Page 70 of Bittersweet Revenge

“You– what?” The Wagner’s mansion was probably the smallest mansion on Mount Hill. All things considered, it still had twelve bedrooms, two tennis courts, and a heated swimming pool, but it was way too close to both our parents' places and much too real.

“Surprise!” William beamed, but the fakeness of his tone didn’t manage to convince me.

“Sir -”

William stood. “Caleb, I would like to talk to you in my office now.”

“I– Sure.”

Esmeralda threw me a look full of alarm as I stood, but I gave her a small smile, hoping to convey some reassurance. I was going to make it all okay. I wasn’t sure how, but I would.

“Where are you going?” William asked Archibald as he stood up to come with us.

“I was thinking I’d come with you for a bourbon and let the women discuss wedding dresses.”

William's smile turned predatory. “No, you’re not welcome in this instance. Stay with your dear sister. We both know how devoted to her you are,” he added before swirling on his heel and leaving the room with commanding steps.

Esmeralda and Archibald looked at each other, both sickening pale as they realized that they’d been played.

I could have told them. William and James were still the masters. They should have been more careful, more refined. This was also the reason why I was always a step closer to the crown than Archibald was. I never made the grave mistake he’d clearly made – to underestimate our fathers.

I sighed and followed William to his office. Maybe I could fix whatever had caused this.

As soon as we walked in, William strode over to his bar. After helping himself to some bourbon, he looked at me with the crystal decanter still in his hand.

“Please.” I nodded.

“Your father informed me you wished to delay the wedding. I can't help but wonder why?” he started. Extending me the glass, he gestured me toward the chair across from his desk.

I shook my head. “No, this is not an issue. I want as grand a wedding as I can get. St-Vincent told me about Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte in France and I believe it will be a perfect venue. It’ll give our union the grandeur it deserves.”

It was also the only venue which was famous enough not to be bullied by our families and didn’t have an opening for the next eighteen months.I had promised Esmeralda, against my better judgement, to set her free. I needed time to secure this.

William leaned back in his seat. “Don’t you want to marry Esmeralda? I knew it took some convincing at first.”

I wanted to laugh, but kept my face blank. That was an understatement. Threats, that’s what it had taken to make me come to heel. My father was a piece of shit and he’d known Theo had always been my weakness. He’d spent most of his time threatening to send him to horrible centers far away if I didn't keep in line and I’d known the man was cruel enough to act on it.

“No offense, sir, but you were not that thrilled at the idea of a match between your daughter and myself.”

“A Forbes-Astor union is as powerful as it can get. There’s no reason for me not to be happy about it.”

I cocked my head to the side. My father admitted he had exchanged this union against a favor, but William Forbes would rather die than admit having been bested. This much I knew.

“So, Esmeralda?”

“What I want is not relevant. To be honest with you though, I believe your daughter is actually a wise choice.” I gave him a suggestive smile.

It was not a lie. Physically she was perfect for me. The sex with her had been mind-blowing in ways I’d never thought possible. She was also funny and sweet and unbelievably kind. So unlike anybody I knew. Maybe that was why I was reluctant to marry her – to condemn her and myself to a loveless, miserable life.

I would not be my parents. I used not to care. A wife was only a body to produce an heir and look good. To be honest I’d never thought I had it in me to care for anyone other than Theo, but I'd been wrong.

“We’ve done you a favor, Caleb. Esmeralda and her brother, they are betraying us.”

I kept my face blank. “They wouldn’t dare.”

He chuckled. “Or so I thought, at least about Archibald. But don't worry, he will be sent to rehabilitation camp this summer. He needs to reassess his priorities in life.”

I nodded with a smile. “If he is against us? Yes, absolutely.” I frowned. “I can’t believe he would dare come against you. He should know better.”

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