A Marriage Contract

Chapter 40

Eliza's POV-

The next day I involuntarily went to my university. The night before I hadn't slept even for a moment, I missed my kids and Vincent so much. Also, during the whole night, my phone was flooding with tests from Vincent. He sounded truly desperate and hurt, I wanted to forgive him but I wasn't going to. 

Now, that I didn't have the kids there was no point in staying at home and studying it was better if I went to attend the lectures. In the afternoon, I walked out and stared at the piece of paper that the man handed me yesterday, it was 12:30 pm right now. 

Should I go to Cafe Alera? There was a strong chance that this was a scam but the fact that he knew about the custody case was something that compelled me to go there. I decided to go there even if there was a small chance that he could help the custody I was ready to take the risk. 

Why Eliza? Didn't Vincent say that you weren't their mother, then why are you taking this risk? My mind asked me. 

Because no matter what happened I wasn't letting the kids go to Celestine. Vincent would die if that happens. I reached Cafe Alera and texted that number that I had reached almost immediately I got a reply. It said to go to the far table of the cafe. This was getting progressively weirder and alarming. I started the recording app on my phone before going there, I have watched enough true crime to know this will help if anything happens to me. 

I went to the and someone was already sitting there, I sat opposite them. Just like that man, he was also wearing a black mask and a cap.

"I didn't think you'd actually come." The same voice from yesterday came. 

"I decided to take the risk but just so you know I am a blue belt in taekwondo and I have pepper spray with me," I warned him. 

"I am not dumb enough to pull something like that in a public space. What do you want to have?" He passed me the menu card. 

"We are not here to this," I said. 

"If we don't, we'll look suspicious." He had a point. 

"I'll have an iced white mocha with caramel and salted cold foam." I really wasn't in the mood for anything. The server came and the man in front of me gave our drinks. After the server left he turned to me. 

"So, let me start-" I cut him off. 

"First tell me who you are?" 

"I am Jacob, Roger King's former personal assistant." He said. 

"You mean Celestine's father?" I asked. 

"Yes, now please listen to me. I don't have much time. If we get caught both of us will be dead meat." He pulled his chair closer to the table. 

"This," He placed a brown envelope on the table. "This is what will help you get the custody. You just have to present this in the court tomorrow."

"What is this?" I opened the envelope, there were some legal papers in them. Yesterday late at night Vincent messaged me that there was another court hearing tomorrow.

"That is the copy of Mr. Chae's grandfather's will. It has a clause that when Mr. Chae has kids about 9% of his fortune goes to each of them. That is the reason Roger King wants the custody because until the kids are legal adults, the money will be under the control of their guardian." Jacob said in a hushed voice. 

"Only for 9%?" I was confused. Wasn't he a millionaire? Then why is he doing this for some money?

"It seems only. But that 9% is worth about 50 million dollars and 32 million dollars worth of shares. Together that is 164 million dollars. Roger King is on the verge of bankruptcy he needs this money desperately." He explained. 

"Does Vincent know about this?" I asked. 

"No," Our drinks came at that time. 

"So, Roger King knows about this but Vincent doesn't?" I suspiciously asked.

"There is a good enough reason for that." He took a sip of his drink. 

"Which is?" I crossed my arms.

"Fredrick Chae, Mr. Chae's father. was the first one to find out about the will. There wasn't anything left for him, not even the small fortune he is enjoying right now, so in order to secure his share he lured Roger King into all this. They together formed a plan to gain the custody of the kids and keep the money in between them." Jacob said. 

"Why would a father do this to their son?" I asked. I knew that they didn't have a good relationship but doing something like this to your own kids is unbelievable. 

"He is already at crossed roads with Mr. Chae over the ownership of the business. In his own words, this is the perfect opportunity for him to ruin Mr. Chae." 

I leaned back on the chair in shock. How could someone think about doing this to their own son?

"How do you know this?" I asked him. 

"These conversations happened in front of me. Here," He placed a clear plastic bag with a pen drive in it. "These are the recordings of their conversations to date." 

I took the bag in my hand and looked at Jacob, "Why are you telling me all this? Why not Vincent?" 

"Because he will not see me but he has done so much for me that I wanted to return his favor." He looked away. 

"Thank you for this, but how can I trust you? I mean how do I know Roger King didn't send you to misguide me?" I questioned him.

"You can trust me," He said. 

"Only on one condition." An idea came into my head. 

"What condition?" He asked. 

"You will have to testify in court tomorrow," I said. 

"What? No." He refused. 

"Jacob, please. You only said Vincent has helped you a lot. The stronger evidence on our side the better. We need you." I tried to persuade him.

"But-" He said.

"For Vincent, Jacob. He will die if the kids are taken away from him. Please." I pleaded.

He thought about it for a moment, "Fine. I'll do it."

"Thank you so much," I said.

"I'll leave now. See you tomorrow, Mrs. Chae." He left as soon as he went out of the cafe I sent the recording of this conversation of Nigel along with the photos of the will. In a matter of minutes, I got a call from him. 

"Eliza, you are a lifesaver!" He said. 

"No, I am not," I answered. 

"Yes, you are, Do you know how much you have made sure that we will win. Tomorrow I will tear Fredrick Chae and Roger King into pieces in the courtroom with his information. I can't thank you enough." He sounded like he had won a battle. 

"Good. Talk to Vincent about this and plan our move." I sipped my coffee. 

"Oh no, we are not telling Vincent about any of this." He said. 

"Why?" I asked. 

"Because if he knows about this he'll definitely go to kill them. We will win our custody case but if they press charges for assault and prove that Vincent is a bad influence for the kids, we'll lose everything." Nigel explained. 

"Then when is he going to know about this?" 

"Tomorrow, directly in the courtroom." He said. 

"Okay, it's your call. See you tomorrow, bye." I cut the call. 

I sat in the cafe for some more time and studied a bit. Now that I don't have the kids to keep me occupied the only thing I have to pass my time is my studies. Out of no where I got a call from April. 

"Hey, Eliza. Where are you right now?" She asked. 

"I am at Cafe Alera. Why?" I found it weird that she suddenly wanted to know where I was.

"Oh good, I am not far from there. Are you free? I need your help for something." April said. 

"Yeah, I am free." I answered. 

"Great. Give me five minutes. I'll be there. Bye." She cut the call.