Page 116 of Delilah In Discretion

Blaine sighed. “I invited him,” he squeaked out.

Killian chuckled menacingly as the three of them took a seat. He sent another look towards Blaine, who gulped softly as I rubbed my temples, trying to fend off my impending headache that was on the rise.

Vivienne sighed. “I sincerely apologize, Killian. I was under the impression that we were simply going out for dinner… I should’ve known better when Andrew tagged along. We weren’t even formally invited,” she said with sincerity.

Killian shook his head. “I don’t mind you here at all, my darling… it’s those two who can’t tell their heads apart from their asses—” he started, and I sent a smack to his arm as I glared.

“Be nice. And Calvin...” I looked over to him, and he sent a sarcastic, apologetic smile as I continued, “If you ruin my dinner... I will kill you.”

“Do you really think so low of me, Brielle—?” he began, but I cut him off.

“Don’t push it,” I seethed, and he nodded.

It was silent for the most part, but after our orders were put in, the tension started to lessen. My eyes landed on my brother, who hadn’t said much more to me than a simple, emotionless greeting. My heart clenched as he didn’t seem comfortable or willing to converse or chat with anyone at the table. Juliet, his wife, seemed a bit standoffish as well, though I could only attribute her behavior as an indirect result of Eugene’s attempts to alienate himself from our family.

Shin looked over to him after a moment and spoke. “So, Eugene... What have you been up to lately? You’re rarely around much at all nowadays,” he began.

Eugene continued avoiding eye contact with the eyes that were now curiously waiting for his answer.

“I’ve been around… Just doing my best to take care of Melanie and Juli.” His response was short and straightforward, but Calvin decided to input his own two cents.

“Hopefully, working hard,” he remarked with a smile.

Eugene only sent him a glance before looking away as Juliet caressed his hand softly.

A moment or so later, I received a message on my phone and looked down quickly to see who it was. A smile broke out on my face, and I opened it. Killian looked over and noticed the beaming smile on my face. I looked up at him, and he tilted his head as if asking why I was so happy all of a sudden.

“It’s my mom,”I whispered to him, and he grinned, placing a kiss on my temple. He knew how happy I’d been when I finally contacted my biological mother a few years back, and our relationship had been growing ever since.

“What’s got you so happy and giggly over there?” Hana asked, and I smiled.

“My mom texted me,” I responded.

Juliet tilted her head. “Your mom? Eugene, you told me your mother passed away…” she questioned him.

My head snapped over to look at my brother, who seemed frozen in his seat.

Killian’s shoulders tensed slightly, and he could practically feel the shift in my attitude. I went from happy to enraged in a moment, but I didn’t care. Calvin looked at our interaction, intrigued as I practically growled the following words.

“You told her what?”

I seethed towards Eugene, and he did his best not to look at me. The table was now uncomfortably silent as their attention was solely focused on us.

I went to stand, but I felt Killian push me back down slightly by my waist. Thankfully he was beside me, because I would have surely jumped over the table if he weren’t.

“Eugene!” I yelled expectantly, and he glared at me.

“Ourmotherdid nothing but leave us with our father and insane stepmother. Excuse me for not being so forgiving.”

“You know why, Eugene. You know she had no choice. They threatened her,” I said as I forcefully held back my tears.

Killian pushed my hair over my shoulder as his other hand rubbed my palm. He was doing his best to calm me down, but it was getting progressively harder not to kill Eugene.

Our mother had her reasons for leaving. She wanted to stay; she wanted to raise her children. But Gregory and Cheryl wouldn’t allow it. It took me time to process and learn to forgive her, but Eugene, as always, wouldn’t get off his high horse and was having none of it.

“Brielle... she’s dead to me. She left us, and here you are, accepting her with open arms,” he uttered, not budging.

I took a deep breath. “You’re right. I accepted her with open arms many years ago because she explained herself and her reasons for what she did.”