Chapter Sixty Evan Sterling's POV (Present Time)

"Who was the girl in the video?" I asked, levelling a cold gaze at him. I doubt it was possible for me to hate anyone more than I hated my father right now. Hearing what he did to Estera got me quite homicidal but still, I kept it locked in, otherwise, I would kill him.
"Some whore--" he said, looking away.
"I see … Why did you take her clothes off? Were you going to rape her and video it?" I asked.
"I got upset!"
"It would not do you any good to lie to me at this stage, Edward--"
"Stop calling me that! I am your father!"
"Answer me! Why the hell did you take her clothes off?"
"I was going to let Seth fuck her!"
"I don't believe you. I bet you wanted to fuck her. A guaranteed assurance to keep her away from me. Wasn't that the plan, father?" I said, using the word father as an insult.
"And what if I did! She was a whimpering kid who had clouded your head and was going to make you fuck us all!"
"Thank you for the truth … That's all I came for,” I said and turned away.
"You and your sanctimonious mother, acting like you didn't benefit from the outcome. Especially that bitch making it seem like I was all alone in the plan when she was the one who suggested we pay her off!"
'What?!' the word exploded in my head but I schooled my features before I turned around to face him.
"She didn't tell you, did she? That it was her plan to pay her school bills and send her off? I had wanted her and her Aunt escorted out of my property, but your mother thought it better we pay them off. Or what do you think? That I had the fucking time to be paying off insignificant people who can't polish the sole of my shoes! That was one hell of a payoff, especially at a time like that, but she insisted. But you didn’t cut her off as you did me! She fucked me as much as she fucked you! So, don't go making me look like the villain of your story. Besides, that little bitch was way too young for you. She was a scandal waiting to happen! I did you a fucking favor!"
I nodded, making sure I did not let him see my hurt that my mother who I had entrusted Estera with was also part of the plan.
"Yes, Edward, you did us all a favor," I said in a bland tone and strode out.
I had planned to go back to New York immediately but now I figured I needed to see my mother.
The drive to my house was the hardest. I knew Edward was a monster and was prepared for the worst. But to find out that my own mother was in on the plan was excruciating. And my God, to think of what Estera had gone through. Imagining her naked and running for her life made me hit the steering wheel repeatedly, grunting in agony. My poor baby was treated like an animal. Oh, Edward had no idea of what I was going to do to him. He figured stripping him off of his shares was the only retribution he would face.
I plan to hit him where it hurts the most. He had no idea of what was coming to him.
A few minutes later, I drove through the automated gate of my house. And parked in front of the white stately mansion. The place never felt like home. I often felt like a visitor each time I walked through the front door. The feeling was even worse now. After what I shared with Estera in New York, I felt like some actor in the wrong movie, playing a part I had no script for.
A maid startled to a stop when she saw me. Her face registered her surprise.
"Welcome, sir!" she said.
"Where is my mother?"
"At the back of the house--"
"Mary Antoinette?"
"She went out, sir," she promptly replied. Although I noted a slight pause right in between the words 'went' and 'out'. I figured whatever my supposed wife was up to was entirely her business. I was mighty glad she wasn't home. I marched to the back patio. And saw my mother under a shield sunbathing beside the pool. She had a hat and a sunshade on, and a book was left open and placed on her chest.
I walked to crouch beside her.
"Hello, mother," I said. And she slowly tilted the hat up and removed her glasses. A smile spread across her face but then faltered when she met my gaze.
"Evan?"
"Yes, mother," I replied, still holding her gaze.
"How was your trip?"
"Perfect!"
"What is wrong?"
"Nothing is wrong, everything is actually moving on the right path…"
"Baby, what happened?" She asked raising a hand to cup my chin.
"I think I would be eternally grateful to Jacob for making sure I attended his bachelor's eve. You will never guess who I ran into!"
"Who? You know I hate guessing games…"
"Do I, mother? Do I know you? Truly?"
"Please, talk to me, Evan," she said with a pleading gaze.
"I finally found out what really happened to Estera Roberts. Oh, Doctor Estera Roberts," I said. My mother paled.
"You… um saw her?"
"I did for a few hours, then she left me again. You guys really did a number on her, huh?"
"You spoke with Edward," she said rhetorically. I didn’t bother responding to the question.