Page 88 of Bittersweet Legacy

He arched his right eyebrow in a silent invitation to continue.

“There’s no shame liking someone who does not meet the Patricians’ standards, it’s OK to want to be with someone who doesn’t look like the girls in the magazines. It’s OK for you to like Taylor.”

He frowned. “I don’t like her.”

I shrugged. Yeah, he was not going to admit it to me, I thought he had a problem admitting it to himself. “Okay, if you say so, but for what it matters I think it’s mutual.”

He sighed. “I don’t like her,” he reaffirmed, “but if I did – I probably would like her enough to be selfless and not force her into our world. Her father loves her enough to let her date and marry whomever she really wants. She deserves a life free of stupid costumes and traditions. A life where she can stay with her man in bed just watching Netflix and eating pizza instead of attending the latest gala not because you want to but because it’s expected of you.”

“I think she deserves to be loved and revered.” I couldn’t tell him about the drawings I saw. How deeply I knew he loved her.

He ignored my last comment as I expected him to do. He looked at his watch. “I have to go, I have to pick up Caleb for the airfield in the next 20 minutes.”

“Okay,” I pulled him to me for a quick hug. “Be careful.”

“Always,” he replied. He took a step back and detailed my face – as if it was the last time he was ever going to see me, and maybe it was – but I let him go without another word. He wanted me to be free, he took risks for this. I couldn’t deny what he did.

I had to honor Archie’s sacrifice and my mother’s wish and walk away.

Chapter 21

Caleb’s point of view

I couldn’t help but frown at my reflection in the mirror as I adjusted my custom-made dark blue Armani suit jacket over my light blue shirt.

I had a feeling nagging at the back of my mind that something wasn’t right, and it was not only due to William Forbes, scum of this earth, calling at 4am – It was the whole situation.

I was somehow grateful to have my mind distracted from Esmeralda, or the bewitcher as I called her. For the past 24 hours I couldn't stop thinking of her, her smell was everywhere, her taste still in my mouth. If I didn't know any better, I would almost say she’d put a spell on me.

When I’d woken up after the most peaceful sleep I’d have ever experienced, and found the bed empty, I’d felt a loss I’d never felt before and only a deep inhale of the pillow mixing her papaya and coconut scent helped me quiet down and accept that it had been real and not a dream, as had too often been the case.

I could almost understand my father now and his obsession for Victoria Forbes.

Stop thinking about Esmeralda Forbes for a minute!

I looked at my watch drawer in contemplation, I was obsessed with watches, I owned over 20 of them and each had a special purpose, this meeting called for my Bulgari Magsonic Sonnerie Tourbillon. Archibald would be here in less than 15 minutes to take me to the airfield. My stupid father was over the moon that they’d decided to include me in their business, but it didn’t make any sense, there was no love lost between my father and William Forbes, like there was no love lost between Archibald and I.

William had insisted on the call that taking me to Switzerland was Archibald’s idea, and that didn’t sound right.

Archibald and I have always been secret rivals in everything we did – I wasn’t sure who started it but it was ingrained in us just as our heritage was, and I knew he hated me being engaged to his sister – which made me enjoy it even more.

I knew that despite his stoic appearance Archibald cared for her. Truthfully, how could he not? This damned woman was so hard to dislike, and it was plain as day in his face, well at least it was for me – it was easy to see mirroring emotions in someone else's face.

A soft knock on my door redirected my thoughts.

“Yes, Benjamin?”

The gray-haired butler opened the door and bowed slightly. “Mr Archibald Forbes is here sir, he is waiting in his car.”

I nodded. “Thank you, I will be right down.”

I let him wait a couple more minutes before ambling down as if we had all the time in the world, I was the heir to this kingdom and it was something he should never forget. His father may be the king now but it wasn’t meant to last and Archibald had always been too weak to do what had to be done to claim that throne. I’d claimed it long before I knew what to do with it and no matter what backward plan he was preparing now, I would not give him a shot at my place. I’d sacrificed too much for it.

“Good morning,”

My scowl deepened at Archibald's small smile and greeting. I expected annoyance – he should have gotten annoyed. He’d told me to be ready at 5am sharp and I kept him waiting on purpose, and yet he seemed almost pleased by it.

“Your father said that taking me was your idea.” I didn’t have time to play games, I had to attack, to figure out his endgame.

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