Page 189 of Lust & Lies
Before I could grab them, Aiden did.
“Here,myNoelani,” Aiden said, presenting the papers to me as Tristan shook his head.
Before I could take them from him, Ethan grabbed them. I hadn’t even heard him move closer. Ethan smiled down at me.
“Here,mysweet sister, Noelani Cartwright,” Ethan said, a boyish grin stretching across his face.
Aiden went to grab the papers again.
“Just give her the damn papers,” Gertrude snapped.
Ethan handed them to me. Laughing, I looked at my name printed on the paper. It also had my date of birth and my parents' names. Tears sprang to my eyes. Most people took their names for granted.
Not me. I was so damn proud of the name my parents had given me. It was a gift no one would ever be able to take away from me again.
“Are you just going to stand there and do nothing?” Mr. Park yelled to his grandsons.
Tristan faced the old man again. “Read the room, grandfather. We’re here for Noe. Not you. We’re here to support our little sister. Not you.”
“She’s not my sister,” Aiden quickly added. “She’s my future wife.”
The shock on Mr. Park’s face was worth not killing him.
“You ungrateful bastards,” Mr. Park spat. “If you kill me, the company will fall. The Watchdogs will turn on you.”
“No one said anything about killing you,” Tristan stated calmly. “We want you alive. We want you to see us happy. Thriving. Living our lives the way we choose. We want you to see that you didn’t win. We did.”
“You little...” Fuming, Mr. Park looked to Ethan. “Ethan... grandson....”
“Don’t call me that,” Ethan said, standing next to me. “You’ve never been much of a grandfather to me.”
“How can you say that? I’ve always taken care of you. You’re my favorite...”
“Cut the crap,” Ethan sneered, talking over his grandfather. “The maids talk, you know? I know you forced my mother and father to have me. Mom was told not to have more kids because of her health. But you wanted her to have one more child in case someone retaliated against you and killed Tristan or Aiden. You wanted to make sure you had two grandsons so one could handle the businesses and one could handle the Watchdogs. Hence, I was forced into the world. But I never lived up to any of your expectations, so you treated me like I was nothing. I didn’t mind. I’m actually glad you chose to mostly ignore me. Because of that, I wasn’t set on obeying you the way Aiden and Tristan were. Plus, I had Noe. Though she wasn’t much older than me, she was the one I turned to when I needed help with homework or just needed someone to talk to. She was all I had. And for her, I’m willing to stand before you today, ready to lock your ass up so you’re unable to hurt her again. So you’re unable to emotionally abuse and manipulate any of us again.”
“You little bastard...” Mr. Park started.
“Your name-calling will change nothing. Today is still your last day ever seeing me again, Mr. Park,” Ethan said, glaring at his grandfather. “Once you’re locked up, I won’t visit you. I won’t even ask about you. The only news I want regarding you is the news of your death, which I hope comes soon.”
Damn!I’d known Ethan held a grudge against the old man, but I hadn’t known he’d felt this badly. My poor Ethan. I patted his shoulder. He smiled at me, but I saw the tears in his eyes. Mr. Park had hurt all of us so damn much. Not anymore.
“You will never get your wish. You will never take me down. Guards!” Mr. Park called out.
Aiden stepped closer, wrapping his arm around me and pulling me against him. “Your guards are already gone. Replaced with men we trust. No one is coming to your aid. You’re no longer in control here, grandfather.”
The old man looked up at Seo-Jin and asked, “Have you really turned against me?”
“I haven’t turned against you,” Seo-Jin told him.
Hope bloomed in the old man’s eyes.
“It’s just I no longer work for you.” Seo-Jin faced Sam and Gertrude. “The Hatfields are now the interim overseers of the Watchdogs until Noe and I are ready to take on the job. I hope they watch over us for a long time. Neither of us are in a rush to fill the position. I trust them to help us clean up the ranks and fix what you broke, Mr. Park.”
Mr. Park glared at the Hatfields. “You filthy mutts,” he yelled. “I’ll send you to see that daughter of yours and...”
“Say another word,” Aiden sneered. “And it will be your last. Forever. I’ll put the bullet in your head myself, grandfather.”
There goes my savage!
