Chapter 182: Make him pay

Chapter 182: Make him pay

Eloise stood by the balcony, gazing out with a blank face but a racing heart. Her ears were picking up every car sound as if in anticipation of hearing the sound of his car.

“ Hey,” Laera called from behind, handing her a cup of warm tea. “ You good?”

She nodded, taking it from her.

“ You've not said anything since we left.” She started. “ I know you're pissed, and whatever you're feeling right now is, don't bottle them in, I'm here for you.”

Eloise sighed. “ I'm insane. I'm not upset, or am I?” She asked with uncertainty. “ Is it because I love him? That I don't believe he's with me because of the project.”

She murmured. Her mind replaying every single moment they've spent together.

“ Every second with Antonio is the realest moment of my life. His anger, his fury each time I'm hurt, each time someone tries to hurt me.” She shook her head. “ Those can't be lies.”

Laera sighed deeply, short of words.

“ He's my silent confidence, Laera. Since I came back, there's this big assurance that nothing would happen to me if he's with me. I love the way he confesses to me, the way he flirts and teases. He never told me he loves me, but I could tell from how he looks at me. Does it seem like love is blinding me again?”

“ No, it's not, not at all.”

“ This is why I said I'm insane.”

“ No, you're not. Your feelings are valid. You love him, and…”

“ Do you think I'm in denial?” She asked, her face twisted with confusion, sadness, and guilt.

She knows the marriage was a contract marriage, but the fear that all he was doing was just to get his company higher terrifies her.

Laera sighed, not knowing if that is what it is, or if it's confidence.

“ Maybe you should talk to him. Hear what he has to say for himself. I don't believe he'll be with you just because of a project, or because he's been competitive about his company ranking higher than yours.”

Eloise sighed, looking away. “ I don't want to see him.”

She muttered even though the words felt empty and untrue.

“ I'm scared to hear what he'll say.” She said honestly.

“ But you'll have to hear it at some point.”

She nodded.

Just then, Laera's phone rang. She checked to see the caller and immediately dropped the phone.

“ Who's it?” Eloise asked, secretly hoping it was him.

“ Oliver.” She replied, her tone laced with anger.

“ Why are you not picking it?”

“ Because he also knew about this. He was also in it in hurting my best friend.” She fumed.

Eloise smiled. “ He's not at fault, I'm sure he's also just loyal to his friend.”

“ Well, you can say I'm also loyal to my friend.”

Eloise grinned, her heart warmed with appreciation.

“ Do ..do you think he's okay?”

“ Wait, you're worried about him right now?” Laera asked in surprise.

“Not-not really. I missed the board meeting earlier, and Shawn and Zade were still in the company when we left. I just want to know if he's dealing with it well.”

Laera's mouth parted, looking at her in disbelief, and smirked. “ You're in love.”

“ Hey.” She nudged her. “ I'm just worried.”

“ I'm sure he'll be fine. I mean…this is Antonio, the untouchable and unshakable.”

Eloise forced a smile. ‘ He might seem that way, but he gets hurt too.’

She said in her mind.

Oliver dropped a can of soft drinks before the two brothers. He'd met them at the parking lot in the most delicate situation ever, and seeing how Zade was still weeping nonstop, he didn't have to be told what happened.

Zade had sprang to his feet and headed for Shawn's head to be out of his neck, but it was Oliver who stopped him, even though it took all the muscles in his body

“ Are you okay?” Oliver asked him as he sat opposite the two of them.

He gave no response. Just staring at the table with tears in his eyes.

His fist clenched slowly, hating himself for every word he uttered, for every harsh word he said both to Antonio and their mother.

‘ I'm sorry.’ he said in his mind, but he felt unworthy of saying it out.

“ I don't deserve your forgiveness.” He started, not looking at Antonio. “ I don't even deserve to say a single word. You've all just been trying to protect me, but I'm likewise unworthy of that.”

He bit his inner lip hard.

“ You'll always be my brother,” Antonio spoke. “ I'd never look at you differently or blame you cause everything that happened is not your fault.”

More tears pool out of Zade's eyes.

“ Don't hate yourself. Despising yourself was that one thing she doesn't want. You can at least do that for her, right?”

He shook his head before looking at Antonio. “ I felt so stupid believing him. How will I ever face her, I just thought she loved you more than me. I wanted her to take me closer, I..”

Antonio grabbed his hand. “ It's not your fault.”

“ It is. She must have been…” he swallowed the word miserable. “ Seeing me, the result of her assault.”

Antonio exhaled. “ No, you're her son. Not a result. You've done nothing wrong. Our father is still the same man. We just have a man who did the unthinkable to our mother.”

“ But that man is my father.”

“ He's not your father. He's a monster.”

“ That monster is my father.” He wept. “ And I hated my mother, the victim.”

“ You never hated mum, you just craved her love and attention. You never hated her for a second.”

“ But I said bad things about her.”

“ Ones you didn't mean. I know everything you said was just to rile me up. You love her so much, and she loved you too, she loved you so much and was trying all her best to protect you.”

Zade sobbed. “ I'll kill him. I'll so fucking kill him.”

“ Make sure it's somewhere his body would never be found.”

“ Not even his skull,” Zade added.

“ Or any of his bones.”

Oliver cleared his throat, trying to remind them he's still there and that their words are getting quite creepy. “ The air is smelling of blood already.”

“ I'll only be able to live by myself, be able to breathe after seeking justice for mum,” Zade said, wiping his nose.

Antonio smiled. “ I have a plan. Let's make him pay.”

“ Let's make him pay.”

“ Count me in, as well. I hate his gut.” Oliver raised his hand.