Page 44 of The Forbidden Villain
“I’m good. Thank you for inviting me.”
“Of course. Thank you for the pastries, we’ll serve them during dessert time,” Valencia says, taking a sip from her champagne. “You look gorgeous. This dress becomes you.” My cheeks heat from her praise, and I resist the urge to touch my dress. I bought in on a whim yesterday, assuming everyone would look their best at the club. I’ve never worn anything this revealing, and while the high neck covers most of my scars, it still exposes my body in all the vulnerable ways.
“She’s right,” Phoenix speaks up, and my focus shifts to the second couple as she picks up a grape from the table and bitesinto it while her husband, who’s still stunning for a man his age, nods at me in greeting, but his hawklike gaze stays unreadable. Powerful waves come from him, and if there is one thing I know about him?
I’d never want to be on his shit list because his wrath would be vicious.
A fact his past can prove, considering once upon a time he put his own wife in prison and ruined her life.
Dr. King is an amazing human for being able to forgive that, because I could never.
“Rumor has it you’re suing your brothers for your inheritance money,” Zachary says, lifting his whiskey glass at me, and my stomach flips. Does everyone know now? “I admire your courage, Lavender. They aren’t happy about it, and somehow that makes me happy.” Lachlan grins, and they clink glasses while their wives roll their eyes.
“You have my full support, and should you need any help, let me know. We can always discuss how you can invest your money to set you up for life if your brothers decide to be difficult.”
Now, the prospect of seeing my brothers fills me with even more dread. “I thought I was set already.”
Zachary shakes his head. “True wealth is born when you know how to multiply it. Even the greatest fortunes can be wasted in one lifetime if people don’t know how to handle them.” He glances at Lachlan. “Right?”
“Yes. To build an empire, you have to have knowledge and financial resources.”
My gaze shoots between them. “I’m not planning to build an empire.” I barely function as it is in this world, and they expect me to be, what? A financial wizard at some point? “Where are my brothers?” It’s better to change the topic, since talking about my wealth with them, of all people, is strange.
Not that I’m surprised they are ready to give me all these pieces of advice, considering they would use any opportunity to poke my brothers.
Something about fathers loving their daughters and thinking no guy is good enough for them.
Basically, something I would never know.
Maybe that’s not fair to my dad. He loved me, he just never got the chance to express his love to me before his own brother killed him.
“They are outside. According to our daughters, they are admiring the architecture. It’s a lie. They’re probably making out,” Lachlan says, and Valencia elbows him. “Your brothers should learn some manners. They seem to lack respect.”
“Among other things,” Zachary adds, and they clink their glasses once again.
Clearly, their sons don’t take after them only in the looks department; they've inherited their fathers’ character as well. Lachlan and Zachary weren’t even that good of friends, merely close acquaintances who respected one another and mingled in the same society at best. Even their sons' friendship didn’t make them close, which makes sense since they have different interests.
However dislike for my brothers apparently unites people.
Since Lachlan’s voice stays monotonous the entire time, it’s hard for me to understand if he’s joking or not. I just nod like an idiot and dash toward the set of double glass doors opening into their lawn, where countless fountains and statues only highlight the magnificence of their garden.
Breathing the fresh air into my lungs, I have a second to sweep my gaze over the view before spotting my brothers with their women.
They are standing by the fountains in almost identical positions as their parents. Nobody could miss the death grip mybrothers have on their women, but they slip through it easily once Aileen and Emmaline sprint toward me, their high heels clicking on the asphalt. “Hi,” they both say in unison as they hug me tight from both sides, and the scent of their sweet perfume envelops me.
“We missed you.” They lean back, and Aileen points at my dress. “Someone went shopping without us.”
Emmaline winks at me. “And snagged a winner. I love the texture.” She lightly taps my shoulder. “You are a stunner, girl.”
Their kindness and compliments always heal parts of me they didn’t break, and while I’ve read some horrific stories about in-laws turning one’s life into hell…these two amazing women made me feel so welcome.
Although sometimes I wonder how they can love my brothers after what they’ve done to them and still stay this…ethereal.
Maybe growing up with loving families preserved some of their innocence, and their souls’ purity could never be sullied.
“Thanks.” I sweep my hand up and down their graceful forms. “It’s you two who turns heads, though.”
They grin, and then sigh. “We’ll go inside,” Emmaline says, kissing me on the cheek. Then she whispers into my ear, “Stand your ground. We’re on your side.”
