Chapter 39 - The fake trip

As I entered my room, tired from a long day without the craziest revelation, Nicholas walked into our room with an anxious look on his face. The first thing he did was give me a hug, I hugged him back, eager for a little bit of comfort from him.

I took a deep breath and said, "So you found my uncle.”

“I did.”

He replied.

My heart skipped a beat, and I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "So where is he? Is he okay?" I asked, a mix of shock and concern in my voice. We didn’t have a lot of chance to talk on the phone because he was busy with work, so I had been waiting till he got home till I asked him about it all.

Nicholas hesitated for a moment before revealing, "He's at a mental institution."

The words hung in the air, and I felt a rush of emotions. Shock, disbelief, and a deep sadness for my uncle's plight. Mental institution?!

What was he doing there?

“Well, we need to go get him, right now," I insisted, ready to leave everything behind.

Nicholas gently placed a hand on my shoulder, urging caution. "I get that you’re concerned, but we can't rush into this. We need to be careful. Alex can't know about this. If this is the so called deadly family secret that he’s holding over you, we can’t let him know we’ve found out about it.”

I sighed, realizing the complexity of the situation. "You're right. We have to keep this under wraps. But we also have to go see my uncle immediately. I have a feeling that he’s going to have a lot to tell us.”

Nicholas nodded, understanding the urgency. "If anybody asks, let’s tell them we're going on a vacation.”

Reluctantly agreeing, I replied, "Fine. But we need to leave immediately. We can’t spare a moment longer here.”

As we planned our fake vacation, Nicholas and I crafted a believable story to keep Alex or anyone else from suspecting anything. It felt surreal, packing our bags while hiding the truth that lay beneath the surface.

We planned on telling only one or two people the real truth and that was Jace and Mabel. They were the only two people I could trust anyways.

..……..

The room echoed with the sound of clothes being folded and zippers being pulled shut. We were supposed to pack light since we would only be gone for a night or two but if we really wanted to make them believe it was a real vacation we had to pack more clothes to make it look believable. The air was thick with the scent of anticipation as I meticulously packed my suitcase, careful not to forget anything.

"Ms Cleo," Jace's voice interrupted my thoughts, as he entered my room with an inquisitive look. His dark hair looked wet, it seemed like he had just gotten out of the shower. I had asked Mabel to call him in, he just have rushed right out.

His eyes darted around, taking in the packed bags and the atmosphere of impending departure and he frowned, he was probably wondering what was going on.

"Jace, I'm going on a trip," I said, my tone matter-of-fact but with an underlying gravity. His expression shifted from curiosity to concern.

"I'm going with you," Jace declared, not even asking where I was going. I paused, meeting his gaze, his green eyes didn’t budge. I knew he cared, but it wasn’t something for him to be worried about. I had other plans for him.

"No, Jace. I need you to do something for me," I replied, gently shaking my head. His disappointment was palpable.

“It’s my job to protect you, I’m your bodyguard. I want to be there to protect you. I can't just let you go on your own," he pleaded, his concern genuine. I smiled, touched by his loyalty.

"I appreciate that, Jace, but Nicholas will be with me. He can handle things," I assured him, trying to ease his worries. Jace's face twisted as he heard Nicholas’s name. I was pretty sure he didn’t like hearing about Nicholas.

"Well, that’s a lot more reason for me to be worried now that you’ve mentioned him. I don't trust Nicholas, Ms Cleo. You shouldn't either," he insisted. I sighed, realizing that convincing him would be harder than I thought. Sometimes Jace seemed to forget that I was the one who hired him, not the other way.

"Jace, please stop it. I have a task for you so you have to stay here, a crucial one. I need you to watch my brother, Alex, and his so called girlfriend, Selena. Keep a close eye on them. I need to know everything they're up to," I implored, hoping he would understand the importance of his role.

Jace hesitated, his reluctance evident, but finally nodded. "Alright, I'll do it. Is there anything else you’d like me to do? Are you sure you don’t want to reconsider me being with you on the trip?"

"No. That’s all Jace. Thank you," I said, grateful for his willingness to help. "And please, be discreet. Alex shouldn't suspect that you’re watching him."

"I'll be like a shadow. He won't see me coming," Jace assured me with a determined expression. I couldn't help but smile at his commitment.

"I'll also talk to Mabel," I continued. "She'll make sure you have easy access in and out of the house. And if it’s not too much to ask please keep an eye on Lisa. She comes around the house sometimes when I’m not around and I don’t want Alex to hurt her or anything. He knows how close she is to me.”

Jace's eyes lit up with appreciation. "I can do that too. Don’t worry about me, I won't disappoint you. You can count on me."

"Thank you, Jace," I said, reaching out to touch his arm. "I appreciate everything you know?”

As he prepared to leave, Jace's voice softened suddenly. “Please be safe. And if you ever need me don’t hesitate to call. I’ll be there as fast as I can.”

His words lingered in the air as he left my room.

.....

The sun dipped low on the horizon as Nicholas loaded the car, his arms full of bags and our minds set on our mission. All I could think about was my uncle and how I couldn’t wait to see him. I wondered what he was like, if he was like my father. If he reminded me of my father. If he looked like him.

I was also mildly relieved that I would at least be away from Alex. A much needed break from the ceaseless bickering that echoed through the grand hallways every-time we crossed paths. Little did I know, our exit would cross paths with the very source of my frustration – Alex and Selena.

As I watched as Nicholas carefully arranged our belongings in the trunk, a mocking voice slithered through the air. "Going somewhere, Cleo?" Alex's smug tone grated on my nerves. He was so annoying. I looked at him and saw him smiling smugly, with that crooked ugly smile on his face.

Selena was by his side. I don’t think she has left ever since she got here. She was dressed in another flimsy clothing, her arms wrapped tightly around Alex’s waist. Seeing them together was stressful.

I couldn't bite my tongue any longer. "Anywhere away from the sight of you two is a good destination," I retorted, unable to conceal the disdain in my voice. Alex scoffed, a self-satisfied smirk playing on his lips.

"Leaving the mansion at last, Cleo? That calls for a celebration.” he teased, his eyes gleaming with a hint of mischief. I shot him a look of pure disdain. "I'd never leave my home for you, Alex. Get that through your thick head.” I declared. "I'll be back in a few days."

Selena couldn't resist a parting shot, her smug smile widening. "Well, honestly Cleo we hope you don't come back," she said happily. I couldn't let that slide. Turning to her, I offered a piece of advice, it was the last favor I’d do for her.

"Be careful with him, Selena. He's not all that," I cautioned. "If your plan is to be with Alex because of the money he has, you won't get any of what you're hoping for. He’s just the chairman of the company and I still have the lion's share of everything." The truth hung in the air, a subtle threat veiled in words. Selena's smile wavered, but Alex was quick to react.

Anger flashed in his eyes.

“You fucking stupid fat bitch!”

He cried out and his anger made me smile. He unleashed a barrage of offensive remarks. I stood my ground, refusing to let his words pierce through my armor. To be honest I wasn’t even bothered by them, I liked seeing him get riled up like that. Nicholas, my ever-protective husband, stepped forward with a warning that cut through the tension like a knife.

"Mind your mouth around my wife, Alex," he growled, his voice low and menacing. "Unless you want your jaw broken, choose your next words very wisely." The threat hung in the air, Alex cleared his throat and dragged Selena away, back inside the house.

“Let’s go Nicholas.” I urged him, my hand held out for him. He took my hand in his and together we walked to the car.

We had a lot to do.

I would deal with Alex later.