Chapter 74
-NADMI
I’m feeling completely overwhelmed and unsure of how to compose myself. My heart is racing at an alarming pace, pounding in my chest like drum and it feels like it’s going to burst out of my ribcage at any moment.
I know a rigid family meeting when I see one.
my chest.
As I approach the couch, I position myself at the end of it, my feet shoulder–width apart, and my arms crossed over my
I take a deep breath, steady myself, and await the impending conversation, my eyes fixed on the figures seated before me.
“Take a seat,” Edlie urges me.
As I sit down. Hannah’s warm smile greets me, offering a fleeting sense of comfort. But then, her mother’s smile follows, but it’s a different kind.
Kimberly’s smile is tinged with malice, her light eyes gleaming with an intensity.
Her gaze pierces through mine, like a cold wind that sends a shiver down my spine.
It’s as if she’s sizing me up, her eyes probing for weaknesses, and her smile daring me to reveal my true intentions.
I look away, and I sense that I’m walking into a trap, one
one that Kimb
Kimberly has carefully laid out for me.
I know this cannot be good.
I’m struggling to keep my cool and maintain a sense of calm, but my physical symptoms are making it incredibly difficult. It’s like my body is betraying me, reacting to my anxiety with a ferocity that I can’t seem to tame.
“So you both fooled me” Eddie begins staring at Circenn, his voice written with hurt and malice.
He slowly turns to me,
“Naomi, how could you?”
I gulp
How could I do what?
I keep my mouth shut and just stare at hi
at him, hoping he’ll come clean and give me some real answers.
I mean, how am I supposed to process this whole scene when I’ve been blindsided with a “How could you the moment I wake up from a deep
slumber?
It’s like, what did I even do? I need some context here.
But since he’s looking at Circenn too, could it mean he’s fo
‘s found out something about us
“Circenn, you manipulated me by faking a marriage to gain control of the Brown Empire, secretly had another child with Kimberly, and then caused a scene at the fundraiser party last night that’s now all over the internet. The shame I feel is overwhelming. How could you deceive me so thoroughly? The online rumors and headlines are unbearable. Your actions have brought disgrace to our family and I’m at a loss for words,” Eddie slams, his voice making each and every one of us flinch, except Circenn who remains unfazed in his father’s presence.
Shit. This is all messed up,
“You don’t seen at a loss for words, you look like you have more to say though Circean entreats.
Eddie growls at him.
“And let’s not forget about how you’re still legally married to Kimberly. How did your life end up so messed up?” Eddie growls.
“That wasn’t my fault, Kimberly had other motives with our divorce papers” Circen seethes.
“Motives! I supply forgot, it slipped my mind Kimberly shakes her head and her bouncy waves mimics her
“I was crampletely consumed by my modeling career at the time, with one gig leading to the next in a whirlwind of Lashion shows, photo shosts.
and celelarity events. My schedule was packed, and In the clans of it all. I let some personal matters slide, and unfortunately our divorce
Chapter 71
“Kimberly you could have literally paid any soul to get that job done” Circent sounds mad,
“I don’t like other people handling my personal business” Kimberly doesn’t har an eye as she speaks.
“Bloody excuses” Cantenn seilies.
Exactly the same thing in my head.
“I am deeply disappointed in all of you” Ellie sighs
“Do you think I’m happy with any of this? Alter Charles dickhead tried to rip me off ye
he came back to sabotage years ago,
a sabotage my marriage Circenn
gets on his feet.
“Take your seat Circent, we have a lot to talk about. There was no marriage to begin with. It’s all over the internet. You can fool outuders but not father. No one is happy about any of this!” Eddie sciarls,
Circen sighs and looks at me,
I gaze at him in return trying to understand why he’s looking at me.
None of this is i
my fault.
He looks away and takes a seat like his father had suggested
“Okay what do you want me to do old man?” Circean sounds hitter.
“I am indeed glad that I have more grandkids, but like the inheritance slip has suggested that you marry before you inherit the brown empire, a little birdie told me, your marriage contract will end in live or six months, but it might be sooner than anyone should expect Eddie begins.
“Fuck” Circenn sighs. “And who is that bastard birdie to pry into my life like that?”
“Hold
your horse Genn. Eddie cuts him off.
i trying to make some things clear. And I hope you understand that divorcing Naomi will cost you the Brown empire. Eddie fumes. “You’re still dragging her into this when I can handle it all alone”
“Circenn, you’re at a crossroads. You can either make your contract murriage to be a real one, committing to Naomi, or you can choose to stay with Kimberly, solidifying a marriage with her too and securing the Brown Empire. The decision is yours, but know that either path comes with no
சப்
For divorce If you plan to keep the brown empire”
I gulp.
“Is this a fucking threat?” Circenn asks.
“However you view ir Eddie shrugs and rests the crane of his shoulders on the couch.
“I mean,” Kimberly starts to speak up. “It’s not like I came here to get remarried to circenn or whatever, I only came back to the city so Hannah can understand who her father is
Lame excuse
Her eyes are threatening me to leave Circenn’s life anytime we make eye contact and she only came to the City because of Hannah? What a joke not fit for a laugh.
“This is about me, Kimberly, Circe says gently.
“Right Kimberly nods.
Eddie gets on his feet.
ook make your decision. I know the only thing on your mind is how to Secure the brown empire. You do not need a wife because of how itullitan you can be
Chapter 75
But I have given you this option, burn the contract with you and Naomi or get married to Kimberly, I don’t care about that deeply because you can get married to any woman for all I care to keep your inheritance but do something about this news taking over the press before it sabotages our companies. The owner of The brown empire definitely won’t want to own the title Man slut of the year”
Man slut!
Is that what the internet is calling Circenn now?
Whoa, that’s horrible.
Charles Dickson has really let his mouth run.
Circenn grull’s.
*I’ll fix it and things will stay the same, and I’ll still keep the Brown empire, if the board of directors want to put up with me, they’ll have no choice but to bend to my new rules. I’m not getting married to Kimberly and Naomi’s and I contract will carry on with its purpose. If you think I’m marrying for love, think again. Women are not worth it”
I don’t know, but the moment the words leave Circenn’s mouth, my heart pinches itself.
A sharp pain, like a tiny stab. How can he say Women are not worth it?
I know we don’t have anything romantic going on between us, but how can he so cavalierly dismiss the value of women? It’s like he’s reducing me. and every other woman, to nothing.
It’s a harsh reminder that I should expect nothing from him, that he’s not capable of seeing us as equals.
Not like I want him to see even the tiniest thing from me.
The words linger in the air, a bitter taste that leaves me feeling like I’ve been wasting my time with him.
I wouldn’t particularly call it waste, but it just feels like so.
“You’ll take your words back one day Circenn” Eddie says and turns to me.
“Can yo
you
all leave me and Naomi, I have something to say to her Eddie adds.
Circenn gazes at me
“I’m already leaving,” He says.
Circenn Vanishes from our view, seemingly into thin air, leaving us in a state of suspense.
While Kimberly takes her sweet time, milking the moment for all it’s worth, before finally making her exit. The delay is palpable, and the tension is almost suffocating.
It’s as if she’s savoring the drama, reveling in the attention, and ensuring that her departure is as memorable as her presence.
Gosh. I can’t stand her!
When she finally decides to grace us with her departure, the air is heavy with anticipation, and her absence feels like liberty.
Eddie takes his seat and I fold my arms.
I don’t like this air between us either.
Is he about to scold me for not being a perfect daughter?
“Naomi?” He calls gently. “I have an offer for you
