Chapter 63 Chapter 62:
Devon:
Arya’s parents left this morning, they seem really eager to leave and stay at the same time. If you ask me, I’ll say families are weird but they are also the greatest blessing one could ever ask, well except if you don’t count my crazy step-mother.
Arya’s family all embraced me and her mother whispered into my ear. “We all love you.” And, to be honest, it felt really good hearing that. Presently, Daphne and I are in the funeral home for multi-billionaire Julian Ford, the media are speculating arson but there is still further investigation going on. I haven’t seen Alisha at all, but I can imagine what she’s going through.
I know what it’s like to lose someone you are close to. That grief, I went through it and I don’t want to go through it again which is why I am trying my absolute best not to endanger my family in any way. I have responsibilities now.
None of this sits right with any of us; Arya was very surprised when she saw the news. Liam insisted it couldn’t be a coincidence and well, I agree with him. How could this happen when we wanted to speak with him?
And now, Clara is in jail for the murder of Kevin Lere, she was framed, we know. But who’s wicked enough to do all of these? Who’s helping Anna? I think that is the first clue to everything that’s happening.
“Are you okay, sir?” Daphne nudges me gently in the shoulder, we are seated on the far end of the room, so that the media can catch a peek of us and well, other people won’t notice us. “You seem shaken these days.”
“I have to say the same for you.” I reply, sighing. “What’s going on? You took a day off yesterday, that was very unusual of you.”
“Oh well. I just found out I have a half-brother, so imagine all the shock I am going through, oh and guess who this half-brother is? Theo Duncan.” She sarcastically says but I can see that drawn away look in her eyes.
“Are you serious?” I ask.
“I am certainly not joking, sir.” She looks ahead, adjusting her coat. “Apparently, he’s adopted. My mother says I should try making peace with him because we both know that I hate him. I have been trying, but he doesn’t even spare me a glance. He’s a total asshole, if you ask me.”
I agree with her, Theo has never really been a good guy, maybe he is and I have judged him wrongly, maybe he’s just being brutal just because he wants to win this election.
An elderly man and woman move past us and waves. Daphne waves back, though not brightly as she would have before. Seems like the news of having a half-brother is really weighing on her.
Barbara is somewhere in the room, our eyes meet and she looks away. I notice something in her eyes.
Fear.
Barbara’s afraid, it is evident in her eyes. I watch as she goes around, comforting the family of the deceased, she embraces Catherine, patting her back, but her confidence is not here.
What is going on?
“Daphne. There are some things I think I need to tell you.” I tell her everything, from Barbara being crazy and how she poisoned my mother and how I have a feeling that she might be the one who poisoned my father too.
“Wow, that really is a lot to take in.” Her face is pale while she rubs her hands together. “Now, you need evidence and you don’t have any.”
“Exactly. You seem to catch up really fast.”
“Thank you. I used to dabble in detective cases when I was young,” she sighs. “So what now?”
“Honestly, I don’t know. I just want to live in peace, I don’t want the people around me getting endangered and the only way I can make sure of that is when Barbara is behind bars, that woman is dangerous.”
“I have an idea.” Daphne’s eyes twinkle, she is always coming up with new ideas every single time. “Why don’t we make Barbara just confess?”
“How?” I blink my lashes. “We can’t make her confess, she just won’t and you know that.”
“Why don’t you force her to confess? People say things a lot when they are at their most vulnerable. What I’m saying is, why don’t you host a party for every elite in New York. You trap her in a vulnerable moment, guilt-trip her so badly, she’s forced to talk but surprise, everything she’s saying goes live. The officers are on guard to arrest her and boom, that’s the end.”
“How did you think of that?” I ask her because her plan is so fucking brilliant. “But why do I host a party? I need a good reason for throwing one.”
“Rich people throw parties all the time,” she waves her hand. “But yours could about the election, like to congratulate yourself before you even win.”
“That seems like something I would never do.” I say.
“I know, but this is the only way to get Barbara to confess. Are you in?” She asks with a smile.
“I’ll meet with the rest and tell them all about your plan and then we can commence.” I say. “Alright, let’s get out of here.”
“Shit, I texted Theo earlier that we should have lunch together down the street. Poor guy might think I am hitting on him or something.” She mimics shivering. “Anyways, I take to it that you are heading to the office?”
“No,” I shake my head, pulling my coat together; Christmas is in a few weeks so everywhere is getting colder. “I’m going home to meet Arya, I promised her I would take a look at her sketches.”
“Oh really?” I hate whenever Daphne makes that look, she’s about to tease me. I like how our relationship is. One time, we are in full professional mode and the other time, she’s teasing me endlessly. “Looks like someone is already catching feelings.”
“I already did.” I smile a bit and she gasps, but before she can ask any more questions, I am already walking out of the funeral home.
\--
Daphne:
I am seated in the restaurant downtown, staring at the menu like a complete moron. Why is Theo always late? Or is he trying to show him that he’s better than me, even when it comes to lunch? He really does need a heads up.
“Hey. Sorry I’m late.” I look up to see Theo. Instead of smiling, he’s frowning at me. I wonder what is going through that head of his, he must be thinking this is some sort of date where I am about to confess my feelings for him. Touché.
He removes his coat, flexing his ripped muscles; I roll my eyes as he drops it on the edge of the chair before taking a seat. “So what is all this about?” He stares around, crossing his fingers together, “because let’s be honest. I know you, Daphne. Inviting me for lunch twice? This is even past our work protocol.”
I adjust in the seat, suddenly feeling uncomfortable. Just staring at my half-brother, it just feels so unreal, every single literal thing, now that I observe him closely, he does look like dad, a bit. Just a single bit.
I outstretch my hand, just in time for the waitress to come to us with a smile.
“Just water please,” Theo says, focusing back on me. His dark eyes bore intently on me and if this was just a normal situation, one would think we were breaking up, but that’s none of the case right now.
The waitress looks at me, impatient and bored. “Yours?”
“The same thing he’s getting.” I frown slightly, since I am really not in the mood for solid food, I’ll just have water, I desperately want to ask if there’s any booze available, but I don’t want to sound rude, also she might straight out insult me, so I keep my mouth shut.
“Why am I here, Daphne?” A shudder runs through my spine when he pronounces my name with no affection.
I keep my face straight. “We are half-siblings.” Don’t get me wrong, it’s not my fault to drop it as a bombshell like this, but the shock on his face is enough to make me laugh. But since this isn’t a laughing matter, I sigh.
“What are you talking about?” He asks, shocked as ever. For the first time, I want to enter his head and see what’s running through it. I bet it’s a billion questions, unfortunately, that was how I felt when my mom dropped the news on me.
“We share the same father which is kind of surprising because you don’t look like him at all; maybe you resemble your mother. Who knows? Anyways, I’m about to fill you in the whole story so you better listen and all of that.” Then, I start, ten minutes later, I am done. Theo is staring at me like he has just seen a ghost.
“Surprise.” I keep my voice low, hoping no one is looking at us.
“So my mother and your father?” He asks shakily and I nod my head slowly, I don’t think I have ever seen Theo so well, scared before. There’s a bead of sweat on his temples and he practically isn’t smiling right now.
“Yes, my mom found out about it recently,” And, now it’s time to delve into much deeper topics. “So your mom, why don’t you talk to her?” I am pretty sure I’m supposed to be bonding with my half-brother, instead I am asking questions that well, let’s be honest, I have no business over.
Theo actually looks really vulnerable just sitting there and talking about his family, I feel sorry for him. “Not many people knew I was actually adopted by the Duncan family, they loved me, that was very obvious but you know that hole in my chest when I think about my biological family? I visited my mom once; I didn’t have the guts to go talk to her.”
I find his hands on the table and squeeze, we stare at each other, affection in our eyes.
“I actually wondered why she never came to see me, to be honest. She could find me if she wanted to, but she chose not to. She abandoned me.” Theo says, looking everywhere else but me. Is that tears I see in his eyes?
“I am sure it’s nothing like that.” I try to assure him, but he won’t have any of it. Maybe I have always looked at Theo from a wrong angle, I never really knew him but I have always judged him, but maybe it’s time to know the real Theo.
“Lunch break is over,” he says, and his voice is small. Defeated.
“Yeah, would you look at that?” I say, packing up my belongings. “Hey, Theo?” I ask.
“Yeah?” He looks at me with those sad, sad eyes.
“Do you want to have dinner with me and my mom tonight? I know it’s really soon but my mom would be grateful to have you, in fact. You’re all she has been mentioning all week.”
“Oh, really?” It pleases Theo to know my mother has been talking about him because his lips erupt into a tiny smile. “Alright then.”
We stand up from the chair and I move closer to him, pulling him into an embrace. We remain like that, almost like breathing into each other’s soul.
When we disembark from the hug, I say. “I never knew what it was like having siblings; I hope you won’t disappoint me.”
Theo chuckles dryly, “that would be the last thing on my mind.”
I wave him goodbye and watch as he leaves the restaurant. Is this for real? Theo and I had just one conversation and now, we’re talking like we have known each other forever. I really hope we can make this half-siblings bonding thingy work.