59

I'll make them go get them,’ said the blond, who did not take long to make some calls to report them to the police. Although deep down, it pained him to discover the true face of his cousin, but what undoubtedly terrified him the most was to know that he was free and with the possibility that he could hurt the only thing he loved, his beloved sister. ‘I swore before our parents’ grave that I would always take care of Jul, that I would never allow anyone to lay a hand on her, and I have failed,’ he mentally reproached himself. Richard, as if he could read the blond's mind, was quick to comfort him, because he was aware that taking on the role of father and protector at a young age was very complicated, but Alexander had done it in a surprising way.

Alex, I know you're having a hard time with all this and you may feel guilty about what happened, but believe me you've done everything you could to look after your sister.

You don't understand, Richard, I have failed the sacred oath I swore to my parents. I wasn't even able to protect my sister, I wasn't even there to prevent that accident.

It wasn't your fault, you must be very clear about that. It was inevitable, and you're being too hard on yourself. Any other young man your age, believe me, instead of taking care of the family business, would be squandering the family fortune on women, trips and friends who in the end are only with you out of interest. Instead, you, you, you took charge of a child, you took on the role of father and the head of the whole family. You managed to be taken seriously not only in the company, but also by your father's partners, you earned their respect, because of your focused way of being. You know that not just anyone can do it and if that wasn't enough, it was you who introduced his cousins to the business, you managed with his father's help, to get Robert interested in the family business, you made Thomas a very feared businessman and skilled at the time of making decisions. You have sacrificed part of your life, taking care of your family and their heritage. God, Alexander! Realise that, I mumble.

How do you know all that? I asked incredulously. That's something I've never told anyone, he said sincerely.

You know I have my ways, Alex, because before I got close, I had to know everything about you, plus some things are public knowledge.

That's why I don't like it, being the centre of attention,’ he said with some regret.

No one likes that, the duke assured. However, it is part of our daily lives.

I confess, I have not found it easy at all, being in charge of great responsibilities. Sometimes I just want to get away, to feel free, like when I was a child, not worrying about anything, just having fun and being happy.

I understand you, for my life, too, has not been easy. Being the only son of a high nobleman makes you not only his successor, but the one who will carry on the family legacy, the one who will perpetuate the family name, Hamilton. My mother died, when I was only eight years old, since then my father avoided me or beat me when anything about me irritated him, I went from one boarding school to another, because I used to get into a lot of trouble, because what I really wanted was my father's attention, the problems became even bigger, You can't imagine what I felt when she gave my father a son, seeing how he spent too much time with the little boy, whom, God forgive me, I came to hate with all my soul, even though that little boy was not to blame for anything. When I turned eighteen, in one of my many escapades from boarding school, I decided to go to the theatre and there I met a beautiful young woman, with straight blonde hair and beautiful blue eyes, just like sapphires, that young girl captivated me from the first moment, when our eyes met she blushed and seemed to me even more a beautiful creature. Amelia, at that time, worked as a cleaner in the theatre, she was an orphan and since she was a child she had to earn her own bread, it wasn't long before she and I began a relationship. I loved her more than my own life, that's why I decided to run away with her to New York, where we got married in secret, we suffered many things, but our love was what kept us strong, for the first time I worked as a waiter, and for the first time I felt what it was like to be hungry. But all that was worth it, because when I found out that my dear Amelia was pregnant, I swear I was the happiest man in the world. But since nothing lasts forever in this life... my father managed to find us and threatened to hurt Amelia if I didn't leave her. As always, driven by my pride and courage, I confronted him, when he left, I foolishly felt victorious, until... one day, Amelia came crying to our little room, my vile father had hired some damned wretches to scare her, she arrived with her dress torn, I swear I felt such hatred for my own father, that when I went to look for him, I went at him. The only answer I got was a mocking and scornful smile, she had told me that if I didn't stay away from her and put aside that absurd game of schoolboy in love, the next time, Amelia would end up dead. I felt between a rock and a hard place, I was a coward for not telling her the truth, that's why when Armand was born, I took him back to London, the worst thing was that I criticised my father so much and I ended up doing the same as him. I was never there for Armand, I never gave him good advice, I never even got to hug him, or tell him how much I loved him and how proud I was of him.

Richard, I... I had no knowledge of it,’ she said with some regret. I can't even imagine what you had to go through. Instead, I, I complain about nothing.

It is valid to feel bad and want to disappear, it is valid to regret many things, as it is also valid to want to go back in time to change some events.

I remember my childhood as the happiest of all, except for when Evelyn died, I was still too young to understand the true meaning of death, but not seeing my sister, my playmate, made me feel sad, by the time I was old enough to understand what had really happened, It was when it hurt me so much, that the simple fact of seeing her in photographs, I felt a great emptiness in my heart, which was later rewarded when Julieta was born, since she was a baby, she was always very giggly, with her mere presence she would light up the place where she arrived. My father used to say that she was his angel, and now I understand why. Jul, she is the spitting image of my late mother, and I am thankful for that, because when I see her, I also see my mother and at least that comforts me. Even though several years have passed, there is not a day that goes by that I don't miss her so much, I miss her arms, her words of encouragement, the way she spoiled me whenever I had a bad day, I miss her laughter. That's why my grandmother adores her too, although she is more reserved, losing a daughter can't be easy at all.

It is not, the duke assures me. Although I was forced to marry a noblewoman, without loving her, I won't lie to you that it hurt me, to have lost my only daughter. At least I know she did not suffer, for she died when she was only three days old, in her sleep. Kathleen never recovered, so if our marriage wasn't going well, it ended up getting worse, because there wasn't a day when we didn't fight, she reproached me for not loving her and for still thinking about Amelia, whom she used to call ‘’wild‘’ because of her situation. After that loss, our marriage lasted only one more year before we both, by mutual agreement, filed for an annulment. On the one hand, I was very grateful to be related to the queen, who was well aware of my situation, and without a second's hesitation, accepted the annulment.

From what I can see, your life has been too complicated,’ he asked. When you were describing to me what you were like in your youth, I swear I thought of Armand, he is identical to you.

With the difference that my son will not follow the same patterns as my father or mine,’ he said with some relief. Well, he did decide to fight for the woman he really loves.

At first, he followed in your footsteps,’ said the blond. Well, he had decided to stay with a woman he didn't love, just out of gratitude and that silly honour. I'm not going to deny that it made me want to beat him to a pulp for clinging to it. Just as I wanted to strangle my sister for being so stubborn. They only managed to hurt each other, and another woman was victorious.

Speaking of her, I hear she's in a relationship with Patrick, is that true?

Much to my chagrin, it is,’ she blurted out heavily. I don't quite trust her, even though she's been pretty good to Jul and Armand. I know I'm being paranoid, but at this point, I can't even trust other members of my own family anymore.

You're not being paranoid, I understand you perfectly. I just hope that young lady is really good and doesn't come up with any nasty surprises. I hope the same thing,’ he said in a whisper.

Richard and Alex had not had an easy life, as each had had to fight their own battles and learn perhaps not in the best way, but one thing that was clear to them was to live their present to the fullest and not look back, unless it was to see all that they had advanced and achieved. Talking and being honest with each other was undoubtedly therapeutic, as each one needed to unburden themselves and what better way to do it than among friends. Once they had done so, they could feel some relief, now all that was left was to give Alexei and Amber their comeuppance.