Page 97 of Bittersweet Revenge

Esmeralda placed her hand on my arm, trying to push me out of the way – as if there was even the slightest chance she could make me move.

“I’m just asking you to chill out. I don’t like your threatening vibes.”

“Why? Do you think I’ll strike her?”hHe asked through gritted teeth. “Don’t mistake me for you.”

“It’s in your blood. Like father like son.” That was a cheap blow and I knew it the moment it came out.

Archie paled. It was a secret that he had shared with me when we were young, when we’d believed we would be on the same side forever. When we still thought we wouldn’t have to compete. He had admitted that he had seen his father strike his mother when he’d been a toddler, and that had stayed with him.

Before, I wouldn't have regretted saying this to him, but it seemed that Esmeralda’s goodness had tainted my soul because I regretted my words as soon as they’d passed my lips. I was not foolish enough to apologize though.

Esmeralda dodged in front of me and pushed me with all her might. She barely made me stumble a step.

“Caleb, enough!” She was a fierce kitten – defensive of her own, but as threatening as said kitten.

She turned to Archibald. “Please, Archie, you know I’m right. You know I couldn’t just do that. There’s so much history I’m not privy to. I couldn’t meddle.”

Archibald looked down at her, his lips pursed. He sighed before turning to Antoine. “So you wanted to talk?”

I felt Esmeralda’s pain as she recoiled under her brother's dismissal. It took all of my willpower not to punch him unconscious, but Esmeralda wouldn’t want me to pick that battle, that much was certain. With her already angry with me, I couldn't afford to make it worse.

Her rejection was my rejection. Her pain, my pain. Was this what love did to you?

I brushed my fingers against the back of her arm. She moved away, but I decided not to press the issue. She was hurt and angry.

Antoine looked from Archibald to Esmeralda with regret on his face. Did he regret driving a wedge between siblings who had only just found their connection? He should. Secrets and lies only served to poison anything good. There were no white lies, not really. The ultimate goal was always selfish.

He shook his head. “Yeah, we finally managed to track the number Phang called. He called it twelve times that evening. It was more difficult to track than I’d expected. It went from a pizza chain to a private investor firm to some construction company to–.”

“Can we just wrap it up? The suspense is unnecessary,” Archibald interrupted. He wanted to get away and lick his wounds in private. It was something I could understand better than anyone.

“Anyway,” Antoine shrugged. “The ultimate owner is Matracon Corp.”

Esmeralda was puzzled by the revelation. She didn't know about our businesses.

“It is my father’s company,” I clarified for her benefit. “But it makes no sense. He was genuinely worried about Esmeralda when he’d found out about the car. He hired extra security. Granted, I think he knows more than he is saying and something is on his mind, but he wouldn’t have tried to kill her.”

“He is your father, so I–” Antoine started.

“No,” I shook my head. “This is not some kind of family loyalty. He is scum and a borderline pedo. I know what he is. I have no illusions. I am sure he would have it in him to kill someone or at least have someone do it, but this is not him.”

Archibald sighed heavily. At least he believed me. “Okay, so we’re back to square one?”

I shook my head. “Not necessarily.”

“So what now?” Archibald asked.

“Now -” I turned to Esmeralda - “we get married.”

The room turned silent, but I was pleased to see that Esmeralda looked intrigued more than anything. It was not the outright rejection of the idea that she used to show me.

“Are you out of your mind?” Archibald hissed after he recovered from the initial shock. “Are you really trying to get her killed? Marriage is not the solution, especially if you’re going to divorce a week later.”

I tensed at his words because they’d hit home. Esmeralda cared about me. I couldn’t deny that, but she had run the first chance she’d gotten and that was not something I could forget even if I wanted to. And there was always that question: given the right circumstances, would she leave again? We couldn’t get married until I had certainty in my answers. I would not allow it.

“Not for real, Archibald!” I snapped at him.

“Oh, you’ll hire a fake pastor? Like in the movies?” Antoine asked, beaming.That man really had a taste for theatrics.

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