacked him five years ago when I caught him trying to assault you and was arrested for it, eventually being charged with attempted murder," Xavier suddenly began, his voice trembling so severely that anyone who knew him would be chilled to the bone. "I wasn’t given the chance to get a lawyer and was immediately sentenced to 20 years in a prison meant for hardened criminals." He concluded before his eyes suddenly flashed with hatred.

“Not only have you betrayed me upon my return, but with someone like that?” He inquired with disbelief, curling his fists so much with pain as he felt his heart being clenched tightly.

Jennifer remained silent after hearing Xavier and Victor did not say anything, waiting for how Jenifer would react.

With that, the room turned silent for a while before suddenly, Jennifer scoffed with ridicule.

“You said you were sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for defending me?” She inquired coldly but continued before Xavier could respond, her voice turning icy cold. “Did I send you to defend me back then?” She demanded, stunning both Xavier and Victor to the core.

Xavier wasn’t able to react for a long time, while Victor, after struggling to control himself, finally erupted into laughter only after which Xavier regained his senses and felt his body go cold. Yet before he could say a word, Jennifer continued, her voice still dripping with coldness and scorn.

“You acted as though you were unjustly thrown into prison. Did you not attempt to murder my man five years ago? Criminal!”

Xavier’s vision immediately darkened while his head became light.

“You—you—you—you…”

“Me what?” Jennifer snorted with disgust. “Did I lie?” She asked, making Xavier finally unable to hold it anymore.

“To think I rushed out of prison for you, hoping to give you a lifetime of happiness and make up for everything you desired for the rest of my life!” He suddenly laughed bitterly, his voice dripping with pain, self-mockery, and disappointment.

No sooner had he finished laughing, however than two jeering voices responded to him.

“Did you just say you rushed out of prison?” Victor inquired.

“And you, an ex-convict who had stopped having life 5 years ago dare to tell me how you wished to give me a lifetime of happiness?” What a joke.”

The couple laughed as though they had heard a joke, but Xavier didn’t show any painful emotion, instead, said seriously after a moment;

“I could have given you the best life and made you the envy of all the ladies in this world if you had waited.”

“Fool,” Jennifer scoffed, her eyes filled with disdain as she stared at the plain dress on Xavier’s body.

“You couldn’t give me one percent of the life given by my man before you were imprisoned and you think you’d be able to do that now that you’ve become an ex-prisoner?” She asked with sarcasm.

Perhaps because his emotions were too disordered or for another reason, Xavier neither got angry nor hurt by Jennifer’s words. He simply realized that the Jennifer he had always loved might have disappeared the moment he was sentenced to prison five years ago.

With that, Xavier breathed deeply. Although deep down, he wanted nothing more than to destroy the cheating duo, he chose not to act on those whims.

“Since you’ve already moved on with your life, can you and your man at least get out of my house now? Also, I will need my company back,” he said calmly, his demeanor having turned indifferent.

The moment Jennifer heard him, however, she finally panicked.

“I…” she opened her mouth to speak, but then was interrupted.

“Which stupid company and house?” Victor asked, not hiding the mockery in him.

"Since you were rotting away in prison, and I couldn’t squeeze a dime out of you for the damage you caused, my babe and I decided to sell off everything you owned, tossing whatever pathetic scraps were left to your parents after deducting my medical bills."

”This!” Xavier’s eyes widened with disbelief.

– The Feeling of Betrayal

*****

Xavier, with no background nor support whatsoever, had withstood the rain, blood, and hunger alone to create his company from scratch seven years ago and in a matter of two years, managed to turn it into a slightly successful company, with more than twenty employees.

He had handed it over to Jennifer after he was sentenced to prison five years ago, hoping that she’d manage it and from the profit made, take care of his parents.

Never in his life had he imagined that not only would she not take care of his parents, but would also team together with his oppressor and sell off his properties, a lie he obviously did not believe.

Xavier began to fume frantically, but eventually, clenched his fists to calm the rage that was on the verge of bursting out.

Meanwhile, seeing Xavier in this state, the adulterous pair before him had wide grins on their faces.

Jennifer felt not even the slightest trace of pity nor remorse for him and for betraying betraying him. She was even more pleased that she had quickly abandoned him, considering his present poor standing which was worse compared to five years ago.

“Are you going to weep now?” She suddenly inquired with a taunting voice, finally jolting Xavier back to his senses.

The following second, Xavier, who had never imagined any of what is as happening erupted with laughter, deeply startling the adulterous duo.

They exchanged confused gazes, wondering why Xavier would laugh when he was supposed to be loosing it, but then they smirked, realizing that it was a laughter of pain.

Perhaps, had the couple known the sort of person Xavier had become like those from the prison, they wouldn't have mocked his laughter, instead, they would have been scared to death and quickly kneel to beg for mercy, but unfortunately, they had no idea.

Xavier laughed with so much despair in his voice for a while before stopping all of a sudden and glance at Jennifer with an emotionless face.

“The guy who almost rapped you five years ago said you guys sold off all the properties I left in your care to manage and use its money to pay off his medical expenses, right?" he inquired coldly, causing Jennifer to go blank for a moment before her eyes nearly shot out flames.

“How dare you low-life ex-convict entity call my man a rapist?” she cursed but Xavier ignore her, coldly continuing, interrupting her outburst.

“I will leave everything to you then, but one thing I can promise you is that you, Jennifer Steezers will recall this day soon and regret it," he stated emotionlessly, then with his heart shattered into millions of pieces, turned around and walked away.

Earlier, Xavier had entered with a heart overflowing with joy and love, but now, as he left, his heart was burdened with sadness, disbelief, and hatred.

“Fool,” Victor snorted with disgust after a moment of comprehending Xavier’s threat.

“I will look back on this day and regret my actions? Jennifer asked ironically ignoring the sudden discomfort she was feeling. “Did he think this life is a Nollywood movie?" she chuckled loudly with derision.

With that, the two adulterous couple burst into laughter, heartlessly mocking Xavier without the slightest trace of pity for him.

Just then, Victor looked back at Jennifer, his heart filled with victory. “How about we go for another round?” He inquired playfully, making Jennifer blush.

“You naughty boy,” she murmured beneath her breath and then tapped Victor seductively on the chest, her face crimson red, and with that, Victor’s breathing became heavy.

Without a moment of hesitation, he hauled Jennifer into the bed and they started another round of action, not affected by the return of Xavier or his threat for revenge.

….

Meanwhile, outside the door, Xavier, who hadn’t left immediately clenched his fists with all the strength he could muster, even cutting into his flesh till blood sipped out.

Before long, his palm was covered in blood, but he didn’t notice. Instead, his eyes were filled with an expression he had never had before, not even on the day he was sentenced to prison or during his initial weeks there, which were marked by relentless bullying.

“What was I even waiting for?” He mumbled to himself after a while, recalling his foolishness of waiting outside the door, thinking he would be able to eavesdrop if Victor had forced Jennifer.

“To think I kept her in my mind all these years, using her promise of waiting for me to motivate myself whenever I felt weak,” he mumbled to himself, chuckling in the most painful way imaginable.

With this, Xavier cast one final glance at the door and then decisively walked away another moment of hesitation.

He did not even know how he reached the living room, but just as he was about to exit, however, he saw two people walking in, laughing.

They were Jennifer’s mother and brother, who noticed Xavier the instant he saw them.

“Burglar! What are you doing in my house?” Ava abruptly yelled, glaring cautiously at Xavier.

Xavier, seeing her, his eyes immediately reddened slightly, not offended as he understood that Ava had not recognized him.

She had been very good to him back then and she was the one he always ran to report Jennifer to whenever she offended him, given how she always sided with him and make Jennifer know her wrong.

“Aunty,” Xavier opened his mouth and called out with a raspy voice, dumbfounding the duo of mother and son who were getting ready to attack him.

They stared blankly at Xavier for a moment before; “Aren’t you that prisoner, Xavier?” They abruptly inquire in unison.