Finn was a mess after finding out that Cathleen was married to none other than his uncle Xavier. Everyone in the knight's family dreaded Xavier, but he was willing to do anything to get his jewel back. He left his villa and headed to his uncle's villa. Upon arriving, he parked his car outside and rang the doorbell. Olivia Williams, who was downstairs, offered to open the door. When Olivia opened the door wearing nothing but a short nightdress, Finn's lips curled into a smile.
'I knew Cathleen wasn't his type of woman,' he thought to himself.
"Hi, can I help you?" Olivia asked Finn upon opening the door.
"I'm here to see my uncle." As Finn answered, Olivia's eyes roamed over him, sizing him up. Her expression turned to one of disdain as she took in his appearance from head to toe. She exuded a palpable aura of superiority, fueled by her relationship with the richest man on the planet. Anyone who didn't meet her standards was met with a cold and dismissive attitude.
"Have a seat. I'll call him for you." As Olivia made her way towards the staircase, Xavier appeared at the top of the stairs, his tall frame silhouetted against the soft glow of the chandelier. In one hand, he held a steaming cup of coffee, while the other was tucked nonchalantly into his pocket. He gestured for Olivia to leave them, and Olivia couldn't help but feel a twinge of curiosity at the exchange to come. With practiced stealth, she headed towards the kitchen, straining her ears to catch snippets of their conversation.
"Why are you here?"
"I'm here because of your wife," Finn answered.
Wife?! Olivia froze. Her eyes widened in shock as her gaze shifted from Finn to Xavier, her mouth slightly open in disbelief. Finn's words hung heavy in the air, shattering the image of Xavier as the unattainable, perfect bachelor she had built up in her mind.
Xavier was married, but not to her. Suddenly, she remembered how she used to treat people because she was dating Xavier. But now Xavier was married-not to her, but to someone else. She didn't want them to see her eavesdropping on their conversation again.
Then Xavier asked Finn, "What about Cathleen?"
So his wife's name was Cathleen. Olivia thought.
She quickly went upstairs without being noticed, but Xavier saw her and knew she had heard everything. He wouldn't care less. He told her they were only dating and she shouldn't put her nose in his business. Finn bit his bottom lip several times before he could summon the courage to tell Xavier to stay away from Cathleen. He was looking everywhere in Xavier's direction while trying to find a proper way to confront him. Xavier sipped his coffee while icily staring at his nephew. Xavier's frigid gaze made Finn tremble on the couch. But then he had to confront him about leaving Cathleen for him since he already had someone.
"I want her." Finally, Finn spoke up, his voice breaking the tension in the room like a sharp knife. Xavier, ever the picture of poise and elegance, sipped his coffee with a regal air. He raised one perfectly groomed eyebrow in response and set his cup down on the coffee table with a gentle clink. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafted through the air, mixing with the faint scent of lavender from the nearby vase. It was as if time had slowed down for just a moment in this peaceful living room.
"You want me to leave my wife for you?" He asked, his cold gaze frozen on Finn as if trying to pierce through his very soul. Finn could feel his lips trembling and his whole body shaking with fear and anxiety. He struggled to find the right words, but they caught in his throat and came out in a stutter. But Xavier's impatience was palpable, his boredom showing as he tapped his foot impatiently.
"I asked you a question, boy," he sneered, his voice laced with disdain. "Why should I leave my wife for you?" With each word, he seemed to grow taller and more intimidating, crossing his legs and waiting for Finn to stop stuttering and answer him. The weight of Xavier's scrutiny felt suffocating, like being trapped under a heavy blanket that refused to let go. Finn took a deep breath, trying to steady himself as he searched for the right words to convince Xavier of their love.
"Because I know you don't love her. You are already here with another woman when you are married to her. So you should divorce her for me." Initially, Xavier wanted to slap the lad in front of him, but then he thought of his mysterious wife and used the opportunity to get to know who Cathleen was.
"Well, it depends. Why do you want Cathleen to be yours?" Xavier's intense, piercing gaze locked onto Finn once more, causing him to tremble with anticipation and fear at the weight of Xavier's words. He could feel the power and authority emanating from Xavier's stare, making him feel small and insignificant. Yet, he couldn't look away, drawn in by the intensity of Xavier's presence and the gravity of the impending conversation.
"I will tell you the truth, uncle. I was engaged to Cathleen for 3 years, but Cathleen had a lot of rules. She wouldn't allow me to touch her, even after our engagement. I got tired of waiting for her to at least allow me to kiss her. So, her sister Avery was willing to give me what Cathleen couldn't give me. So I started seeing Avery and Cathleen caught us having sex red-handed. She broke off the engagement and fled the country. So I continued dating Avery. After a year, I was engaged to her. Then, a day before our wedding, Avery ran away. Grandpa said that I would be marrying Cathleen. I couldn't marry Cathleen because that girl hated my guts, and I knew she was just marrying me for revenge. Hence, she told Grandpa that she would only be with me for 6 months. So, since I knew it was a way for her to punish me, I fled and located Avery. But Avery told me I should marry Cathleen because she doesn't love me anymore. So I now understand that I wronged Cathleen and want to fix things with her."
Finn's hands paused in midair, his fingers twitching with nervous energy. Xavier leaned in, his eyes fixed on Finn's, and reached for his mug on the table with a slow, deliberate movement. The tension between them was palpable; both were aware of the unspoken words hanging in the air. A moment passed before either of them spoke, their gazes locked in a silent exchange like two predators sizing each other up before a hunt.
"My wife is my wife, not yours, and you shouldn't meddle in our business. I would really hate it if anyone started meddling between me and my wife. Cathleen is mine. You are excused if you have nothing else to say." Finn's face paled. He thought that Xavier would understand his reasoning, but he wasted his time. Then Finn looked up to see Olivia's figure. He then smiled.
"You have Olivia."
"Olivia is my girlfriend, and Cathleen is my wife. Olivia knows where she stands in my life." Xavier answered without hesitation, making sure Olivia knew where she stood.
"What if I tell Cathleen that you are cheating on her? She will hate you. She won't even talk to you." Finn threatened.
"Be my guest. Close the door behind you." Xavier stood up. Olivia didn't hear the whole conversation, but now she knows that Xavier is married and that he didn't want to let go of his wife.
'Who is this Cathleen?' Olivia thought while gripping the hem of her dress tightly.
Meanwhile, Finn stood up and watched Xavier's figure disappear into the kitchen, and he raised his eyes to meet Olivia's gaze, and he scoffed. At least the woman heard what he wanted her to hear. He tucked his hands inside his pockets and left Xavier's house. Finn was full of regrets.
Cathleen deserved better. I cheated on her, and now Uncle Xavier is cheating on her. What is wrong with us, the knights? We always play with our opportunities. I hurt Cathleen in the worst possible way, but I wasn't married to her. My uncle married her, and he's cheating on her.
Finn sighed and drove back to his villa, full of regrets.