Page 74 of The Revenge Plan

He stared directly into my eyes, “Yes.”

“Thank you. You don’t have to—”

“I want to.”

The arrival of the elevator ended our conversation.

???

We arrived later than most people. The service hadn’t started, but the church was filled with many of his employees and business partners. A few of his friends came to me when they saw me and offered their condolences. We took our seats at the front and when the service began, Caiden took my hand in his. He didn’t need to do these public displays of affection. I was fine on my own.

Bryce was tasked with giving the eulogy. He glared at us the entire time he did it. Especially where my and Caiden’s hands were connected. It made me want to squirm out of his hold but; he held me firm.

Apart from Bryce’s glare, everything went as expected. He was buried next to mother in the mausoleum he had built for her. After it was all over Caiden asked, “we can go back home if you want.”

“No. I have to be at the wake. The will is being read afterward,” I didn’t understand why it was being read so quickly. Caiden probably wouldn’t be invited to that. “You can leave if you want to.” As I was speaking to him, his attention got distracted by something behind me. I followed his gaze and saw Bryce glaring at us again.

“What’s his problem,” Caiden asked.

“You probably.”

“No. He’s more bothered by you than me.” When Bryce went on his way to his car, he said, “I’m coming with you. I don’t trust him not to do something. He looks too angry.”

What was this protective streak that came out of nowhere?

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Nothing,” I said and went to the car.

There were fewer people at the memorial. Fewer than I expected, to be honest. Most people were standing in groups of two or three in the ballroom that father had used to host his parties. It felt odd to be back here considering that the last time I was here; I stole something from him. I still didn’t feel guilty about it. It was one of the few good things I had done. I looked around for my brothers. Bryce was nowhere to be found. Greyson was in the corner whispering something to his girlfriend. I made my way to him. The girlfriend was the first to see me. When she did, she nudged Greyson who looked up, got up, and got out of the room with his girlfriend in tow.

“What was that all about,” I said more to myself than to anyone else.

“Your brothers still hate you, and it seems they’ve spread the word that you’re persona non grata.” I looked around. He was right. After the funeral, few people talked to me. I thought little of it then, but it’s making more sense now. Most people gave me a look that I had come to become familiar with in public spaces. The glance-and-look-away.

“I’m surrounded by people who hate me. What else is new?”

“That’s not true.”

“Is it not? I thought you hated me.”

He looked like he was about to say something, then went quiet. I ignored him and went to the canapes station that was lined at the edges of the walls. He followed me. What was his problem? Didn’t he have stuff to do? And if he was here to put the last nail in the proverbial coffin, why was he hanging around me? Unless he meant to gloat over my grief. I washed away the thoughts and focused on the food. Most of it was fish and made me feel nauseated. I gagged at the smell. Caiden rushed to hold me steady, “what is it.” His tone was soft and caressing.

“Nothing. It’s the food. Morning sickness and all that.”

He glanced down at the canapes and made a face, “of course.” He drew me away from the tables, found a chair and put me in it. A few minutes later he appeared with a glass of water. I hadn’t even noticed that he had disappeared. That’s when it hit me. This protectiveness was because of his child.

It made me sick knowing that he was doing this because I was carrying his progeny and not because of some altruism he had discovered. This whole coming to the funeral with me was probably a way for him to ensure that I won’t be too stressed or something of the sort. The more I thought about it, the less his presence felt comforting.

“Thank you,” I said after taking a few sips. I was already feeling better and didn’t need it. I was ready to stand up when Bryce came into the room with fury blowing behind him. He marched toward us, me specifically, and growled, “You traitor! You traitorous bitch, you should be ashamed of yourself!”

“What the fuck, Bryce! What’s your problem!” his eyes were red and I could smell alcohol on his breath. Greyson came in rushing as well.

“You whored yourself to that piece of shit and sold out your family. It’s because of you, father died. You!”

“You seem drunk, Bryce,” Caiden said, “You might want to talk when you’re much sober.”

“Fuck that!” he made a move to punch me but, as he was about to, a large body blocked him. Caiden blocked his punch by catching his fist in his hand and striking it down. He twisted Bryce’s arm behind his back. Bryce squelched.

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