Page 46 of Grumpy Bossy Billionaire Enemy

“What changed?”

Father rubbed his eyes. He didn’t feel comfortable talking to me about his past, but he didn’t have a choice. He couldn’t scold me for asking too many questions anymore: I was a grown woman who wanted answers to my questions.

“After a few months, my feelings went down the drain. I just wanted something more that I was not forced to have.”

I beamed as Father spoke. It felt like he had lived the life I was living currently. More than ever, I feared that like my father, Henry would wake up someday and his love for me would be gone. I’d be a miserable housewife obliged to give him children and keep his bed warm. “Thank you for being honest, Dad.”

I picked up my handbag from the table. “I’m not mad anymore,” I said. “It’s not in my place to be angry at you. If Mom, who is your wife, can forgive you, then so can I.”

“But I have a request.” Father raised his head as he listened.

“Anything, baby.”

“Make her feel loved, at least once in her lifetime.”

I didn't know if my father could grant my request, but making Mom feel like she was loved even if she was not was vital to me. Father beamed at me. I took it as a sign that he’d do as I asked. I walked out of the study, closing the door behind me. I stopped by the wall dividing the house from the backyard patio. There, I saw my two sisters seated on the chairs while Nolan stood; it seemed like he was entertaining the duo.

My sisters tilted their heads in a burst of uncontrollable laughter. I just stood there for a minute, watching the free-spirited young man have fun with his sisters. You’re also his sister, I whispered to myself.

I sighed. I should be there with them, getting along with my brother, trying to get to know him better.

My anger was with my parents for keeping this away from us and not with the poor, handsome boy whose family was mine.

Nolan looked up away from my sisters. Our eyes met, and he flashed me a bright smile. I reciprocated the smile. A few days ago, I’d think I was incapable of showing any kindness to Nolan. But here I was, waving and smiling at him; and none of those gestures was a pretense. I walked to the front door before my sisters could look back. A wave of emotions enveloped me. I covered my mouth, trying to hold the tears, but it was too late. I hurried to my car and locked the door. My hands were on the steering as I let the hot tears flow. I held my chest because it hurts. My vengefulness and unforgiveness hurt me more than everyone else. I thought I’d feel better if I held a grudge against my family, but I had only felt worse.

It felt like my chest was going to explode, and I was going to go on like this for the rest of my life.

I let out a loud wailing. Punching my car’s wheels. I couldn't say for certain why the tears keep rolling out, but I felt better as they did.

****

I threw a few morsels of popcorn into my mouth as I watched the news this evening. The surprise on my face waned as I watched. There was babbling in the Richmond media about Troy and Camille. My next instinct was to call Camille, but her machine answered instead. Their secret wedding was out in public, and everyone knew this was bad for the Robinsons’ family business. However, I was also a Robinson by marriage, and whatever affected them impacted me too. I looked at the time; Henry seemed to be running late tonight. Something about the hotel's accounting record not being right. Then when he walked into the living room, his eyes looking strained. He must have heard the news about his brother as well.

I switched off the television when he came in.

“You heard, right?” I needn’t ask because everyone in Richmond had heard about the news. “How bad is it?”

Henry shook his head. “It’s horrible.”

Henry’s assistant interrupted our conversation with a panic call. I guess he had asked Henry if he was watching the news, and Henry dismissively told him he’d heard about it. But he’d said something else, and Henry picked up the remote, where Troy’s face flashed big as life.

“What’s he doing?” I asked Henry, who had no clue.

This time he was live, hosting the media, and holding a press conference to address the public and the general shareholders in his family's business. I suspected that this was some form of damage control He did what most business owners would do: he denied the existence of the marriage between Camille and him. Henry's shocking expression told me that he knew nothing about it. Troy's lawyer must have thought this was the best way to handle the scandal. They were right. A rumor without evidence remained a rumor until the parties involved confirmed it. Tonight, Troy said the rumor was a lie. While it might take a few weeks for the talk to die out, I feared Troy's relationship with Camille had just hit an iceberg.

“Did you know about this?”

“No,” Henry replied. “I had no idea he's going to do it.”

“Are you okay?” I asked Henry, whose mind seemed to be somewhere else.

“Yeah,” he replied absentmindedly. “I'm just worried about the aftermath.”

“It's crazy,” I replied. “Who do you think is behind this?”

“Well, you know who.” I take a moment to think of the only person who knew aside from Troy and me.

The priest wouldn't have gone to the media, nor would the lawyer have had a hand in this. There was only one person who wanted Troy to marry someone else.

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