Chapter 3 03

Franklin Howard:

"You're right. We would have gotten married, but it's not too late to divorce your sister now. She isn't up to my standard, and I don't like her," I said as the waiter brought our dinner. Amelia smiled.

"What about me? I've always admired you. Honestly, that night, I felt sad seeing that Natalie drugged you and used you as her pawn to escape from our parents' home. She's just wayward, and I had always admired you, hoping we would become a couple," Amelia said, tears gathering in her blue eyes.

I sighed.

"Don't worry, I will end my marriage with Natalie, okay? She can move on with her life with whomever she pleases. I don't care," I told Amelia, and she smiled at me.

"Does that mean you will consider dating me now? I really do love you, Franklin," Amelia asked, looking at me sweetly.

She was beautiful, and with her blue eyes shining, I couldn't say no to her request.

I had always wanted to date her. I used to like her. She was tall, like a formidable model, with slender legs, a slim waist, and an ample bosom.

Those days, my father usually sent me on errands to meet Mr. Liam Jackson, and from there, I would catch a glimpse of Amelia. Also, whenever our families had any event hosted during the end of the year, like New Year's festivities, Christmas, or birthday celebrations, my dad would still invite the Jackson family to our home.

Presently, as I got married and moved away from my father's house, where I now live alone, I hardly attend these end-of-year celebrations because I feel ashamed to be in the same location as my wife.

I would travel out and give excuses to my dad about why I couldn't show up.

The waiter soon arrived with our meals, and I felt pressed and stood up from the table to excuse myself.

"I'm coming back. I want to use the restroom," I told Amelia, and she smiled at me.

"Okay," Amelia said, while the waiter positioned our meals on the table.

I knew I wasn't supposed to leave my meal, but Amelia was like family to me, and I trusted her.

I quickly waved away the negative feeling that had settled in the pit of my stomach as I left for the restroom to relieve myself.

I stole a final look at Amelia as I quickly entered the restroom, seeing her smiling at me.

I hurried into the men's restroom to relieve myself. There were several stalls for the men to use, knowing that their restaurant could get crowded with lots of patrons.

As I got out of the restroom, wanting to leave, not expecting that I would become pressed simply because I didn't have the time to relieve myself at home, I bumped into Michael Austin, my best friend here in the city.

Michael wore a white shirt paired with black jeans similar to mine, as he wore black canvas shoes too.

"Franklin! What brought you here, bro? Hold up, let me use the restroom quickly," Michael rushed into the restroom to relieve himself too, while I waited for him to come out.

"Franklin!" Michael and I shook hands, and I asked him, "What's up with you? What brings you here?"

Michael smiled and replied, "I was just bored at home. You know, no wife or girlfriend, so I came here to see if I can see any pretty lady to hang out with."

Michael had dark complexion skin, compared to me, who was fair.

"That's fine. I have to go now, as I came here with my date," I replied, wanting to leave and not wanting to mention that I came here with my wife's half-sister.

"Your date?" Michael looked taken aback as he stopped me, his eyes narrowed at me.

"Yeah, can't I go on a date again?" I asked him. He frown but quickly laughed and replied, "Of course, hahaha, you can go on a date, Franklin. But with your wife, I guess. Who did you arrive here with?"

"Come, let's go out and meet her. She will be waiting for me," I told Michael, as he didn't seem happy to hear that I came here on a date and not with my wife.

I didn't go on any date with Natalie. I haven't taken her out or for shopping. I just planned to divorce her, and while the matter is still ongoing in my mind, I haven't discussed it yet with Michael, even though he was my best friend. I know he wouldn't support me in divorcing Natalie, as he kind of has a soft spot for her.

Michael and I were age mates. He owned several hotels here, thanks to his wealthy parents. He was a billionaire, and his father was a senator.

We exited the men's restroom and went back to the private parlor to join Amelia there.

As I approached the chair where Amelia sat, just as I saw that the waiter had already served my request, I quickly introduced Michael to Amelia.

"Hey bro, meet my girlfriend, Amelia Jackson. Amy, this is Michael Austin, my childhood best friend," I introduced Amelia to Michael just as I moved to take my seat in the room, wanting to be quick with my dinner and to return home on time to my unwanted wife.

"Hi," Amelia said to Michael, as she stood up from her seat and extended her right hand to him for a handshake.

Michael only stared at Amelia's hand, and he didn't accept her hand for a handshake.

"Franklin, isn't she your wife's elder sister? Are you sleeping with both your wife and her sister now?" Michael asked me, his anger was evident, and that actually pissed me off. He shouted so loudly, despite the fact we were in the private hall.

Some other patrons looked at our table in shock, despite the dimly lit light in the room, while Amelia appeared tense.

"Shut up, Michael! What has gotten into you? I am not sleeping with Natalie at home, and whatever relationship that I have with Natalie and her sister is none of your business," I barked, pissed off that my friend liked supporting my wife over me.

He never finds any fault in Natalie and would often disagree with me if I tell him that Natalie is ugly and not my type.

"Really, I had thought you arrived here with your wife, and here you are, fooling around with your wife's sister. Don't you feel any shame, Franklin? And if at all you want to cheat on Natalie, must you cheat on her with her sister?!" Michael shouted, seeming to gather more attention from the staff working in this restaurant, as we weren't the only ones using the large parlor, and with Michael raising his voice at me, he seemed to have disrupted the eerie atmosphere of this private parlor.

"Michael, you can leave and not disturb me or lecture me on how to live my life," I told him, seeing Amelia looked embarrassed. Michael looked at us, just as I told Amelia to sit back, and he turned around and left.

I treasured my friendship with Michael, but he was getting on my nerves each time he disagreed with me about divorcing Natalie.

He most times tells me that I'm blind to see how beautiful Natalie is.

"I apologize to you on my friend's behalf. He's always like that, picking on Natalie's side, that I'm beginning to think if he's sleeping with her behind my back, the cheap slut that she is," I told Amelia to ease her tense mood.