Chapter 30
Thane’s pov.
Three empty bottles of whiskey lay beside me. I groaned, wincing as I tried to open my eyes, but the sunlight that seeped in
through the open window assaulted my senses. I raised a hand to my face to shield myself from the harsh rays.
It took a minute for me to realize what room I had passed out in.
My living room, where all the staff’s could have seen me wasted.
After seeing Andera leave with only one bodyguard, I was still apprehensive, but knowing that her kidnappers were in police
custody, my tension eased a bit.
I could vaguely remember anything that happened when I returned home in the early hours of this morning, save for Melissa’s
incessant yelling and me drinking whiskey, formulating my plan to get Andera back.
I must have drank too much.
The station, our statement. Fuck
I was supposed to be there with Andera. I glanced at the grand pendulum clock; it was already eleven in the morning. I was
supposed to be at the police station two hours ago.
I cursed my luck as I shot up to my feet. I would still go regardless. I wanted to see the idiots who tried to kidnap her. I will make
sure they spend the rest of their lives in jail.
The long, hot bath I took did little to quell the ache in my head. I finished and began dressing up to meet with Officer Jerkins when
someone knocked on my door.
I ignored it at first and continued buttoning my shirt, but the knocks became more persistent and furious.
I sigh out loud.
It could only be one person – Melissa, always agitating me at every given opportunity. I wished she would just leave already.
After fastening my last button, I strode towards my door, bracing myself for the handful of curse words she was about to spew.
But when I pulled the door open, it wasn’t Melissa standing there, it was my elder sister – Imogen.
Imogen was five foot tall, had a plump figure, was gray–eyed like me, and had short black hair.
Imogen?”
“Thane” she replied.
We both stared at each other for a brief moment. It wasn’t like I hadn’t seen her recently. Imogen’s home was an hour’s drive from here, and I occasionally see her at the company since she is the financial manager.
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But, it was
just that her homely visit were rare, infact, since our father died. Our family hardly visited one another
Mother and Anna are downstairs. We are all waiting for you.” She announced, gray eyes unreadable.
My brows furrowed in surprise.
Mother is here?
Since the time of my father’s passing, mother had been traveling from one county to another with this guy in his late twenties. that she couldn’t stop fawning over. I didn’t interfere in whatever she chose to do; she was my mother, I respect her choices, and
it was her life to live.
Aside from phone calls and texts, we only see each other during holidays.
Anna had gone to college three years ago, she should be graduating sometime this year. And now they were all gathered in my living room. I have a feeling this impromptu family meeting isn’t something I’d want to hear about, but I kept my concern to myself as I followed Imogen downstairs.
Mother was seated on one of the armchairs. Her dark hair styled in a chic bob. She had gotten a tan from being in different tropical destinations. Her gray eyes were bright and she looked more carefree than I had seen her in years.
Before my father died, my parents had marital issues. I even suspected they had agreed to an open marriage.
I remembered very well one of the reasons why my father insisted I marry Andera; he said it was because good women were hard to find, and he would not stand by and let me lose Andera.
Ilmew he had hinted about his relationship struggle with my mother.
“My son. How long has it been?” She stood up and hugged me lightly, careful not to wrinkle her dress.
“Mother. You look well. “I complimented, genuinely.
Anna followed next, she had straightened her curly hair, but she still looked beautiful regardless.
“I’ve missed you, big brother. “She grinned.
“I missed you too, kid. “I smiled back at my little sister.” And you straightened your hair.
Anna patted her hair before answering me; it was a lighter shade of brown.
“My boyfriend prefers it this way.”
Your boyfriend?” I quirked a brow.
“Yes, I have a boyfriend, duh. I’m twenty–two. Not the high school girl you used to resist from visiting boys. Besides, it’s not my love life up for discussion today. ”
“What?”
Mother cleared her throat.
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“Why don’t we all sit down first?”
We did.
“Okay, now can someone tell me what this is about?” I asked, though the nagging feeling inside me already suspected; I know what, or rather who could be so demanding as to draw my mother away from her acquittance, convince Imogen to leave her cozy apartment, and make Anna travel from Stanford.
Melissa
At this point, all I feel is weariness, I am tired of Melissa.
I want peace of mind, tranquility, and happiness. I want to have a home with a woman who embodies love, passion, and softness and at the same time, a feistiness that draws me in.
“You were supposed to be married by now, Thane. “Imogen speaks up, voice stem and disapproving
“Why did you call off your weeding with Melissa?”
Mother blinked. ” Imogen, let us take things slowly. I’m sure Thane has some explanation for us.
I shrugged, appearing nonchalant
“I don’t.”
“You see!” Imogen shrieked, pointing her finger at me accusingly.
“So you just kept on stringing my friend along? And now you’re dumping her like trash? I expected better of you Thane. You’re al heartless coward.” Her face wrinkled with disgust.
My anger boiled over and I slammed my fist on the table, making everyone flinch
You know what the problem is?” I seethed “I didn’t want to reconnect with Melissa from the start! You coerced her into my life. You pushed me to divorce Andera. I could have been living a happy life and not having to come back home every day to quarrels and complaints.
I’m tired of Melissa. I don’t want to marry her because I can’t see a future for both if us. I only proposed because all of you guilt- tripped me into it.
“Oh really?” Melissa’s voice trembled behind me. We froze. I didn’t realize she had come downstairs.
Melissa turned towards Imogen, her blue eyes full of anguish.
Imogen. You were my friend. I trusted you when you told me your brother needed me back in his life. I believed you, turns out you had to convince him first. You made a fool of me Imogen. I left the Major’s son to be with your brother.” She pushed Imogen’s shoulders.
There were so many men dying to have me in London and I left them all because you convinced me to.”
Chapter 30
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Imogen looked at me from the corner of her eyes with anger. As much as I couldn’t stand Melissa, I hated to be the reason their friendship went sour. Imogen was only trying to look out for me.
“Melissa. “I called
“Don’t you dare say my name. I have had enough of your disrespect, Thane. You don’t see a future together for us, newsflash, neither do I! ” Melissa pulled the engagement ring from her finger and shoved it into my hand.
“I’m going back to London. Have a good life.
Nobody said anything as Melissa went back upstairs and came down with her travel bags. Imogen and my mother tried talking to
her, but she wouldn’t hear it.
When Melissa walked out the door, Imogen looked at me with pain etched in her face..
“Congratulations Thane. You didn’t just ruin your relationship. You also severed my friendship with my friend.” And with that,
she walked out.
“I’ll follow her to make sure she’s okay.” Anna offered and left.
Mother stood up from the couch where she was seated.
“Don’t be too hard on yourself Thane. It’s not your fault. It’s your father’s. If he hadn’t forced you to marry that wretched girl. You and Melissa would still be happy.”
It irked me how even in his death, she could still talk bad about her husband.
“Please leave. I want to be alone.” I said quietly..
The day folded by. Morning swept into noon, and noon to night, a bitter smile plastered on my lips as I thought of how wrong everything was. I shouldn’t have kept Melissa with me for so long. I shouldn’t have proposed knowing fully well It wasn’t what I
wanted.
This ring glinting in my hand, It should have been on Andera’s finger.
All through the night, I could only ask myself one question.
“What now? ”
