POV: Raphael
“She is mine, Raphael. She was betrothed to the first grandson of the Hawkins, and that happens to be me!” Someone responded from behind me, sounding even more annoying than Mom. I turned to see Nathan and Ethan standing behind me with a few boys on each person’s side.
Before I could register what was happening in my brain, Nate closed the gap between us and punched me in the face, hitting me so hard that I fell to the couch. I could feel the spot he hit getting harder, turning into a lump. The taste of blood in my tongue is enough to make me realize that my lips have been broken.
Miguel wanted to attack him, but I raised my hand in warning, stopping him from making a hasty decision that could be detrimental to us. Carl and the guys are out, I guess that is why they are all allowed into my house without proper interrogation. I sat there and glared furiously at him, my gaze deadly. He walked over and sat next to me, a proud smile on his face.
“That’s for invading my home with a fake ass stunt man.” He told me angrily as he grabbed my shirt and held it firmly, trying to strangle me. I looked at him in confusion, and I wondered what he was trying to say to me.
“Oh, wait!
You really thought you would deceive me into believing that you are not as weak and dumb as I thought you were?” he asked me in a mocking tone, laughing at me.
“Well, I’m so sorry for you, Raphael. You failed to convince me that it was you who attacked me and Cindy in my house. Your doppelganger was not as convincing as you thought. I hope you haven’t paid his balance yet brother. He did such a terrible job, I don’t think he deserves to collect the rest of his payment.” He lets out in a mocking tone, causing the others to laugh at his jokes. I looked at him in shock and I shook my head in disbelief, like, how stupid is he?
“You really don’t think that I could ever stand up to you, do you?” I asked him, scoffing at his stupidity. I beat the crap out of this dude and embarrassed him in front of his girlfriend. I was actually expecting him to come to me with everything he’s got and fight me for the company and teach me a lesson.
But the fool thinks I used a doppelganger to threaten him. He saw me attack and beat him like a child, but his stupid ass doesn’t think that it’s me. In his heart, I am just a dumb freak that can never stand up to him; in his heart, I am never going to be anything more than a sick, weakling that would never stand up to him.
I shook my head and laughed harder, acting like the fool that he believed me to be. I think it’s even better this way; I was wondering how I would face him if he came after me when Victoria was still in danger. I don’t need more battles for now, so I’m glad that his ego and stupidity have blinded him to the truth. This would give me enough time to face Eloise before coming back to deal with these guys.
“She is mine, Raphael. She was supposed to be mine but her family betrayed us and hid her away from us. Now that we have found her, I am here to claim what is rightfully mine!” he lets out proudly, his eyes fixed on me.
“You are delusional. Now take your thugs and get the hell out of my house before I call the cops and sue your delusional ass for trespassing.” I told him furiously.
“You are not marrying my sister; you are not fit to become my brother-in-law.” Miguel supported, sounding more pissed than I was.
“And just for the record, my family did not betray the Hawkins or hid Marisol away. For twenty-four years, my sister has been missing, and even if you chose to believe that we hid her, at least appreciate the fact that we never sued your family for defamation of character. I’ll advise you to keep your assumptions to yourself because one more word about my sister and I am going to make a serious case with you and your entire family.” He warned him, sounding offended by his words.
“And who the fuck are you?” Nathan asks him furiously. I wonder if he isn’t seeing the resemblance between Victoria and her brother. I’m not prepared to grace that question with an answer, so I simply ignored him and tried to calm Miguel before he said something to escalate the issue.
“That’s the guy that came over to the house to speak with mom and dad. He is her twin brother,” Cindy responded to his questions in an icy tone that shows just how much she Hates Victoria and her brother who she just met a few days ago.
“Well, I don’t care if you are her brother or not, I don’t care if you think I am good enough for your sisters or not. I am the first grandson of the Hawkins family and Victoria is mine!” Nathan lets out proudly, his face beaming with pride.
“Why don’t you start by learning her real name, asshole!” Miguel voiced out angrily, walking up to stand in front of Nathan, daring him. My cousin looked at him angrily, glaring dangerously at him trying to intimate him. But Miguel stood his ground and glared right back at him without flinching.
“You have no idea what I’m capable of, Miguel. You don’t come into a family feud and pick sides without finding out the cause of the feud. You don’t interfere in matters that you know nothing about. I’ll advise you to stay the fuck away from me and everything that concerns me. You don’t want to end up missing without traits, do you?” Nathan asks him in a threatening tone, his eyes fixed directly at him.
“I don’t care about your family feud; I am judging based on what I can see for myself and not based on your history or family prejudice. I am not scared of you, Nathan Hawkins. I’ve never had any reason to be scared of a man my whole life. So threatening me right now is just plain stupid because it’s not working on me.
I’ll advise you to tread carefully, Nate. You think you are tough and untouchable and that is why you tend to threaten people without checking their background and financial backing. I can make you disappear the next minute and no one would dare to question me.
Or better yet, I can make you lose everything to your name and strip you down to the clothes on your body. Do you want to dare me and find out what I can do?” Miguel fired back, his anger evident in his words and expressions.