Xavier leaned back in his chair, his piercing blue eyes fixed on his older brother as he observed him from across the room. The tension between them was palpable, with each one keenly aware of the other's presence. A silent electricity crackled in the air, threatening to ignite into a full-blown confrontation. Edward was well aware that he risked a harsh slap from Xavier if he continued to speak.
But despite the danger, Xavier's piercing stare held him captive. His elder brother's attention was diverted as he questioned his wife with an air of authority. Yet, even in this moment of confrontation, Xavier's eyes remained locked on Edward, cold and unyielding. The man finally turned to Cathleen, breaking the intense gaze, and spoke with a hint of remorse, "My apologies for my inappropriate behavior." The tension in the room remained thick, like a heavy fog that refused to dissipate.
But then Olivia, with her love for the dramatic, couldn't resist jumping in and adding her own commentary. "Why are you apologizing? After all, she did have sex with both the uncle and the nephew. I had no idea that my friend was going to have such a voracious appetite for power. Ooh, Cathy, Ghosh!" Her voice dripped with intrigue and amusement as she leaned forward, eagerly awaiting a response from the others at the table. The candles flickered in the dimly lit room, casting shadows across their faces. The tension in the air was palpable as they waited to see how Cathleen would react to Olivia's bold statement.
The silence in the room was palpable as Olivia fixated her gaze on the elder Mr. Knight, searching for any sign or word that could offer reassurance in this chaotic moment. But the man remained unperturbed, calmly savoring each bite of his meal and ignoring the commotion around him. His demeanor exuded a sense of wisdom and composure as if he knew that Cathleen would never behave so recklessly or even entertain the thought of sleeping with those two men. Olivia's heart raced with anxiety, wondering how she could ever convince this composed figure to believe their story of innocence. The old man just knew that Cathleen would not even consider sleeping with the two idiots.
"Olivia, Caleb is waiting for you outside to give you a ride home." Olivia's teeth sank into her lower lip, drawing a faint line of blood as she froze mid-bite. A wave of hurt and confusion washed over her as she realized she was being chased out of the house politely without being told she was being thrown out because of her big mouth and too much prying.
She turned to look at Xavier, her heart heavy with unspoken emotion. Her hand trembled as she gently placed the fork back on her plate and silently retreated from the table. The air around her felt thick with tension and unspoken words like a storm threatening to break at any moment.
Tears threatened to spill down her cheeks, but she held them back, refusing to give in to the pain. She knew better than to let herself be vulnerable again. With one last glance at Xavier, she turned and left the room, feeling like a fragile porcelain doll on the brink of shattering.
As Olivia stormed off, Xavier's gaze shifted to his brother. With a clenched jaw and narrowed eyes, he demanded, "What exactly did you say about my beloved wife?" His words were laced with a mix of anger and protectiveness, ready to defend his wife's honor at any cost.
The mere mention of Xavier's name sent shivers down Edward's spine. In fact, fear seemed to permeate through the entire family whenever the imposing figure was around. Ignoring Xavier's question, the man continued to eat his meal with a stoic expression on his face. Finn couldn't help but feel a tinge of embarrassment as he watched his own father cower in front of his uncle. It was clear that Xavier held some sort of power over their family, and it left Finn feeling both intimidated and uneasy. But then he knew that it was better not to say anything. "I believe I wasn't talking to myself, Edward. What was it you were saying about my wife?" With a sharp edge to his voice, Xavier spoke, his irritation dripping through each word. Cathleen couldn't help but wonder why both Finn and his father seemed to cower in fear whenever Xavier was around. His imposing figure and commanding presence seemed to hold an unspoken power that even she couldn't ignore.
"Well, we both know that she's been engaged to Finn for years and now that she's married to you, it's as if she's on the lookout for the next available knight in shining armor to fuck." Cathleen's eyes pleaded with Finn to intervene, but before he could speak, Old Mr. Knight collapsed onto the floor in a heap. His eldest son's cruel words about Cathleen had been too much for the elderly man to bear. In a swift and unexpected move, Xavier jumped up from his seat and strode over to his brother, delivering two sharp slaps across his face in reprimand. All eyes turned to watch the family drama play out as the sound reverberated throughout the room, and then there was a tense silence. The air was heavy with tension, and the smell of sweat and fear permeated the space. Cathleen's heart pounded in her chest as she anxiously awaited the next move in this unexpected turn of events.
Slap!
Slap!
"Never in your life talk rubbish about my wife! Who the hell told you that she has slept with both of us?" The man then stormed over to where Cathleen was. Cathleen was screaming for help and was in a state of shock because the old man couldn't wake up.
Xavier had never seen Cathleen so vulnerable; her usually unshakeable facade shattered as tears streamed down her face. He had always known her as a fierce and ice-cold woman, but now she trembled in fear before him. Her hands shook and her voice quivered as she tried to speak, the weight of her emotions overwhelming her usual strength. This was a side of his wife he had never seen before, and it both frightened and touched him deeply. He longed to hold her and comfort her, but he could only watch helplessly as she struggled to regain control over herself.
Xavier's fingers fumbled with the buttons of his suit jacket as he hastily removed it, his heart pounding in his chest. With a deep breath, he gathered his father into his arms and lifted him up, feeling the weight of the older man's body against his own. He turned to Finn, panic written all over his face, and commanded him to call for a doctor immediately. Every second counted now, and Xavier prayed that help would arrive in time.