Chapter 111 On Edge
THEODORE
Alice and I went to Granny’s home directly after work. None of this could wait a day longer. I was eager for Felix’s petty, pathetic schemes to be unveiled so that everyone could see exactly who he was.
The envious fuck. If he put as much effort into his financial life as he did into my personal affairs, he’d be way richer than I am.
Granny shook her head. I could tell by the look on her face that she was beyond disappointed. “This is bad, Theo. So, so bad. I don’t even know what to say at this point! What an awful thing for Felix to do! All because of…what? What has that boy ever lacked? We have always done everything we could for him. There’s so much he could choose to do with his time!”
“I’ve been asking myself the same thing,” I admitted while tightening my grip on Alice’s hand. “I think it’s safe to say that I don’t want him anywhere around me from here on out. At this point, he could do anything to get what he wants.”
“I agree one hundred percent,” she claimed before glancing at Alice. “I take it this is all very alarming to you, Alice. I assure you that our family is better than this.”
“I would never judge any of you based on Felix’s actions,” Alice replied. “He’s his own person.”
“What do we do, Granny? How do we even begin to tackle this?”
“We’ll have to organize a family meeting. It’s late now, but tomorrow at around eleven, I’ll call everyone here. This has to be straightened out. I’m glad you came to me instead of taking matters into your own hands. I know how explosive you can be.”
“I don’t want to do something I’ll regret.” I glanced at Alice. “I’ve got a lot to live for.”
Granny smiled at this. “Nothing makes me happier than hearing you say that.”
I parked the car outside Alice’s apartment building. She turned in her seat and told me, “I want to be there with you when the meeting happens, Theo.”
“Of course. All of this directly impacts you, too. I’ll come pick you up.”
“We’re not going to work.”
“I think we’ll be a little distracted for that.”
I went home with this strange feeling in my chest. I didn’t feel triumphant. Hell, I didn’t even feel angry anymore.
Everything has seemed…off. I had a bitter taste in my mouth and this feeling like nothing would ever be the same again. I should’ve felt relief at knowing that, after all this, Felix would either return to London with his tail tucked between his legs or stay out of my sight permanently.
But I felt nothing.
When we got to Granny’s house at the arranged time, Mom was already there and so was Oliver. However, he’d brought the girls with him.
Mom glanced at Alice and turned her face away. I would’ve forcefully introduced her to Mom and made her look at my future bride in the face when talking to her, but I was too on edge because of what would happen next and I didn’t want to start a fight just because I was already riled up. I could see that Alice was a little uncomfortable because of that, but she didn’t seem to mind it too much.
Granny was in the kitchen, so we went to her first.
“Felix should be here soon,” she told me. She looked a little paler than usual and her eyes were a little droopy. “I’m just afraid for the girls, but we’ll send them to the room once he arrives. Oliver mentioned that Thelma will be here soon to pick them up. How’re you feeling, Alice?”
“A little nervous,” she admitted before glancing at me. “I’m starting to think that maybe I shouldn’t have come at all. I was thinking about the confrontation with Felix and not…everything else.”
I held her hand in mine. “Don’t worry about it. You’re a part of this family now, Alice. You have to be here.”
“Theo’s right.”
Before she could say anything, Oliver approached us with the girls in tow. Mom was all alone in the living room.
His eyes were on Alice as he said, “I’m Oliver, Theo’s brother. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Alice.”
He kissed her cheeks twice in greeting and Alice flushed from either embarrassment or discomfort. Still, she managed a smile. “It’s great to finally meet you. Theo talks about you all the time.”
My brother glanced at me. “Only good things, I hope.”
“Absolutely.”
He looked down at the girls. “These are my daughters. This here is Lizzie, and this one over here is Angie. Say hello to Aunt Alice, girls.”
“Hello,” they said in unison. They were looking at Alice like they’d never seen an adult woman before. Slowly, they inched toward her and Angie asked, “Are you really our auntie?”
Her face was even redder than before. Honestly, I was on edge when I walked in here. Now, I felt a lot more relaxed. It would be great if things were always like this. “Uh…yes. Yes, I am.”
They wrapped their arms around her legs and Alice ran her fingers through their little ponytails affectionately before looking back and forth between Oliver and me. “They’re so adorable!”
“Don’t let them fool you,” my brother claimed. “They’re both menaces. They drive their mother and me crazy with all the things they’re always up to.”
“Auntie Alice, can we show you our room?”
“You have a room here?”
“Yeah, for when we stay over!”
Alice looked at me, then said, “I think it’s better that I…you know. Before he shows up.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
She looked back down at them. “I’d love to see it!”
They dragged her through the penthouse to their room down the long hallway. I was pretty sure they wouldn’t be able to hear much of the argument that was bound to happen from over there.
Granny was watching our interaction with a smile on her lips. “I love it when everyone’s having a great time! If only peace lasted in this family.”
“Don’t worry, Granny,” Oliver told her. “We’re gonna deal with Felix accordingly. I didn’t even know what this was about! Thelma’s at the spa and I'm taking care of the girls for today. When Granny called, I came thinking there’d be an announcement of some kind. How could Felix do such a thing?”
I sighed. “I don’t understand what his problem is.”
We heard the sound of the front door opening. I knew it could only be him. All three of us exchanged looks before heading into the living room. Mom was saying something to him, but she went still as soon as we approached.
Her eyes were still on the ground.
“What’s this about?” Felix asked, clueless about what was about to happen. Our eyes met across the room and I didn’t bother hiding my hatred toward him.
He looked at me with open hostility, too.
And at that moment, it felt like war had been declared.