Before Jolene could stand, she was kicked back down. Lisa hovered over her as Jolene struggled to get away from her grip.
“Please, no! Stop! Arghh! Help!”
“Goodbye, Jojo.” Lisa raised the knife, ready to stab her, but instead, a loud thud echoed as someone smashed a brick against Lisa’s head.
Lisa’s eyes rolled back, and she passed out beside Jolene.
Paisley, who had hit her, exhaled. “I fucking hate that bitch.”
Jolene quickly stood and gave Paisley a wary and focused look.
“Why are you here?” Paisley asked.
“Long story,” Jolene muttered, noticing how much Paisley had changed over the months.
“How’s my son?” Paisley asked lightly.
“He’s fine. We’ve been checking on him,” Jolene paused for a moment before speaking again. “Thanks.”
“This feels like shit… But I hate that bitch. Get out of here. You don’t want to get into trouble… She might wake up soon,” Paisley said.
“What about you?”
“Just get the fuck out of here,” Paisley snapped, and Jolene slowly nodded. She turned and left. A sigh escaped her lips as the yard call was already over, and the prisoners were heading back to their cells.
Paisley watched as Lisa’s eyes slowly fluttered open. She was weak, having lost a lot of blood from her bleeding head.
“I know you,” Paisley muttered, staring coldly at Lisa.
“What?”
“I’ve seen you with Maximus before. I saw you slash a little boy’s throat on his orders while I was heading to a function with Nathan. It was dark that night, but I’m sure it was you.”
Lisa chuckled. “Why do you give a fuck?”
Paisley gritted her teeth. “Because I’m a mother.” With that, she slashed Lisa’s throat with a knife.
—
“Jolene Lawrence, you’re getting released.”
Those were the first words Jolene heard as soon as she got back to her cell. Her clothes were changed, and when she stepped out, she found Jaxon waiting for her.
As soon as he saw her, he ran to hug her.
“You okay?” he asked, breaking the hug to check on her.
“What are you doing here?” Jolene’s voice croaked, her eyes tearing up.
He took out a device and showed it to her. “I found this in your teddy bear. Tristan confessed everything they’ve done to you. I’m so sorry, I misunderstood you.”
Jaxon hugged her again, tighter this time, and she began to sob. “I’m so sorry.”
—
The dining table felt empty. Tristan, Odessa, and Maximus weren’t seated. Only the twins were there, and the atmosphere was tense.
“Have you seen my mother and uncle?” Leonard asked the butler.
“They traveled out of the country, young master,” he answered.
“Both of them?”
“Yes, young master.”
Rafael paused, and his eyes flashed with something unreadable. “What about Father?”
“Master is upstairs, attending to the guest.”
“What guest?” Rafael asked.
“Miss Isabella’s betrothed, young master,” the butler bowed.
“You know something? Your eyes give it away… What are you and Father planning?” Leonard asked.
Rafael simply stood and faced the butler. “Have the maid bring my dinner upstairs,” he said, and left while Leonard exhaled harshly.
Those fucking nerves.
—
When Rafael got upstairs, he spotted a guard coming out of his father’s room. His eyes then landed on two figures sitting and chatting inside.
The first was Maximus, and the other was… Mr. Falcon?!
The door shut before he could fully process what he saw. Mr. Falcon was the one getting married to Isabella?!
—
That night, Rafael wanted to make sure he wasn’t imagining things, so he asked for the guest room and silently went there.
His eyes met Falcon, smoking dangerously on the bed. His upper body was bare, and for the first time, Rafael saw his tattoos. His aura was more menacing than usual.
“Rafael, good to see ya,” Falcon stood, towering over him.
“You’re the one marrying my sister? Isabella?” Rafael asked quietly.
“Yeah. I don’t have a wife, so I needed one,” Falcon replied with a creepy smile.
“Don’t give me that bullshit. A wife is the last thing you’d want…”
“And how would you know?” Falcon asked.
“Because I know you don’t like my father, and if you don’t like him, why would you want to collaborate with him? Why would you want to join his stupid empire? And why did you even approach me?”
Falcon smirked. “I don’t like your father? Did I ever say that?”
“You wanted me to show him, didn’t you? You wanted me to let him know what my uncle and mother were doing. That’s why you showed me everything.”
“What am I to you?” Falcon suddenly asked. Rafael was taken aback for a moment and paused to think of an answer.
“Y-you’re like my friend. I was just a boy who got bullied by his own brother… and then you came in and showed me who I truly am,” he responded, and Falcon’s lips curled up further.
“Friend… you say?” Falcon chuckled and took a step toward him.
“Yes. I don’t know who you truly are, but you’re my friend.”
Falcon nodded slowly. “Do you trust me?”
Rafael’s mouth opened, then closed as he gave it some thought. Trust? Did he trust this man?
At first, when they met, Falcon had scared the shit out of him. But soon, he got used to him being around. He got used to his nagging and heavy words. He got used to his aura.
The man had taught him many things and brought out the real him-unlike his family, who had tossed him aside like trash… just because the doctor had called him weak the moment he was born.
“Yes. I trust you…”
SMACK!
Falcon’s hand flew towards Rafael’s face, delivering a swift slap. Rafael fell to the floor with a gasp. He saw the small bit of blood on his lips after touching them.
“What the fuck was that!” he yelled, standing up from the floor.
“Trust me, and then you’ll wish you hadn’t. Am I your friend?” Falcon asked again.
“I’ve told you before… You brought out the best in me… so yes, you are my…” Once again, Falcon struck him across the face. Rafael fell to the floor, eyes wide in shock.
“What the heck! Fine, I don’t trust you, and you’re not my friend!” he yelled, and Falcon smiled.
“Good. I’ll see you around, Rafael,” Falcon said and headed for the door.
“Where are you going?”
“Don’t worry about me. Worry about yourself, Rafeal. Your brother might kill you soon.”
Rafael’s eyes widened as he watched Falcon leave.