64. Delilah
Chapter sixty-four
Delilah
L ying in bed, I stared at my book in slight boredom as my thoughts lingered on Archer and this whole annoyingly ridiculous situation. Our families were literally made for disaster, and being together only proves that point. I love him... and it’s hard to think straight when one voice is telling me he loves me for me, and the other wants me to see the game he and his father may be playing... But knowing Archer, I knew his intentions were pure… as long as we can count possessing someone a pure intention .
Hearing a knock at my door, I sat up slowly.
“Come in,” I muttered, and my mother waddled in with Trinity in her arms.
I cooed at my sister as Mom took a seat beside me, and she sighed before speaking.
“How are you holding up, my love?” she asked, and I shrugged.
“I’m fine… just a lot to take in at once.”
“That’s what she said... dammit,” Kimi said in the corner of my room as she filled her face with orange slices.
My mother rolled her eyes. “You go downstairs. Your father and his son-in-law are looking for you,” she ordered.
Kimi rolled her eyes as well. “We’re not married, FYI!” she exclaimed, mumbling a few choice words for Sterling and her father as she left the room.
I giggled as I looked back over to my mother.
“You know, he won’t admit this, but someone has been meaning to speak to you for the past few days, and he’s a bit… shy , if you will,” she whispered.
I gave her a sad smile. “I feel awful about this whole situation,” I whispered back.
She shrugged. “And so does he. He’ll be in to talk to you soon, I think, but I just wanted to prepare you if you hear a knock at your door,” she said, smiling.
We both looked over to the door when three small knocks were heard.
“Can I come in?” he asked, standing in the door frame.
I bit my lip as I nodded slowly.
My mother stood up with my sister and placed a kiss on my head. “I’ll give you two some space.”
I nodded as she left the room, and I kept my eyes on my trembling fingers as he took a seat on the bed beside me. We were silent for a moment, and he soon broke it.
“You know... I remember when you were just a little girl, and you always asked me to help you tie your shoes for dance class,” he muttered.
I smiled as the memory came to my mind.
“And every time you asked, I felt happy to do it because that meant my little girl still needed her dad... even for the little things,” he reminisced, and I looked up at him to see his eyes getting a bit sad. “Then one day... you stopped asking for help, and when I offered, you pushed me away. It hurt… that you didn’t need me for something. But the next day, you needed me for something new, and the cycle repeated.”
Dad glanced over to look at me before sighing.
“And when I saw you with that boy , I realized... that you’re not going to need me… for much longer, and that cycle won’t repeat because there will be someone else to help you. And I thought that if I could just get you to see that you didn’t need him, then I would still be the first man you call when you need help, and you’d still be my little girl,” he muttered.
I couldn’t help but throw myself into his embrace as I buried my head in his neck.
He wrapped his arms around me as I shed a few tears and sobbed softly. My father wasn’t one to share his emotions. And today he was wearing his heart on his sleeve. I didn’t know he would forgive me for the way I treated him. I just knew I would never forgive myself.
“I-I’m so sorry, Daddy. I-I s-should’ve never said anything like that to you, and I d-don’t know how you’ll e-ever forgive me,” I cried.
He shushed me softly as he caressed my hair. “It’s my fault, sweetheart... Sometimes I don’t know when to stop pushing, and I shouldn’t have lashed out at you like that.”
I shook my head. “No... you d-did nothing wrong. I’m the one who’s with your enemy’s son, and I knew you were going to be angry,” I whispered.
He gave a small chuckle. “I’d say ‘rival.’ ‘Enemy’ seems a bit childish. Nonetheless, sweetheart, I know you’re sorry, and I know that was just in the moment,” he said, pulling me closer and whispering in my ear, “Because if it weren’t, I would keep you locked in the house until you learn to love me as your father again.”
I hit his shoulder softly.
“Kidding... sort of,” he mumbled.
I let out a smile as I pulled my head from his shoulder. He wiped away my tears with his thumbs, and I sighed. Being held in his embrace again was comforting. I knew he was only trying to protect me. Even if his approach was a bit abrupt and harsh, it was what he felt he needed to do to keep me safe, and I was grateful he cared as much as he did. He was my protector, and he would always be my protector.
And now that Archer was in the picture, I feel conflicted after learning about the prospect of why we’re essentially together. He was groomed to fall in love with me. His father made plans for us to marry almost fifteen years ago. Despite that fact, my heart still raced as I thought about him, and the look in his eyes was still as genuine as it had been before. Still, a looming sense of betrayal began to linger as I didn’t know what to do next.
“Do you think Archer’s really with me just to marry me?” I asked my father.
He rubbed his chin in thought. “I wish he were. Then you’d be able to leave him easily. But no. He loves you. Your mother and I knew he started too many years ago, and I guess I’m the only one who thought he’d eventually stop.” He shrugged, and I smiled.
“You know I love him too, right?” I whispered, and he rolled his eyes.
“Wish you didn’t,” he replied, and I pouted, hitting his shoulder again. He chuckled once again, and I laid my head on his shoulder.
“What are you going to do about Calvin?” I asked, and he sighed.
“He’s not getting into any part of the business so long as I’m still alive. If it took him fifteen years for this kind of plan, then he should’ve thought about you signing a prenup or never marrying Archer in the first place,” he replied.
I wrapped my arms around his neck once again as I hugged him. “I love you, Daddy,” I whispered.
He placed a kiss on my head. “I love you too, sweetheart… Now do me a favor. Kick the fighting couple downstairs out of my house before I do it myself,” he muttered.
I giggled, hearing Kimiko yell about something Sterling did. I pulled away and nodded. “Not a problem.”
Dad looked in deep thought for a moment before grabbing my hand and stopping me from leaving the room.
“Just answer this for me... you haven’t done anything with him yet, have you? I don’t want to have to call your uncle Eugene,” he asked, and I ripped my hand from his hold.
“Bye, Dad! Nice chatting with you!” I yelled as I ran out of the room and bolted down the steps.
I found Kimi and Sterling in the living room arguing through whispers, and as I approached them, they went silent.
“What’s going on?” I asked them, confused.
Sterling spoke for the both of them. “Nothing is going on... right, tiger?” he asked, narrowing his eyes.
Kimi stayed silent.
I went to ask again when Benjamin spoke for them as he passed by.
“The boy is waiting for you on the deck. Say hi to him for me, will you?” he muttered, and I scoffed as I turned back to look at Thing One and Thing Two.
“It was his fault! He let him in, and I told him not to!” Kimi growled as she hit his shoulder, to which Sterling whined and held his hands up.
“In my defense, he threatened me!” he replied quickly.
I ignored them both as I looked over my shoulder to see in the distance, just past the sliding glass door, he was sitting on the patio with his head down, most likely waiting for me to go to him.
I slowly walked over to the door, draining out any irrelevant sounds, and soon, I found myself pulling open the door.
He looked up, and I could tell he’d been overthinking just as I was.
“Princess,” he began, going to stand up, but I grabbed his hand as I sat beside him.
“Archer… you can’t threaten Sterling to see me,” I said softly.
He ignored me. “I’m sorry for not telling you the truth, Delilah,” he muttered.
I rubbed the back of his hand. “Well, technically... you didn’t lie, so you are forgiven in that aspect.”
He gave a small smile before looking away for a moment.
“My father only told me a little while ago that I would need to marry you. I think that’s what Stephan was trying to tell me; how I already had a ‘leg up’ and how he didn’t even need to make an effort and attempt to inherit our father’s business. The way it was portrayed that night, I choked up and froze. I never meant to hurt you.”
Pushing his hair behind his ear, I bit my lip. “Who said you did?” I asked softly, and his eyes met mine. “I know your father is crazy… mine no better. The way it came about was rather abrupt and rash, leaving me feeling a bit of betrayal and confusion. But you didn’t hurt me, Archer.”
I spoke truthfully, and as he stared at me, relief filling his eyes, I sighed in contentment as he leaned forward, his lips meeting mine. I loved Archer with everything in me... and forced or not, I would marry him in a heartbeat. Besides, my father would be the one to deal with the legal matters for now. It was a feud between him and Calvin. And I wasn’t going to let that get in the way of the love I have for Archer…
Speaking of the devil—
“Archer… it’s been a while,” I heard my father say, and pulling away from the kiss, I looked over and gasped to see a shotgun in his hand and my mother frantically coming over to the patio as well.
“What is wrong with you?!” she screamed at the top of her lungs.
My father shrugged. “I’m only sending a message. I tend to hurt the ones I love, so I thought a visual might be more... beneficial.”
I looked up at him in shock, and I turned to see Archer with a small smile on his face.
My mother placed her hand on my father’s shoulder, and he stopped her for a moment as he raised the gun to be eye-level with Archer, who was ever so calm and collected while my mother and I were panicking.
“Killian, this is not good for my stress or the baby!” my mother said angrily.
My father shushed her softly. “I’m just sending a message, my love. Now... I know people who can make you disappear, Lockwood,” he said sincerely.
Archer shrugged, leaning back. “And I know people who will be able to find me. Your point?” he asked as if there wasn’t a shotgun a few inches away from his head.
“If you ever... hurt my little girl, my only option is to kill you. We have a bit of a record, if you will, within this family... you should be well aware,” my father argued.
Archer tilted his head. “Bit of a shaky record if you ask me... Eugene being the main one holding the record and having to ‘kill’ three people— twice , for that matter,” he muttered.
I flinched as we heard another voice.
“Hey... that was a low blow, and you know it,” Uncle Eugene said, coming onto the patio.
Archer shrugged as he looked back over to my father. “Are we done?” he questioned him as my father lowered the shotgun.
“For now, it appears we are,” Dad replied, and my mother grabbed his arm forcefully as she dragged him inside, scolding him on the way.
Uncle Eugene gave us a small wave before walking inside, and I scoffed at Archer.
“Are you trying to get killed?” I asked him sincerely.
He bit his lip as he pulled me down to his lap playfully and placed a kiss on my neck. “To be quite honest, Princess... I was shitting bricks the entire time. The second your uncle came up, I almost gave out. I’m not scared of your father, believe me. But your father with a shotgun and your murderous uncle by his side… that, I am not a fan of,” he said truthfully.
I shook my head. “Don’t be so rude,” I muttered playfully, and he chuckled before placing a kiss on my head.
We were stopped once again by the sound of the door opening, and I looked over to see my mother with a large smile plastered on her face and my father with a face that held the opposite emotion.
Smiling from ear to ear, my mother spoke happily. “Now that we’re a family again… who wants to go on a family trip!”