Chapter Fifty-nine Evan Sterling's POV (Ten Years Before)

I have this uneasy feeling dampening my spirit all day. I hated that my father came up with a last-minute errand that made it impossible for me to keep my promise to Estera. And the fact that I have been trying to reach her all day to no avail made me quite apprehensive. It was not only Estera that wasn't taking my calls. My mother too has refused to speak with me. I was a bundle of nerves by the time the driver sent to pick me up parked the car in front of the main building. I exited the car and marched inside purposefully. I was not surprised to see my father waiting for me in the foyer.
"Good evening, sir," I greeted automatically, clenching my teeth. I just knew something was wrong. I could feel it to my very core. A frown pulled the skin on my forehead when I saw he had a Band-Aid at the top of his left eye, cutting across his eyebrow. And the eye itself was bloodshot. I didn't ask if he was alright or how he got such a dangerous cut so close to his eye. I didn't care. I just wanted to get this shit over it and go and find my woman. Since he now frolics with criminals, I suppose something like this should be a normal occurrence now.
"Yeah -- let's take this to my study," he replied and turned. I followed mechanically.
When I entered his study the smart TV mounted on a side wall was on and a video was playing. The sound of a man grunting and a woman moaning loudly filled the room. Slipping my hands into the pockets of my trousers, I strode inside.
The Television, I noticed, was strategically placed so I would not miss it. The video kept replaying over and over and I had no choice but to watch it. I pressed my teeth tightly together when I saw a shadowy image of Estera enter the study. The picture wasn't so clear so I couldn't see her face. But I saw she glanced back a few times to the door and then approached my father. The audio at that point was mute so I couldn't hear what my father said to her. Then the video skipped to the part where my father bent Estera over on his desk and started to fuck her. I didn't look away. I watched the video repeat a couple of times. Although I could hear myself breathing it felt as if I died inside.
"Son … " my father's voice penetrated the void in my head as he placed a hand over my shoulder. I jerked away from him as if I was scalded. He frowned as he met my gaze. Whatever he saw in them made him stutter when he spoke.
"T - that was the girl you tried to sink this family for? A common whore? All it took was a little amount scribble on a paper and she left … "
"I see … so you cheated on your wife -- my mother, with my woman, and recorded it," I said. If I was outside the door and heard my own voice, I would never have guessed it was me. My voice sounded as frozen as my heart.
"What?! That is beside the point!"
"I understand your point. Don't think me that naive. But you should know you just damned yourself as well as me with that video. I hope it keeps you warm at night. Cos you will not only lose your wife, you have also buried a son today."
"What the hell are you saying to me?!" He stalked closer in his usual threatening stance. "Now, listen to me you little shit…"
"Little?" I interrupted, letting a disdainful smile tweak the corners of my lips, knowing very well how he would react.
He raised his hand to hit me but I didn't let him. I grabbed his wrist and leaned closer to his face. "Did you not hear me, Edward, when I said you just buried a son?" I said through gritted teeth and took great pleasure when I saw him blanch. "If you try to hit me EVER again, I'm going to beat the shit out of you," I delivered, paused for my words to sink in his skull, and then let his hand go.
Stepping back, I marched to his desk to pick up his coffee mug and hauled it hard against the television screen. It shattered along with the screen and crumbled to the floor. Then I straightened my suit and walked past him, heading to the door.
"You know this is not all about me, right? I am not the only one who is going to get fucked by this."
"I know," I replied. "Tell your friend to meet me with his daughter in the office tomorrow. I expect you and mother to be there. I will agree to your friend's request. But now, I have my own request," I said and walked out. I didn't go up the stairs to look for my mother. I went outside and started to walk toward Ms. Sophia's chalet. I didn't know why I felt I had to go there. All my emotions were suspended inside me and I felt like a volcano: my head was filled with memories of what I had lost, my heart was constricting like it was going to burst, my stomach was in knots, and my eyes were blurred. I shook my head like a robot malfunctioning each time that video of Edward fucking Estera flashed in my head. And the sounds of the grunts and moaning caused me to tighten my jaw and fist. I felt like going on a rampage but somehow I kept my cool. I was taking shallow breaths by the time I got to the chalet. It felt strange to be there now. I knocked on the door but nobody came to open it so I turned the knob to open it but it was locked. I stepped back and smash my feet against the wooden door, repeatedly until it broke open. Taking a calming breath, I straightened my suit and walked in. Her scent enveloped me, and I took a shaky breath.
"Baby?" I called in a barely audible voice, walking gingerly to her room. Even though I knew she would not be there my heart broke when I walked in and it was devoid of all her personal belongings. Memories of me and her on the empty bed assailed me. I went on my knees and let out a loud, heart-wrenching scream. I truly fell apart. Estera was gone. And she took my future with her.