Fuck, I feel sick at the thought of what must have happened afterward.
“The scars on your back…” I don’t have to finish the question, Amelia immediately avoids my gaze, but I see her hand trembling.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
“His belt… they’re from his belt.”
I’m going to kill him. I’m going to kill this goddamn son of a bitch.
Lizzy gasps sharply and within seconds I’m on the other side of the bed, carefully pulling my wife into my arms.
“Never again! I promise. Never again!” I press my lips to her hair and she presses closer to me.
Lizzy gives me a knowing glance and a faint smile, and I’m tempted to stick my tongue out at her like a kid, but instead I just raise one eyebrow. She warned me I’d fall for Amelia, whether I liked it or not, and I laughed at her.
Well. Looks like I was wrong. But I’m not unhappy about it in the slightest.
The past fewdays have been exhausting and hectic, but today Amelia is being discharged.
Ced and I are on our way to see my father because once she gets home, I want no more stress.
“How much do you think your father will freak out when he hears the news you’re bringing?” My best friend’s eyes gleam mischievously; he’s clearly eager for the confrontation.
“Hmm, honestly, I don’t give a shit. He’ll either accept the demands I’m making or he’ll go straight to jail. End of story.” I shrug with boredom because I truly don’t care. The fact is, he’s been king for far too long. While Amelia was still in the hospital, I spoke with my mother, who will take over the business and the government until Goldilocks and I are ready to assume office. We’ve secured the council’s and ministers’ approval, so my father can’t do a damn thing about it anymore.
My mother suspected something, but learning how far my father’s betrayal and deceit went nearly destroyed her.
“He changed. Over the years, he became colder, more distant, more power-hungry. I knew something was wrong. But I was too cowardly to dig deeper, to pursue it further,” she told me with a shaky voice, swallowing hard as tears streamed down her face. Seeing my mother like that only deepened the wound that was already there.
“It’s easy to pretend you know nothing. As if you’re clueless. I… I was so incredibly cowardly. And look… look at what it cost me,” her words echo inside me. Her sobs pushed the damn knifelodged in my chest even deeper, and my entire body tensed as I held her close.
“It’s not your fault that he chose this path, Mom. Yes, you could’ve opened your eyes, but then what? He would’ve silenced you, we both know that. Maybe he was once a good man and a good father. But those times are over, and I won’t let him get away with it. He has the blood of my brother—his own son—on his hands.” My words were harsh and unyielding, but also true. She nodded and together we set this plan in motion. One we will now carry out.
“Ah yes… I’m going to enjoy watching the old bastard’s downfall. Thanks for letting me witness it live and in color.” Cedric grins slyly at me, and I laugh loudly.
“Man, it’s almost twisted how much sick pleasure you get out of this.”
Grinning widely, he nods.
“Justice has to win, and I spent years being pushed around by your father because I don’t have the noble blood that flows in you and Dam. I had to watch him drive you and Phil crazy with his demands. So yeah, I’ll admit, there’s a certain satisfaction in being here today,” he says casually, and I get it. I’m basically the same, except I truly feel sorry for my mother.
She’s already waiting for me in the salon, and now, before me, stands the queen. Her expression is a hard mask, exuding both dignity and pride.
“Your mother can be really intimidating, you know that?” Ced whispers to me fearfully, visibly impressed, and I have to suppress a grin.
“I’ve heard that, Cedric Lancaster,” she says dryly, and I actually laugh briefly but immediately get serious again as I look at her.
“Ready?”
She nods and links arms with me.
“As ready as you can be for something like this.”
Together we head to my father’s study, where two ministers are already waiting, accompanied by our lawyer carrying the evidence and necessary documents. They nod to my mother and me as I open the door without knocking.
“What the hell? Damn it, Nicolas, you’re supposed to—” He stops when he sees my mother, Ced, and the other three with me, looking confused but angry.
“May I ask why these gentlemen and you, Mary, are here? What requires my immediate attention?” he asks harshly, sitting straighter in his chair.
