Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 107756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
“And what shall this get us?” I asked, seeking to reason with her. “Marcella is still in that home with him. The past is still the past. Nothing has changed, except now we have become entertainment for further talk. Now all the world will know that my father was a fiend who spawned a villain. Will that not reflect on me? On Verity and Gabrien? Are we not your family and, thus, more important than the justice you seek to gain for some girl? You have exploited our family and dishonored us to the world.”
“I just—”
“If it was the deeds of your father, your blood, would you feel compelled to act so rashly?” I asked, shaking my head. “This was selfish and cruel of you. You have ripped us open and have given us no place or time to hide our faces.”
“Evander—”
I held up my hand, begging her to keep her distance. “I have nothing more to say to you,” I said and turned from her, slamming the door behind me.
I hated my father, but at the same time, he was still my father. And while he had failed to show my siblings or me the love a father ought, he had instilled in me at least one good thing—the importance of honoring our name. It was ironic to me that while I thought him to be a shameful example, I nevertheless wanted to mend the name of the Duke of Everely. I knew it would take time, but with Aphrodite beside me, I had been certain that day would come. Now, once more, I found myself engulfed by the wretched stench of the past.
“Evander!”
It was a shout that seemed to echo through the whole house. As I glanced out the window, I saw him—Fitzwilliam—out front, yelling as my men fought to hold him back.
“Evander!” he screamed once more.
Oh, bloody hell!
I knew he would come. It was only a matter of when, and he apparently had chosen immediately…just like a wounded bear. Previously, he had at least the thinnest desire to be respected in the eyes of society, offering fake smiles and pleasantries on demand. Now with the curtain lifted to reveal his true nature, he would not hold back. I was sure of it.
“Evander—”
“How many times must I remind you and your mother that you are not welcome here?” I asked as I stepped out the front door.
“You no-good bastard!” he screamed. The guards held him back against his thrashing. “Now you dare not even face me as a man?”
“Make way for him.”
“Your Grace—”
“Make way,” I repeated. When they did, Fitzwilliam wasted no time rushing toward me.
“It is not enough that you have everything!” he sneered grabbing me. “That you were left everything that ought to have been mine! Even my daughter is in your godforsaken hands!”
“This is your doing, not mine. The fact that you still believe anything ought to be yours is the problem. Now release me at once!” I snapped.
“Why? Why is it not mine? Because my mother was unwed. For that mere fact alone, I was thrown to the side for an arrogant, condescending man such as yourself? By a mere technicality, all my life, I was thrown to the winds. Not one thing was left to me. All I had was this name and even that you seek to destroy!” He all but spat in my face.
“Why is it you always think yourself the wretched one?”
“Because I am!” he screamed. “I am the most misfortunate one, and you are the villain you so clearly wish to make me out to be!”
He was mad, truly and deeply. “You see no fault in yourself? You sincerely believe the world to be your enemy? Fitzwilliam, do you not see the ruin you have left in your wake! And now you dare call me the villain! Me!”
“You are—”
“Evander!” Aphrodite rushed up behind me.
“Get back inside.”
“But—”
“Go!” I snapped. She did as I ordered.
“You suffered one setback in your life.” Fitzwilliam laughed bitterly, his whole body shaking. “Only one, Evander, and yet you grieved and sought to chase me to the end of the world. Now look at yourself. In the end, did you not still get what you desired? In the end, is not all the world at your feet? Why must you seek to poison my life?”
“It is you who poisons yourself!” I hollered back. “It is your greed! It is your desire, your viciousness, and your cruelty that has brought us to this point! You had other paths before you and chose not to accept them. You and your damned mother. Had she known her place, your life would not have been so! Blame her if you seek someone to admit fault!”
“You—you, curse you!” He spat in my face. “I shall sue you and proclaim it is all a lie, and I am sure the magistrate shall hear my plea! You have slandered me. And you shall pay!”