Chapter 28

Minerva’s POV

 

“Don’t follow him.”

            I was about to glare at Mr. Damon. But his weak smile made me give him a sheepish grin instead.

            Why did Darwin storm out? Did he see us? Did he heard Lushan’s—no, it can’t be. But if he really did…I must act quickly and follow him wherever the hell he went.

            “Where did Darwin go?”

            Mr. Damon sighed in dismay. “Judging by the look on his face, he always lets his disappointment sink in in our country house until it vanishes. It’s a seaside abode. I trust that the sea breeze will make your fiancé calm and serene.”

            Though I was convinced of father’s assuring words, my hands are still shaking, my feet are still trembling as if it’s gonna sprint away and follow Darwin wherever this country house that Damon said.

            “Do not follow him, Minerva,” his voice is much firmer than before. “I don’t want to lose another Gray family again.” Damon’s eyes slid to my belly and I put my hand atop of it. Caressing it and stroking it, I bowed down my head along with an apology.

            I can see in the corners of my eye that Jocelyn is rolling her eyes and Gyzell is glaring at me as if to silently say that ‘it’s all your fault’.

            Well, is it really my fault for angering Darwin just because of a mere jealousy? Maybe, partly yes. But being easily envious is a part of Darwin’s personality already. It’s him. And I cannot change that. I loved him so much that I don’t want to change anything about him. In fact, it’s his choice to be jealous and for abruptly concluding, without giving an eye on what Lushan and I are really talking about. Jealousy is a poison that slowly corrupts one’s system, as they say.

            I nodded at Mr. Damon and I immediately went to my room. I knew Jocelyn’s and Gyzell’s eyes were still on me even if my footsteps already vanished in the stairs. My stomach aches badly. And without Darwin, his absence made it worse. 

            Upon closing the bedroom’s door, I sighed—in relief. I was upset. And being in this room made me burst into tears, almost forgetting that Darwin and I shared this fucking room.

            I can clearly see the worry and concern in Damon’s eyes. I guess it's best to not follow him. In matters like this, man-to-man talk is essential, especially when that man happens to be one’s father.

            So I leave it all on Damon. He’s the elder one, and the most experienced one when it comes to envy, to things like this. To be honest, being jealous is normal. But if you let it control you…it’s already unhealthy. It’s already a monster that wraps its essence in your heart.

            And I hope Darwin will never reach the point that he’s been utterly possessed by a beast called envy.

***

Damon’s POV

“Raymond, my boy!”

            If he was born into the same mother as Darwin’s, I would gladly call him my son. There, Raymond Sinclair, the President of Gray Co. is utterly handsome as ever, leaning in his Porsche as if to grab any passing woman’s attention.

            “Hello, Damon!” Yes, he still calls me by my name. A form of respect and courtesy as he says, even outside the walls of the office.

            Raymond’s so flamboyant even with his white sneakers and beach attire. I suppose his definition of fun is synonymous with going to the beach. His hazel eyes shimmer with the noon sunshine, while combing his onyx hair with his fingers as he leaned by that luxurious car that he just bought a month ago.

            I raised my hand and he kissed it, like he used to do with his late father, Rowan, who happens to be the former President of the company I founded.

            “Don’t let her take off your sight, boy!” He clicked his tongue as I went inside my car. He knocked on the window with a delightful face. “I heard there’s a beautiful woman inside Chateau Bellerose. Minerva is her name, so far I can remember.”

            I rolled my eyes as I fixed my Rolex watch. “Yes, she is inside. And she’s pregnant.”

            He clicked his tongue again like those playboys I often see in the movies. “I love doing pregnant women.” I glared at him. “I mean, watching over pregnant women….”

            “As I did them…” Raymond whispered.

            “I heard that,” I remarked with a so-called stern voice. An “ohh” escaped his voice.

            I started my car as I prepared to drive to where Darwin is probably crying his ass. “And before I go…” I peeked my head out the window. Raymond was on his way inside. “….Minerva is Darwin’s fiancée.”

            I didn’t take the time to look at Raymond’s face as it’ll surely be a humorous one.

            I just drive, and drive. While realizing the fact that Darwin’s unfeigned jealousy was actually inherited from me.

***

Darwin’s POV




Dad is here. Shit.

            How could that be that my father is so smart to think that I am here? Well, I only have this country house so I think it’s pretty much obvious. I’m the one who’s dumb.

            “How could you leave us like that?” Father’s voice is so soft that even Deena, my pet pig who’s licking my feet, couldn’t even hear.

            “What?” I asked, tilting my head.

            I expect him to hoist his face to me and smile. But he didn’t.

 Instead, he grabbed me by the shirt and pinned me to the wall. I can feel the pain on my head as I roughly landed on this damn concrete wallpapered wall.

            “Control your fucking emotion, Darwin!!!” I’d never seen Damon this outrageous, this furious. This enraged.

            I smirked. “And you are?” That mocking smile and challenging voice is the reason I earned a punch from my father. Well, he’s not a bad fighter either. I wiped the blood that gushed out from my nose with my bare fist.

            I looked at him in the eye and I knew then, that it wasn’t the end. But my father’s punch halted in mid-air when a beautiful topless woman appeared before us.

            “Cyrene…” My father’s voice is gentle. He tore away his gaze from her as if he hadn't seen her tits for a couple of times.

 “Why aren’t you wearing anything?” he asked.

            I watched Cyrene’s expressions as she surveyed her own body. Even she herself didn’t notice that she was unclothed. Cyrene opened her mouth, but closed it again and raised her two hands in the air as she walked away from our sight.

            “What’s happening to you, son?”

            “I suppose that it’s the signal for a father-to-son talk?” He clicked his tongue. “You could’ve told me earlier, instead of greeting me with a freaking punch!”

            He handed me his 500$ handkerchief. I hesitated. It’s too damn clean and white, and me staining it red…“Thanks.” I muttered as I shook my head and let the blood flow out from my nose freely.

            He just nodded.

            Cyrene was in front of us again, with clothes. Or should I say a cloth? It looks like she’s only covering her private parts. Her nipples can still be seen by anyone even without the aid of light. Judging from her see-through dress (or at least that’s what I remembered what women called it), she wasn’t wearing anything underneath.

            “You two should talk. Properly.”

            “WE already are.” I gave her a sheepish smile, resulting in a thrown purple pillow landing on my face. I gave the pillow to Damon.

            “Pour me a drink.” He commanded me as he threw that pillow back in my face—again. Deena snorted, laughed. I don’t know how to describe a pig’s giggle ‘cause I am not a darn pig. Or was she really laughing?

            “Fine.” I replied to dad. But instead of hugging me and comforting me, his lips landed on the witch on the couch instead.

            They make out, at least that’s what I thought. I understand that dad only ‘married’ Jocelyn for business. Jocelyn confessed to me as well during her birthday. Both don’t have feelings for each other. And both have their own bed warmer. But, I’m proud of Damon. At least, Cyrene was his lover—not just a mere fucker.

            I grabbed a bottle of alcohol and poured two glasses of champagne. The next thing I knew as I walked out of the kitchen was that I'd witnessed a scene that I'd already predicted—Cyrene was on top of dad, riding and bouncing on top of him as if he had never rode anyone for years.

            I just took the glasses outside, into the swimming pool where Deena, my pet pig, followed me.

            “It’s such a good day to be roughly laid,” I muttered.