60- The secret plan is revealed

Rebeca

While everyone was crying at the reunion, I began to feel impatient and realized that it was almost midnight.

Oh yes, the bomb.

\- Everything is beautiful and wonderful at this reunion, but we need to remember that there's a bomb in the house. - I draw everyone's attention.

\- Cherry, where's the bomb? - I ask.

\- I really don't know, it was someone else's idea, I only have the detonator. - he says.

I cursed.

\- I know it's the work of that damned old woman, and you and I, we're going to have a talk, but you'd better leave right now, because I think it's going to explode with or without Sebastian's death. - I say.

Everyone pays attention to this and we leave the house immediately.

\- Where are we going? - Holly asks as we get into the car.

\- Anywhere but here. - I warn.

\- Luckily, Dad had the car keys in his pocket. - she mutters as soon as she sees that he's following us closely. Just as the clock strikes midnight, I hear an explosion and smoke coming from the direction of our house. We're not dead for just two minutes, it's a good thing I arrived ahead of schedule, otherwise we'd all be dead now.

I have to admit, it was a cunning plan and very well thought out, Anastasia thought it through and exploited my weaknesses beautifully, however, she didn't count on my brother being alive and that's what saved us. Now, I have to take my revenge, I can't let this go to waste, I'll pay her back in kind and my previous plan seems perfect now, very good indeed.

My brothers follow behind me, mute and pale. I'm pleased to see the arrogance gone from their faces, now they know I'm right.

It's so good to be right.

I drive to Ben's apartment, he's away, and I know it won't be a problem for him to let me stay here for a while. After all, I know him better than anyone, so I used the key he gave me and went inside. I turned on the lights and let everyone in after me, Roderick had the sense to cover his face again, we don't know where Anastasia's eyes are at the moment and it's dangerous for him to show his face now, because if he hid that he was alive, there's something going on and if Anastasia manipulated Cherry, that means she's involved in some way.

What I can do now is be cautious about the situation.

\- Great, everyone's here, now you can start explaining yourself, little brother. How did you die and are you still alive? - I ask.

It doesn't make sense to ask like that, but that's exactly how I feel and I'd like to know.

He sits down next to his wife and sniffles.

\- First of all, I want to apologize for keeping this from you, but it was a necessary evil. - he says.

\- Leave the apologies aside and get to the point. - I grumble.

\- As you can see, Sebastian Lucian didn't kill me, on the contrary, he saved my life. - I begin.

\- Okay, he saved your life, but what about the body I saw? - I ask

\- It was just a random guy wearing my wedding suit. - say.

\- The tattoo? - I ask.

\- Done a few days before. - he clarifies.

\- What motivated you to do it? - my father asked.

That's what we all want to know.

\- I received a job offer, someone wanted Sebastian Lucian dead at any cost, it wasn't the first time I'd received the same request and I'd always refused, however, this time, the person themselves came to me, the one who wanted Sebastian dead, was none other than his stepmother, I did as before and refused to carry out anything related to the man's death, everyone knows about his reputation and I wasn't willing to risk my life and that of my family, however, she began to approach Cherry and threatened me relentlessly, until I accepted, however, I already had a plan in mind. Before the agreed day, I went to Sebastian, but instead of trying to kill him, I made a deal with him, I would help him to gradually bring down his stepmother's power until she could be contained once and for all, however, I had to make a great sacrifice for this to work, but I couldn't turn back, it was the only way to keep everyone safe. - explains.

\- And that's how you faked your death. - I conclude to myself.

\- Yes, we were sure that Anastasia would come after me if I failed, she couldn't expose herself, so, before that happened, Sebastian prepared himself and the day before my wedding, I pretended to fail miserably at the job and be chased by Sebastian, I even called her and asked for help, she said she would help me, but that I couldn't tell her anything, I readily agreed and went ahead with the plan, on my wedding day, I let Sebastian in through a passage in the office with the unconscious man, a traitor he was getting rid of, we changed his clothes and I left through the same place he entered, he got busy killing the man and mutilating his face, so that he would be unrecognizable and no one would get suspicious and I hid in a place that only he knows about for a few days until he was ready to order me to take the first steps. - explains.

Now it makes sense. I wish I'd known about this sooner, I feel bad for having cursed Sebastian so many times for my brother's death, I'm glad I gave up on my revenge at some point, well, I can't deny that what made me give up was the undeniable feeling I feel, I love Sebastian and even today, while I was making all the preparations and pointing the gun at him, I felt like I was ripping a piece out of myself, it was painful and something I never want to feel again.

\- Was my wedding your idea too? - I ask.

It seems they had a plan for a long time and it covered everything that could happen.

\- No, that has nothing to do with it, it took me by surprise too, but he assured me that he wouldn't hurt you and that you had met before in Milan. I decided to trust his judgment, and besides, you're much safer with him than anywhere else. - he says.

I was surprised to hear that this wasn't in the plans. It seems Sebastian has some explanations for me.

\- All right, I'll hear the rest later. It's good to see you again, Rod. I'm leaving now, take care of Ben's apartment and don't do anything crazy. - I get up.

\- Are you leaving now? - Roderick gets up.

\- Yes, I have a man to apologize to. - I go up to him and hug him with a smile on my face.

\- Use that foolproof trick. - he whispers and I laugh.

\- I will.

I've left everyone behind and come home to my man, there are a lot of things that need to be said and I feel it's time.