Chapter 29

Istare in the mirror at the marks on my skin. That savage cat did a number on my face and neck. I look like I got attacked by a wild animal, and it will undoubtedly raise some brows. My mother in particular will likely badger me for an answer as to how I got these injuries.

Since the debacle in the basement, I’ve had time to reflect on my actions. And I’ve come to the conclusion that I did nothing wrong. So why the hell is she so mad at me? If anything, I should be the one who’s mad considering she blatantly chose that saint Lucien over me.

She cried over his detached head.

She tried to put him back together.

What about me?

What about my heart that was crumbling with each tear she shed for that bastard? Why didn’t she try to put that back together?

I scowl.

This is not going well. She should have been fucking impressed with my surprise, not incensed. We didn’t even get to the champagne, and that means I didn’t get my indirect kiss.

Now that, I’m even more mad about.

How dare she think I did something wrong when she’s the one who cares more about Lucien’s scattered body parts than my own whole ones?

I’m not asking for much, am I? I just want to be the only one in her affections: past, present, future.

But it’s rather clear that while I may have owned the present, the past and the future are now under question mark.

Fucking hell.

Why are women so difficult?

I would have been better off on my own, like before. Solitude means there would be no one to disappoint or to anger.

Yet as soon as that thought arises in my mind, I mentally berate myself.

The me before Minnie was merely existing, not living. I cannot imagine ever going back to a period in time where she wasn’t in my life.

It was a sad and hollow existence, just like I was a sorry excuse of a man.

There’s no point in thinking about my life before her since it ceased to exist the moment she got into my car on that cold, snowy night.

If only I knew how to get her to see my perspective, though… Or maybe, understand hers better—though I’m sure it’s erroneous. But as it stands, she refuses to talk to me now.

With an annoyed sigh, I leave my room and spot Minnie in the hallway.

She’s dressed in a black dress and black tights, together with a black lace veil that covers her face, hiding her features.

Satisfaction blooms inside of me.

Even mad, she still covers herself.

She wouldn’t have agreed to come if my mother hadn’t called again yesterday and asked to speak with Minnie specifically. I don’t know what they talked about, but as she hung up, Minnie told me she was going to join me at the party.

She didn’t say anything else. She glared at me and then went to her room. And she’s been there ever since.

Until now.

“You look good,” I tell her as I let my eyes roam down her body. She looks ready for a funeral, not a birthday party, but I’m not mad. Minnie makes death look hot.

She scoffs at me.

“Don’t think this is anything but a favor to your mother. I’m not talking to you,” she fires back.

“You’re talking to me right now,” I note drily.

“Because I’m forced to do so. Not because I want to.” She crosses her arms over her chest. “You’re still an asshole, Marlowe.”

“But I’m your asshole. Doesn’t that count for anything?” I murmur as I step closer to her.

She takes a step back.

“You’re getting ahead of yourself. I’m still waiting for an apology,” she says as she straightens her shoulders.

“You’ll have to wait an eternity,” I joke. “I’m not about to apologize for making sure you’re mine. Just mine.”

She half-turns. I can’t see her expression to know what she’s thinking.

“Good thing I have an eternity to wait,” she adds saucily. Then she turns with her back to me and starts down the stairs. Her hips sway from side to side in a maddening display of sensuality that literally has me by the balls.

I mutter a string of curses under my breath and go after her.

The car ride to my mother’s home is quiet.

She doesn’t speak. Not even when I ask her a simple question like how’s the weather. She thoroughly ignores me.

I grumble under my breath.

How the hell do I fix this rift with her? Without compromising on the fact that I want her only for myself, with nothing and no one standing between us—not even a dead dude.

As we reach my mother’s house, I park the car in the driveway and we get out. I open the trunk and get the present I’d prepared for my mother, and we head to the door.

Minnie gives me a side-eye as I move closer to her, but I ignore it and put my arm around her. At the same time, the door opens and my mother greets us with a wide smile on her face.

“Marlowe! Minnie! Welcome!” she exclaims as she rushes toward us to give us each a hug.

I clench my teeth as I let her hug me. It’s her birthday after all. I suppose it’s the least I could do.

She presses her lips against one cheek, then the other.

“I’m so happy you’re here,” she murmurs, her entire face lit up with happiness.

I nod tightly.

She moves on to Minnie, giving her a tight hug as well.

Minnie’s attitude transforms under my eyes. Where she was icy with me, with my mother, it’s like watching a flower bloom in spring.

I curse under my breath.

My mother gives me a harsh look. Then her eyes widen.

“Whatever happened to your face, Marlowe?” she shrieks.

Of course, here it comes.

Minnie gives me a pointed look.

“A wild animal encounter,” I tell my mother.

“A wild animal?” she repeats, shocked. “Oh my, Marlowe! Did you get a rabies shot? Please tell me you went to the hospital immediately and got a shot. Those things are so dangerous. A few hours and you can drop dead.”

“You could say so, Mother.” I give her my signature smile.

She narrows her eyes at me.

“Did you or did you not get it?” Before I can answer, she turns to Minnie. “Did he get it, dear?”

Minnie blinks, taken aback.

I look at her, a smile on my lips. Yes, dear, please answer.

“Uhm, he did?”

“Good.” Mother sighs. “That’s good to know. Although I don’t even know how a wild animal got near you to do that, Marlowe. You’re so averse to anything unclean,” she murmurs worriedly.

“Indeed,” I drawl. “But it seems that a little wild cat snuck inside my house and did quite a number on me.”

“I hope you called the authorities, dear. Rabid animals are no joke,” mother continues.

My eyes are still on Minnie.

“She got away. What can I say, Mother, I have a soft spot for strays.”

Minnie blushes and looks away.

“You do? I never knew that,” Mother adds pensively. “Although I suppose there are a lot of things I don’t know about you, though not for lack of trying. At least now that Minnie is in your life, I hope you’ll visit more. I do so miss you sometimes…”

I purse my lips. This conversation is becoming uncomfortable.

Clearing my throat, I take out my perfectly wrapped present and dump it in her arms.

“Happy birthday, Mother,” I mutter uncomfortably.

Her lashes flutter in surprise as she takes the gift from me. I expect her to put it aside and open it later on—that’s the way she’s always done it.

But this time, she tears at the packaging to reveal a pearl necklace and an envelope. She barely glances at the necklace—I’m sure she has plenty of them already—but as she opens the envelope, her eyes grow wide with wonder.

“Two tickets for an all-paid cruise on the Mediterranean,” she whispers. “One in my name and one in Giles’s name.” Glancing up at me, her eyes are moist with tears. “Oh, Marlowe!” she exclaims. “This is truly wonderful, thank you.”

“It’s nothing,” I mumble.

“How can it be nothing when it’s everything? I’ve been praying for the day you’d accept my relationship with Giles and this… Thank you.”

“He’s a good man,” I add rather awkwardly.

She smiles, the lines on her face becoming more accentuated. Still, she looks more beautiful than I remember her looking in her youth.

“He is. He’s the best man I could ever ask for.”

They’ve been together for two decades—officially. In that time, I’ve had plenty of opportunities to asses Giles and his influence on my mother. And though I might not show it, I do care for her happiness.

Giles makes her happy.

He helped her cope after my father’s—extremely fortunate—death.

He put the smile back on her face.

And for that, he’ll forever have my gratitude.

Of course I also can’t fault his work ethic. He’s professional to a fault, but he’s also an ally. Considering the things he’s done for our family and the amount of shit he’s swept under the rug for me… Yeah, the man is a force to be reckoned with, even with that starchy exterior of his.

“I have something for you, too,” Minnie adds as my mother puts away my present.

My brows go up in surprise. She never said anything about another present—not that she’s talking to me much these days. But I informed her that this gift would be from the both of us and she didn’t have to worry about anything else.

Clearly, she didn’t listen (probably because she currently hates my guts).

She opens her bag and removes a small glass figurine depicting my mother and Giles. It’s masterfully done and something that no one would be able to pull off overnight.

Unless…

“Oh, Minnie. This is gorgeous. Where did you get this from?”

“Secret.” Minnie winks.

It dawns on me then that she didn’t buy it.

She made it.

Using her powers.

“Secret, huh?” I raise a brow at her.

She releases a soft humph and ignores me.

“Come, the others are already here. You must meet Marlowe’s siblings, Minnie. I don’t think you’ve had the chance to do it yet.”

“I’d love to.” She nods with a smile. One that dies on her lips the moment I grab her arm.

She scowls and mutters something under her breath.

“We’re a couple. We must behave like one,” I whisper in her ear.

“You mean we must pretend to be one. Last I remember, I threw away your ring,” she says through gritted teeth.

I shrug.“Do I look like I care?”

I feel her eyes on me from behind her dark veil.

“I told you, Minnie. You’re mine whether you like it or not. You wanted me to take your choice away from you? There you go. I will not allow you to leave me. Ever.”

She digs her nails into my arm.

“Does it cost you that much to offer me an apology?” she whispers in a tight voice.

“No. I could offer you an unlimited number of apologies, but none of them would be genuine. Would you like that? Would you like me to lie to you?”

“No…” she murmurs.

“Then you will not get an apology because I’m not apologetic at all.”

She shakes her head.

“And that’s the issue, Marlowe. If you understood my side, you would understand what you did wrong. But you don’t.” Her voice trembles as she trails off, and I sense the vulnerability in those words.

“Minnie—”

“Everyone, here comes Marlowe and his girlfriend, Minnie,” my mother cuts me off as she announces our arrival to everyone.

“Fiancée,” I correct her automatically.

Minnie elbows me in the ribs.

The drawing room is filled with people. Giles is standing by the window, a glass of scotch in his hand. Around the piano are my little sister Irene and my younger brother Cristopher, both fooling around with a cacophonous tune. Irene is twenty, home from college, while Cristopher is six years younger than me and still living with my mother.

Ah, yes, if you’re wondering about the math, you would be right to be suspicious. I’m pretty sure Irene is Giles’s daughter. I have my suspicions about Cristopher too. My mother never admitted to it publicly, but he looks far too much like Giles did in his youth for it not to be the case.

A few close friends of my mother’s are sitting at a table, chatting. They only look up as they see us enter, and their expressions immediately turn sour.

They don’t like me. They never did.

They assume I’m the black sheep of the family, when in fact, a better contender for that role would be Cristopher. He doesn’t even have his own place, for fuck’s sake. And aside from his trust fund, he has no other income. He’s jobless, useless, and a whole slew of other words ending in -less.

But the actual black sheep of the family is none other than my older brother, Julien. Whereas I have a rather amicable relationship with Irene and Cristopher—as in, we exchange a few words once in a blue moon—I haven’t spoken with Julien in years.

Speaking of the devil. Didn’t Mother say he’d bring over his fiancée to the party?

A smile pulls at my lips as I realize I might have stolen his thunder by announcing Minnie as my fiancée. Ah, brotherly feuds. How I missed them.

I scan the room until I find him. He’s talking with two of our uncles from Mother’s side while a timid woman stands a few feet behind him, her body language orientated entirely toward him. He’s wearing a slick tuxedo, his dark hair combed back. In his hand, he has a pipe that he keeps puffing with gusto, the pretentious bastard.

He’s supposedly a renowned surgeon, but Giles and I know the amount of malpraxis lawsuits he’s managed to get out of over the years—all due to good legal representation, not a lack of guilt.

“Fiancée? And you didn’t tell anyone?” My mother turns to me, her eyes wide.

At that moment, everyone stops what they’re doing and becomes focused on us too.

Minnie digs her nails further into my arm to express her dissatisfaction with my proclamation, but I ignore her.

“Yes, Mother. Minnie is my fiancée. We’ll be wed soon,” I declare and plaster a smile on my face.

She clasps her hands together in happiness as she hurries to hug us both again.

“This is the best birthday present, Marlowe. You have no idea how much it pleases me to know you’ve found such a lovely girl.” She smiles at Minnie.

“Thank you,” Minnie murmurs abashedly. “Your warm welcome to the family means so much to me.”

She’s so diplomatic even though five moments ago she was ready to have another go at me.

“Of course, darling. Oh my, I have to go tell Giles about this,” Mother exclaims as she rushes to the other end of the room.

Warmth spreads through me at seeing her so happy. She might be annoying as fuck, but she’s a sweet lady. After what she’s been through, she deserves nothing but happiness.

Mother is gesturing excitedly at Giles, and as he meets my gaze from across the room, he gives me a nod of approval.

I wink at him.

But as we step farther into the room, whispers abound around us as everyone speculates on Minnie’s appearance, her face covering, and her status as my fiancée.

Julien notes my arrival and he turns to us, his eyes narrowed. Grabbing the woman behind him, he makes a beeline for us.

“Marlowe. I didn’t think you’d come,” he mentions in a faux cultured voice.

“Mother’s birthday is the one occasion I would not miss.”

“And this is…” His eyes go to Minnie as he studies her from head to toe.

I get the urge to push her behind me, even covered up as she is, so this idiot doesn’t ogle her.

“My fiancée, Minnie.”

“Minnie.” He clicks his tongue against his teeth. “What an odd name.”

“Short for Minerva,” Minnie interjects in a cold voice. She’s holding tightly onto my arm, her body tense. I glance at her and raise a brow in question.

She doesn’t react, merely maintaining a tight grip on my arm.

“Is it?” Julien murmurs. “And who’s your family?”

Leave it to Julien to bring up pedigree, since that’s all he cares about.

“Why don’t you introduce us to your partner, Julien,” I say pointedly as I change the subject.

The girl is still one step behind him even though he’s got a good grip on her arm.

He pulls her forward, so hard she almost trips.

Blond hair, blue eyes. Julien’s type. Every year, he brings the same type of woman to mother’s birthday party, but this time, she’s not just some random fling. She’s his fiancée—if Mother’s words are to be believed. Considering how much of a manwhoring pig Julien is, it’s quite surprising anyone would want to settle down with him.

“Are you all right?” I ask politely, since her fiancé clearly doesn’t care.

But the moment the words are out of my mouth, Minnie’s fingers dig into my skin harder than before. She looks up at me, and up close, I can see her expression through her veil.

She’s…fuming.

I smile.

Ah, my little heathen. You might be mad at me, but you can still get jealous.

“I-I’m fine,” the girl mutters in a soft, unassuming voice.

Julien pulls her roughly to his side, and the sleeve of her dress rises up to reveal some discoloration on her arm.

Bruises.

Minnie notices that too, and her alarmed eyes find mine.

“Who allowed you to speak?” Julien grits out in her ear, his expression changing to one of pure malice.

“I-I’m sorry,” the girl whispers.

His hold on her arm tightens and she releases a small yelp of pain.

“Marlowe…” Minnie whispers.

Julien stares down at the girl and when he’s sufficiently satisfied with her cowering demeanor, he turns to us once more.

“This is Cara,” Julien says in a bored voice, his expression now neutral. “We are getting married in the spring.”

The excitement in his tone at such a declaration is nonexistent. He says it as if he’s speaking of a grocery list.

“Congratulations,” Minnie adds in a tight voice. She stares at the girl, and I feel the tension in her body. “Would you like to come with me, Cara, and leave the men alone to talk?”

I see what Minnie’s trying to do and pride fills me at her initiative. I give her a nod of approval.

“I—” Cara starts to speak, but Julien cuts her off.

“There’s no need as there will not be much talking to be done.”

“But surely you’d like to catch up with your brother?” Minnie probes further.

Julien narrows his eyes at her.

“I said no. Cara will not go anywhere with you,” he states in a rough, almost menacing voice.

“Watch your tone, Julien. Minnie didn’t mean anything by it. She was just excited to know her future sister-in-law,” I add in an attempt to defuse the situation.

No matter how much I’d like to punch that smug expression off Julien’s face, this is still Mother’s birthday party and I wouldn’t want to cause her any distress.

“It’s fine, Julien,” Cara murmurs, forcing a smile. “I’m sure she meant well.”

He turns sharply to her.

“What did I just tell you?” he asks through gritted teeth. “Shut the fuck up when I’m talking.”

Her lips part on a small O. “I’m sorry,” she whispers, averting her gaze. She takes a step back behind Julien, using him to shield herself from view.

Both Minnie and I stare at them. Their interactions are…unsettling.

“You don’t have to apologize for anything, Cara. You did nothing wrong,” Minnie interjects. “If anything, a certain asshole should shut the fuck up,” she says in a sweet voice.

My lips pull up in a smile.

That’s my girl.

“I believe the saying is ladies first, isn’t that right, Marlowe?” Minnie asks.

“You’re right as always, love,” I murmur. “No real man would talk like that to a lady,” I say as I give Julien a pointed look.

He’s always been a prick, but goddamn, I never took him for an abusive bastard.

As Julien redirects his attention to us, I note a twitch in his cheek. His body is tense, and he appears on the verge of losing it. His nostrils flare and he’s visibly seething.

Cara tries to pull him away, but he slaps her hand aside and pushes her back. Taking a step forward, he attempts to get in Minnie’s personal space—an intimidation tactic, I’m sure. But I’m not about to let that happen.

Just as he moves, I slide in front of Minnie, blocking him.

“Who the fuck are you to talk to me like that?” Julien snarls. His shoulders are so tense, the seams of his expensive tuxedo are about to pop.

I narrow my eyes at him. Is he really doing this in front of everyone? Julien’s always been concerned with his reputation, and an outburst like this goes against everything he cares about.

“Careful with that tone, Julien,” I warn again. “If you’d like, I’m more than happy to recommend some anger management classes. It’s clear you need them.”

He bares his teeth at me.

“Fuck you, Marlowe. You fucking freak,” he grinds out.

I shrug. “Alas, I’d rather be a freak than a fucking abusive twat.”

His eyes flare up, and a shadow of worry crosses his face.

But as soon as it appears, it’s gone. He snorts as he leers at Minnie.

“At least I got myself a looker.” He laughs derisively. “Is she disfigured?” He nods at Minnie. “Is that why she’s covered? Or is she too ugly?”

“What did you say?” I grit out, grabbing him by the lapels of his tux.

I flex my arm, ready to punch him, but Minnie stops me. She quietly shakes her head.

“She is none of your business. Don’t you fucking address her if you don’t want to get your ass kicked in front of the entire family,” I tell him in a low voice.

“I’m so scared, Marlowe,” he says in a high-pitched voice, mocking me.

I tighten my hold over his tux. For now, our conflict seems to have gone unnoticed. But if this continues, everyone will undoubtedly be able to tell something’s not right.

Fucking asshole. I can’t believe he’s doing this at Mother’s birthday party no less.

“Julien, I’m warning you.”

“With what, little brother?” He raises a brow. “Perhaps I might be the one to kick your ass this time,” he fires back. The venom in his voice takes me aback.

Fucking hell. He’s really testing my patience, isn’t he?

We’ve never gotten to blows before, but I suppose there’s a first time for everything.

I’ve never liked him anyway.

“You forget”—he leans in to whisper—“that I’m the perfect son while you’re just a fucking weirdo. Why, I bet you had to pay her to come with you, didn’t you? We all know you’re secretly gay.”

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” I grit out.

Yes, there’s always been animosity between us, but it usually translated in passive-aggressive comments or simply not talking to each other. This is the first time he’s been so vile to my face.

He draws back, his lips pulled up in a malefic smile.

Grabbing Cara in a bruising hold, he drags her away from us.

“Talk to you later, brother,” he says and winks.

He leaves the drawing room, going up the stairs to the first floor of the house. Cara follows behind dutifully, more like a servant than a goddamn fiancée.

“I’m sorry about that,” I whisper to Minnie. “He’s never been this vile before. And for all his faults, I never thought he’d get physical with a woman.”

After what we witnessed our mother go through in our childhood, the last thing I would have imagined was for him to repeat what my father did. I may have never liked Julien, but I never thought he’d stoop so low. I wonder if Mother knows, though it’s unlikely. If she did, she’d have his hide for raising his voice at a woman, let alone beating one up.

Minnie’s watching Julian and Cara closely as they depart.

“This is not typical of him, you say?” she asks in an odd voice.

“He’s a pompous prick. He’s always been one. But I never knew him to be aggressive. Or straight up vulgar. He cares too much about his reputation to do that.”

“I see,” Minnie murmurs. “So this is a recent behavior?”

“Can’t speak about that since I haven’t seen him in a year.” I shrug. “But I can’t remember him being like this.”

She bites her lip.

She opens her mouth to say something, but Irene and Cristopher make their way to us.

“Marlowe and a fiancée. If this isn’t the event of the year.” Cristopher whistles as he pats me on my back. I tense. He knows I hate it when he does that, but he keeps doing it every time.

Every single fucking time.

I glare at him.

Irene, on the other hand, is at Minnie’s side, complimenting her on her outfit.

“You’re pretty,” my little sister gushes. “Now I see how you got Marlowe to propose. You’re so put together, and he’s a freak about cleanliness. The best match!”

“Your brother is not a freak,” Minnie suddenly says, her tone harsher than I expected from her.

“Come on, you don’t have to hide it,” Irene continues, chuckling. “We all know how bad he can get. I don’t even know how you can stand him, to be honest.”

“We’ve all been wondering,” Christopher adds. “Ever since Mom said he was bringing home a girl, we’ve been making bets.” He wiggles his brows suggestively. “Although… Why are you wearing a veil? This isn’t a funeral.” He reaches with his hand to touch her veil, but I stop him.

“I believe you’ll need this hand if you’re to ever find a job. Careful so you don’t lose it,” I say in a strained voice.

“Easy, bro. I was just kidding.”

“He was, Marlowe! You’re no fun!” Irene whines. “See, this is what I mean. He wouldn’t know the meaning of a joke if it hit him in the face,” she says to Minnie.

“You’re being too harsh with your brother. He has a wicked sense of humor,” Minnie replies.

“Marlowe? Are we talking about the same Marlowe?” Both Irene and Cristopher laugh.

“Nah,” Cristopher adds. “Even when we were kids, every time we’d play, he’d just sit in his room and watch us from his window like a creep. There was this one time we played a prank on him and replaced his liquid soap with water. Harmless, no? Wrong. He threw a fit about it and then he got revenge.”

“By replacing our soap with glue! How are those two even equal?” Irene chimes in. “Ours was a harmless little prank, but his went too far.”

“It was antibacterial soap,” I mumble drily. “I spent two whole sleepless nights until Giles bought me another bottle.”

“See? Freak.” Cristopher laughs. “He can’t take a joke.”

Minnie looks between my two siblings, her lips pursed.

“I don’t see how that’s harmless if you know your brother’s concern about cleanliness. In fact, I find it rather cruel that you’d do that,” Minnie points out in a stern voice.

My brows go up in surprise at her words.

“No… That…” Irene stammers.

“Marlowe? Could I have a tour of the house? I find the current company rather lacking,” she says in a haughty voice.

My heart pounds in my chest as I realize this is her way of defending me.

Me.

After I fucked up.

She’s still taking my side.

“Indeed,” I say with a smile. “If you’ll excuse us…”

As we turn to leave, Minnie grabs a glass of champagne from one of the waiters and dips one finger inside. She swirls it around the liquid, muttering something in a low, barely audible voice.

“What are you doing?” I frown.

“Come with me,” she says, her voice tinged with worry.