Chapter 112 Manning Up
THEODORE
"You've got some nerve to act nonchalant when you clearly know there's a problem," I claimed, stepping forward. I glanced at my mother, whose eyes hadn't left the ground since we caught her filling Felix in on what was happening. "Mom already updated you, so why don't we cut to the chase?"
Felix had a thin smile on his face. He was trying to act like he didn't care that he would be confronted for his actions, but deep down, I knew he was shitting himself.
He wanted to take over my company more than anything else and this would ruin all his chances.
"Felix," Granny began firmly, "is it true that you were the one behind the scandal that nearly ruined Theo's career?"
"I don't know anything about that."
"No?" Granny stepped forward. "Then tell me why I received information not thirty minutes ago that you were the one who submitted those photos of Alice and Theo in front of their office? Don't bother lying. Carmen and I have known each other for a long time. You thought she'd keep your secret but you didn't pay her the compensation you promised to keep your mouth shut. Tight on money, are you? I can't help but wonder why."
"What?" I barked. "You were the one behind that?"
Felix looked back and forth between all three of us. He looked like a rat looking for an escape from a life-threatening situation.
That was all he was—a rat.
"It's over, Felix," Oliver chipped in. "You've been caught. Why don't you just man up and tell the truth?"
"Man up?" he spat, fury blazing in his eyes. "Who're you to tell me to man up, Oliver? You abandoned the company after your father's death even though you were the oldest! The family was counting on you and you let them down!"
Oliver became visibly infuriated, and I knew right away that there was no way in hell that this would end well. I didn't think it would to begin with, but Felix was clearly starting shit.
With Oliver of all people.
"What the fuck does that have to do with you?" my brother spat. "I have things on hold because I wanna raise my daughters. I don't want to be absent the way my father was." He advanced suddenly and if I didn't hold him back, he would've punched Felix. "What does any of this have to do with you?"
"That's just a horseshit excuse and you know it!" Felix retorted. "You're scared! And you went ahead and left everything for the irresponsible one who can't take his mind off his cock for one minute!"
"Boys!" Granny yelled. "Let's not—"
"I'm starting to think you want me, cousin," I gritted out. Oliver managed to calm down, and he ran his hand down his face roughly before turning away. "What does any of this have to do with the fact that you've been trying to sabotage me from the start?"
At first, I thought he'd keep denying it, but then the truth poured out of him. "I didn't force your dick inside her cunt, Theo. That was all you! I don't see it as sabotage, no—I see your actions as proof that you can't be bound by laws. You don't respect anything. Yet, I remember you being the first one bitching about your father when he cheated. But you did the same!" He raised both his arms high above his head. "You did the exact same thing, you hypocrite! You were unfaithful to your fiancée. But that wasn't a problem, right? Why? Do you think you're above judgment?"
"How would you know what I said about my father?" I asked angrily, glancing at my mother while I spoke. "You weren't there."
"News travels fast."
"I bet it does."
She never looked at me. Not once.
So, this was the opinion she had of me?
"Yeah. Now you don't have anything to say, do ya?" he continued, scoffing.
"I have plenty to say to you, Felix."
He dared to step toward me. "Go on. I wanna hear it."
"You're a fucking rat and you don't deserve to be alive, much less run the company," I spat. These words just bubbled out of me with no filter and I didn't care. "You're never going to get what you want, so why don't you tuck that tiny tail of yours between your legs and fuck off back to England?"
"I'll go where I want!" he hissed, shoving his finger right in my chest. "I'll stay where I want, too! And if you don't—"
I lost it.
I punched him right in the jaw, ignoring the way pain radiated all the way up my arm. Oliver grabbed me, but he was too late. Felix was already reeling back, clutching his jaw and moaning in pain. My mother—my own mother—went to Felix first. She placed her hand on his back and told him, "This has gone way too far. We should—"
He straightened his spine and whirled around so quickly that I barely caught it. I watched in slow motion as he used both hands to shove my mother back, shouting, "Take your hands off me, you fucking bitch!"
The next few minutes were a blur.
It had been a while since I felt this way, or maybe the truth was that I'd never felt this way in my life. My mind went black and instincts drove my body toward Felix. I didn't stop. I raised my fists high above my head, determined to inflict the worst kind of pain without thinking about the consequences.
Oliver was shouting.
Mom was screaming.
Granny...
"Theo!" Oliver yelled. His lips were so close to my ear that it felt like they'd burst when he shouted. "Granny's down! Granny's down!"
This was enough to clear the smoke in front of my eyes. I blinked and the living room reappeared. For a split second, I asked myself where I was, and then everything hit me all at once.
I looked down and saw Felix with blood gushing from his broken nose. The skin on his cheekbone was split and so was his lip.
My knuckles were coated in his blood.
"Granny!" my brother said again with more urgency. I whipped my head around and saw her on the ground, face all pale, and that stirred me into action. I rose, completely ignoring Felix, and went to her side.
I couldn't touch her because of how dirty my hands were.
"We need to take her to the hospital," I said quickly. "If we call an ambulance, they might not get here on time!"
Oliver was the one who picked her up. We walked right past Mom, who was covering her face with both hands. Her shoulders were shaking.
I didn't know what to say to her, so I just walked past.
I would never forgive her for this. I knew it deep in my heart.
Once I reached the door, Granny's personal assistant, Gloria, approached me with tears in her eyes. I didn't even know she was here. She was shaking a little. "Mr. Theodore, are you alright? Miss Francesca asked me to stay in the room but I thought that—"
I put a hand on her shoulder, unfortunately staining her white uniform. "Everything's alright. We're taking her to the hospital, but we'll be back soon. Tell...Tell my girlfriend that I'll be back soon. She'll have to watch the girls for a little longer."
I barely waited for her to nod before I was out the door.