Chapter 59 Reconciliation with a Hidden Agenda
"Wilson?" Both Amanda and Rowan exclaimed at the same time. Anna nodded to show her affirmation.
"Stay right here," Rowan said as he walked to the living room with Anna.
Amanda was sure ready to disobey the order. She followed Rowan immediately.
"Hey, brother!" Wilson said when they got to the living room.
"What are you doing here?" Rowan remarked, ignoring Wilson's friendly smile.
"To do the right thing. Take what is mine." Wilson said, grinning.
Amanda's heart skipped several times and she hoped she would not panic again.
"What is yours? In my house?" Rowan questioned. "Do you even…"
"Calm down, brother." Wilson interrupted him. "I am not here to fight. I am here to make peace."
Rowan and Amanda shared a glance. "What is it you want, Wilson?" He asked, very calm.
"I want to retain my position as your brother. You took that away from me a long time ago and I am here to take it back, whatever it takes." Wilson explained. He was convincing enough that he saw the confusion on Rowan's face.
"See, Rowan. I know I haven't been a good brother to you, I ran away from home. I did all I could to bring you down because I was competitive. I don't want to be that person anymore. I just want to go back to the days when we played all day, kept each other's secrets and made promises to have each other's back.
"Is this another one of your tricks?" Rowan asked, confused.
"No, I am done with that. I hate to be the family member everybody hates." Wilson said.
"No one hates you, Wilson," Rowan interjected.
"You sure do. Remember when I ruined all your papers just so you wouldn't be able to travel?" Wilson asked.
"Oh, yeah that was evil," Rowan exclaimed.
"And the time I soaked your laptop in water just so you could not go ahead with your presentation with our foreign investors?" Wilson added.
"Hell, that was painful," Rowan exclaimed again.
"Are you still sure you don't hate me? Or do I have to remind you of the other terrible things I had done to you so you could admit that you hate me?" Wilson said.
Rowan scoffed. "I was hurt constantly but I don't hate you. You are my brother. I just needed you to realize I can't keep giving you the chance to hurt me."
"I'm sorry. I wish I could take those back. Please forgive me and make me yours again." Wilson said.
"Come on, you are not my lover," Rowan said. He waited for a moment before he opened his arms widely for a hug. "Come here"
The brothers hugged. Amanda was not having fun with their interaction. She knew exactly what Wilson was doing and it ripped her off internally.
"I think I now know why the whole house reeks of you. It was a sign of you coming to reconcile with me" Rowan said, smiling.
"Really?" Wilson asked. "Does that mean I am welcome here anytime?"
Amanda was sure Rowan was going to say yes. "No, you are not," she snapped. The men's attention shifted to her immediately.
"Sorry?" Rowan asked in reflex.
"You are not welcome here at all" Amanda repeated what she said clearly.
"Amanda, he is…" Rowan started but was interrupted by Wilson.
"It's alright. I get it. You are still angry. But sincerely, I am sorry. I didn't mean to hit on you like that the other day"
"Keep your sorry to yourself. I don't need it" Amanda exclaimed. She then turns to Rowan, "He is not welcome here. If he is going to be then I can as well take my leave." She said before walking away.
"Amanda" Rowan called out to her but she did not respond. He turned to Wilson. "I'm sorry about that. She will surely come around."
"I bet she would," Wilson exclaimed. Rowan was caught by surprise with his statement but he didn't push forward. "Let's drink on our reconciliation."
Wilson was tipsy by the time he left Rowan's house. He didn't stop, he decided to go to a bar to continue drinking. He was hurt by Amanda's rejection in front of Rowan.
"Hi! You are Wilson, right? Mable said, offering a friendly smile.
Wilson stared at her, trying to figure out where he knew her. "I know this face. Wait, Mirabel right?"
"Mabel" She corrected. Wilson's eyes widened. "Yeah, Mabel. You are Amanda's friend and her roommate then. It's nice to see you again.
Mabel nodded. "It sure is nice, considering the fact that you don't even remember my name."
"That is a justifiable mistake. You were not my favorite, remember?" Wilson said. "But I sure did something good in your name, you know."
"What did you do?" Mabel asked.
Wilson scoffed. "There is no way I am telling you but you can sure earn it at the end of this conversation though"
"I see you are still petty" Mabel responded. She asked if she could sit by gesturing to the empty chair opposite Wilson's chair.
"I should be," Wilson said, pulling out the chair so she could sit."
"Such an honorable man," Mable exclaimed.
"You didn't think about that when you were trying everything possible to separate Amanda and me," Wilson remarked.
"I honestly did not think you were the best for her. Amanda was a hot cake back then and she needed money." Mabel said.
"And I was broke." Wilson finished the statement.
"Exactly," Mabel interjected.
"And now she has chosen my rich brother over me," Wilson added, looking dejected.
"Really? Mabel asked, surprised.
"You don't know about her new relationship, do you?"
Mabel shook her head. "Something came up and I moved. I lost all her contacts and I have not been able to reach her since then."
"Oh, I see why you are not updated," Wilson said, retiring to his drink.
"What if I can help you?" Mabel chimed in unexpectedly.
Wilson cleared his throat. "See, I have done everything humanly possible to get her back. I have cajoled, I have threatened, I have pleaded." Wilson noticed Mabel's expression and he took it as her judging him.
"I know I've made some terrible mistakes in the past but I'm genuinely trying to change. I've been talking to her, trying to make amends. I even reconciled with my brother just to have access to her but she rejected me openly. There is no way she is coming back to me. "
Mabel scoffed. "A few minutes ago you believed I did all I could to separate you guys? Don't you think I have the power to also bring you back together?"
"That was years ago, Mabel. The Amanda I know now is daring and audacious. Plus, she is now pregnant for my brother."
Mabel was shocked by the revelation but she didn't show it. "That leaves me with one questionn then. I just need you to say yes, or no."
Wilson nodded for her to go on. "Do you want Amanda to be yours or not?" She asked.
"Of course, yes," Wilson exclaimed.
"Then it is done," Mabel replied. "Just fill me in on things about her now so I can catch up on time and I will make her yours."
"Really? You will do that?" Wilson asked, excitedly.
"You have my word," Mabel answered, grinning.
"Then we have a deal." We can meet here tomorrow right?" He asked. Mabel nodded in agreement.
Wilson stood up immediately. "I should get going. You just made my night." Mabel smiled.
Just as he was walking away, he remembered something and turned to Mabel. "You remember when I said I did something honorable in your name?"
Mabel gave him the loom to continue and he did. "I might have let my brother's extravagant spending girlfriend eat a fortune of Xi's wealth. She has the same name as you so I signed all her excesses. You need to see the disappointment on my dad's face when he realized that."
Wilson didn't wait for Mabel to respond. He just walked away, smiling.
Mabel puzzled for a moment. "Wilson is Rowan's brother? If that is true then Amanda is presently with Rowan and she is pregnant again? She said it out loud enough for people to hear her. "That is not possible." She exclaimed.