Chapter 4
~Raven.
~~~~
She pressed herself into the wall. "I-i"
"Please don't blame Aurora. It wasn't her fault that the drink was messed up." I interrupted, afraid that if I hastily revealed everything, she would be alerted and everything would be in vain.
Besides,
I could have prevented this.
All I needed was a contraceptive, but I was so foolishly in love with Elio that I wanted to tie him down with a child.
It turns out that the man that came to my room was Vance. Elio had told me himself after I lost the baby. I remember going after Vance and blaming him for touching me.
I closed my eyes briefly.
"I should have controlled myself." Vance added, jaw tight.
Dad pressed a hand to his temple, brow pinched as if he was in pain. "Dad i-" I reached for him, but he lifted a hand to stop me.
My nails dug into my palm, I really didn't want to go through this, not after losing him, however this was just inevitable, not only so I could be with Vance, but also because it would aid me in my revenge.
Vance pulled me to my feet and took me out of the room. Thankfully, Aurora also tactically followed. "I am sorry, Vance. This is all my fault." My voice cracked.
His jaw clenched, but I couldn't pinpoint who his anger was directed to. "Go to your room for now. I will speak to your Dad."
I parted my lips to refute, but then, I realized that being there wouldn't help, so I nodded. I watched him for a brief second, the way his eyes flickered in-between green and blue.
This little action had always fascinated me as a kid. Hesitantly, I stepped closer, fearing he would push me away, when he didn't, I wrapped my arms around his torso and laid my head on his chest.
The one year we spent together before he died in our past life had been filled with moments like this. Watching each other suffer and then holding ourselves once we were alone.
The warmth from his broad and reliable chest compelled me to want to stay in this moment forever. He didn't hold me, but he didn't push me away either.
It was enough.
I pulled away from him and turned around resolutely without turning back, not even when I felt his burning gaze follow me until I was out of his sight.
Once we reached the hallway leading to my room, I paused and turned to Aurora, who in turn took a step back. "Can you get me a glass of warm milk, I don't feel too good."
"Oh-ok." She didn't waste a moment before walking away. I made sure she was gone before making my next move.
Unlike Vance had instructed, I didn't go to my room, instead, I went in search of the butler, Mr Alfred. "Well, you look lovely today Miss Rave." He greeted, in his French accent, eyes sparkling as he smiled.
My chest warmed at the nickname.
"Thank you Alfred." Seeing him again brought a sour feeling, he had been killed while trying to shield Dad from death. "I have something to discuss with you, are you available?"
"Of course, Miss Rave, shall we head to the bar to discuss?"
I made sure the bar was empty, before instructing him on what I needed.
First, I told him about my suspicion that Aurora had pushed me into the water, then I added something vague about hearing her order for some strange drugs. Of course, someone like her needed to be kept close.
"Don't alert the mouse. Just make sure to watch her." I instructed.
Alfred's expression changed several times the more he heard me speak, but he didn't look surprised and he even hesitated a little before responding. "Of course, Miss."
My eyes narrowed. Why was he reacting like this? "Is something wrong?"
"No-of course not, I just can't believe that Aurora had such a thing in mind."
After saying a few more exchanges, I headed towards my room, and even then, I couldn't shake off the feeling that Alfred had reacted weirdly.
Vance was there when I walked in. He was pacing by my bedside. "Hey."
He examined me. "Where were you?"
"How is Dad?"
"He needs some time to take it all in."
A sour feeling rose within me. "He doesn't want to talk to me does he?"
His left eye twitched. "He is your Dad. It doesn't matter how disappointed he is, you will always be his pumpkin."
Instead of a response, I leaned closer, gaze fixed on his. "Elio threatened you to keep quiet about that night, didn't he?"
His breath hitched, his composure cracking just slightly. But then he scoffed. "Would you believe me if I said he did?"
I took a step forward at his words, brow pulled together. "I believe you."
Vance shook his head, a frown crossing his face. "What are you playing at, Raven? First, you kissed me, then you held me like... Like I am someone you love and now..." He looked away, jaw tight. "Is this a joke to you?"
I shook my head. "No, I don't see you as a joke, Vance. I..." I couldn't complete my words. What was I about to say?
That I loved him?
Did I?
Even if I did, what would it amount to?
This wasn't my past life. And the Vance standing before me wasn't the same Vance that cried helplessly when I was being whipped, he wasn't the same man I went through hell with.
"You what, Raven?" The hope in his eyes died when I didn't respond. "Is there some kind of reason behind this? Are you doing this to make me leave the Autumn project to Elio?"
"No, I would never-"
"Then is this because of the baby?" His gaze trailed to my stomach, his thumb grazing the ring again. "If it is, then you don't have to force yourself to stay with me."
"We are both adults, there's no need to be sorry about it. Besides, Elio was the one who had Aurora drug you."
"It wasn't you?" He drew in a deep breath. “Then why did you lie?"
I stayed quiet. Even if I told him the truth, he wouldn't believe me.
"You don't want anyone to find out that Elio did it?" He took a step forward, voice thick like he was holding himself back. "Elio doesn't love you, can't you see that? If he did, he wouldn't have pushed you into the arms of another man."
"I know he doesn't love me." My voice broke. "And I don't want him anymore." I grabbed his hand, desperation making me hold him tighter, hoping that he would see that I was no longer the same naive girl who chased after Elio. "Please, Vance, can you trust me just this once?"
He looked into my eyes without a response and that hurt more than anything he would have said.
A quiet, broken exhale left me.
I let go of his hand and turned my back to him, a hand placed on my belly.
"Do you not want the baby? Is that why you are saying all this? "
Dad was against us, so will the whole world when the truth comes out. I wasn't afraid of that, but the possibility of being abandoned by him just...
My breath came in shallow as though preparing me for his rejection.
"Raven i-"
A knock cut his sentence short, Aurora walked in a moment later. "Here is your warm milk."
I didn't take it. "Leave-"
The door was yanked open. I lifted my head, thinking it was Dad, but the moment I laid my eyes on the man standing by my door, something ugly curled within me.
"Elio." Aurora called brightly, her whole demeanor changing.
For a heartbeat, I stayed still, my breath coming out heavy as I remembered the torture he had put me through.
All thoughts about being calm flew out of my mind, and a violent tremor ran through my soul. By the time I lunged at him, it was too late to stop. "You bastard!" The word exploded out as my palm connected with his cheek.
~P-Lia~
Chapter 5
~ Raven.
~~~~
Without giving him the chance to react, I sank my teeth into his flesh.
"ARGHHH!" Elio's sharp scream did nothing but fuel the bloodlust in me.
A deep, wicked satisfaction ran through me as the taste of blood invaded my senses. Strong arms wrapped around my waist and pulled me back from him.
"Raven, stop it!"
I didn't. My movement was swift as I once again attacked him with everything I had, my nails, my teeth, my feet. Elio fought back.
He raised his fist, ready to deliver a punch to my abdomen, but Vance caught his hand.
"Enough!" He commanded, the air around him growing colder.
Elio stopped but I didn't, not when each moment I spent around him only dragged me back into the memory of being trapped in that stale room, helpless.
Vance held my wrist and yanked me into his chest. "You need to calm down Raven. There is no reason to attack Elio." His brow lifted as though he never would have imagined I would hurt Elio.
"No! You don't get it, he..." I bit my lips to stop myself from saying anything else, Instead, I held him tighter. "Just get him out of my sight. Please."
"How could you do this to Elio?" Aurora cried, eyes bloodshot as she fussed around him.
Suddenly, I understood.
These two weren't just accomplices, they had some kind of relationship. What If the two of them were lovers? That should explain why they would work together so we'll.
"I already told you, don't meddle in my business. Do you not get that?"
Aurora was taken aback, the anger in her eyes was quickly covered with an awkward nod. "I am sorry."
Vance patted my head softly. "Take Elio out to bandage his wounds. And inform Alfred that the birthday party won't be happening. Express our apologies to the guests."
"I can't take this, Raven has to apologize for hurting me-"
"I won't repeat myself, Elio." Vance turned around, and his eyes locked with Elio with unblinking murderous intensity.
Elio sent him a sharp glare, yet he didn't refute. "I won't let this go." He promised, then stormed out of the room. All while I never took my eyes off him.
I just couldn't understand what I was thinking in my past life. What was so good about him that I ruined my life for him?
"You are trembling." He led me to the bed and helped me sit, then he handed me the milk Aurora had brought.
"I don't want anything from her." My voice was small. The screaming and fighting just now had drained me of the strength I have left and with a baby on the way, I was beyond exhausted.
Vance placed it down, and sat beside me. "Do you want me to get you another one?"
"No."
He watched me like a puzzle he couldn't figure out. "Did Elio hurt you? Is that why you are like this?" I gripped my dress tightly. The action caught his eyes yet he didn't ask more.
I grabbed his hand, my eyes desperately searching his, again "I know I have done a lot to hurt you in the past. But... Do you still see me the same way?"
He looked away, jaw taut. "How I see you doesn't matter, Elio is the one you love. And with what you did tonight, I doubt he will forgive you anytime soon." I didn't miss the bitterness and mockery in his words. "If you don't want the baby after it's born. I will take care of it."
"No. I am keeping the baby and you are staying with us."
"Raven- "
"Elio is no one to me. If anything, I wish I could throw him in hell and watch him burn."
A chuckle slipped out of him. "Then why did you spend all these years chasing after him?"
I couldn't respond.
A heavy silence enveloped us. Vance kept his gaze on the bright green wall of my room, brows puckered, a sign that he had a lot on his mind.
I lay my head on his shoulder, eyes closed as the smell of his cologne lulled me to sleep. "Can you stay with me tonight... Please?"
He kept quiet for a moment. "You keep asking me to stay." His voice grew softer. "Why?"
"Because you mean more to me than you think."
That night, we ended up lying together on the same bed, just like years ago, when my mother died and I would go to him for comfort.
By the time I woke up the next morning, he was gone. I ignored the sting of his absence and got out of bed.
It has been a while since I slept so well, what was more surprising was that I had no nightmare. This brought a smile to my face as I headed down for breakfast.
Dad wasn't there, neither were Elio or Vance.
They were all avoiding me. "Good morning." One of the maids arranging the table caught my eye. She was one of Elio's people.
After breakfast, I called her into my room. " You are Jade right?"
"Yes Miss."
I leaned back on the chair. "From today on, you are dismissed."
She staggered back, eyes wide. "What? Did I do something wrong? If I did, please give me a chance to change-"
"Oh. But why should I do that? You don't even need this job."
"What? Of course I do-"
"The money Elio gave you for monitoring my every move is enough to last you for more than five years." She already had tears in her eyes, but the moment I said this, she flinched.
Bingo.
I didn't wait for Jade to begin apologizing before I had someone send her away. Drugging someone is not enough to keep her behind bars, besides, she was still useful to me.
Over the next two weeks, I secretly cleared Elio's people with one excuse or another, but I didn't confront him head on, if anything, I avoided him. However, Aurora still lurked around me, in her case, I refused to be polite.
I made her do all the work, from the dirtiest to the hardest.
This time, I was determined to protect myself and those I love, so we wouldn't end up like we did in our past life.
Dead.
Without even knowing why.
Dad still didn't want to speak to me. I made sure that his well being was reported to me everyday.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Winter, my best friend asked, the sound of the keyboard stopping as she turned to me.
"I have never been this certain in my life."
She scoffed. "I thought you couldn't do without him, why did you change your mind?" Her words only made me feel like hurling myself down a building.
In my past life, Winter had tried her best to convince me, but I never listened. Even after I got married, she tried numerous times to make me see Elio's true color, yet I humiliated her and broke our friendship.
I smiled bitterly. "There are many reasons, but let's say it's because I realized that he has just been using me."
Winter chuckled. "Wow. I never imagined that my love struck friend would finally realize her foolishness." She returned her gaze to her computer. "Or it would have been disastrous."
"Yeah." I mumbled, chest burning as I read more of the contents on the bright screen. To think that Elio has not only been transferring company funds to another account, but has also recently been In contact with shady organizations.
My hand balled into fists.
I have really been utterly foolish.
"It says here that he transferred twenty million dollars to an organization named Flame Wings." She tilted her glass up. "That is after he had transferred another thirty millions dollars to a local account. What exactly is he using all this money for?"
To plot mine and my Dad's death.
It dawned on me that he had been planning this for a long time. Maybe even before he was adopted. "This isn't enough to convict him, We need to find out exactly what he used the money for."
"I am on it."
"While you are at it. Can you download the CCTV footage of the kitchen."
"Huh? Why?"
"Aurora will make her move on Dad tonight."
Her eyes widened. "You mean..." I already told her about Aurora pushing me into the swimming pool, I even added that someone had reported to me that Aurora was planning on drugging Dad.
And the fact that all the new maids in the house worked for me, only made it easier. I nodded and she gasped. Just then, a knock sounded at the door. "Miss Knight, Mr Knight is asking for you downstairs."
Tonight was the twentieth anniversary of the company. The same day I caught Aurora and Dad in bed in my past life. "Tell him I will be right there."
"Yes ma'am."
"How do I look?" I asked Winter who was still gaping.
"Like a fairy." She cheered. " I didn't know you looked this beautiful in white."
"Neither did I. Let's go."
She stood to her feet and slipped her hand in mine. "Are you ready?*
My lips curled faintly but it didn't reach my eyes. After weeks of careful planning, it was finally time to begin my revenge.
"Always."
~P-Lia~
Chapter 6
~Raven.
~~~~
"What took you so long?" Elio barked the minute I walked down the stairs.
I recoiled at his sight.
"Is that Elio?" Winter had her hand on her chest. "Oh my, I thought it was a dog barking. Turns out it was just you."
Elio's expression twisted rapidly, I was prepared for him to lunge for her, but he turned to me. "Are you still friends with her?"
"What does that have to do with you?"
He frowned as if surprised by my words, but then a sneer crossed his face, he stormed over and grabbed my hand. "Do you think that by playing hard to get, I will chase after you? Do you deserve it? Someone like you deserves only the worst hell" A pause."And I will make it happen."
These were the same words he had said on our wedding night. A chill ran through me, making me frantically try to pull my hand out of his grip.
His touch made me feel like insects were crawling on my skin
"Let go of me." I snapped.
"Let go of her!" Winter tried to pry his hand off, yet Elio didn't let go, instead his hold tightened. Grey eyes burning with resentment.
"It hurts doesn't it? That is exactly how I felt when your Dad -"
"What is going on here?" Dad cut his words short before I could hear everything he had to say.
Elio adjusted his suit and flashed Dad a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Nothing, Dad. I was just having a little chat with Ray." My spine tingled at the nickname.
God. I hated it when he called me that. "Hmm." I expected Dad to ask more questions. He didn't.
Seeing him again after that night brought a strange feeling. "Dad."
"Let's go." He didn't wait for my words, he walked away. A part of me knew that I deserved this, but his action still stung.
I stood there for a second too long, staring at his retreating back.
Two weeks ago, it had been two weeks since we last exchanged more than a few words. Somehow, his silence hurt more than anger.
Elio glanced at me pointedly, before following Dad.
I tried to make sense of what he was saying before Dad interrupted but I couldn't. " What do you think Elio was trying to say?"
"I don't know. It sounds like he has some resentment towards your Dad."
I gripped the edge of my dress tightly as Winter and I exchanged a glance. " Is there something we are missing?" Did Dad do something wrong to him? Is that why he and Aurora killed him in my past life?
"I will investigate more on it."
I nodded, then remembered what Dad had just done. "Will he ever speak to me again?" I asked, after minutes of silence.
She slipped her hand into mine. "He won't be angry forever, just give him some more time."
Lips pursed, I nodded, letting her pull me to the car. All through the car ride, Dad and I didn't say a word to each other, and even though I was tempted to speak to him, I didn't dare to, not with what I was about to do at the party.
If he found out, he might end up hating me.
Unable to bear the thought, I pressed my head against the window, watching the city's glow as we drove by. Different thoughts raced in my mind, but I pushed them aside and focused on what I was about to do.
If my memory served me right, Dad would hand over the company to Elio tonight. I had to prevent that from happening.
Cameras flashed at us the instant we arrived, with the reporters asking Dad different questions. He answered each question flawlessly, the sight made my heart swell with pride.
Dad had sacrificed so much to be where he is now, he had given his all into caring for me and a child that wasn't even his.
Then why? Why did he end up like that in my past life?
After taking pictures and responding to the paparazzi, we headed into the hall. The hall was decorated in a grand way, men and women dressed elegantly mingled around the hall.
It was fancier than I expected.
I didn't attend the anniversary in my past life, due to the shame I caused from announcing my pregnancy.
It was even worse than now, Dad didn't speak to me until he died. I closed my eyes to rid myself of the memory.
Hand in hand, Dad led me around to introduce me to his business partner. We still didn't speak.
Halfway through the party, I scanned the crowd for the third time that night. Laughter drifted across the silver red hall, couples chatted by the champagne wall, and even at the corner of my eyes, I caught Elio discussing with a few business men, Thalia by his side.
Yet.
No green blue-eyes.
Something inside me cracked softly.
He really didn't come.
"Is everything ready?" I was by the champagne wall now.
"Yes." Winter confirmed. "Our men are in place, we are just waiting for your Dad to walk up the stage."
My fingers curled. "Good. This is our only chance, Winter. There must be no mistakes." Before Winter could respond, Dad was called onto the stage. "It’s time." Winter nodded and walked away, the warmth her body provided fading with her absence.
I turned my attention to the stage, finger tapping on the table before me, a habit I developed after Vance told me it could help improve strategic thinking.
Two weeks apart from him felt like a lifetime.
It took everything in me to tame the urge to go in search of him or even tie him down.
Deep breaths Raven, don't be a fool. I chided, forcing myself to focus on the stage.
Dad stood in his white suit. "We are all looking sharp tonight. I thought I was the most handsome man in the building." He said and the crowd laughed. "I would like to thank everyone for attending. To my business partners, my co-CEO, Vance Cobalt, the company management and staff. I am glad to have made it to twenty years. Thank you so much."
The crowd erupted in applause.
"And finally to my daughter..." Voice cracking, his eyes locked with mine. "Life hasn't allowed me to be the father I wanted to be. But there is no day that I haven't been proud of you. You have and always will be my precious jewel." My eyes brimmed with tears. "No matter what happens, I want you to know that I love you. Always"
My throat tightened.
For two weeks, I had convinced myself that he hated me, but here he was, telling a room filled with people that I was his jewel.
I took a step forward, almost running to him.
However, I stopped myself.
It's a pity that I would no longer be his jewel after tonight.
"And finally, Elio. You have been more than a son to me, and I am glad to have you in both my life and this company. I appreciate your hard work. It puts my heart at ease that someone will care for the company in my place." Knowing what was coming next I was already walking towards the stage.
"I am pleased to announce to everyone that, from today on, I will be handing over my position of co CEO of Knights Corps to Elio Knight-"
"I refuse."
"I refuse." Vance and I spoke at the same time.
~P-Lia~
Chapter 7
~ Raven.
~~~~
The hall erupted in murmurs.
I stood still for a few seconds. I hadn't expected Vance to come or even disagree on Dad handing over the company.
"Vance, Raven. What do the two of you mean by this?" Dad's eyebrows shot up, forehead wrinkling as he looked between the two of us.
Vance adjusted his deep green suit with trembling hands before climbing the stage.
Something had changed about him. Since I have known him, he always seemed to have some kind of burden on his shoulders. When I was a kid, I often caught him sitting by the balcony and staring at the sky.
At the time, his back would look desolate.
But now, his shoulder shook with tremors and his eyes kept darting around like he feared something would jump at him from the crowd. It was the same look he had whenever he woke up from nightmares in my past life.
My feet moved before I could think, and I was following him.
"Elio isn't fit for this position." He tried to keep his voice steady, but he failed.
“And why is that?" Dad snapped.
Vance took a step closer, so close that if I wasn't standing beside them, I wouldn't hear what he said. "Martha lied to us, Elio is Vincent's son." He said the words shakily.
Dad's reaction was immediate.
Color drained out of his face as he snapped his head towards Vance, his hands trembling at his side. "H-How is that possible?"
"I knew she was suspicious the moment she brought Elio to us." Vance whispered, looking like he had seen a ghost.
I edged forward.
Vincent? Who the hell is that?
I parted my lips to question them, but right at that moment, Elio stormed over. " I still haven't gotten my response, what makes me unfit for the position?" He demanded.
The sound of his voice made Dad flinch. While Vance turned around stiffly, unable to utter a word.
Cameras flashed at us from all angles, and the crowd was now focused on us. A sense of unease slithered through me.
I couldn't let this opportunity go just like that, so I stepped forward. "Do we still need to respond to that?" My lips curled back in a sneer.
"Of course." He adjusted his suit, chest puffed. "I have spent the last five years working night and day for Knight Corps. And I have brought the company to a higher level. If there is anyone here who deserves that title, it is me."
"Oh?" A cold smile spread on my lips. "If what you mean by bringing the company to a higher level is embezzlement, then you might as well just sell the company."
Surprised flickered in his eyes but he was quick to gain composure. " What evidence do you have to back up your claims?"
"I have more than enough proof." The large screen behind us lightened up and all the records of Elio's dealings with the company funds were exposed on the screen.
The room exploded with murmurs and conversations, cameras flashed, and the already bright and loud room grew louder.
Good.
This was exactly what I wanted, the louder this blew up, the bigger his crimes would look.
"You have embezzled almost one billion dollars from Knight Corps in the last two years. And not only that, you have also been using the company's money to fund an organization named Flame Wings." Winter came up to the stage with the documents in hand.
Elio staggered back, face pale. "These are all fabricated. Someone is trying to frame me-"
SMACK!
I didn't let the word leave his lips before I swung my hand and delivered a loud slap to his cheek. "The evidence is right here, how dare you deny it?" I threw the document on him, watching as the white paper dropped to the ground.
Instantly, his face contorted to fury, yet he held back. "Ray, why are you doing this to me? You lied against me and now you even slapped me?" He held his cheek, every vein on his hand bulging.
"Raven, how could you be so heartless? Even if Elio doesn't love you, you don't have to frame him like this." Thalia climbed the stage, her doe eyes shimmering with fake tears.
"You have been acting strangely since you fell into the swimming pool two weeks ago. I thought it would only last a few days, but now you are trying to frame me?" He tried to grab my hand but I stepped back.
"Who do you think you are that I would waste my time framing you?"
Thalia bit her cheek, her head lowered. "Is it because he loves me instead of you? Even if it's that way, you don't have to ruin his future." Her tears fell down like pearls from the ocean. "I-I can leave him if you want, then the two of you can be together and you will no longer need to lie against him."
My whole body vibrated like a wire about to snap.
I have never had the urge to beat someone up this much in my life. Of all the four who partook in my death, Thalia was the one I feared the most, up until my death, she never dropped her fake white lotus act.
Even while framing me in front of Elio, her act was always the same, tears and self blame words. Anyone listening would pity her.
Winter was faster than I was, SMACK. The force of the slap sent Thalia falling down with a thud. "You slapped me?!!!" She screamed. Her facade falling.
"I did." Winter cleaned her hand with a handkerchief. Her brow lowered in remorse. "I just felt bad seeing you pinch yourself to force out tears, so I decided to give you a little push. See? The tears are now coming more naturally aren't they?"
"You-"
Laughter drifted through the hall.
I turned towards Elio. "If I framed you or not, the police will be the judge of that. Besides, Flame Wing is an illegal organization and you dared to fund them, this is an undeniable fact."
Right on cue, the cops we had on standby walked over. "Elio Knight, you are under arrest for dealing with an illegal organization and the illegal embezzlement of funds. You have the right to...."
"No! No! No! No! You can't take him, he didn't do anything!" Thalía cried as Elio was being cuffed. "Say something, Elio. Tell them you didn't do it!" Tears and snot ran down her face, this time, they were real.
She looked into his eyes expectantly, but his response was silence.
One brow lifted.
I expected him to put up a fight, or even deny it more, but Elio didn't do any of that, instead, he calmly allowed them to handcuff him.
Just as they were about to take him away, he turned to me, gaze cold. "You shouldn't have done that, Ray. I was going to let you live before. But now you have unleashed hell upon yourself."
The hair at the back of my neck rose and a memory of that room flashed in my mind. The coldness in his eyes as he pushed me down the stairs, and personally administered the drugs that turned my dreams into a nightmare.
I gasped. Why wasn't he scared?
Why was he looking at me like I was the one being exposed?
No!
This wasn't how it was meant to happen. Something was wrong.
Very, terribly wrong.
~P-Lia~
Chapter 8
~Raven.
~~~~
A soft hand reached out and pulled me into a warm chest. "Deep breaths, Raven. He can't hurt you." Only then did I realize that I was shaking badly.
"I will go with them." Winter said and walked away.
I took in deep breaths, letting the smell of his cologne wash over me. As soon as I got myself under control, it dawned on me that I wasn't the only one trembling.
He tried to hide it, but his whole body shook with tremors. I’d only seen him like this once. And that was in my past life, when he was forced to watch Elio whip me.
They had done many things to us, but the whipping had been the one that broke him. He had begged on his knees while cowering like a little boy.
"Are you okay?" I cupped his cheeks, my eyes searching his face with a mixture of concern and heartache.
He leaned into my hand, eyes shut closed as if seeking warmth, but he said nothing before detaching and returning to Dad's side.
I stood there, watching him walk away. Why was he keeping things to himself?
He was always there whenever I needed him. Why wouldn't he let me be there for him? These questions had burned within me from my past life.
A day before he died, I had asked him if he blamed me for his pain, yet he said he didn't. "You don't have to blame yourself either. Maybe this is my retribution."
I still wanted to know why he said all these.
Unfortunately, there was no opportunity for me to ask.
"Flame Wings?" Dad breathed as if he had just heard the most devastating news in his life, his legs wobbling as though they had turned to jelly. Like he had done for me, Vance was there to steady him, even though his own muscles were rigid.
A deep bone-chilling cold settled in my core as I dashed to his side. "Dad, are you okay?"
"I-i am fine." His voice was weak, yet his grip on my hand was extremely tight.
"Take him to the car, I will finish things here." Vance instructed, I nodded, helping Dad off the stage.
"Thank you for attending this party tonight, and I apologize for the inconvenience..." We exited through the back door, Vance's voice echoing from afar.
Thankfully, there were no reporters here to stop us. "Dad, what's wrong, why do you look so pale?" I questioned the moment we slipped into the car.
The reply I expected didn't come, instead, he clutched my hand as if afraid I would disappear. I didn't know if I was to be angry or sad at his action.
But noticing how he seemed to be holding himself back, I could only press my lips into a thin line.
Once we arrived home, Dad headed to his office. I took the chance to message Winter and ask her to find out who the hell Vincent was.
"There are many Vincents in the world, you need to give me something specific about him so I can know where to start from," was her response.
A tired sigh slipped out of me. I had no choice but to get Dad to talk. Something about everything that happened earlier seemed wrong. Not only Elio's reaction, but Vance and Dad's.
Who exactly was this Vincent?
Why was Dad and Vance so afraid of him?
Pain shot through my hand, only then did I register that I was holding my phone too tightly. I slipped it into my bag, then I knocked on his office door.
The soft echo of footsteps made me turn around to see Vance heading towards me. He didn't look at me as he pulled the door open and waited for me to go in before he followed.
I ran my gaze over the dark walls of his office. I had not been here since that day. His office seemed to have changed, the windows were closed, shrouding the room in a depressing darkness.
In the corner where only my picture used to be, there was a new addition. Mom's picture. Dad didn't like speaking about her.
Her features were just like mine, but her smile was softer. A pang hit me, she was another thing I had taken from Dad. He must miss her a lot.
I forced my attention away from the sight, my gaze zeroing in on Dad.
"I heard what you both said at the party." I began softly, taking a step forward. "Who is Vincent?"
Dad sucked in a deep breath.
Vance froze, nails carving crescent marks into his skin. Neither of them spoke.
"Why are you both quiet? Say something!" I urged, turning to Vance.
"Vance..." They exchanged glances and Vance shook his head but Dad nodded. He swallowed, throat working visibly.
"Vincent is my brother."
The word took a moment to sink in."You have a brother?" I have known Vance all my life and he never once mentioned having a brother, not even in my past life.
After everything we experienced together, I still knew too little about him.
"Had." Dad corrected me. "He is dead."
"Oh. I am sorry for your loss."
"It wasn't a loss, if it were up to me, I would rather have never had a brother like him." He chuckled blankly.
Hesitantly, I walked over and crouched in front of him. "What did he do?"
Vance slowly looked up, face red like he was about to throw up. "He abused me."
"Oh my God." I exclaimed, my hands clamping over my mouth. I quickly grabbed his shoulders, my gaze running over his body as though checking for wounds. "You didn't deserve that." I whispered.
"Your Mom thought the same too." Dad croaked. "She hated seeing how violent Vincent was to Vance."
I went still at the mention of Mom, this was one of the few times I had heard him speak of her.
"Your mother, she saved my life." Vance paused like it hurts to say his next words. "And because of that... She died. "
~P-Lia~
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