60. Brielle
Chapter sixty
Brielle
A Few Days Earlier
“ A re you sure you don’t need anything else, Brielle? Tea, water, anything?” Juliet said, literal tears in her eyes.
I shushed her softly and rubbed my hand on Melanie’s back as she lay her head on my lap, watching TV.
“Juli... I’m fine. I promise, honey.”
She nodded, and I grabbed her hand to have her sit beside me. Killian was arranging for Eugene to get out of holding at the police station, and Juliet was extremely grateful... almost too grateful. But I couldn’t blame her. My brother was out for days at a time, which probably worried her tremendously. Melanie also missed her father.
I didn’t bother to explain all of the details to Juliet, not wanting to bother her any more than she’d already been.
We sat silently for a moment before the door opened, and Eugene walked in. Melanie was the first to see him, and she gasped as she jumped up and ran over to him.
“DADDY!!” she yelled, and I smiled as Juliet did her best to contain her excitement as she went over to him as well. He caught Melanie in his arms and wrapped one around Juli as he placed a kiss on both of their heads.
I felt my heart clench slightly, as the last time I saw him, he was being arrested, and the time before, he made me cry... but hey, what are older brothers for?
I looked down at my sweater as I played with its edge, and after speaking with them for a minute, Eugene cleared his throat.
“Melanie, baby... it’s getting late. Mommy’s gonna tuck you in for the night, and I’ll be up in a few minutes, okay?”
I heard footsteps going up the stairs and other footsteps approaching me slowly. I looked over to Eugene as he sat beside me.
“Hi, Eugene,” I said softly.
He didn’t respond. I flinched slightly as he embraced me in a hug and buried his head in my neck. I hugged him back, and I could feel his labored breaths as if he couldn’t catch his breath. I shushed him softly as I ran my fingers through his hair.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered, and I nodded as a tear left my eye.
“Thank you, Eugene,” I whispered back.
He looked puzzled for a moment as he pulled away. “For making you cry, worry, and hate me?” he asked, confused.
I laughed as I wiped away a tear. “No, silly... for keeping us safe… For everything you’ve done. I know you’re working with the ‘devil,’ Calvin, and although I want to know your reasons, I know it’s probably to keep us safe...”
He grabbed my hand in his and looked at me with such love and protectiveness. “Brielle... for the longest time, I couldn’t keep my family safe. Now that I can... I will do anything to keep you safe… anything .”
I nodded slowly as I caressed the side of his face. “I understand… but no killing. It’s not good for your sanity, honey,” I whispered.
He sighed. “I’ll try, okay? And I will explain everything. Just know that I’m sorry,” he replied sincerely.
I nodded as I hugged him once again. My brother loved his family… in his own crazy way, but that’s what I love about him, what I’ll always love about him. He would do anything for us, and despite our constant fights and bickering, I loved him with everything in me.
“I knew you were pregnant too,” he muttered, and I hit his back as he hissed, “SEE! These kids make you want to hurt me even more... and you don’t hit softly either.”
I rolled my eyes at him as we continued talking, and soon, we both went upstairs to help tuck Melanie in for bed.
Present
“If this is how you treat me... how you treat us, your children, then I don’t want to be your little girl anymore, because you’re not even my real father !!!”
I stood in shock as Delilah left the room with Archer hot on her tail. It was silent as they left the home, and my tears continued down my face. Killian hadn’t looked at me once as he ran his hand down his face, walked over to his desk, and leaned against it.
What just happened?
I went from talking to Maia and spending a little time with the kids to Ivory running over to get me to leave, only to come home for Delilah and Killian to have one of the biggest arguments I’ve ever witnessed between them. I would blame Archer, but how could I? This was more than just a boy coming into her life. It was the doing of a controlling and overbearing father who didn’t want to understand that his daughter was growing up and making her own decisions.
I looked at him in pure anger as I walked over to him.
“Why don’t you ever listen?” I seethed, and he didn’t say anything. “I told you to be nicer… to be more open, caring, and understanding. Do you even care how distraught Delilah is?” I whispered as tears continued falling.
He remained silent.
I held back a sob as I hit his chest after every word. “Why. Don’t. You. Ever. Listen!”
He grabbed my wrist after the last strike, and I pulled it out of his grasp. Wiping my face again, I pointed to him, my finger touching his chest. I felt like cursing him out, screaming and yelling every profanity in the English language, but I didn’t have it in me… The only person who could make me do such a thing was Eugene.
“You’re sleeping on the couch downstairs... One more mistake, and I want you out for the rest of the week. If you think that boy is going to tear our family apart by being with Delilah, then you’re mistaken… it’s going to be you. You’re lucky I’ve learned to tolerate your tantrums and temper for as long as we’ve been married.”
I pulled away from him and wordlessly walked out of his office, slamming the door closed in the process.
I went to the living room to see Ivory and Zachary sitting with Blaine. I was assuming Benjamin and Reginald were somewhere with the twins.
“Mom, is Dee okay?” Ivory asked with tears in her eyes as she most likely heard the argument.
I shushed her softly as I sat beside her and pulled her into my embrace. “She’ll be fine, sweetie... it’s going to be okay,” I said softly.
Zachary shook his head in disbelief. “I can’t believe it. Dad and I were just talking to him the other day.”
Blaine spoke as well. “I knew Kiki was going to be upset, but this... this was definitely unexpected.”
I nodded silently as the front door opened. Delilah walked back in with her eyes and face red and flushed from crying. She wiped away her tears and looked over at me.
“I’m going to stay with Kimi for a little while, or with… you know, if that’s okay with you, Mom,” she whispered.
I nodded. “Of course, honey. Take as much time as you need.”
Ivory stood up and engulfed Delilah in a hug. “S-stupid question... but you’ll be back, right?” she asked, trying to control her sadness.
Delilah smiled sadly as she wrapped her arms around her little sister. “Of course, Ivory.”
Ivory nodded, and I watched as the two of them pulled away. Delilah walked to the steps, but stopped in her tracks as Killian leaned against the wall of the foyer silently.
I glared at him as he looked over at me, and he averted his eyes from her, allowing her to walk up the stairs. I soon followed her and watched as she grabbed a few necessities and placed them into her duffel bag. Benjamin and Reginald stood silently in the room as well, as they each held one of the twins in their arms.
I sat at the edge of the bed as I helped her fold a few things since she didn’t seem to mind that they were a little wrinkled... but I couldn’t blame her. Soon, she’d finished and bid Reginald and Benjamin goodbye for the time being. Giving Trinity to Reginald, Benjamin grabbed her bag, escorting her downstairs as I followed.
She bid her siblings and Blaine goodbye and made her way to the door with Benjamin. She paused momentarily and glanced over as Killian stared at her a few feet away. However, she said nothing as she opened the door and left.
Delilah
“Princess...” Archer muttered as I sat on his couch in silence. It was now dark, and I was still feeling as terrible as I did earlier. It wasn’t fair. Granted, I did go behind his back and date the son of his enemy, but still, I would think he would at least listen to me, hear what I had to say and come to a compromise rather than just scream and dismiss me like he usually did when I disagreed with him.
Coming beside me, Archer wrapped his arms around me, and I sighed.
“Did I overreact?” I whispered.
He was silent for a moment. “It’s hard to say. Killian cares and loves you, but he shelters you a bit… only because that’s the only way he can show his love.”
“Or he just wants to control me because that’s the only way things can go the way he wants them to,” I whispered.
Archer shrugged. “It could be that too... so I don’t think your reaction was uncalled for, but your words were a bit… harsh, if you will,” he whispered, placing a kiss on the top of my head.
I sighed. I know my words were a bit harsh, but a part of me felt as though it needed to happen... otherwise, I would be stuck in the same loop and possibly never be with Archer or have true happiness or freedom.
Suddenly, the door crashed open, and I looked over to see Kimiko with a look of pure sadness in her eyes. Archer crossed his arms as I lay my head on his shoulder. She walked over to me and sat beside me as she hugged me. He gave her the side-eye as she continued to comfort me, and he shook his head.
“I’m wondering how good my security is if you have no trouble barging in. I purposely had them stop all visitors from coming through the elevator, yet here we are with the door hanging off the hinges,” he said, exaggerating.
Kimiko glared at him as she continued to hug me.
Sterling poked his head inside and smiled. “I helped my tiger get in. After getting bested by my new father-in-law in every board game in his home… we thought we should pay the sad and grieving couple a visit,” he said.
Kimiko groaned. “Stop it, Sterling.”
He nodded, silencing himself for once.
Archer still looked confused. “That still doesn’t answer how the two of you got in,” he muttered.
Sterling shrugged. “I have a key.”
“How did you get a key to my penthouse?” Archer asked.
Sterling sighed, sitting on the couch. “I said I have a key... doesn’t mean it’s meant for this door.”
Archer stared at him in utter confusion, and with the day I just had... I appreciated their foolish attempts to make me smile, even if it wasn’t intentional.
Kimiko rolled her eyes at the two of them and lay back to cuddle me further.
“You don’t understand how jealous I am of you right now, Delilah,” Sterling said with a pout.
I responded by snuggling further into Kimi for my amusement and his growing jealousy.
“I’m in the same boat as you,” Archer muttered.
Kimi rolled her eyes and pointed to the kitchen. “Go away. Can I have just five minutes with my best friend without you two idiots in the way?” she retorted.
Sterling stood up and grabbed Archer.
Archer looked at him in disbelief. “Are you serious? You do know this is my penthouse, right, and my girlfriend, correct?” he asked.
Sterling simply shook his head as he walked Archer out of the room.
Archer glared at Kimiko. “Make her cry, Masahiko, and I’m taking you to court,” he growled, and before Kimi could respond, they’d already left the room.
I smiled at their childish behavior, and Kimi hugged me sadly.
“Are you okay, Dee?” she asked me softly.
I nodded. “How did you find out?”
She let out a puff. “Ivory was on the phone with Jin, crying about how much she hated her dad and how her big sister might never come back home. Surely I had to investigate.”
I smiled as I sat up, and she unwrapped her arms, still leaving one hand on my back.
“I’ll have to call her soon,” I muttered, and Kimi nodded. I bit my lip as my mind continued to race, but I focused on her, rubbing her hand on my back. “I wish he was more like Uncle Shin. He was angry with Sterling, but look at how close they’ve gotten.” I shrugged.
Kimi rolled her eyes. “Those two are almost inseparable now. They’re going out for sushi with Uncle Blaine this week, and I’m not even invited!” she snarled, and I smiled as she calmed down and continued, “Regardless! I know you wish that, Dee... but Archer is also Calvin’s son.”
“Dad could at least treat me with some respect... love. He just pushed me away like he didn’t care. I wouldn’t mind if he got angry, but it was almost as if he didn’t want me even to have a boyfriend at all... like he just wanted to keep me locked away.”
“But you know that’s how he shows that he loves you and cares about your safety and well-being. Take some time for yourself. When you’re ready, you can try to get through to him again if you want,” she whispered.
I nodded, remaining silent, but we both jumped as a bunch of pans fell in the kitchen.
“What the hell is wrong with you!” Archer yelled.
“It’s not my fault you’re hiding your snacks from me,” Sterling screamed.
I laughed as Kimi rubbed her temples and cursed in Japanese.