Chapter 65 Chapter 65
“The past week, we followed her, and she has been… well… Boss, just read the file,” he said with a sigh.
I picked up the file and continued reading; the more I read, the more it felt like I didn't know who the fuck my sister had become. What she was doing was going to bring shame to the Rhyland name and cost me my fucking respect.
“Joe, Keep monitoring her. Did Jax give you any update?”
“Yes, Boss. About that, there is a surprising development. Mark Rusland had a kid, not with his current wife. Caroline Rusland has two children, a boy and a girl, 10 and 9 years old. He was 18 when he got his girlfriend pregnant, and a few years ago the kid reached out; he’s nineteen now.”
“I sent all that information to Jax, and Jax relayed that the young miss is using it to her advantage,” he said.
“Okay, thank you.”
After he left, I sat there staring at the file on the desk. This was a fucking disaster waiting to happen. She was pregnant and didn't know who the father was; she was visiting clubs, and from Jax’s report, she has left the club every single night with a different man and spent the night with them. Then it hit me.
She needed me to get married so she could get married. She didn't care who I married as long as I got married. In the Rhyland family, the eldest marries first; if the eldest doesn't marry, the younger siblings could get married. It had caused serious problems amongst my cousins.
I sighed. I made a call and told them to come over and not to bring Avani or Hannah. I was still in my office when the door opened thirty minutes later. My father and mother walked in.
“Zaiel, what is going on?” my father asked in that no-nonsense tone.
“Have a seat, and I’ll show you what is going on,” I said. I was surprised that I was even calm and not yelling at the top of my voice. I waited till they took a seat. I looked at my father.
“What is the rule of marriage in the Rhyland family?” I asked.
“The eldest marries first; if the eldest does not, then the other siblings cannot, but you know that,” he replied, looking confused.
“Avani doesn't care who I marry as long as I do. She is being too insistent that I get married, so I did what an elder brother normally does: I investigated it.” I said, pushing the file toward him.
He opened it; I saw the first look of confusion, and as he flipped the page, I saw when it started making sense. When he turned to the third page, his face went pale. My mother grabbed the file and read.
“This is a disgrace,” my mother said shakily.
My father stood up and ran his hands across his face. “How the hell did this girl become like this?” he asked, more to himself than us.
“Zaiel, we have to keep this quiet; you need to marry someone,” my mother said.
“I’m not interested in marriage…” I paused.
“I just need to be legally married, right?” I asked.
“Yes,” my mother answered hurriedly.
I looked at them. “I have a person in mind. If I marry her, she won’t want to be in or around our family; she hates my guts, but if I ask her kindly enough, she would,” I said, looking at them.
“Do it. Can you call her here and let us discuss it?” My mother asked.
“I’ll try, also, she’s been clubbing lately, and every night is with a different man. I don’t think she knows who the father is. Also, she is in constant communication with an individual from France, but according to Jax, no one exists by that name.”
“Jesus, something more is going on here. Can you have the young lady come over tomorrow for dinner—just myself, you, and your father?” My mother asked.
“I’ll let you know.”
After they left, I sat there, hoping. I dialed her number. The phone rang three times before she answered.
TESSA: What?
I chuckled.
KAI: I need your help.
TESSA: What do you need?
This was the first time she answered without hesitating, and she sounded concerned.
KAI: I need you to… Something is happening, and I need your help. You’re coming to my apartment at the Tower for dinner with me and my parents alone, and I’ll explain the situation. Please, Tessa.
There was silence on the other end, and I almost thought she ended the call.
TESSA: Okay.
Did she really say okay?
KAI: Did you?
TESSA: Yes. And for the record. Nothing happened to us, and you need to get this ring off my finger.
KAI: Deal. The jet should be landing there in an hour. Jax will wait for you.
TESSA: Okay
I ended the call and stared at the phone; that was the easy fucking part. I called Jax and informed him, and he said he would be waiting for her. I called my mother and let them know dinner tomorrow night was set. I was still in my office hours later when the door opened and she walked in. Jax walked out and closed the door.
She walked over to my desk and took a seat opposite me. There was something different in her eyes; it was as if she was more determined.
“So what is it?” She asked, and even the tone of her voice was different.
I handed the file to her; she took it slowly and opened it. I saw her reading it. She began flipping page after page. She looked up suddenly, her eyes on mine.
“Umm?” She asked, unsure.
“I’ll explain it tomorrow why this is a problem,” I said, standing up. I walked around the table and took her hand. The ring was still on. I walked back around the desk and opened the drawer and got the small bottle of oil and walked back to her; I uncorked the bottle. I took her hand back in mine and dropped a few drops of oil onto her finger and slid the ring off.
Tessa
The minute the ring slid off, I felt a weight being lifted off.
“You can stay in the guest room tonight,” he said, opening the door. I headed straight to the guest room; my suitcase was already there. I threw myself onto the bed and tried to think if I was actually being helpful. I grabbed a shower and stayed in the room. Around five I heard a knock at the door.
I opened it, and he was standing there, leaning against the doorframe.
“What do you want for dinner?” he asked.
“Can you cook?” I asked.
“No, I was hoping you would. make me dinner.” He said with a smirk.
I walked past him and walked straight into the kitchen; he was behind me. I opened the fridge; it was fully stocked.
“Chicken Pot Pie?”
“Yes,” he answered.