Chapter Ten
Eddie
We arrived in Louisville a week ago. I’ve been keeping busy, working more than usual for a smooth transition of my plan. My main purpose of returning is to set my revenge plan in motion, something I’ve been planning since the day I fled. Josh, however, has other plans; he’s been harassing me to get out ever since.
Every corner of this city seems determined to remind me of the life I left behind. From the saloon at Hillview to the restaurant hidden in Lyndon, each place holds memories I thought I’d buried. It’s like this place refuses to let me forget.
“Why do we have to go out again?” I sigh, leaning back against the passenger seat. Josh shoots me a look as he parks, his grin annoyingly persistent.
“Because you’ve been overworking since we got here, and I’m tired of watching you bury yourself in work. Come on, Eddie; you’ve got to live a little,” he says, trying to sound upbeat but failing to mask the edge in his voice.
The engine shuts off, but I don’t move. My gaze lingers on the building in front of us. The long queue of people waiting to get in stands out against the night sky.
The place used to mean something… used to be something. Back then, it was a proud branch of my parents’ business, all polished steel and clean lines. Lawliss, Aria, and I used to come here so often that I’ve lost count. Now, it’s just another bar. Another escape for people trying to do who knows what. I don’t hate bars. In fact, I love them. Once upon a time, that was where you would find me but seeing this place, I’m not sure which I hate more: that it’s changed or that I bought it anyway.
“I still don’t see why we need to come here of all places,” I mutter, pushing the car door open reluctantly.
Josh snickers, “You mean the place you paid a ridiculous amount for but haven’t seen in years? Yeah, that place.” He claps me on the shoulder as we walk. “Seriously, man, when’s the last time you had a night out? Just one drink, I promise.”
“Sure, one drink.” I groan but follow him inside.
The air feels different here, heavier somehow. The bar’s interior is a far cry from what it used to be, but in a way that commands attention. Sleek, marble counters now replace the polished steel of my parents’ era, gleaming under the warm glow of custom pendant lights. Soft, ambient lighting dances across the room, reflected in the crystal-clear glasses lining the shelves.
Josh waves at someone near the bar, but I barely notice. My eyes are fixed on the shadows at the far end of the room, where memories stir like restless ghosts. Coming back here was like ripping off a bandage only to find the wound still raw underneath. Louisville has that effect.
“You coming or what?” Josh calls, already halfway to the counter.
I shake myself out of it, forcing my feet to move.
Entering, Josh circles back and slings an arm around my shoulders as I climb the stairs. I shoot him a warning look, and he immediately lets go, holding his hands up in mock surrender.
“Relax, Eddie,” he says with a grin. “You know…”
Here we go again. I stick my left index finger in my ears, trying to block him out, but Josh carries on as if he doesn’t notice or, more likely, doesn’t care that I don’t want to hear what he has to say. “… the way you laid into the board about moving the headquarters here, anyone would think you’re some hardcore tough guy. But we both know…” He leans closer, his voice dropping into a teasing whisper. “… you’re just a marshmallow underneath.”
I stop mid-step and turn to face him. “Describe me like that again….” I growl, stepping closer. “... and let’s see how much talking you can do with a broken jaw.”
Josh laughs, unfazed. “Come on, don’t be like that. Did I tell you?”
“What now?” I move away from him, climbing the last step onto the second-floor balcony. The VIP booths stretch ahead, their plush leather couch seats offering a view of the floor below.
Josh pauses, his grin widening as he turns to me. “Well, I got a call confirming that….” he pauses for dramatic effect then continues, “As of today, you’re officially a married man.”
I pause and then chuckle despite myself. Married. The word rolls around in my head, carrying a weight that feels both exhilarating and maddening. The confirmation was supposed to come a week ago but got delayed for whatever reason Josh refuses to tell. Having Lawliss sign those documents without knowing the content was not how I planned for us to get married but now that we are, all that’s left is to win her over.
Josh’s gaze shifts to something, or someone, behind me. “Is that not your new wife over there?” he asks, his tone amused. I follow his gaze, my body tensing instinctively. I can feel my blood boiling.
Lawliss is here at this time and that too is not alone?
She’s leaning back in a booth, laughter spilling from her lips as she teases some guy. I know that laughter. It’s the one she only shares with those she’s comfortable with and it makes my pulse rise with something akin to danger and jealousy.
The man beside her has his arm draped casually over the back of the booth, his body angled toward hers, too close for my liking.
“What the fuck?”I mutter. The words leave me before I can stop them. I take long strides towards the table before I can reason.
“Eddie—wait,” Josh says, his voice muffled by the pounding in my ears. He’s still blabbering behind me, but I don’t hear him.
My chest tightens, a volatile blend of frustration and something else. Something raw and unfamiliar as I close the distance. She notices me before I reach her. Her laughter falters when her gaze meets mine. For a second, the world stills, her hazel eyes locking onto mine with a mix of surprise and something else.
“Eddie…” she starts, her voice barely above a whisper.
The man beside her stiffens, his head turning toward me, but I barely glance at him. My attention is solely on her.
“What the hell is this?” I say, my voice low but carrying enough force to cut through the noise.
She blinks, confusion flickering across her face. “Eddie, what are you—”
“Is this your idea of moving on?” I interrupt, gesturing vaguely toward the man beside her.
Her eyes darken, and she straightens in her seat, her hands curling into fists. “Excuse me?” she snaps, her voice cutting like a blade.
Before I can respond, the girl to her left jumps in, her expression sharp and challenging. “Who the hell are you?” she demands, her tone laced with arrogance.
Another voice cuts through the tension from behind me, calm yet sharp enough to draw my attention. “Mmhm, you think you can approach anyone without a second thought. People like you assume you can demand whatever you want without considering the consequences.” the voice says, smooth but edged with quiet authority that I can’t help but respect. It’s enough to make me glance back, breaking my focus on Lawliss. And that’s when I see her.
“Aria?” I whisper, almost to myself.
She tilts her head slightly as if weighing my presence, her sharp eyes narrowing in an attempt to place me. I take in my surroundings, finally registering the group at the booth.
A sisters’ outing, huh? Then who the hell is he? Last I checked, there weren’t any men in the family, except maybe their father.
I glance at him again, suspicion prickling at the back of my mind. But Aria’s voice pulls my attention back to her.
“Am I supposed to know you?” She asks, squinting at me like I’m some half-forgotten memory.
I chuckle, shaking my head. “Of course. You’re still the same as ever, Arie-bear.”
I use the affectionate nickname her father gave her when we were kids, something only a handful of people are privy to. Her brows knit together for a second before realization flashes across her face.
“Pompous…” she starts, her lips twitching upward.
“Shit,” I finish for her, unable to stop the grin that’s tugging at my mouth as I watch recognition dawn in her eyes. Her laughter is immediate, bright, and unrestrained, and for a second, it feels like no time has passed at all. The nickname had started as an insult she used to call me back in school, “pompous piece of shit.” It wasn’t entirely unearned, considering how I turned down everyone who so much looked at me with interest. I already had my eyes on Lawliss, except no one knew. Aria used to make a show of rolling her eyes every time I corrected someone’s grammar mid-confession, saying I had an actual talent for arrogance with a smile. Eventually, the name stuck, but it became less of a jab and more of a running joke between us, something that had quietly tethered us together through those years.
“Oh my God! Is that you, Eddie?” she exclaims, a smile breaking across her face as she stands abruptly to hug me. The warmth of the moment is almost overwhelming. Aria’s hug feels genuine, grounding me in a way I haven’t felt in years. Then Lauren, ever the dramatic one, lets out an exaggerated gasp as she joins in, throwing her arms around both of us.
“Jeez, you look like a man,” Lauren says when we break apart, her wide eyes sweeping over me. She reaches out, her fingers brushing my shoulder as though she’s inspecting me.
“Does that mean I wasn’t a man before?” I reply dryly, earning a soft chuckle from her.
She steps back, but Elisa’s sharp voice cuts through the moment. “Is he supposed to be a friend?” I turn towards her. She’s standing with her arms crossed defiantly. Her gaze dissecting me like the mere sight of me can tell her what she needs to know.
“You must be Elisa,” I say, my tone light but with a teasing edge. Elisa and I rarely interacted. She was always with her boyfriend. Those two made love look beautiful. I was tempted to confess my feelings to Lawliss whenever I saw them. They looked like they would get married before anyone in our circle.
“And?” She shoots back, her gaze narrowing further.
I chuckle, shaking my head in mock exasperation. “What if I told you I saw the start of your relationship with your boyfriend—what was his name again—Gabriel-James?” I say, my tone deliberately dramatic, meant to tease. But the silence that descends speaks volumes. I frown, my tone darkening as I glance at everyone.
“Did that fucking boy hurt you?” The question hangs in the air, but no one answers. Silence. I wait, but no explanation comes. I hate that I don’t know. I regret not keeping closer tabs. When the news broke that Lawliss was in a relationship, I knew I’d lost my chance. After that, it felt wrong to watch her too closely. Like I was already too far outside her life to look in. Instead, I focused on my thirst for vengeance and the Dua business, as it felt safer and less intrusive. But now I realize that wasn’t enough.
They’re still quiet, not until the man seated beside Lawliss speaks with his French accent.
“Taboo name,” that’s all he says. His voice is composed but carries an undercurrent of something unspoken. I turn toward him fully, recognition hitting me instantly.
“Dashiell,” I say, my tone flat.
“Yes,” he replies with a calm nod, the earlier laziness in his posture now replaced with something more professional. Elisa’s voice breaks the moment, her anger sharp and unyielding. “How do you know him/us?" she gestures to everyone.
“Why don’t you go into your memory and try to place me like your sisters did?” I reply, raising a brow in challenge.
Her gaze hardens further. “Wouldn’t it be better to just introduce yourself after intruding on us so rudely?”
Okay. I think I might have escalated things a little too quickly with the Gabriel comment but how was I supposed to know?
“Come on, Riri, Ren, help me out here,” I say, turning back to Aria and Lauren with a small grin. I glance at Lawliss and catch her watching the exchange, a faint frown on her face. She isn’t saying anything, just observing us, like she’s piecing together some puzzle in her head.
Elisa's eyes narrowed again, suspicion mingling with something else. Very few people knew them by that name, as far as I recall, and I suppose it’s still the same.
If she doesn’t recognize me now, then I will just have to do the introduction she wants. Come to think of it, how the hell did Lawliss recognize me easily? It seems among them, she recognized me faster. Now that is an interesting take. I glance at her again, unable to help myself. She’s quiet now, her expression thoughtful, almost distant, like she’s caught in her own world. She doesn’t notice me looking, but I know that look all too well. Lawliss’s always got that way when she was trying to piece things together.
Even now, I can’t help but admire her. She hasn’t changed much, not where it counts.
“Edmund?” Elisa whisper-shouts, her voice filled with shock. I see her excitement as she finally places me, like passing some kind of test she didn’t know she was taking. Finally! I heave a sign of relief and nod.
“Theeee Edmund?” She stretches, her posture changing into that of relaxation.
“The reason she became a lawyer?” Elisa presses, pointing directly at Lawliss as though trying to confirm who I am with that.
“Me?” Lawliss snaps, clearly offended. “What rubbish are you talking about?”
“You don’t remember crying and—” Elisa starts, but Lawliss’s hand flies out, covering her sister’s mouth in an instant. I can’t help it; I laugh. Interesting.
This family. Just by being near them, they’ve managed to unearth a part of me I thought I’d buried long ago. My eyes trail over everyone and I find myself feeling at home for the first time since my arrival. I guess I can survive Louisville.