Chapter 94 Love like that
CHAPTER 94: Love like that
Claudia
Despite his tough exterior, and more than occasional periods of righteous morality, Chauncey had always placed our older brother on a certain pedestal. So, watching his jaw practically hit the floor was worth the early morning disturbance. His eyes darted between me and Silas with a look of genuine, wide-eyed bewilderment.
“This morning?” he repeated, his voice faint. As if the concept of Silas Rutherford losing control that particular morning was an impossibility.
I took a bite of my orange, rolling my eyes at his incredulity.
Silas ignored him, moving further into the room to take a seat at the head of the table, his face giving away nothing.
Chauncey blinked, the gears finally turning, and I could practically see the moment he realized why our brother was suddenly so desperate for a late brunch.
“It makes sense now. No wonder you’re strangely famished by midday.”
Silas’s jaw ticked. “Now if you both are finished, then I'd like to eat in peace.”
“Brother, I’m serious,” I snapped, offering Chauncey the peeled orange. “Get soundproof walls. It’s for the sake of everyone's sanity, really.”
“I’ll have the contractor get on it as soon as possible, Claudia,” he snapped, his voice tight with irritation. He didn't look at me, focusing instead on the cup of coffee in his hand. “Just shut up already.”
Chauncey shook his head, popping the orange in his mouth.
I smirked, satisfied with the outcome. While I enjoyed teasing Silas and riling him up, I didn't enjoy the live porn audio.
“You don't have to be so touchy, brother.” I took a sip of my tea, and leaned back. “Where's your wife? Is she not coming down to join us?”
“She’s sleeping,” he replied, his tone final. “I’ll have the maids to serve her food upstairs the moment she awakes.”
“Okay,” I shrugged, reaching for a slice of melon. “But I wouldn't expect less based on what I heard this morning,” I continued, earning me a death glare from Silas. “But you both might want to be more gentle given her condition.”
Silas’s glare could have curdled the cream on the table, but I simply smiled. Deciding that it was safer to hit the brakes at this point, I turned my attention to Chauncey.
“Don’t you have an exhibition today? I thought you were supposed to be at the gallery at this hour.”
“I touched down there briefly. Silas and I have something to discuss,” my twin brother muttered, though his mind was clearly elsewhere.
I eyed both of them, suspicion and curiosity creeping in. “What evil business do the two of you have right now?”
“Not witch business it seems,” Chauncey grinned evilly, flashing all teeth.
“You little—”
Silas finally looked up, his eyes narrowing. “Why did you vanish so suddenly from the gala last night?”
“I left with Sam," I replied, watching Chauncey out of the corner of my eye. “We went elsewhere to catch up.” The earlier mischief vanished from him. “The atmosphere at that lame party was abysmal. It seemed like no one was particularly happy to see her,” I added with emphasis, my gaze flicking to Chauncey. “So why stay where one isn't appreciated?”
The double doors swung open and a stunning, young girl that I quickly recognised to be Vera's sister, Lily, breezed in.
She offered Silas a quick, respectful nod and then turned a radiant, almost blinding smile toward Chauncey. She barely spared me a glance, as if I were part of the furniture.
I quietly watched her slide into the seat right beside Chauncey, her movements energetic and entirely too loud for my liking.
“I’m absolutely famished,” she announced, tucking her damp hair behind her ear as she reached for the toast.
“You certainly look more refreshed,” Chauncey commented, his voice softening into that polite, charming register that endeared him to people.
She beamed up at him, her cheeks hitting up with a pink tint that had nothing to do with the shower she just had.
She chuckled softly. “I definitely feel better.”
Her attraction to him was as obvious and garish as a neon sign.
I watched her for a moment, a mix of irritation and amusement bubbling in my chest.
“Lily, dear,” I said, my voice cutting through her chirping.” She paused, her toast halfway to her mouth. “I don't believe we’ve been introduced properly. But It’s quite rude to ignore your elders. Don't you think so?”
She looked at me with a spark of defiance. “I'm so sorry. I was just famished,” she replied, dropping the toast,” an embarrassed apologetic look on her face.
I dismissed her answer with a wave of my hand, my gaze shifting back to Chauncey who was scowling in my direction.
The idiot was obviously happy to play the charming older brother to this girl, while oblivious that his little minx of a sister in-law's feelings were different.
Just because I didn't like this strikingly beautiful young girl, and wanted to test out my theory, I proceeded to air out the ghost in my brother's closet.
“Cee, last night Sam was going on about how she wanted you both to resolve things. Aren't you going to talk to her? She still loves you, you know.”
The change in the room was instantaneous. Chauncey went rigid, a palpable wave of irritation radiating off him. His silver spoon clattered against the porcelain, and the air around him froze.
Lily noticed the shift immediately, her brow furrowing as she looked between us, her curiosity piqued and her smile fading. I smirked with satisfaction.
“Claudia,” Silas warned, his voice a low growl of intervention. “Stop it.”
“What? I’m only trying to help,” I feigned ignorance, widening my eyes in a mask of innocent concern. I turned to Chauncey. “Come on, Cee. A broken engagement shouldn’t mean you have to be enemies forever. It’s just immature. Especially when Sam obviously still loves you. And let's be honest, the kind of love you had for her? It doesn’t just go away because of a few mistakes.”
Chauncey reached his breaking point. His fist collided with the mahogany table in a thunderous crack that made the china jump.
“CLAUDIA!” he thundered, his voice echoing off the walls like a strike of lightning.