3×02 “Walk Down the Aisle”
Written by: Chris Coleman and Kelly Zollo
Guest Starring: Anderson Kincaid (Eric Dane) and Cara Kincad (Kate Beckensale)
Theme Song: I’m Not the Only One- Sam Smith
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCkpzqqog4k

Natasha brushed the golden contour on her cheeks as she looked in the mirror. Her family’s traditional jewels were flown in from Egypt. She felt regal and knew that for once she was about to get back what was so rightfully hers. SandStar was the prize and soon Chauncey and everyone would know that she wasn’t some fool to be taken from. Dani and Jackson would lose the energy division without SandStar then Chauncey would get DGI and she’d have everything she wanted. Including a divorce from his pathetic ass. She cared about Chauncey as a friend but loving him, she could never. Picking up her champagne glass she took a sip and felt the nerves easing. This was to get SandStar back. This was to make sure Chauncey got what he wanted so she could get what she wanted. It wasn’t about love, this was a business arrangement and then it was about her reclaiming her future. Her mind drifted off to Anderson and felt her stomach clenching. She knew that Chauncey wasn’t her be all and end all and soon enough he’d know it too. Wearing a white corset and lace panties she walked to the bar and poured her some more champagne.

As she sat down at her vanity she began to final touches on her hair. It was tradition in her family that the woman got ready alone to surprise her groom. Well that’s what she lied and told everyone. Natasha snickered because honestly she didn’t want Bliss to give her some sentimental gift, she didn’t want to have to punch Max in the face, and that little bitch Belle that was a joke. She felt like Jackie secretly didn’t like her and if she was going to marry Chauncey she was going to do it with peace of mind. When she heard a knock at the door she jumped a little and walked to her silk white robe. Tying it around her petite waist she walked to the door and her mood instantly shifted. “What in the hell are you doing here?”

Cara Riley Young Kincaid had worked her entire life to make sure she had her fairytale ending, most talked about debutante in all of Philadelphia at the time she and Anderson met. Making sure according to her parents she nabbed him and kept him along with the fortune that came with it so loyal that she pursued his endless political career when she knew all she wanted was the money and title that came with it. She would have been happy to stay in Atlas Falls as first lady but no Anderson had wanted them to move around and pursue his various political aspirations. She had adapted of course every time he thought of straying from her making sure to lure him back to her bed, it wasn’t a mistake after all when she got pregnant with Wyatt it was calculated and planned. He was too involved with powerful people like Charles Hessington and the rest of their crowd and frankly abandoning her and their teenage son would have been political suicide, she tolerated Natasha Hassan and the exotic love that she thought Anderson had for her. Of course when news that Natasha was pregnant broke and engaged to Chauncey Devonshire she took steps again, the sleeping two month old in her arms her precious Poppy was again a calculated move.

“Hello I thought before you walked down the aisle that we needed to clear the air. Are you going to invite me in Natasha or shall we do this in the hallway so the reporters and staff can get a whiff of the drama on your big day that is what you live for isn’t it the drama and mystery? I mean I’d hate for Chauncey to get word of what we need to talk about the moment before you walked down the aisle.” Cara asked, Poppy was napping still and she didn’t wait for an answer before pushing past Natasha and into the room. She made sure that her rival got a good look at her daughter, her daughter with Anderson as she swayed the baby back and forth for good measure there was no way that Natasha would lash out physically with her with Poppy between them not if she ever wanted to see her husband again. “I really thought after your little spill down the stairs that it would end you know. Don’t act so surprised I’ve known for a few months and I’m here to politely ask that you keep your legs closed to my husband in the future or mark my words I’ll make your marriage to Chauncey a living hell. You see I hear Devonshire men don’t take kindly to real betrayal and well exposing you for the exotic whore you are would be icing on the cake.”

Natasha smirked as she bumped into her with Poppy in her arms. She was supposed to have Anderson’s son. The pressure in her stomach turned as she saw her coddling the precious princess of the Kincaid’s. Her eyes almost burned with tears seeing her holding the baby. Natasha knew that Cara was gloating that she had his baby and she lost it. “Careful Cara threatening me because we both know what you did. Jealousy is ugly trait because you pushed me down those stairs. Anderson knows it, I know it and so do you. I could put you away but then you’d tell everyone that Anderson and I are lovers. That he is my soulmate not yours that he married you because of political stance. Not love honey your family fueled money into his pocket when his father denied him of his legacy. You see Charles has given him what he needs but we both know Charles won’t be giving up his damn seat to someone who isn’t a Hessington. You want to do this put that baby and let me show you how much I can make your life a living hell. You have no idea what you did to me Cara and killing a baby must make you feel powerful and getting away with it wow you must feel like you’re bad.” She hissed looking at Cara.

“Sweetie when I’m done with you for what you did.” Natasha walked dangerously close to Cara and Poppy. Stroking Poppy’s cheek seeing Cara wince at her touching her daughter made her excited. “I’m going to raise your daughter and I’m going to get rid of you Cara. I’m going to be Ms. Kincaid eventually and the first lady. You can deny all you want what you did. But we know. Once I’m done stripping the Devonshire’s of SandStar, I’m going to incinerate you with all my power. You stole my son from me and I will steal your life. Let me make it clear you can rant and rave but always come out on top.” Natasha walked to her vanity and sat down and smirked seeing that she had gotten underneath Cara’s skin just like that. “You are going down Cara. You are going to lose everything and when I’m done nobody in history will remember you. Poppy won’t remember you because she’ll be my daughter. I assure you that the affair isn’t over and I won’t stop. You won’t reveal anything because of the fear that I’ll go to Jon Harrison so fast. Honey you killed a child because you were jealous trust me my affair will look like child’s play. So do you worst while I continue to do your husband.”

Cara pursed her lips together and it took all her power to not reach out and grab Natasha’s precious little finger and break it when she touched Poppy. She wasn’t that dumb she knew that Anderson was simply living fantasy political land Charles entertained his idea of course but being a Hessington was much like being a Kincaid a heirloom one her husband would not see under Charles’s thumb. “You make my life a living hell I think it would be the other way around, you out that I pushed you down the stairs and I tell the entire world that it wasn’t even Chuancey’s baby. The look of horror on the entire Devonshire families faces when they realized the infant they buried wasn’t even their flesh and blood would be priceless. All that public out pouring of support among your time of need with investors for Chauncey’s spot at CEO gone. SandStar stays right where it is now under Jackson and Dani’s thumb at DGI and you’re simply disgraced and your poor father.” Cara said pausing for a moment to let the optics of it all sink in how awful Natasha would look at the end of the day and she almost cackled at how sad it all was. “That would probably send the old goat to an early grave, let alone those pictures of you and Noah. No I think your awful affair with my husband, getting pregnant would do him in. Rumor is he’s looking to hand over your fortune to other people. You of course would tell Jon and well Anderson his loyalty is really with me and my family. I mean the flowers he sent were cute did you know I helped pick them out?”

“I would simply be maybe charged with reckless endangerment at this point Charles could probably talk it down even more depending on the judge that was assigned my case. But you raising Poppy and Wyatt that is such a pipe dream at this point Natasha. Anderson is never going to leave me for you and the sooner you come to terms with that, the sooner everyone can move forward. Though honestly it would be quite interesting to go tell Chauncey where you were last night and with whom see if he wants to chase after Greer LeClerq instead again.” Cara said as smugly as she could at the other woman the woman really thought that Anderson was going to leave her. Leave their family and she almost shook her head at how sad it all was the fantasy world that Natasha Hassan lived in, she almost felt sorry for her. “Isn’t she engaged now too, I mean who knows I could see Chauncey learning the truth and dumping you at the alter and going running to her, leaving you where again in your quest for the company you gave away? I came to tell you that I don’t want to tell anyone your little dark and dirty secret, I really don’t want to bury you in society but if it means protecting my family from you. I’ll do it in a heartbeat I’m simply asking that you respect your new marriage to Chauncey and leave my family the hell alone. Anderson has repeatedly made his choices myself and the children being his priorities.”

“Priorities is choice words coming from you. You may have everything you want now but I assure you Cara. One day you won’t even see it coming. I’m going to wreck you. I’m going to hurt you so badly you have nothing but time to think about what I did to you. It might not be tonight, or tomorrow but I’m going to hurt you just like you did me. You killed my son, you sadistic bitch. Do you understand we are at a stalemate and you reveal my affair with your husband honey those republicans will eat him alive, and if I reveal you pushed me then you’ll out my affair it’s funny because Chauncey and I are in an open marriage. So your little threat isn’t that scary.” She said in a sing-song voice. “Greer and Chauncey are like shit and a fly they’ll find a way to each other. You however I thought to be more of a threat than silly Greer, or Dani or even Chauncey. You have caused me the most pain. I want you to hold her tightly. My mother a Indian woman and my father a Egyptian man. You think that you can kill one of my seeds and my child. You hold her close because one of your kids will pay a dire price because of your misdeeds. I believe in blood curses and you placed one on your family my dear. An eye for an eye. Death is all over you because I will get my revenge. I come from lands of people who have been taken from you will never and I mean never take from me and not feel my wrath.” Natasha spat back Cara.

“Now bitch get the hell of my room. Don’t question your husband’s mistress bitch because if you ever think you are brave enough to come here against me. I won’t care about SandStar, my father, those pictures of Noah. I will strip you of your life bitch. I will give it all up because I have nothing because you stole my son. You stole him because you were jealous that Anderson loves me. He can come home to you who he tolerates, and that mediocre son you call a prodigy of what? Cara you failed him as first lady and he’s carrying your basic load. Bitch I will get my revenge and if you ever and I mean ever come to me like you just did. Disrespectful, tactless and crude. You’re jealous that you’ve never given Anderson what I have. You might be the wife but I am the woman he jerks off to. I’m the woman he can’t get enough of. But tonight is my wedding night and you are a guest at my wedding. So I’ll tell you what. When I want to see Anderson, it won’t be me who reaches out my love. It’ll be your husband. So tell him to stay away from me, I’m a married woman now.” Natasha walked to her door. “Shall I call Anderson and tell him about our little chat or are you going to leave now?”

Looking down at Poppy she knew when to take her cue when it came to Natasha and well at the end of the day Natasha Hassan could have her loveless marriage to Chauncey she still held a trump card with Anderson. Anderson had returned to her so many times over the years because of Wyatt and Poppy, where he belonged it was sad almost how Natasha had built them up in her head as an endgame it would never happen. One thing Anderson prided himself on was his political career, a career that would be ruined if he were to leave her and her children for Natasha. She made sure to walk to the vanity making sure that Natasha got one last look at her daughter while she did. “I think I know Anderson better than you do, I know him enough to know how badly he wants political approval thanks to Steven’s past something he can never achieve with you by his side so that leaves you as always that the mistress. Don’t grace yourself into my marriage again Natasha I’d hate to use connections to make sure you disappear entirely enjoy being Mrs. Chauncey Devonshire and trying to get SandStar back have a child or two with him and secure your own legacy that way not with my husband. I’ll leave now.” She finishing hoping her words were a fair warning enough for Natasha.

**********

Jackie Devonshire looked around the grand ballroom to make sure everything was in place she of course trusted Merci’s eyes and taste as well but after the last wedding she was not taking any chances. Chauncey was marrying Natasha Hassan in a beautiful ceremony and her daily would expand again and they could all move forward from that awful night six months ago, her family needed it. Her son and Natasha needed, but she needed it the most. At first it had been easy to hold her head high in public when she and Lowell divorced when all the children went back to their lives and their homes but at night she always saw herself dragging that body through the estate and dropping his lifeless corpse in the water. Regal to the end it would be her secret that she would cover for Bliss till her end days, she had been through too much and deserved her very much so earned happy ending with Hunter and her son, she would ensure that it happened. Which included divorcing the man she loved and watching him move on with Tess Blisston the woman she despised and hated with everything inside of her. She adjusted one of the place cards on the tables when she heard the doors open and she stared at Jon Harrison and Devin Thompson, along with a female officer she didn’t recognize.

“I wasn’t under the impression that security from the local police department was needed at this wedding. I of course appreciate the help at the last one but since no one has heard from Dimitri Kavanaugh in the last six months it’s hardly necessary.” Jackie asked steeling herself just in case they started to ask about Dimitri. She still hadn’t forgotten Jon’s outburst at Jackson’s rehearsal dinner it had been humiliating for the bride and the groom an absolute disaster in the papers thanks to Greer LeClerq’s article in the paper. She wasn’t sure if she was up to dealing with another one of Jon’s tirades against her family or not but this wedding would happen one way or another. Chauncey would marry Natasha today and it would be a happy day for all of them not marred by the death of Dimitri Kavanagh and her unborn grandson at the hands of whomever pushed Natasha down the stairs that night. “Is there any update on the investigation into who pushed my future daughter in law down the stairs at the mansion? Or is there something else that I can help you all with?”

“Jackie this is our new officer Rebecca Nolan.” Jon said, chewing a piece of gum looking at her. “Tell me with cameras all around the Devonshire manor how did you guys never see someone clearly ditching a body on the estate? Your dock goes directly into Lake Everest correct? Per this um article reported by Greer LeClerq. Man she is on your family’s ass.” Biting his lip he looked at her. Jon looked at Rebecca writing in her notes immediately. He also noticed that Jackie’s color seemed to flush slightly. “Ms. Devonshire you have no idea how Dimitri ended up in Lake Everest?”

“We don’t have time for this. We have a wedding in less than two hours. So I suggest you schedule an appointment with Jacqueline. She’s helping me finish and Jon please don’t ever come to my job interrupting my process. What you won’t do is this, come back at an appropriate time. This isn’t the place and if I have to report you to your commissioner then I will.” Merci said immediately as she looked at Devin. “Devin get him, I’m not going to have another horrible wedding. Jackson and Dani’s was a hot mess. I won’t have another horrid event so please we are almost done. Call Ms. Devonshire when we are finished, are we done here? God whomever killed Dimitri Kavanaugh deserves the fucking key to the city.”

“Merci please stop talking because this is an official police investigation. I want to know why the cameras toward the docks of the estate weren’t on? I want to know how Simon Rutherford saved three women. I want to know why you came into the ballroom with Tamara, Bliss, and Selina. You see we’ve subpoenaed the recordings and I found you all scurrying around mansion. So tell me what were you and the girls whispering about that night?”

Jackie her nose up at Jon and his gum chewing eying the new detective and watching as she took some notes in her notebook. The cameras were off that night because she had instructed Simon to make sure they were something that could be easily explained away there was a lot of staff and extra security that night. Jon Harrison and his posse of police officers didn’t need to know about that though and she could easily play it off as just that. She had almost made a retort when Merci spoke up that now really was not the time or the place which was also true. She had worried that since Jackson’s wedding that Merci would not have taken any more DGI or Devonshire events on as a client it wasn’t like she wanted to go to anyone else for the event or to plan the wedding and at least everyone agreed that the hotel was the best location.

“I have no idea how that monster ended up on the lake detective, the cameras weren’t on because it is still winter and the lake is often times frozen at that time or the very least very cold and we never use the boat when it is that cold. As for why the cameras were off inside the mansion you were there my son was almost shot outside with my nephew and Linus security ran from the room, we also had hired extra security personnel for the event.” Jackie said the gum chewing making a sloshing sound that reminded her of the trek through the falling snow on the wet grass to dispose of the body. For her she could compartmentalize that night she didn’t kill Dimitri herself but it was about time someone did, the fact that it was Bliss that did him in being poetic justice to her. “Simon came and found me as soon as he scared Dimitri off, of course I went to check on Selina my goddaughter and Bliss. I’m not a cold woman when it comes to Bliss despite my relationship with Tess.”

Rebecca looked at the regal and dignified Jackie Devonshire in the flesh it was quite the site something that would have most women awestruck as she took notes. It all seemed plausible when it came to her story but there was still gaping holes. Holes that no matter what seemed to linger even if it all made logical sense. “So Simon scared Dimitri off and he happened to just end up in the middle of the lake? Why did you have extra security at the wedding if you didn’t think that Dimitri was a threat? Did you hire them or did Merci hire them for the event? Do you still have a list of those temporary security personnel?” Rebecca said looking over at Merci and seeing Devin glare at her she rolled her eyes. He could take up for his girlfriend later if he wanted right now she wanted answers. “I mean it was your party was it you or Jackie that made the decision there needed to be extra security?”

“The extra security was hired by me because word was that Dimitri might crash the event.” Merci lied perfectly, not even Devin knew the truth and she could tell that Jackie was taken back a little by her. “The truth is I grew up in an orphanage in Scottswood and my best friend Skye Morgan we both did. So an abusive jealous power hungry prince is nothing to an abusive jealous power hungry drug dealer or garbage man. With all the women that he terrorized were in one place well it didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out he’d be there. Or tried to so me being the professional that I am, I hired them.” She took charge over them and nobody had to know. Simon told her that with an extra ten racks. That was enough to always say she hired the guards. Not only that she got paid damn good and was in motherfucking Vogue. “And I do have a list for the extra security that’s fun you ask that because me being a professional and all, I keep immaculate records.” Snapping her fingers at Rebecca. “But I’ll get it to you on Monday. Considering we have a wedding to do. Anything else?”

Jon looked at Jackie who almost looked shocked by her shock at who hired the extra guards. It was as if they didn’t know something. That was interesting and that made him feel like that Jackie knew something and more than anything she was hiding something. “You have been seen with Bliss around town. She’s actually helping the country club right? She is going along with the Kincaid rehab after Steven ex-mayor was a racist part of the klan whole mess. Got us all a new force and me a great new job.” Jon whispered but it was loud enough for everyone to hear talking to Rebecca. “Okay so last year you two hated each other and now your besties. You two are so cool it’s okay Bliss is married to Hunter who happens to be Max’s ex-husband also. It’s complex anyways let’s get to the fact Simon went and found you? You were Simon’s first person to get after scaring away Dimitri Kavanaugh? That’s interesting why you? I mean if this man who had just held all these women hostage why leave em? Chauncey? Hell I was there? Devin? We were looking for Dimitri. Why didn’t Simon come to us but you? Rebecca did you locate or get in contact with Simon?” Jon turned back and looked at Jackie. “But what was Bliss’ demeanor like?” He didn’t have shit to go on but Jon was leaping. Seeing if he could scare Jackie. Plus whoever did this was professional no way it was none of them. But Simon may know or Jackie may give them a clue. “A body was dumped on your grounds and you don’t look shocked. Was it Bliss?”

Jackie hadn’t even realized she would be so caught off guard by Merci covering her lie for her until it actually happened, a little white lie none the less but a lie. She didn’t fully trust Merci Dubois with the details of that night given the fact that the girl was seeing Devin Thompson but neither Jon nor the other detective knew that. She spotted Simon entering the side doors and almost let out a huge sigh of relief seeing him. “Of course Simon went to me when everything was happening he works for my family detective or did you conveniently forget that? He is one of my son’s closest friends not to mention one of Dani’s as well why would he after being a groomsmen want to ruin their day when no one was hurt or injured?” Jackie said hoping that her nerves weren’t showing, inside she was shaking in fear if anyone to find out what Bliss did that night Lowell would be without a child and worse Fox would be without his mother after being freed from the monster that was his father. “Bliss was upset of course and she didn’t see the need to make the ordeal about her at that time, perhaps I don’t know you should take lessons from her in the future? There were plenty of people at that party that wanted Dimtiri dead perhaps yourself? What about Devin afterall Dimitri did in fact violate his cousin too? Perhaps it was Forbes for embarrassing him publicly, regardless I’m not shocked or upset about that monsters death and you thought I would be you have no idea the woman I am.” Jackie finished knowing she was getting frustrated with the barrage of questions as she tried to distract herself and not look Jon in the eye instead moving to the tables as she spoke to make sure the tags were center and perfect on each one.

Jon looked at Devin who had the same look on his face. They’d dealt with the Devonshire’s long enough to know when they were stonewalling them. When she came up with at least four other excuses which were plausible, however seeing how tense she got when he brought up Bliss. Well that was interesting. “Thank-you, I’m sure since Simon is here his answers will be that we can speak to you, which is conveniently the man who found the girls. It’s quite a conundrum that the women were kidnapped, Simon who isn’t the strongest nor intimidating, I’m sorry I’m going to say it. Not because he’s gay but because Simon is Simon. Rutherford wouldn’t scare me and if I was a psycho like Dimitri, who has beat, raped, and almost murdered women and men. He tortured them all and all you can say is Simon saved them. I mean it just feels uncertain and almost like you all are lying.” Jon saw Devin’s eyes when he said it and he knew he struck a nerve when he saw Jackie avoiding his eye contact. “It’s funny that Jackie we were looking for Dimitri and it was conveniently forgotten that the Devonshire mansion was apart of the underground railroad. So it had tunnels inside of it. It’s so funny that was forgotten and we were hunting for him while he got to watch us through the damn walls. Look I don’t give a damn about Dimitri the world is better but whomever played vigilante won’t get away with it. But Jackie you seem so stressed by my questions.”

Simon saw Jon speaking with Jackie and Devin stood looking stunned. That was enough to send a shiver down his spine. Jon wasn’t exactly friends to the Devonshire’s nor the Fraisers. Hell, Jon had become a public enemy. Truth of the matter, he wasn’t here for it and he wasn’t going to tolerate Jon’s behavior anymore. He’d been feeling nervous about Ivan returning home soon from the tour also.“Jon, I understand you’re talking to one of my employers without her lawyer being present. I went down to the station immediately after I attacked and saved those women. Now if you have any further questions for Jackie or Bliss you will call me or their attorneys. Or DGI will sue you and show you how much of a man you seem to not think I am. These women and myself survived Dimitri and someone murdered him by the autopsy report that is leaking on line as we speak. He died the night of Jackson and Dani’s wedding which is hilarious because Bliss and Jackie were dancing and partying after all the drama. Merci has a disk full of pictures of it so I suggest you talk to me before you contact any more DGI employees or the family. That’s all because whatever this was on Jackson’s wedding day won’t be tolerated understood? Get out Jon and take your loyal lap dog Devin with you. You can’t control him? You can’t do something better than harass us on a family’s fucking function.”

“Well the last Devonshire wedding someone died so I think this is primitive policing.” Jon snarked immediately.

Devin hadn’t said a word the entire time that Jon was asking the questions as Merci glared at him he was here on official police business. But he was going to let Jon take the lead and make a fool of himself Jackie Deovnshire wasn’t going to give him anything on the eve of her eldest son’s wedding to Natasha Hassan and he was crazy if he thought she would. He could tell that she of course was nervous about the questions and he knew that something else was going on, but eh still maintained that Dimitri deserved to go out like he did with a few to the chest and if they never found his murderer he was going to sleep like a fucking king with nothing on his conscience. He had actually thought about recusing himself from the case entirely it wasn’t like he didn’t want Dimitri brought in and dead either, the man assaulted his cousin in a fucking theater and raped Tamara that was enough for him. When Simon but a quick Devonshire end to their questioning he saw the new girl taking notes, maybe he should just leave it to Jon and her to investigate it would certainly make things less fucking awkward around Merci and Jon and him and Jon. Not to mention Rebecca Nolan fucking annoyed him to no end, she was way too eager to make a name for herself and was almost as much of a loose canon as Jon was.

“I think Jon has too many leashes to keep control of right now Simon he doesn’t need one from me. We’ll be in touch though.” Devin said hoping Jon took the shots with pride he had told him for months his little game with whoever he was fucking on the side was a bad idea while Skye was still with him but Jon didn’t want to listen. Didn’t want to listen to him or Zach or really anyone and he was still punishing Miranda too Jon wanted to do that he was welcome too he was done telling him what to do, Jon wanted to change his life and motives it was up to him. “We’e on our way out.” Devin said pausing for a moment before he started to walk out smiling at Merci. “I’ll get hot head out of here and be back later.” Devin said kissing her cheek as he walked out the doors making sure Jon was following him as they made their way back to their squad car. “Listen she’s not going to give you jack shit in there you want my advice place the pressure on Bliss or hell for once just let this go up to you, you’re lead you want we can go press Bliss after the wedding Jon, not before.” Devin finished opening the door and slamming it behind him as he clutched the velvet box in his slacks Jon Harrison was not going to ruin this for him either.

**********

Bliss arched her back as Hunter had her against the wall of the shower making passionate love to her. She was so close and knew that Hunter was about to explode. Her body was shivering underneath him, as she leaned up and tongued kissed him. “I love you.” She whispered in his ear as he smiled. She heard him say it back and it felt so good to be with a man who truly loved her. As she clawed his back she started to moan. Trying to stop herself from screaming out. Fox had a habit of bursting into their room right now. “Yes Hunter.” She said purring into his ear as she looked at him. Bliss began to shiver as the shower water splashed on them. Not able to handle it she began to shake uncontrollably as she began to release a powerful orgasm. She felt Hunter bursting as she shook underneath him. They kissed, laughed and finished their shower. It was the only time because the four year old was running rampant in their home. Fox was such a happy child and nothing like his psycho father. Atticus came twice a week to give him royal lessons so that when he visited his grandfather he’d know all the traditions. She also had developed a tight bond with Brooke and Dani. Over the last few months she’d see Selina or Tamara in passing and they’d all just stare. No longer able to talk about what happened it was a silent bond between them. If push ever came to shove she’d turn herself in instead of them all falling on the sword.

Drying Hunter’s back she laughed looking at her husband. “You know Belle has been really nice to Fox lately. She came over and brought him that train set that he loves. It’s strange she’s slowly becoming the sister I always wanted. Max even is being nice which I kind attribute to the pregnancy. I can’t believe my big sister is having a baby with Sebastian. She deserves it you know that happiness that I see all over her. She deserves it so much.” Just as the shower gel fell into the spiralling pool of water in the tub. The splash made her jump as she remembered the same thud when Dimitri’s body hit the water. She shrieked, shaking a little and saw Hunter’s concerned expression. Bliss laughed trying to play it off as she looked at her husband. “Hunter, I’m sorry just noises sometimes can startle me. I was just thinking about Dimitri. No, no, no, don’t do that. Don’t make that face, you can’t erase the abuse Hunter. I was raped, I was beaten, and I was tortured by him. I’m happy because soon I’ll be carrying a little Kincaid and we have Fox our son. We have a life together and I sometimes just drift back to darkness and I’m talking to someone about it you know that. I just am shaken up that he’s really dead, that he’s really gone. That I don’t have to look over my shoulder anymore.” Bliss said, slipping on her robe. “Tell me how is work? I have a big presentation for work in a couple days with dad. I have a idea that will change DGI actually.”

Hunter didn’t know why but making love to Bliss in the shower lately had been his favorite place he was pretty sure it was because they were so in love with each other and still newlyweds. It wasn’t like that with him and Max and for him that was liberating, making love to Bliss as corny at is was, was blissful. It centered him and their marriage, ever since the wedding he had been trying his best and they had thrown out any form of birth control, seeing his best friend have children now his nephew and niece again, and then becoming a father to Fox sent that home for him. He wanted to be a father more than anything, when Bliss started to moan and orgasm around him he couldn’t help the moan that came out and his body flexing before he came inside of her against the shower. He reminded himself that they had to be quiet and kissed her back, the best part about being a father to Fox was how all over the place he was all the time and privacy was something they rarely got. While he looked over at her in the mirror with a smile he couldn’t help but notice how she jumped about five feet with the body wash fell off the ledge and hit the pool of draining water. She had been jumpy since the wedding and he had attributed that to all the trama that she had been through with Dimitri, walking to the shower he placed the gel back on the shelf before finishing drying off and starting to get dressed for the wedding.

“I think Belle has come a long way since she first came to town and I appreciate how she is really trying to be a good aunt to Fox. I know that at first she was bratty and entitled but it seems like since the wedding she has slowed down on that just a tad, as for her and Max getting along who knew all it took was Sebastian and her getting pregnant to slide back her fangs.” Hunter said looking at his wife, honestly talking about Dimitri always seemed to upset both of them for various reasons her obviously due to what she had been through, him because he was filled with rage all the time towards the man that did that to her. He wasn’t there to protect her that was something that he knew was irrational they weren’t even a couple he had no idea she existed but someone should have done better for her whether that be her own father or Tess, Atticus even but instead no one did, expect Natasha and her father who helped Bliss escape. “I’m not going to analyze you Bliss how you deal with what Dimitri did is entirely up to you but I know there are people at the hospital who can help, if you don’t want it public we can even hire someone to come here. I’m not going to mourn him honestly if he would have showed his face to me I would have killed him with my bare hands. Work is work, it’s great helping on the Scottswood project but it’s also still weird getting stares from everyone about that picture of my dad you know? People wondering if I’m like him, a racist people that used to respect me and weren’t running to the other side of city hall or the street to avoid me.”

Bliss hated Philip Montgomery for what he did to Hunter. She’d seen the destruction that the Kincaid family had gone through. Anderson went to Philly with Charles Hessington and worked with the NAACP to try to clean up their family image. She wanted nothing more than to help her husband and her new family repair the damage to their reputations. She felt sick almost thinking about how Hunter was treated and how the entire family was disrespected. The Kincaid’s weren’t racist but Philip’s actions had tarnished the legacy of this family. Walking to her closet she picked up her red sequins Donna Karen strapless cocktail dress. “Hunter the joy comes in the morning and I know that the Kincaid’s and you will be alright. Hunter you are amazing as a man and as father to Fox.” Bliss began to get choked up. “No matter what everyone who questions and doubts you will see that you aren’t Steven. Steven isn’t a bad man either because you didn’t see that side of him and he changed. So whatever that was we won’t let it define the Kincaid’s or you do you hear me?” She walked to her husband and kissed him as her mind drifted off to Dimitri. She shimmied into her dress.

He didn’t have to kill him because she did. The bullets echoed peacefully in her psyche. She still felt guilty about feeling so good. She killed someone but didn’t believe it was wrong either but Hunter couldn’t know. It was killing her though because they shared everything with each other. “Dimitri is gone and I am so glad he’s dead. I just hope they close the case and never find out who killed that motherfucker.” Just as Fox burst into their room and ran to Hunter jumping into his arms. “You have your tux on did Luna help you get dressed?” She said as he kissed Hunter cheek and then they did their little cute fight thing. Where Hunter always lost to Fox super strength the kid was obsessed with superheroes. Marvel, DC, hell anybody who kicked ass he loved. “Hey you two are going to be wrinkled and Ms. Luna is going to get you both!” She giggled as she looked at the television. Jon Harrison was having a press conference and was talking about Dimitri’s murder. She quickly turned off the television. Fox didn’t ask about Dimitri but she didn’t want to ever trigger him. “Hey handsome.” She stooped down and kissed her son’s forehead. “I have everything I want with you two.”

Hunter looked down at Fox when he ran in he was such an amazing kid and he was going to do everything in his power to be a an amazing father to him, something that he had growing up or so he liked to think. There was no denying the picture that came out at Jackson and Dani’s wedding and from there he had been a bit obsessed learning that the roots of his upbringing and hatred ran deep questions still haunted him though. If his legacy was in such deep rooted hatred then why was his father so welcoming to Mason of all people growing up why did he have memories of his father and Tony laughing at various parties and functions, surely his father was not part of that hatred anymore. Unfortunately he wasn’t able to ask those questions out loud over the last six months the public had already made up their mind about Steven Kincaid and his past going as far as to even dismantle his legacy as mayor, something he was starting to hate Walter Fraiser for. Walter wasn’t perfect and being on city council still in the public planning works and listening to him wipe out his father’s appointments and legacy was maddening. He nodded his head at Bliss while she flicked off the TV and the coverage of Dimitri’s body Bliss looked scared was a good word for it and he didn’t blame her the man had put her and Fox through so much. He was trying his best to not let Dimitri sit in his brain but he was always there wondering where he had went, now he had an answer into the lake right outside Jackson and Dani’s wedding.

“I didn’t think they would find him like that you know Simon always made it seem like he scared him off you don’t think he had other enemies in town do you? Don’t get me wrong I’m glad he’s gone but I didn’t expect it to be like that. I’m not going to mourin him or anything but if I know Jon he’s going to be like a dog with a bone now.” Hunter said quietly he made sure not to name Dimitri by name he and Bliss hadn’t actually told Fox about Dimitri’s sudden disappearance in his life but now it seemed that they would have too. That or he supposed that Atticus could deliver the news to his nephew as they were close he saw her stiffen a bit and he could swear that her face showed worry for an instant. “Are you sure you’re okay I know you already gave Jon a run down of what happened with Simon when he found you and scared Dimitri away, stick with that and if he wants to be an ass about it tell him he can talk to me.”

Bliss lips quivered as she kissed the top of Fox head. She took a deep sniff of his hair and how he smelled. He had Dimitri’s eyes and those eyes weren’t always evil. She could still see the look of fear in his eyes as she shot the first shot into his torso. As she looked at her husband she wanted to desperately tell him she killed Dimitri. She however knew that it wasn’t what Jackie or the other women wanted. Tamara and Selina both said that they weren’t going to tell their lovers and husbands. The thought of Jon Harrison after her sent a chill down her spine. As she looked at Hunter and smiled trying to shake out the bad images in her mind. Then she wondered if Jon had spoken to Simon and the rest of the girls. It wasn’t as if she was trying to see them after all it was best they weren’t seen together.

“For so many years I had a guarantee with myself to depend on myself. After Dimitri I thought I wouldn’t breathe again. He took the air out of every room and seems to be doing it all over again. I just want to be happy and I don’t really want to talk about this. My brother is getting married and my family is at peace for now. Hunter I am fine and whatever happens to Dimitri. They don’t have a suspect Hunter and so many people wanted to see him dead. He just pushed the wrong person, that’s it. Simon saved us and that’s all that happened.” She repeated as if she had rehearsed it over and over.

**********

Belle was wearing a hot pink Chanel kimono where you could see her hot pink bra bedazzled in swarovski crystals. Her hair was pulled into two french braids down her back. As she waited for the wedding to start. Chauncey had come and seen her to personally invite her and speak with her father. It was awkward as hell when mummy came and brought ice tea to the room. However the Devonshire’s were slowly warming to her. She was close with a few people in the family mainly Maddie, Fox, Jolene and Donovan. The kiddies seemed to like wild auntie Belle versus the sticks in the mud that were her siblings. Well Rory had seemed to come around slightly. Just last week she was dancing Club Vertigo and Rory actually danced with her. It was cute because he scared off two losers away from her. Max and Bliss were semi-nice to her. There was tension between them no matter what because it seemed Max and Bliss were close now. While she was on the outside. Her own full blood sister could barely stand her. Sometimes she wished they were close because Belle was honestly conflicted on what to do with David. Ever since their trip to St. Croix and them frolicking on the beach they’d been inseparable. She honestly never liked someone as much as she did David. Atticus was a silly crush but this is the type of man she needed. Her siblings would respect her more if she dated a man of that stature but he didn’t want to tell anyone they were seeing each other. Scared that this new guy Jayden would take his place or something. Picking up a glass of champagne she smiled at the waiter and kept walking around the bar hopefully to find something to get into while they waited.

When she saw Connor Hessington staring at her she smiled at him and he looked away. No matter what she likes attention and that blondie with him has to go. How else would Connor pay attention to her? Turning to the waiter she waved at him. “Pardon me, I had a little brain freeze, last time I drank champagne well it wasn’t good. So please red wine.” Few moments later she had a glass of red wine in her hand. Strutting over to Connor she fake tripped in her Jimmy Choos and threw the wine all over his date. “Oh no!” She said her British accent in full display. Seeing the girl rush off trying to salvage the old couture on her body. “Sweetie, a little club soda will get that right out of love.” She turned to Connor and smirked picking up a champagne glass from one of the waiters passing by. Taking a sip she looked at him and smiled so brightly that he  almost smiled at her. Call it magic but she swore his stone face broke.. “I’ve missed you Connor. You were my first friend in Atlas Falls and now you seem to not like me. I just want my friend back.” Belle twirled the braid around her finger as she looked at him annoyed and amused all at once.

Connor had agreed to take Ms. Charlotte Rhinemore to the wedding as his date an up and coming model for Val’s line and a one time friend or frienemy of Brooke’s depending on how you looked at things in the modeling world. He guessed they were more enemies than friends but she was gorgeous and funny, she didn’t have any skeletons in her closet that his father couldn’t handle or didn’t know about meaning she was the prefect date. It also helped that she was blonde and had a bit of an attitude to go with it, honestly last year he thought that he and Belle Archibald had something going on. Instead rumor had it she was dating some older ass guy, which was fine with him and also fine with his father, Hessington’s like he was reminded were far above the Devonshire’s that had made their entire fortune on ill begotten gains of their employees. He didn’t particular agree with the sentiment fully Belle after all had been raised in England with adoptive parents but when she simply discarded him like a used newspaper that had hurt. He wasn’t above being petty when needed and this was one of those times that he felt petty as fuck and simply had taken Charlotte to see if he could get a rise out of the dearl Belle and judging by Charlotte running off when the wine had went all over and Belle trying to sweet talk him that had done the trick. The problem with women like Belle Archibald was that she expected men to fall at her feet and normally they did, in this case however he was not one to fall at anyone’s feet let alone hers.

“Classic as always Belle I have to say your gusto over my date is quite interesting Charlotte is quite the catch on the covers of Elle and Vouge to mention a few. I don’t think women like you have friends Belle let’s be honest with ourselves you simply used me when you came back to town to make your ex prince jealous of you and the moment that didn’t work you moved on to older things if rumor is right.” Connor said looking at her for moment knowing he wasn’t mincing words that wasn’t the Hessington way no they preferred their ways to be more cut throat and like a snake striking with poison when needed. He took a sip of his champagne as he looked at her his eyes locking with hers over the rim the look in her eyes was a dead give away the rumors were true she was dating and older guy which was such a shame in his opinion she was vibrat and young. People like themselves needed to be free to sow their oats as his father would have stated or at least people as young as they were that weren’t actually in a serious committed relationship he swirled his glass for a moment before looking at her. “I don’t think Charlotte will be gone that long she has connections and well if push came to shove I would love to text Val and have something delivered to her. I actually thought that we were having fun last winter that it might go somewhere, but like my father likes to point out Devonshire’s will be Devonshire’s apparently and well I’m not your stepping stone, love.” Connor finished throwing in the love for good measure.

Belle felt her stomach lock up. Everyone had heard rumors but nobody knew who she was dating. If David would come out then speculation would end. She smiled at his little love remark and laughed at it. Placing her hand on his hip she looked at him and shook her head. “Well Charlotte’s terribly boring and I did it on purpose so there. Have something delivered for her and I’ll shred that. Look I don’t what happened one moment I was all about Connor and the next I got swept off my feet. Look I’m not treating you like a stepping stone, I just fell into something that I didn’t expect and he’s not old. He’s more mature than me but he isn’t old. I still want friends that aren’t into the muppets. Or my teenage niece. She’s adorable and loves me but I’m totes trying here to say I still would love to be your friend. I didn’t know that I was hurting you. You’re a celeb and you have all these girls throwing themselves at you. I didn’t think I was important. I am starting to sense that we can chill again. Come babes don’t leave me hanging.”

She leaned in and wiped his cheek which had a little lipstick on it. “That’s tacky Mr. Hessington. It’s funny your family tries to be relatable but you’re filthy rich and you choose to look your nose down at the Devonshire’s? Ironic because we all have heard the rumors about the Hessington’s. That you steal babies we can all throw stones Connor let’s not do it okay? Yes they might not like me but they are family and I won’t let you stick your nose up at them when your family has no room to throw stones in a glass house.” She saw his shock etched on his face. “Babes maybe we won’t be friends.” Taking a sip of her champagne she smiled. “Or we can? What do you say?” Biting her lip seductively as she adjusted her kimono dress letting her bedazzled bra showing him. “I miss you.”

Connor looked at her as she confirmed that she sabotaged his date on purpose and he had to wonder if in fact she was as happy as she let on with her secret little lover. If she was so satisfied with the older man that she was seeing then why was she suddenly so interested in who was or wasn’t in his bed or his social circle. She had discarded him like a used purse that she would have picked up for a season and got rid of and he wasn’t one to take kindly to that treatment. “You know exactly what happened Belle you simply got bored of what was in front of you and decided to try and snag a bigger and better match I’m not stupid and neither are you. I just expected the common courtesy of at least a phone call or a texts but you couldn’t even be bothered. If he’s so great and amazing why didn’t you bring him as your date instead of terrorizing mine?” Connor shot back he knew better than to let his emotions get to him in public it was ingrained in his brain since he was young you never letting someone get the best of you publicly it was why they were in the papers but hardly ever gave into gossip and fodder. Mainly because they learned to all keep their fucking cool and not explode or really show emotions to the press it was how they defended and protected their legacy and in some ways their hearts.

“That’s tacky? You know what is tacky taking over some girls coming out party to make it about you. Interfering in Brooke Kincaid’s relationship with Atticus Kavanagh and feigning innocent victim in it all. Didn’t your mother lie about Zerick’s mother getting raped to get back with your biological father and yet here you are judging my family. If I had to guess though you knew the truth too living in Forbes house.” Connor said shot back at her how dare she try and make him out to be some sort of bad guy in her story he wasn’t the one that dropped her like a hot potato on fire. He actually had been really shocked that she just abandoned their friendship and what he had thought would be more and he wasn’t about ready to forgive her for it either. ”For the record Skye was a fucking addict and a mess, we provided an answer to her problems and Miles is my nephew his DNA doesn’t change that for us. Call it stealing or whatever the hell you want he has a better life now than being raised in dysfunction with an addict who has been in and out of recovery for years.”

Belle’s eyes narrowed as he began to tear into her family and her mother’s past. She bit down on her lip. As she folded her arms she knew she was wrong after all she did play in the man’s face. It was clear he actually liked her at one point but she clearly screwed that up. Placing down the glass she raised her hands signalling that she wasn’t here to fight. “A little harsh love but enjoy your date. Enjoy your evening. I can honestly say Connor you are special to me. You are one of the few people who didn’t look at me like a monster. Now you just seem to look at me with contempt. Just so you know he’s not here because we can’t be seen together right now. One day maybe but I should be going. This is awkward and I don’t do awkward.” Belle leaned in and kissed Connor cheek. As she saw his face slightly turn red. At least she still had that effect on her. “Maybe one day you’ll look at me like you used to.” With that she had enough and felt almost sick to her stomach. Had she given up a good guy for David who wouldn’t even go public with her. As she walked away she saw that model girl eyeing her with so much hostility. Belle waved at her as she turned the corner and saw her mother.

“Well that won’t work.” Tess said in a commanding tone. “If you want Connor Hessington you’ll have to do better than that. How many times have I told you Belle? If you want to win then you have to go so big and do what someone else won’t. Petty little tricks don’t work when you’re a grown woman.”

Belle scoffed as she folded her arms. “I can’t believe you. You are literally trying to tell me how to win a man when you won by default. You stole my father from Jackie under false pretenses. Petty seems to work fine for you because you lured a dying man into your web of lies and deceit don’t you dare tell me how to get a man because you can’t get one. Unless you’re tricking him into marriage.”

Tess raised her hand and struck her daughter directly across her face. As she covered her mouth shocked at what she had done. Backing away she saw Jackie and Max smiling across the room. Closing her eyes she felt the warm breeze of Ibiza and the sand on her feet. She was back at the most important day. Her wedding day to Lowell Devonshire.

Tess stood in the middle of the beach as the warm water crashed against the rocks. Wearing a floor length white, grey, and silver hand beaded mermaid Oscar De La Renta wedding dress. She had a feathered hair clip and felt perfect. Except the fact Lowell had gotten progressively nasty with her. As she looked over at Hunter and Bliss playing with Fox on the beach. They deserved a moment away from the drama of Dimitri. It was a powerful move for Hunter to visit Hugo and Atticus in Isla De Cruces to inform them of his intentions to adopt Fox. She commended the young man because he was going full in on being a father. After ignoring Bliss’ cries for help this was acceptable. She regretted not helping her daughter but Dimitri was funding her lifestyle for a period of time. She wondered where Belle was with Lowell; they’d formed quite the bond for such a short period of knowing each other. He seemed to be at peace with not having the core four as they liked to be called here. They didn’t want to disrespect Jackie but what about Lowell? Did they not want to see their father happy? Did Lowell not deserve a chance at being happy?

Overall her nerves were bad. Ever since Camilla confronted her about Zerick it seemed Lowell was even more adamant to be married. Which alarmed her. Forbes and Pierre were both yapping about getting her hands on the will but all she wanted was Lowell. When she saw Belle walking with Lowell who was using his cane she felt complete. “Lowell.” She said softly. “I gotta say this is the happiest day of my life. I feel so complete.”

Lowell looked around the beach it was sunny not a cloud in sight warm too but inside he felt just as cold as he did all those months ago when Camilla spoke at Jackson’s wedding, the tide so to speak had turned. The woman that he thought he knew better than anyone had lied about Zerick to his face to his families face. The woman that he shared two girls with that at one time he dreamed of leaving the love of his life for yet she had perpetuated this lie with Forbes about Zerick and for him that was unforgivable. The hardest part of the last few months was sitting down across from Jackie and setting her free from the toxicity that he had placed his former wife in while Tess grinned like a cat beside him, a memory that would fade for him when he died. However he had something up his sleeve that the bitch in front of him would never know, he was simply doing this because he was settling and needed someone to care for him in the end times and it was beneath the glory and flame that was Jackie Davis to do that. He had stifled her for far too long, disregarded her input at DGI over the years for the likes of Gloria and Jeremiah which led to his schism with one of his one time closest friends in Walter. She simply ran the estate and raised their children while he squandered it away for affairs and money. The joke would be on his long term mistress though for her part in what happened to Kathleen Davis and he forced a smile at her nodding his head.

“I’m glad so glad we are finally going to move forward Tess that you and Belle are in my life and that you will finally get what you deserve as my wife. It is unfortunate that my other children aren’t here of course but Bliss is as is Belle.” Lowell said forcing a smile at her he knew why his other children had said no and he wasn’t going to force them to be there optically it had to have hurt them to see him marry Tess so quickly but it simply had to be done to make sure Tess felt secure in their relationship. So that when the time was right and he pulled the fucking rug from under her they all could stare in honor and amusement that he won the long con with the woman beside him, that she felt an ounce of what Zerick and Kathleen felt, that Jackie felt over her lies that spread in their lives. He would always care about Tess she gave him two gorgeous daughters but her stunt with Forbes was simply unforgivable to him. “You look simply radiant and stunning as always remind me why we waited for so long Tess? You have told me about Belle back when you got pregnant instead of giving her away to strangers but you didn’t. Jackie and I weren’t in the best place back then I could have seen the good in leaving it all behind for you.” His mind was still there and he would indulge her at the moment indulge in her fantasy the truth was he and Jackie might of divorced or they could have pushed through but no one would ever know now it was in the past.

“I love you so much.” She said as she blushed feeling like the little girl who crushed on him. Saying that he should have done this a long time ago meant a lot to her. It made her feel alive because here they were. Her daughters and the man she loved. Her beloved and how far had they come? They’d overcome Camilla ugly tirade and now they were getting married in front of her daughters to celebrate they were getting married. As she slowly looked Bliss with her family, and Belle standing by Lowell. This was what she had dreamed of for years and today it was really happening. Her heart was full and her eyes were threatening to begin to cry. She wouldn’t ruin her makeup by crying because of emotions. The photographer wouldn’t see her looking a mess. This was the beginning of her chance to have everything Jackie did. She was going to take everything from Jackie and get everything she ever wanted.

“We have been waiting for years and I do believe that you are my soulmate. I know we have went through everything and still came out of it together. I know your other children aren’t here and they aren’t understanding of your happiness but I am. I get that this is what we and you want.” She saw the preacher approaching and she looked into Lowell’s eyes. “I’ve waited for this my entire life Lowell to finally be your bride.”

When she said the words soulmate he almost screamed at her threw up but knew the charade had to go one this was his way of doing the right thing. For all his children including the ones that were there to witness his marriage to the woman in front of them so they knew Jackie would always be his soulmate. His children and all his grandchildren being the second most thing on his mind and Tess would be a fading memory in their lives as he watched from beyond them all getting stronger and becoming the family he failed to turn them into when he was alive. That was his goal and unfortunately the only way to achieve that was to beat Tess Blisston at her own game and hurt Jackie, even though she said it was fine he knew otherwise. Letting her go was the hardest thing he had ever done as a man, losing the love of his life so she could find happiness when he was dead nd six feet under was his final act of love to the woman who he loved and always would.

“We’ve been though a lot Tess but this is our fresh start. My other children made their choices known the day of Jackson’s bachelor party and his wedding they picked a side. They know that I am happy to marry you finally Tess and they can all deal with the fallout from that choice. I am just grateful that I have our daughter’s here.” Lowell said the truth was his relationship with Jackson was still strained and he wondered if it was ever going to be repaired before he died. Not much had changed with his relationship with Chauncey and Max had come around to him as well as Rory, but the hurt on his second eldest son was something that he was sure was currently something he had to fix. Tess not answering why she never told him about Belle pushed him even further to continue on with the lie he would live with till his last breath. “I would hate to keep you waiting any longer Tess so shall we get started?” Lowell asked looking at the pastor as the rest of their wedding party gathered around them to start the ceremony.

Tess walked to the altar with Lowell as she linked her hands with him. The love of her life and she felt like she finally won. She didn’t care if Pierre would be after her when she ignored his calls. Forbes was going to demand her to help destroy DGI for MontCorp. She’d never do that because it was her daughters legacies and they would be the true heirs of Lowell Devonshire. As she took his hand she felt her soul full and knew that it was time to marry him and get what she deserved. “Yes we shall.” Tess said as she looked at her daughters and Bliss handed her the bouquet of flowers and Belle helped her with her train. “You have no idea how long I’ve waited to have this.” It was brief but after ten minutes the ceremony was over. He placed the ring on her finger and called her his wife. She wasn’t a mistress anymore. After years of scheming and lying, marrying other men, going bankrupt, and standing on her own again she won. She won against Jackie, against Forbes, and against Lowell himself. He never was going to leave Jackie and if she had to push this Zerick angle for that to happen so be it.

*********

Rory adjusted his tie in the mirror and then looked at his watch the wedding was going to start in about two hours and he still needed to get to the Rawlings to help Chauncey get ready, he paused outside the bathroom door of his condo. Aspen was inside and he took a deep breath it had been a hard six months for them but when she had miscarried the baby it changed for him, he realized he wasn’t a kid anymore that could go between her and Yasmine. He had to make a choice and it was a clear one he made when he had arrived at the hospital and watched in horror as Aspen lost their child. As much as he loved Yasmine, he had really fucked the situation up between all three of them that Yasmine had moved on and he was trying his best to still make it up to Aspen even now. He had saw how the same thing had affected Chauncey and Natasha and he really didn’t want he and Aspen to end up like that so cold to each other. It wasn’t that he didn’t like Natasha she was fine but he could tell that his brother wasn’t in love with her and was really only going through with this whole wedding because he thought their father would hand him the CEO title. Honestly he was glad to be out of the running meaning it was between his two brothers. Knocking on the door gently he took a breath wondering if Aspen would even answer him.

“Listen I know this is the first time for us out in public at a really big social event since the accident but it’s really close to the time that we need to leave. Chauncey is probably in his room right now waiting on me and Jackson to show up and at least help him make sure everything is ready for the wedding.” Rory paused not sure what else he was supposed to say or do when it came to supporting Aspen and what she was going through. He wanted to support her of course and it wasn’t like he was out chasing after Yasmine now anymore, he hadn’t thought about that in months. When his brother had returned from his honeymoon they had a long talk about everything and told him he needed to grow up and be a man about it, he had gotten Apsen pregnant  he was going to be a father and Yasmine wanted nothing to do with him. So he had taken the advice and really tried his best to be the doting boyfriend he could to Aspen, when he didn’t get an answer from her he knocked again. “Aspen are you alright? You don’t have to come if you don’t want just say so I am sure that Natasha and Chauncey would understand given they went through the same thing we are.” Rory finished hoping that at least got some sort of answer out of her that wasn’t just a mumble or a nod of her head.

Over six months ago she lost the baby. She didn’t even know she was pregnant for real and to be honest she didn’t know who was the baby’s father. It was between Lex and Rory but she was really pregnant and because of that witch Yasmine had cost her a real chance with Rory. Touching her dress that was sitting on the counter she felt herself about to cry. “I just keep thinking about how I’d be a mother soon. How I’d be holding my child in less than three months and I wonder if you truly care. I watch her dancing and helping the youth of Scottswood. She got off for killing our child and you still pine for her. I feel it and I know if I wasn’t pregnant you wouldn’t be here. You two would be together and now I have deal with this all. I have deal with her always here. Always around and I just think she should be in jail for hurting me. She should be in jail Rory for killing our baby.” Aspen covered her mouth as she looked at him. “I’m sorry I can’t keep blaming you. But I want you to promise me, that Yasmine and you are done. I won’t have to deal with her anymore. I won’t have to see her. She doesn’t love you anymore. She is dating and all over Page Six. This rapper, this artist, and this guy. She’s living her life and I want to live mine. Without her being a presence so I’m asking you are you two done because if I see her.” Aspen paused as she looked at him knowing she was digging a knife further into his heart.

“If I see her I’ll kill her. I swear I hate Yasmine Montgomery or Kohl whatever her name is. I just don’t want her around this event. This is supposed to be for the family not some stranger and if Dani Devonshire invites that bitch I’ll claw her eyes out. I swear I’ll kill her. I hate that Dani is her friend and that she took up for her. I hate her! I hate Dani okay! She didn’t see what happened or if she did she doesn’t care because her friend had to make it. She should be locked up. You never wanted our baby, you always wanted her more and I can’t deal with Yasmine being there so if she is going to be there. I’m not.” Max had told her to milk it for all it was worth. She also didn’t know that she slept with Lex Hessington but her sexual life was none of her business. She could still hear Max cheering when she told her she was really pregnant. Exhaling she began to bawl on collapsing on the floor. “You never loved me like you loved her. If this never would have happened you would be with Yasmine admit it. You never loved our child!” Her long red hair fell down her face as she wept on the floor. “I just want my baby.”

“I know you do Aspen and I get it you don’t think I don’t think about our baby too? Yasmine, walked away from me I stuck by your side at the wedding and after. I don’t regret that okay sometimes shit happens.” Rory said wondering why he even said it out loud to her it was almost as if she wanted to push him away since it happened and not let him be a part of the grieving process. He probably deserved that for the most part he had been disengaged all he remembered from that day was Dani calling to tell him that Aspen and Yasmine had gotten into an argument at Renards and they were on the way to the hospital. She had lost their baby and he had showed up at the end Ophelia had talked a lot of medical terminology for him, something about it being a totally natural thing for most women and it was unlikely the fall that Aspen did take in the fight attributed it it, followed by something called a D&C which he had to Google afterwards. Something inside of Aspen had broke that day as he watched her mother hold her afterwards with Randall simply patting his shoulder to tell him that these things happen and it was one of the reasons they had adopted. “You still won’t even tell me how the fight happened that day Aspen or what it was over. You and Dani went out shopping the next thing I know is I’m getting a call you were rushed to the emergency room. I don’t think you have to worry about Yasmine Kohl making a grand entrance at Chauncey’s wedding.”

Rory was trying his best to not lose it with her over Yasmine, Yasmine had moved on with her life and he was glad that she had her dance studio and was out enjoying life. He was committed to Aspen and their child at the time, he wasn’t going to skirt his responsibilities when it came to that he wasn’t going to be his father. “Fine hate Dani for being Yasmine’s friend you don’t have to like her no one is asking you too but she was the one called me and waited till I got there she and Jackson sent flowers to us, but you want to hate her go for it. She didn’t have a say over the guest list for Chauncey’s wedding.” Rory said he had liked to think that Aspen would have appreciated the gesture but he was clearly mistaken and he got that she was still upset and still grieving their child but he just wished she would let him in on it. He was grieving too what could have been even if it wasn’t his choice then again it was he hadn’t been so gung ho and making sure to use a condom either. “I know you like to blame me or blame Yasmine or Dani, hell blame yourself Aspen but Ophelia told us after it happens sometimes it does. Your parents even told us that and no one thinks the fall was your fault so be angry at me if you want if it makes you feel better. But I’m trying Aspen really trying.”

Aspen thought back to that day and how Yasmine overheard her and Khalil. To be fair Yasmine thought she wasn’t still pregnant and what she heard wasn’t enough to go to Rory. She wiped her eyes as she bit down on her lip. “I don’t think the fight matters. She thought I wasn’t pregnant anymore. I was talking to Khalil and she just freaked out and I fell and the next thing I know, I was in an ambulance and Dani was taking up for Yasmine. I heard her talking to Devin and Jon. I don’t like her Rory. I saw Dani taking up for her and she was forgiving her before I even got a chance to. She was apologizing for what I can’t ever forgive. She killed our baby and I hope you don’t have some dream of still having a shot with her. She is a murderer unintentional or not. She took our child’s life out of jealousy and indulgence. Because she had another Devonshire to back her up. I’m done with Dani that bitch.” Picking up her makeup bag she began to start to get ready. “I know you wanted our baby but it just hurts that sometimes I feel like I’m alone in this even if I’m not.” She grabbed his hand. “Khalil has been a good friend to me. It’s actually good having a male point of view.”

She began to place her hair in a chignon and place her grandmother’s ruby butterfly hair clips into her hair. As she looked at her Prada green couture gown. With her black sparkly shawl she felt like she’d look stunning. Plus this was the first time she was going to be out and around Dani. She wanted to make sure she understood that if she would open her mouth she’d be after her and Max would also. People didn’t want Yasmine and Rory together. That was the truth of the matter and why should they? A Devonshire and a Montgomery just don’t mix. “I just want to have fun. Is that possible tonight can we have fun like we used to do? Khalil said we have to do things that used to make us happy and I remember I was quite the date once upon a time.”

Rory looked at her for him the fight did matter it wasn’t like Yasmine to just go off like that unless something happened and he doubted that she would willingly lash out at a pregnant Aspen over nothing. He bit his lip not wanting to bring it up any further Yasmine had moved on and dated various people since then, she derived to be happy and that is what he wanted the most for her to be happy. He honestly wanted to punch a wall when she mentioned Khalil though that asshole was in every part of his life be it Yasmine or now Apsen like the dude just wouldn’t go the fuck away and if he mentioned it of course he was going to be the asshole. He didn’t think that Dani had picked sides she simply had reassured Yasmine that shit happened, he guessed that was something that Aspen could have seen as taking a side. Dani was a Devonshire now but it wasn’t like Aspen didn’t have friends in the family Max adored her and they had gotten close. When he heard his phone buzz he texted his brother back that he and Aspen were running late but they would be there soon.

“I have no intention of running after Yasmine I mean if I did Aspen I would have been simply gone after what happened I’m still here. She’s moved on so I have I. I don’t know what else you want me to say or do to prove that to you, but reaching out to Khalil instead of me just hurts me Aspen and makes me feel like you’re pushing me away and if you can’t see that then what the fuck are we even doing?” Rory said looking at her she wanted to hate Dani she could, Dani was his sister in law it wasn’t like that was going to change anytime soon so that meant Aspen could either learn to deal with or she couldn’t. He wondered if it had started at the wedding or even before it wasn’t like Jackson or Dani had really welcomed Aspen with open arms and that was his fault in many ways. “I could have handled things better with Jackson and Dani welcoming you better than I did and I can talk to them if you would like. Max seems to have taken you under her wing Aspen so it’s not like all my family is against you. We gotta get ready for the wedding I’ll be waiting in the living room when you’re ready alright?” Rory said leaving it up to her as he walked away to wait for her to finish getting ready.

Aspen walked to the shower and turned it on stepping inside she felt empty. This entire thing to keep Rory away from Yasmine made her feel less than. After all what type of woman plotted to have a man who didn’t love her? Rory cared but she saw true love between him and Yasmine. That honestly made her even more jealous and she didn’t know how to handle it after all she had gone through. Even though Aspen knew she wasn’t ready to be a mother it was supposed to be a scheme but she was pregnant. She had a life growing inside of her and no matter what Yasmine said she ended her child’s life. As she placed her face underneath the water she felt like she was drowning even though she was standing on her two feet. As she stepped out of the shower she grabbed a towel and knew that she would have to step back from Khalil. They had become very close since her miscarriage. He really understood what she was going through and for some reason she felt close to him.

Just like fire she was burning up to get revenge against Yasmine and for a moment she felt a sick sense of satisfaction. She had kept them apart and now it was no chance on them getting together again. Yet that nagging feeling of deception was powerful because Aspen felt unworthy of Rory. She won him by cheating and that wasn’t how she wanted to win. As she took the dress off the hanger she slipped in the gown and walked to the mirror. Applying makeup she placed highlighters on her rosy cheeks. Then used lipstick and gloss to finish her look. As she walked downstairs she smiled at Rory as he looked at him. “Girls like me don’t get happy endings but as long as I have you. I’m happy. I’m sorry if I’ve been lost.” She rushed to Rory and hugged him, holding him tightly wondering if he even loved her anymore. “I’ll stay away from Khalil. I assure you.”

**********

His wedding day was going to be perfect and that was his beaming pride besides his little brother whose wedding was upstaged with scandal Chauncey was bound and determined to make sure it went off flawless. To show the world that he not Jackson was fit to lead DGI in the future he wasn’t naive the board was already whispering his bother was the favorite for the position. Of course he and Jackson had cooled their feud for the most part but he could still admit that he was jealous of his brother for the stability he currently had of the prestige that he was achieving. Ever since Natasha had been shoved down the stairs he wanted to make amends to her and other than a brief affair with Greer he had kept his word. Despite Natasha not doing the same he adjusted his tie as he heard the door open and saw his father moving his wheelchair into the room. They had briefly spoken after news broke of his fathers scandalous marriage to Tess a mere day after the divorce from his mother was final. He saw Jackson looks side ways at their father before leaving Rory had stayed behind for a moment before he nodded at him to go leaving just him and his father in the room.

“You want back in Jackson’s good graces leave Tess at home where she belongs instead of throwing her in his face. You know how close he is to mother and you really want on his good side sweet talk Dani into more twin time. You know that I’ve come to accept this entire thing with Tess but it doesn’t mean the rest of them have,” Chauncey said eyeing his father as he bent own to slip on his shoes and tie them, in truth his father looked tired, worn out and worse for wear than he had in months. He knew unfortunately that was part of the disease that was ravaging his body but part of him had to wonder if that was part of Tess as well, would his father’s health of not declined so sharply if Tess wasn’t in the picture, if everything with Zerick hadn’t of happened the year before. “I know you think marrying Natasha is not for the best but I think you have it backwards. I’m doing it for DGI father putting the company first isn’t that what you’ve always wanted and besides Greer is engaged to Brock Fraiser now. Natasha can give me an heir again and she won’t miscarry this time. I’ll have her completely protected to show you that we should be running DGI not Jackson and Dani.” Chauncey finished looking at his father.

Lowell listened to his son rant about being a better choice for DGI and putting the company first. He wondered if he really loved this woman. He’d done business with Mr. Hassan and he wasn’t easy to handle years ago. Did he truly know what he was getting into? Natasha was a wild card or so he heard. That meant that she couldn’t be truly trusted or could she? She was marrying Chauncey because she loved him or so she said the other night. She was the perfect wife to have on his side but after all he didn’t trust her. As he looked at his son he heard him loud and clear. The moment he mentioned Greer LeClerq he saw through it. He loved that woman and he saw it first hand. If she would have done what Tess had then she might be Chauncey’s wife right now. Folding his hands in his lap he looked at his son. “I am so sorry about my grandchild dying by that awful push. She and you deserve better than what happened.”

Staring at his eldest son so young and so alive. A piece of him was jealous because Chauncey had literally his life ahead of him. “My son, I have to make a choice soon. I’m dying and I won’t die without knowing that my company is in safe hands. We devour excess but I want to know which one of you will be the one. I have to be able to hand the keys of the kingdom to you or Jackson. It’s remarkable that now that Zerick secret is out and I’m no longer the bad guy how everyone is treating me. Everyone but my family, look Tess is my business and I’m going to handle her. But my question is can you handle Natasha? Are you truly over Greer because we don’t need another scandal. Look as a Devonshire man I know we love hard. Once we feel like we have the loves of our lives it’s it for us. If you are going to cheat and embarrass the family then I should give it to Jackson. Look, DGI’s revamp is all about family. Family image is us right now and an affair isn’t what I am looking for. Jackson is stable and if I have to I’ll turn everything to him.”

For a split moment he mourned the son he lost with Natasha. It was an ugly hand they had been dealt and the moment he learned who pushed her there would be hell to pay. He was irritated when he father brought up Greer luckily for the both of them their fling was never caught the wedding wouldn’t happen and frankly she seemed set on Brock. He needed to move on with his life and he almost cackled at his father and his statement about love, for all the reasons he claimed to love their mother he certainly had a bizarre way of showing it. “Thank you, I think burying my son was one of the hardest things I have ever done but it did set my resolve even further to make this deal with Natasha happen. She wants me to be CEO as much as I do, I can give her back exactly what she wants a child.” Chauncey said wondering he he could trust his father with the rest and thought better of it, he did swear to play nice with his brother but the price he was willing to pay with Natasha was to ensure that SandStar got back in her hands at the end of the day his father never had to know that. “Rest assured that once the lazy incompetent detectives at the police department let us know who pushed her that night, they will pay father and not even your ghost will stop me from making sure they do.” Chauncey said looking at him and wanting him to know he meant it.

“For all the talk of love father you certainly have an odd way of professing yours over the years first mother, then Audrey, then Tess and all the others. Yet here you are demanding that Natasha and I follow suit? What if I were to tell you that I frankly don’t care about who she is fucking and she doesn’t care about who is warming my bed in return? Would that be too modern for your little image of the company?” Chauncey asked almost smirking at his father he had it all before him a woman that wouldn’t care if he liked to chase other women seeing how she chased other men and he couldn’t help the jealousy flare at his brother. The truth of the matter was his brother was in the honeymoon phase of his marriage to Dani he knew that, what happened when Jackson decided that he wanted to put the company and his dick first? His father kept bringing up that Jackson was so stable, for now was the key word everything could change if something were to happen. “He’s stable for now father, I mean you want to hand the company to a recovering addict and risk it all what happens if that all crumbles and fails? Who says that he and Dani are even going to last that long, you and mother had over thirty years and most of that was done with you fucking around on her. Yet you want to sit here and coach me on my upcoming marriage?” Chauncey asked finishing his cuffs and reaching for his comb as he pushed it through his hair looking at his father in his chair in the mirror.

“Your petty side is coming out. I just was informing you that I didn’t want any scandals and that the company couldn’t handle anymore. I want to coach you into not being like me. I’m nothing to aspire to Chauncey and my relationship with your mother isn’t some fling. I loved her deeply but I also loved Tess and Audrey. I did foolish things and nobody has love or life figured out. I’m not perfect and you don’t get to disrespect me. I’m telling you my qualifications Chauncey if you don’t like them then you aren’t the man for the job. But your junkie recovering addict brother gets it now. He doesn’t continue to try to tarnish you in my eyes. When Jackson and I have to interact he isn’t bashing you as a womanizing asshole who nobody wants to see win. You still haven’t figured out that to be CEO you have to have a certain fakeness and charm. It’s not charming to see someone so nasty when faced with losing. You still haven’t figured out the test but continue to fail it every time. Everything thing and fucking conversation is a test. I keep setting you up to either say something good but you fail. You fail blatantly because you are smug and petty and self serving. So you tell me how do I give you my legacy when you can’t even be decent to your own blood?”

If Chauncey wanted to have this out right now then they would. He didn’t have much time and wouldn’t bite his tongue anymore. “I know I disappointed you kids but I never expected that you all would betray me. Leave me as my body literally deteriorated before my eyes. Selfishly I am bitter that I was cheated out of time that I can’t get back.” Then Lowell let out a devilishly glimmer in his eyes. “Who is to say Tess got what she wanted? Huh? I am going to give you a little game son, maybe you can follow along. That bitch ruined my life over thirty years ago and she thinks getting me now is some prize. She has no clue she gets nothing in the will. She doesn’t get a cent of my money. The executor of my will is Jacqueline Devonshire and son let me say that none of you motherfuckers even asked!” He slammed his feeble hand against the oak desk. “I have screwed people over my whole life so in death I need to be able to pull down my pants and tell that bitch kiss my ass for hiding Belle, for using Bliss, and letting my daughter get beat. Most of all for wrecking the one good thing in my life. Your mother. I don’t know if I give it to the one who is so thirsty for power he’d slit my throat or the one who won’t even fucking speak to me unless a spreedsheet is in front of us. This was a mistake. Have a good wedding Chauncey. But my marriage is between your mother and myself not you and the kids. If we can have a understanding I expect that you all to fucking respect the man that won’t be here at Christmas this year.” Seeing the pain seer across his son face at the mere mention he wouldn’t be here anymore made him feel good. Maybe the did love him some still but the insolence wouldn’t be tolerated anymore from any of them.

Chauncey looked at him cocking his head to the side and mulling over the words qualifications on paper he was the most qualified to lead the company his father knew it but morals wise that wasn’t his strong suit. He was actually surprised to hear that Jackson wasn’t bad mouthing him, he had every right too so maybe he was more qualified the one thing that he always craved over Jackson was power. Power the name and title of CEO, the money attached to his name and the women that flung themselves into his bed was that so fucking wrong? When it was how the man in front of him had built the company off the back of his former best friend? “I learned from the best how to be self serving and selfish didn’t I? What did you tell me and Jackson when we were younger take what you were given in business by force and now you want to change the tune? Wasn’t that how you got Walter to naively trust you with the Andromeda software to the point that you ousted him behind his back? Now you want DGI to run on a moral compass? Late in life regrets father? Or worried that I can do it all better than you can along the way?” Chauncey said, looking at him and downing the whiskey that he poured into a glass.

“Us to betray you? Look around you betrayed us and mother by covering for uncle Linus because you wanted to. All of it could have been over in a simple statement from you of truth of what happened that night. So when we all rally behind the woman that sacrificed for you for over thirty years you are somehow shocked at that?” Chauncey said sitting the glass down hardly on the table and he swore that he heard it ringing out in the silence of the room as he did, he took the other information to memory that his mother was at least going to execute the estate when his father was gone and that the viper Tess would get nothing. He supposed that was a solace that he could live with over the years and when his father died that he did one thing right and finally for once put his mother first. He felt a soft sting in his eyes when his father mentioned that he might not make it to Christmas maybe there was hope for a miracle cure but he was a realist that wasn’t going to happen. “Pick whoever you want father you taught me everything I know and now you want to change my rules on how I play? That isn’t how I work now I don’t jump when you say how high, I’m coming for the world and if you want DGI to achieve that maybe you should back the brother that is willing to slit throats and do what needs to be done. I have a wedding I need to finish preparing for.” Chauncey finished not even bothering for a response as he went about the room finishing making sure everything was in order and then letting a tear fall out when he heard the door open and quietly shut as his father left the room.

**********

Selina laid across her bed and looked at the leather bound book with a lace ribbon wrapped around it. She unfastened the diary and opened the book and gasped. A picture of her mother in a bikini was taped inside. She studied the little doodles on the first page and it was full of hearts and clovers. Stuff girls drew inside of their diaries.She had hers from that age somewhere in her storage unit this made her want to pull it out and read it. It made her feel even more curious to see where her mothers mind was at. What type of woman was she? She heard stories good and bad but she was more inclined to feel like this would give her a taste of Gloria. Something she’d never experienced and she wanted it. Opening the first page she began to feast on her mother and gasp at what she read. One part stuck out and it stabbed her. Her mother seemed to treat her father as if he was absolutely trash. As if Jeremiah Beecher, who just so happened to be at her father’s funeral and has to be there when his will is read. That same Jeremiah Beecher who happens to be her lover’s mentor? She didn’t get a good vibe from the first meeting but this truly shook her opinion. Placing the diary down. She slipped out of bed and walked out to Elliot sitting at the table.

“Did you know that your mentor was screwing my mother? My God she’s absolutely horrible just reading that diary. Elliot, she’s talking about my dad like he’s some bitch! I just if this is my mom I’m glad I never met this lady. She’s selfish and a fucking bitch but she’s funny to. I just can’t believe she’s so ugly and did you know Jeremiah was screwing my mom?” Selina lips quivered as  she wiped her eyes. “God I’m crying and I’m supposed to be getting ready for Chauncey’s wedding. I’m one of his best men.” Selina said as she looked at him. “My parents weren’t happy but they always told us that we, they were happy.”

Elliot looked at his phone looking at the breaking news of the local police department letting people know that Dimitri’s body had been the one they fished out of the lake the other day. He was perplexed on how Dimitri ended up in the lake but if he had to guess it had to with him being knocked out when Selina had disappeared though he was beginning to suspect that Dimitri had a hand in it. He couldn’t prove it but he found it too much a coincidence that when he was knocked out that Selina was taken and whispers that Dimitri was spotted near the wedding on camera before Selina reappeared unharmed at the party. He wasn’t dumb but there was no way to prove his theory that someone or something had got to Dimitri to flee the women that he terrorized and as much as he found Simon Rutherford resourceful he didn’t strike anyone as a getting his hands dirty literally type. When he heard her walking down the hallway and to where he was sitting at the table waiting for her to get ready for the wedding he was broken out of his thoughts about Dimitri to the current one Jeremiah and her mother. Truthfully he hadn’t thought much about it, people had affairs and he wasn’t Jeremiahs keeper but he also wasn’t going to lie to her. He honestly had no idea about her mother’s affair with the man that was his mentor and friend during and after law school, nor did he had any clue about Jeremiahs past in Atlas Falls. The only reason he came to Atlas Falls was because he had read an article about Kendrick getting shot it had nothing to do with Jeremiah Beecher.

“No I had no idea that Jeremiah had a past here in Atlas Falls, that he used to be a part of your mother’s life until your father’s funeral. I stepped back at his firm about two years ago and branched out privately. I was just as shocked as you were to see him at La Callie after your father died. Parents are flawed Selina I would like to think that both your mom and dad knew that.” Elliot said looking at her and hoping she believed him he was a lawyer he never was shy about that and often times lied for his clients or to win a case that was his job but in his personal life he really tried to be an honest person. He honestly refused to speak ill of the dead in this case he barely knew Tony and had never met her mother even though everyone talked so highly about the deceased Gloria Delacroix. He knew that Selina loved to put her mother on a pedestal too so it had to hurt twice as much to find out that wasn’t completely true. “Maybe your parents were just trying to spare you from their ugly past Selina I know my mom did for a long time until she remarried. My father leaving her while pregnant with me was too painful for her relive maybe it was the same for your father.”

Selina nodded placing the journal down and felt her need to confront and talk to Lowell and Jackie both, together. They’d never lie to her face but she was feeling so lost. Her parents weren’t perfect as she thought and that was haunting. If her mother wasn’t this saint and they weren’t happy. For years she tortured Ophelia and she actually freed her father. The way her mother spoke of her daddy as if he was soft or didn’t have ambition because he didn’t want to be all powerful. As she shook her head and knew that it was more in this diary that her mother and family friends had hidden from her. Not just her but Mason deserved to know this also. Who was Gloria? Who was the woman who she supposedly looked so much like?

“I find it very odd he’s here, I’m watching him.” She said softly as she looked at her Armani Prive  black and silver metallic gown. “I just want answers now. After all those lies growing up if she was so horrible and reading her inner thoughts I find her deplorable. As a woman to just continue to sleep around on your husband is low and I feel like she got off on power. She talks about DGI like I heard Lowell and so many others talk about money. Just reading her thoughts and seeing who she was. Complicated or not I couldn’t see myself ever loving her or wanting a damn thing to do with her. She’s awful but she’s also my mother so maybe I’m getting besides myself because who am I to say that you know? It’s just strange they didn’t think that my mother would be like this.” She looked at the book. “Maybe I shouldn’t tell Mason and ruin his image of mom. It’s hard you know hearing she was this saint and now she’s a vicious bitch. I don’t know.” Walking upstairs to her room and pulling out her mothers diamond earrings and the diamond pendant that Chauncey gifted her on her birthday years ago. She walked downstairs dropping her robe wanting to change the energy. She saw his eyes light up. As she wiggled into her dress. “I need your help to zip me up. We have to hurry. My ex-fiance is getting married for convenience. I don’t think this is going to be fun for Maddie. She seems so bummed at this entire marriage. How is Zeke doing?”

Elliot found it strange that Jeremiah was in town he had been trying to rack his brain the last few days about everything he knew about his mentor. He knew that Jeremiah was a ladies man back in the day and worked for various corporations for various clients it was possible that one of those clients was DGI but he couldn’t recall. He knew that Jeremiah was recently married or so he had heard his wife was some elite business woman in Europe that he hadn’t met yet, by the time he had left Chicago he didn’t have the time to stop in and wish them well. He got that Selina was trying to dig into her mother’s past it made sense she had died when Selina was so young, but he wondered if Selina was biting off more than she could given everything that had happened with Dimitri, her divorce from Braden and now her father’s suicide was it for the best that she start digging into her mother’s past? He didn’t have his father growing up his mother rarely talked about him, all he knew was that he had showed up the day he was born and then turned his back on them the same day and his grandmother let that be known from there on out. Then it was just his mother until she remarried and then he was awful to his stepfather for years but now they were close.

“I know this has to be hard for you, you adored your mother and maybe they had good reason to spare you the pain that you are feeling now. I wish sometimes that someone would have done that for me told me a little white lie, tell me he was a good person. I had to grow knowing that he never really cared about me that he literally turned his back and walked out after I was born. I hated him for years and my stepfather he put up with so much of my shit.” Elliot said getting up from the table ant reaching for her zipper he saw her flinch a bit at his touch and he figured that was because of the news of Dimitri. He was a gentlemen when all was said and done when she was ready of course, but sometimes he felt like he was back in college and seeing a woman for the first time and actually wanting to have a relationship. “We’re close now Selina but Jesus I was awful to him and looking back he was there and stayed with my mom despite it. I think you have to weigh that decision this time, is it better to know the truth and the real truth or do you keep that close to you and only you. Something we are taught in law school was we always weigh our options.” Elliot said pausing to thinking about her asking about Zeke. “He’s doing good I think it’s getting harder on him to split his time but who knows what is in store maybe he and Monique will visit and actually enjoy Atlas Falls.”

She listened to his advice but to be honest she’d never truly give this up. Her mother had this mysterious past with Jeremiah Beecher and everyone kept saying be careful. Bullshit if her mother had done something in the past she deserved to know. Whatever everyone was hiding from her she’d find out. She’d already read the first pages of the journal. Finding out her mother was a horrible bitch wasn’t the biggest shocker. Whatever they were hiding she’d uncover it. Just as breaking news flashed across the flat-screen TV on the wall. Watching the news coverage of the police fishing Dimitri Kavanaugh from Lake Everest made her stomach knot up instantly. They tied an anchor to his body. How did that monster float to the surface? She gripped her belly as the color drained from her face as she looked at Jon and Devin on the news. This was going to be a huge story about a disgraced prince found murdered. Somehow she wondered if the media would turn against them for the dead prince. Would they be vilified if they were somehow found out? Softly gripping her stomach she looked at him biting her lip.

Her hand trembled as she felt the memories of that night. Him kidnapping them and her finding Tamara. The fear of being locked up and watching him collect Bliss. Thinking he was going to kill them she didn’t even know it but she was shaking like a leaf. When she saw Elliot walking up to her and shaking her out of her thoughts. “We should turn that off. We have a wedding to attend and this isn’t the mood or vibe I’m looking for. I need to finish getting dressed, I need to get myself together. I really want to introduce Zeke to Maddie I think they’d hit it off. Give him a reason to visit you more.” Feeling him reach out she smiled at him touching his face. “I’m okay.” She said softly as she began to grip onto her boyfriend arms. “I just want him out of my life. It’s like Dimitri Kavanaugh won’t die and is haunting me.” She said honestly. As her breathing narrowed as she hugged Elliot wondering if he would ever remember what happened that night. “Go get dressed because even though Chauncey is getting married, I’m going to have the most handsome man in my arms.”

Elliot looked over at her shaking like a leaf and he desperately wanted to help her fight off whatever she was thinking about with Dimitri. His memory was still faded from what happened that evening which the doctor told him was normal, he his his head hard and he was lucky he didn’t have more gaps in his memory from of it. He took it as a sign to let go and live life to the fullest from that moment on or at least changed the way he thought about the world and opened himself up to Selina. When she mentioned he needed to finish getting ready he nodded his head at her while he turned the TV off so that it wasn’t a distraction anymore. He wasn’t sure that a girl like Maddie was going to entice Zeke to visit more but Monique had mentioned that she and Zeke were getting restless and honestly he did see a lot more opportunity for his son in Atlas Falls which seemed kinda crazy. He was her touch his face to reassure him that she was okay and nearly pulled her to him but relented kissing her cheek as he made his way down to her guest room to finish getting ready. Trying to shake the feeling that something was off about the entire thing with Dimitri from his head and wondering why he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.

**********

Tamara watched Braden drying the dishes and smiled to herself. He’d become quite the husband, DA, and father. She’d never seen him so intune to her before. In the past it was Selina and his career but this time she was full. She felt like Braden was here for her all the time. The rape’s pain subsided it wasn’t far from her mind but finding out she was having a daughter changed things. They had been through counseling and it truly helped with the intimacy which was lacking. However she was starting to miss her soon to be husband’s touch and honestly if he made the move she wouldn’t deny him. It took a long time for her to feel secure with him even though he didn’t rape her. Braden spoke on feeling like he was punished because of what happened. How aloof she could be but that wasn’t because of the rape. That was because she knew she was a accessory to a murder. She didn’t blame Bliss one bit but sometimes she felt the coverup did more harm than good. They were all carrying this big weight and now it was swallowing them all. It was all over the news and The Chronicle that Dimitri’s body was found. Braden was called earlier today and told her. Thank God nobody knew she was the one who put him in the hospital in the first place by shooting him. People could say what they wanted about Zerick Davis but he was truly a good man to her that night. She swore if he died none of this would have been happening. Then the girl who saved him, Amanda whatever her last name was murdered by the lunatic. It was sadistic.

As she placed the last dish in the cabinet, bending over and laughing as she felt like a bowling ball was inside of her. Braden snickered as he helped her up. “It’s not funny, one day I hope they invent something so men understand that these cute little bundles of joy invade our bodies for nine months and takeover for the rest of our life. We are so lucky that Dylan is so grown now that he’s actually excited to have a sibling. Mimi and I were horrible when we were little always in competition and to make it even worse we fought. Dylan will just be amazing to our little girl.” She said smiling at him. “Do you really want to go to this wedding? I actually can think of a hundred things we can be doing right now. Rubbing my feet maybe? Or how about getting Dylan to look at schools beside Duke because as much as I love his dreams at lacrosse I think he should be applying to different schools also. Can you help with that he can get into NYU, AFU, Georgetown, hell with his grades he can try for the Ivy leagues.”

Braden had been getting ready in the other room truthfully he had no desire to go to Chauncey’s wedding but as DA it was his duty to attend functions for people he didn’t like. Ever since Dimitri’s body had washed ashore he had to relive the moments in his mind that Tamara had went missing at his sister’s wedding, the fear that Dimitri had done something to her and their daughter, a daughter that he was truthfully ecstatic for. Intimately they were still in that awkward phase and therapy he felt was helping with it, he still felt so much guilt for not paying closer attention to her working at DGI and Dimitri’s advances he had been so caught up at work with different cases and helping Mason with Jon’s case against Elliot he just lost sight. Moving had helped, selling the old house and starting fresh in a new one they had even decorated the nursery in the most girly scheme he had ever seen, he was also anxious what if the same thing happened to their daughter that happened to Tamara. What if he couldn’t stop it again, he was the one that lost it with Dimitri when he learned what happened with Selina setting him free to rain havoc down on the people he cared about.

“Yes but until that day I want you to take it easy and stop worrying so much about everything including Dimitri. Yes Jon and Devin found the body there is nothing I can do about it, it’s my job lets just hope someone else he pissed off did it and be done with it. I mean it no more worrying about it.” Braden said looking at her before making sure her pregnant ass sat down in a seat and she took a breath. He wanted her to relax there was so much worry that she was pregnant and she was high risk due to age and what happened with Dimitri. One of the things they had been arguing over was Dylan’s college choices she wanted him to just pick out a college and he wanted Dylan to make the right choice for himself not because everyone was telling him where to go. “I think Dylan is taking his time and that is what I want him to do. I don’t want him to go to to AFU because me and my dad did. The same with NYU and where you went. Or Carnegie because Dani went there. He has a time this year and next to figure out where he wants to go and all we can do is help support him in that decision.” Braden said pausing as he heard the doorbell ring and looked at the time it was odd for someone to come by so late and close to when they had to leave for the wedding, opening the door he was shocked to see his father and Charles on the other side. “Dad, Charles we certainly weren’t expecting you.”

Walter had been at his house when Charles had stopped by not an unusual thing for his friend but what was shocking was the wild newspaper story that Greer LeClerq was going to run the next day. Accusations that Tamara had been the one to shoot Dimitri Kavanagh and place him into the hospital all those months ago, followed by the byline that his son covered up her overdose during Kendrick’s kidnapping being the bigger factor. Regardless Charles and he and met and discussed the matter it put Braden’s career in jeopardy, the entire family into scandal if they didn’t play this right and he only hoped that Braden and Tamara saw reason where it was all concerned. Greer could twist what happened to fit her narrative and rumor was that she had a witness that was willing to go to the police with a gun on the front about Dimitri. He wanted Dimitri out of their lives everyone knew that, it was no secret that Braden had lost his temper and his mind when it came to what happened with Tamara, so it was reasonable that they could paint Braden or Tamara as a main suspect in Dimtiri’s death now. Not to mention his son whisking Tamara’s overdose under the rug and paying her her rehab was a major conflict of interest as district attorney, therefore something had to be done.

“I know it’s late and you were both supposed to be leaving for Chauncey’s wedding however it was imperative that Charles and I needed to speak to both of you.” Walter said as Braden let them into the house. He saw his very pregnant soon to be daughter in law looking at himself and Charles as they took seats at the dinning room table. He didn’t want to alarm her or what she was thinking but he wasn’t going to lie to either of them. “This is what Greer LeClerq is printing in the paper tomorrow.” He finished showing them the newspaper as he sat it down on the table in front of them all to see.

Tamara stood over Braden as she began to read the headline and byline of the newspaper. As she took a deep breath as she rubbed her belly. Someone found out when she overdosed then they revealed Braden covered it all up and the byline suggested that she may have murdered Dimitri. Her lips quivered as she began to shiver in fear. Walking to the fridge she pulled out the pitcher of water and poured a glass. Taking a sip of the water she never noticed that she was trembling. The glass seemed to slip out of her hand as the sound of shattering glass snapped her back. As the glass shattered on the floor she felt all eyes on her. “How did they get this information?” She questioned as she stepped back and saw Walter beginning to get the broom and mop and her eyes shifted to Braden who walked around the glass to help her sit down.

“I didn’t kill Dimitri Kavanaugh but I’m glad he’s dead. I’m glad that Fox doesn’t have to grow up with that son of a bitch as a father. I’m glad Selina is happy with Elliot and most of all I’m glad that nobody will ever be victimized like I was. I’m happy and I want to know how the hell did this get out? How did I go from talking about my son’s college choices to Greer LeClerq sleazy paper naming me persona non grata. If I did kill him, so what? He fucking raped me and no woman or man can deny that. I’m not going to be prosecuted and why was I named? As the killer? This will ruin my damn career as a nurse! I’m done and what’s going to happen to Braden?” She squeezed Braden’s hand. So much was running through her mind why was she the target when Selina and Bliss were there? Wasn’t it much more interesting to take down the socialites? Hadn’t she been through enough? “This is slander, can we sue the paper?”

“My dear this will be quite the scandal. If you keep your job or he keeps his then it will fall back on Walter. I’m sorry Tamara the hospital will ask for your resignations and Braden will be leaving the DA office also because this would destroy your father. I came to Braden because I’m going to use my powers to let you resign then you will keep your license and the bar won’t be coming after you. I wouldn’t dare run for public office again anytime soon. You aren’t suitable right now and I suggest you Tamara get ready for a storm.” He noticed she was talking about Dimitri more than even thinking about what her drug habit had done to Braden. So was it true had he even more leverage against the Fraisers? Walter had gotten far too chummy for his liking with Lowell. After all, if Linus ever opened his mouth then so many other secrets could come out. He knew all about Linus scandals in Europe; he may have helped him through a scandal or two.

“I have no connections at all with St. Christopher’s board. They will make you resign. I also think you may have to implicate if David knew about your little habit. This might not be good for him so you have to protect him.” David would be his in on the board of St. Christopher. Charles had plans for Atlas Falls. You don’t relocate your family and support both your son’s foolish dreams for nothing. Only wished they had half the balls of Whitney. “As I’ve told your father, I will protect you from the media. This scandal will pass and I need you two as the perfect couple I see you as. You aren’t a survivor yet my dear you are a victim and you are the devoted husband by her side. I was a damn good lawyer in my day. I’ll show you how to throw a bone at the others. Now, any questions?” He watched Walter cleaning up the mess. Oh what a metaphor he would clean up Braden’s messes but he’d be indebted to the Hessington’s forever.. An eye for an eye. “Come on this isn’t hard you two can be America’s sweethearts if they do come after you for Dimitri.”

Braden looked at the article and over it again and again taking in the words that Greer was spouting all the speculation that Tamara had snuck off in the middle of the night and murdered Dimitri. There was the ugly fact that he did cover up her overdose the same time that Kendrick was murdered and he wondered who was talking about it, Jon maybe? There were officers that were against him at the office, then there was the matter that Tamara had shot Dimitri the confession from his sister’s wedding ringing in his ears. Would Zerick throw her under the bus? Did Greer have the gun or evidence of the gun in her possession if so why hadn’t she turned it into him or his office hell she could even go to the state Attorney General. That was something he had to weigh as Charles laid out the bleakness of their situation Tamara would have to quit the hospital which was something that she had considered over the past few months. When he spelled out how bad this would look for his father as mayor and that he would have to resign as DA he almost froze he had worked his way up after law school to where he was, he believed in justice and putting bad guys away. He had never once considered family or private law.

“Dad you know how hard I have worked to get where I am now. Do you really think this could get worse?” Braden asked looking at his father for advice if it meant protecting Tamara, Dylan and their unborn daughter from scandal then he’d resign in a heartbeat. There was no questions about that Fraiser’s rallied and he wasn’t stupid he had went to Charles after Tamara’s rape begging him to help him. He had stooped so low as to call Lex to make sure a restraining order was in place in New York for Tamara and he didn’t want to traumatize her further. Walking to her on the chair he watched as his father began to mop up the glass the reality of everything settling in for him it meant starting his career over from scratch he had savings. “I was trying to protect her and Dylan, David knows that too. You would have done the same for mom.” Braden said looking at his father and then at Charles. “You have power I know you do.” He reiterated looking at the man that he did look up to a staple in his life.

Walter had cleaned the glass up from the floor listening as Charles laid out what would happen. There really was no other option: Braden’s salary was paid by the city and county; he used those funds to put Tamara into rehab and it could be seen as a cover up. There was valid proof to the other claims that Tamara had shot Dimitri at his hotel room; there was just speculation. The bigger problem was that Braden covered the rehabilitation when Tamara should have covered it this time. But his son had done the right and noble thing, a thing that he couldn’t fix or change this time and neither did Charles. There was a paper trail he saw Braden pleading with him and he would do whatever Charles asked if he let Braden keep his license to practice. He had suspicions that Greer was doing this to them as payback for her ongoing feud with Dani knowing now she was protected by his nephew.

“Your mother wouldn’t have used city funds to get clean. That is the problem Braden, not the whys or the hows. That is what people are going to look at that as district attorney you paid for a recovering addict to go to rehab under the books and without prosecuting her. The Dimitri shit is just that shit and rumors that they have no proof of. I’m grateful you and Tamara have worked out your issues that she is clean but it’s an election cycle and after Kendrick people want answers for corrupt people.” Walter said looking at his son and at Tamara who was still shaking like a leaf he glanced at Charles they both knew this was the right move. It was the only way to keep the Fraiser name clean for Braden to admit what he did in a prepared speech and resign give up the job he loved. “Charles has assured me he can make most of this go away. He would never throw you under the bus Braden you get to keep practicing privately and who knows maybe you can get that viper Greer from spreading gossip this way. Isn’t that right Charles no one does jail time, our name is clean and you can practice privately If you want. Perhaps a call to Lex’s firm to hire you, hell go to DGI your sister could hire you.”

“Don’t blame him, I was the one on drugs. I didn’t think about where he was getting the money and God if I knew I wouldn’t have gone but our lives wouldn’t be here. Walter you don’t have to talk down to him he did this for me. I love him so much for that and speculation from that rag hag isn’t going to rip apart this family. Our family is whole and if I have to walk away from nursing I will. I will protect David and you Braden. You have been so strong and I’m so sorry that I’m taking something you love from you. Your career and your passion. God when will my addiction stop feeling like a punishment?” She sniffled as the shakes calmed down. Tamara walked to Braden and hugged him tightly as she cried. “I’m so so so sorry.” She said knowing what being ADA meant to him. She felt like this was all about Walter’s future but her husband was too prideful to ask Dani for anything. She was a Devonshire but he was a Fraiser and that meant his pride would block that from ever coming into fruition.

“I didn’t kill Dimitri. So I have nothing to worry about.” If it ever got to that point she was sure Jackie, Bliss, or Selina would step in. “We have faced that monster and we will face this together. I promise that what you did wasn’t in vain. I will stay clean and I will protect our family and the peace we’ve found. My daughter and our son will be proud of what their dad did for their mother. I can’t believe this.” She said softly covering her mouth. “I love you Braden and I’m sorry my fuck up and this is what is happening. You are losing your career and I deserve to lose mine. I abused my powers as a nurse. But this feels so unfair and why is she doing this?” Tamara questioned out loud. “I’m going to hurt this bitch when I drop this baby.”

Braden was still in so much shock about what was happening all his hard work as district attorney flushed down the drain because Greer wanted to run a smear campaign against his family. He honestly disliked the bitch too and often at times wondered how Brock could fucking stand her especailly after printing what she was going to print tomorrow. He wouldn’t go to his fucking sister even if he knew that Dani would hire him at DGI but it wouldn’t be because he earned the position and Jackson had lawyers hell the entire daily did on retainer. It would be because he had failed and needed a job to support Tamara and the kids. The reality of it was that it had to be done, he would let his job go at the district attorney office they had enough in savings for the upcoming wedding and to at least make it a year or two, one thing he could thank Lowell Devonshire for. His father and mother had taught him early to save, and invest properly to make sure that his wages and living expenses were caught up and he had a nest egg. “I hate that Brock is considering marrying that bitch.” Braden said muttering under his breath as he looked at Tamara rubbing her shoulders. “We’ll be okay and none of this if your fault I’d do it again in a heartbeat. I promise it’s all going to be okay I’ll do whatever it takes.” Braden said looking at her and then over at his father and Charles they had a plan tomorrow they would start the wheels on the new chapter in his life and he wondered where exactly that would be.

**********

Jon picked up her Marlboro cigarettes and used his Zippo metal lighter to ignite the square. Taking a deep drag he rolled over away from Maggie. She was amazing in bed but he didn’t like that she wanted more. He would hear her grumbling about Skye and how she deserved a shot to date him in public. Jon wanted to laugh, didn’t she know she was just a piece of ass? A piece of ass that he enjoyed fucking. It was hard to just sleep with Skye when honestly he was still mad at her. She gave away their child and in many ways he wondered what life would be if she didn’t. If she would have given them a true chance would they be a family? He might not be fighting with Braden and the Fraisers because he’d have his own family. Maybe married and with another child. At least he could dream that. Blowing smoke from his mouth he grabbed his jeans, slipping them on he looked at Maggie. His phone began to ring and he looked at the screen to see Skye. “I gotta go, work.” When he passed her the lit cigarette.

“Thanks for the sex Maggie you’re absolutely the best.” He slipped on his flannel shirt and watched her touching herself again. He almost wanted to jump back in bed and fuck her all over again. He however knew Skye would wonder where he was. “Look I have a live-in girlfriend you know that. I don’t want to argue about this but Skye is important to what I want in the future. I have one goal in mind getting my son back. I can’t be with another woman. I have to be with Skye. You aren’t going to get my son back so I’m going to deny us being together.” Leaning over he grabbed the lukewarm beer taking a swig. “I gotta go.”

Maggie had everything she wanted a job where men still liked to see her naked body on a pole, men that paid her for extra favors from time to time and Jon Harrrison as her secret lover. A lover she was bound and determined to keep for various reasons one he was a cop meaning she could call on a favor if she ever needed. Two was that while he wasn’t the biggest catch in town he would do for a while and when that ran out maybe she’d go to a Kincaid, a Devonshire, Hessington or a Fraiser. Third well the look on Skye’s face would be priceless hell if she was feeling super revengeful she could even throw it in precious Dani’s face just to fuck with her. When she heard the phone ring she about ripped it out of his hand and rolled her eyes instead she played it cool in the sheets for a bit making sure to expose just a bit inch by inch as he slipped on his pants, enjoying the view of his ass while he did. Men were such fickle little things and she knew her way around her body and a man’s to make sure she got what she wanted and while the phone was ringing and buzzing Jon’s eyes were exactly where she needed and wanted them to be on her.

“You know for the life of me Jon Harrison I don’t know why you stay in that house with her in it while you were in here with me. Or maybe I really do know why?” Maggie asked as she slipped a finger into her center watching his eyes watch her every move and she grinned at him before sliding in a second, she saw his interest was peaked if only for a moment. When he leaned down to take a swig of his beer she made sure to give a good look of what he would be missing when he went home to Skye and that empty so called girlfriend status that he liked to claim they had. “Such a shame that she keeps you on such a leash. I mean who knows maybe I have another client I have to entertain anyway.” Maggie said taking her fingers out and gliding them over his lip before she pulled on her t-shirt she made sure that she bent down while she shimmed into her panties and skirt. “You know for having such a happy live in girlfriend you certainly like to just string me along maybe I should start charging you?” She finished hoping to ruffle a few feathers imagine that getting out Jon Harrison paying for ass and a woman on the side.

“No woman keeps me on a leash. You can’t and Skye sure as hell won’t. I don’t have to tell you damn thing or a reason because we’re only fucking. That’s the blessing of just being sexual partners we don’t have to go through the emotional shit. Since I can’t stop myself from touching you and you can’t stop touching me then we will continue to pretend this is healthy.” Jon said looking at her. Rolling on top of her and leaning down his breath tracing the nape of her neck. “Look at you trembling because no matter what you say you like the sex. You like the way I fuck you don’t you? You like that I don’t want to commit to you because you want more than a fucking officer. You are a girl with gold in her eyes and your fake labels say it all. You wear fake designer clothes and oh you think you are worth me giving up what I have at home huh?” Jon laughed in her face as he moved her hand out of her center and inserted them. “I am sex, we are sex, and that it’s Maggie.”

He began to finger fuck her as he looked in her eyes. “If you think that’s what you need to do. No trick can make you quiver like this. I don’t think giving away your body to a random man is what you need then we can end this right now. But if you keep being loyal I assure you I’ll keep giving you what you want.” Jon felt her trembling underneath him. “I have to go, but tonight I’ll be free. Keep the room and stay Maggie. I’ll be back tonight to fuck you all night.” Pulling his fingers out of her. He licked them clean and leaned down kissing her letting her taste herself. Jon rolled off her and picked up his cowboy boots. “See you soon.” Jon walked out knowing he’d quickly blown Maggie’s mind. As he walked out of the room he felt a weight of what he was doing. He’d fuck Maggie on the side and out of guilt he’d go home and fuck Skye. Then he’d regret sleeping with Skye because how could he forgive her. The other day he just threw a wedding ring at her. Telling her that they were engaged so that they could sue for custody of Miles. He exhaled as he got on the elevator of the Rawlings and saw Selina and Elliot walking into the building and instantly knew he was the man for the job. Approaching them he looked at the couple. “Selina, Elliot I’m sure you two are here for the Devonshire wedding. I do have a few questions for you Selina but we can do that another time. I need to speak with Elliot, if you don’t mind.”

Elliot had no idea what Jon Harrison wanted to talk to him about as he saw Selina head into the wedding it wasn’t like and Jon were friends, hell they were barely acquaintances at this point. He had tried to bury Jon in lawsuits and even pressured the DA to file criminal charges of murder in Kendrick’s shooting. He still mistrusted most police officers in general but he was working on it and knew that he was bias, but there were good cops in Atlas Falls. Jon was one of them or so he liked to believe not to mention everyone in town seemed to think that too right down to his like brothers on the force such as Devin Thompson. He shuffled his feet for a bit looking around the expensive and overpriced hotel that they were at for the wedding of Chauncey and Natasha. He saw more guest fluttering into the venue and stepped to the side motioning Jon to follow him to the hotel bar area where he took a seat at the counter and waved off the bartender he wasn’t going to share a drink with Jon they weren’t friends. Folding his arms on his chest he looked at the detective in front of him wondering if this was going to be another grilling him session of what he knew about Dimitri from the last wedding he attended.

“What can I do for you detective that I haven’t already done at this point. I gave you my statement on what I remember from the wedding. It hasn’t changed in the last six months so I don’t see what we could possibly have to talk about?” Elliot asked looking at Jon for a moment as the bartender sat down a glass of water and he almost rolled his eyes at the man behind the counter not to mention Jon annoyed him. Jon wanted to push his luck that drink may just end up all over whatever it was he was wearing since he wasn’t in his normal suit and tie which made him wonder if he was even at the hotel on official business. “I really do need to get into my date detective so please make this as quick as possible.” He finished wanting to get back to Selina and away from Jon Harrison.

Jon felt his nerves raking up as he looked at Elliot and felt his stomach tightening. “Look I know I’m not a person who begs but I need something from you. My son was given up for adoption in Philly over three years ago. He’s about to turn four and I’m actually engaged to his mother. She was under the influence of drugs and in a bad mental place. I have a feeling that intimidation was at play but I haven’t gotten the word from my fiance. Look, Skye gave my son up without my permission and I had absolutely no clue. You are a father and you have a son. I’ve done my research if your ex-wife or girlfriends would have done that to you. You would be fighting tooth and nail. I know it so please I’m asking you, a man who wasn’t afraid to come up against AFPD to help me come up against a force even more powerful. Charles Hessington and his entire clan. She gave my son to Charles Hessington’s daughter Whitney and her husband Ryan Walker. Yes, of the Montana clan of Walkers, some of the richest lumber barons in the United States. Look I know what I’m going up against. The Hessington’s and Walkers are some of the richest families in America and I’m just a cop. A cop who was denied the opportunity to be a father.” Jon ran his hands through his hair.

“I’m sorry to bother you Elliot and this was a mistake asking you I just didn’t know who else to go to. I just didn’t think that I could ask anyone else. I’ve burned a lot of bridges but I didn’t kill Kendrick purposely and I didn’t deserve to lose my baby. I want my son and I want a relationship with him somehow. I want him to know that he’s a Harrison and not just a Hessington or Walker. My blood runs through him and I love him already. I don’t even know him and I love him so much.” Jon poured his heart out to Elliot as he placed his hands in his pockets. “I’m sorry I just don’t have anybody else. You’d be going after the governor but you won’t be wrong. You will be saving my son from a life of excess and extreme morality complexes.”

Elliot looked at Jon as he asked him to represent him in a custody case against the Governor himself basically. Not only that go up against Lex and no doubt a slew of other powerful attorneys, judges and anyone else that stood in the Hessington way. There was a wise thing that Jerimiah once taught him when he was mentoring him: never bite off more than you could chew, your clients however it was fine to give them enough rope to hang themselves with. In this case he wasn’t sure if he accepted if that was what Jon was doing or not. He would need to do some research on case law not to mention look up statues within the state. He looked at Jon as he took a sip of his drink mulling over the offer clearly Jon had it out for the Hessington’s and people that he believed to be indulgent and rich and deep down he couldn’t blame Jon. He was also a father so he got where his plea was coming from.

“I literally tried to get you fired from a job you clearly care about and are good at for publicity and fame. I’m actually surprised you came to me seeing how the district attorney should he so wish could open up the case for you, you are after all the god father to his son right?” Elliot asked he had heard about the disaster that Jon faced with the Fraiser’s it wasn’t a secret that Walter and Charles were thick as thieves. He heard about Miles who in town hadn’t the truth of the matter. He knew it would be an uphill battle and one he wasn’t sure Jon was ready to go down. “Charles absolutely has one of the best legal teams in the country, you know that right? His son is the best at what he does and if I had to guess that adoption is iron clad. A case like this can literally take years and your laundry is on display and your fiancée’s past is on display.” Elliot said emphasizing the fiancée part he doubted for a moment Jon was as cozy with Skye as he claimed. “So what is in it for me if I agree?”

“My entire life I’ll protect you. I’ll do whatever it takes to pay whatever the cost but that little boy has to know that I love him. He has to know that I didn’t give him away and I want nothing more than to know him. Skye is open with her past in the escorting field. I think they gaslight her and she won’t even talk about that time. I want nothing more than to have him be a part of my life. Look I can’t give you anything but my hand. My hand as a man is that I am that boys father and that if it was you as a man would you fight or allow you never to get the chance. Never to get the opportunity to be a part of his life. That boy is the love of my life and he doesn’t know and that kills me. That kid is my son and I need him. I need him to need me in his life. I deserve to know him and him to know me. Skye might have signed those papers but she is here to fight also. You have to believe me.” Jon pleaded to Elliot.

“I am done with the Fraiser’s they have betrayed me. I have shown Dani and Braden nothing but loyalty but she knew and she was supposed to be one of my closest friends. I’m sorry Elliot going to Braden is not an option but what I’ve heard is you like cases like this. This would be a big shit man I’m going up against the Hessington’s and Lex is a bulldog of a lawyer. He’s scary and intimidating but not unbeatable. He can be beaten and we can do it. They play dirty, I am an officer and I know Lex, Whitney, and Connor have dirt in their closet. Hell, Whitney and Ryan breakup every other week from what I’ve heard already.” Jon said looking at him showing that he knew something. They were constantly fighting and arguing from reports of a domestic disturbance at the Hessington compound. “Help me.”

Elliot looked at Jon when he spoke and figured what in the hell did he have to lose the notoriety of the case almost was enough to get his juices flowing. It never hurt to have a meeting with a respective client that was if they paid the right price for a retainer. He wasn’t sure how much Jon made but his fee wasn’t cheap to start and he took out a business card from his pocket and a pen on the counter. “You’ve peaked my interest enough to look into it and meet with you and Skye after I do some research this weekend. Call my secretary this is the fee.” He said handing the number to Jon and seeing the price was a bit of a shock. “Its not going to be cheap Jon but let’s see what happens next week. I really need to get to Selina.” Elliot finished taking a sip of his drink before seeing Selina waving at him as be walked away leaving Jon to make the decision to make the call or not for an appointment.

**********

Natasha stormed into Chauncey’s suite with his groomsmen. Looking around she saw Rory, Zerick, and Jackson all sitting around him drinking beer. Wasn’t this just fucking adorable the Devonshire boys all together. She cleared her throat and cared nothing about American traditions. After her little meeting with Cara she was tense. Her body felt like it was tight. She needed a release and she needed to push his buttons. People don’t rattle Natasha Hassan. It wasn’t in her blood, she’d pushed more money into SandStar with this deal. However she lost ownership that wasn’t what she wanted. Wearing a silk robe she looked at the men. “I need to speak to my soon to be husband. I would appreciate it if you all leave now.” Natasha said in a hiss. Watching the men grumble and leave the room. “I do want you to remember one thing. This isn’t a loving marriage. We won’t be having what Jackson and Dani have. This is my way to get my company back and you know that I could never love you.” She said rubbing her belly as if she was still pregnant. She wanted a baby badly and she would have Anderson’s child again.

“Chauncey you want to be the CEO, and I want my legacy returned to my control. That is what this is and if you think it’s anything else you’ve lost your mind. You have a partner not a wife remember that. You lost that loving affair with Greer and you know it’s funny I’m enjoying this. Greer not getting you is a perk but you not getting her is even better. If you think that I’m going to fall for you then you are foolish. Sad and foolish. Chauncey I can’t love you because you know the truth. I love someone else.” She leaned down and kissed his cheek and helped him with the cufflink in the mirror. “Together we will get what we want but a relationship isn’t that. Please don’t forget it.”

Chauncey looked up from his cufflinks when the door had opened and Natasha had burst in telling his brothers to leave and he simply let them. He was still a bit shook from seeing Greer again the night before reliving what happened with them a few months ago. Honestly he was still going to marry Natasha because she could provide him a run for the CEO position his father still hadn’t announced who it would be when it came to his wishes and he was already behind his siblings. Jackson married Dani, Bliss married Hunter, Max was having a child with Sebastian and Rory had Aspen by his side and a successful app meaning he had to play catch up to get in his father’s good graces. He wasn’t naive he and Selina almost had similar arrangement until she left him at the altar, the difference was he did love Selina as a friend. Natasha was not Logan nor was she Greer and for a split second he almost told her the truth right then and there as the door shut behind Rory as he finally left. He however didn’t think he was going to go through with this feelings be damned and Natasha was his way to do that.

“You seem to think that I care about what Jackson and Dani have Natasha, they’re happy now but if I know anything from watching my parents and Max’s marriage, Devonshire marriages are hardly ever smooth sailing. I know that we don’t have actual love between us I don’t ask where you wander off to at night when it’s obviously not my bed you don’t ask questions of me of course that all changes once we walk down the aisle in a few moments you see I refuse to fuck this up until my father announces it is me so whatever or whoever is in your system it’s over now.” Chauncey said looking at her she wanted to play hardball with him she could her little trips out of town without him were over DGI didn’t need another scandal and frankly he wasn’t going to provide them with one either. She could either get on board with that or she’d never get SandStar back and he’d see to it that it stayed under his brother and Dani’s control while she was unhappy the rest of her days. He turned to her and partly furious at her and wanting to see exactly what kind of a reaction he would ge the leaned in kissing her lips softly for a moment before pulling back. “Like I said it ends Natasha or I’ll make sure SandStar stays right where it fucking is do you understand?”

Natasha raised her hand and slapped him. “Don’t patronize me. I know what we have to do.” She seethed looking at him. “I hate you. You are a pathetic man who has nothing but DGI in his eyes. You don’t give me passion and I will never feel a thing for you. Keep your eyes on the prize because mine are on SandStar because I will never love you. I will never care about how you feel because you can’t please me. You will never please me like him. He’s smarter, he’s more confidant, and he has more passion inside of him than you could ever possess. He makes me scream out in pleasure more than you could.” Natasha chose to push him even more because she was furious that Cara dared to threaten her. She needed him to fuck her to screw out the memories of Anderson. She wasn’t going to continue until she released and she knew how to make Chauncey give her what she wanted. She needed rough and wild sex.

“I think you are a petulant daddy’s boy who is screwed up. You could never handle me and you’ll never be able to. Where is your crippled father somewhere lurking in the shadow that he casts all over you all. Does it bother you that you can’t amount to the man he is? That your father will always be a better businessman than you are. That you aren’t a fucking half the man of your father is. He can have affairs and still be more respected and loved. You are pathetic and I can’t wait until this arranged marriage is nothing more than a memory like your dying father.” She said in a nasty tone knowing she was pushing his buttons. “What are you going to do?” Natasha sneered as she looked at him. “You make me sick because you don’t know the power you truly have.” She seethed looking at him.

Chauncey rubbed the side of his face when her hand came up and slapped him and he almost laughed in her face at her facade was a good way to put it, she was so worried about losing her lover. He knew that he could at least keep it in his pants when it came to his marriage to Natasah at least until he was named CEO it was up to her to keep her legs closed and that pissed him off. After everything they had went though with her miscarriage, when someone pushed her down the stairs of the mansion that she still chose to chase after him when he was right there for once in his life doing the right thing. “How could I ever love you when you won’t even let me fucking try. You’re too fucking jaded thinking he loves you that is what burns you the most isn’t it Natasha that you actually thought he was going to leave everything for you. As indulgent as I am and as spoiled as I am you’re no fucking better so stop pretending you are. You wanted me back in Egypt but instead chose Jackson’s deal over mine which is how you got into the fucking mess you are in now. Newsflash he was never going to leave her for you get used to it already.” Chauncey said looking at her his own anger rising back at her.

Something about her always brought out the worst in him most of the time but maybe that was part of what he lived for recently he had let Greer go for the good of DGI and that is where his focus was recently. Where it would stay and if that meant making sure his marriage to Natasha worked and giving her what she so desperately seemed to think she wanted he would do that. He didn’t give her a verbal answer before he stalked to her closing that small distance between them and kissing her picking her up by her waist and pressing her against the bare wall in the room, she wanted him to be passionate with her he could do that and have his groomsmen throwing him looks the entire ceremony over it. When she didn’t fully resist him he leaned down kissing her again while he hands undid her robe slipping it off her shoulders exposing that sun tanned skin and those beautiful and full breasts that were his for the taking. He leaned his head down from her lips carefully making his way down her collarbone and towards the space between them where he let out an exhale she was wearing some sort of jasmine perfume and looked up at her before moving his lips over her breast and taking a nipple into his mouth tugging on it seeing her quiver a bit. “You can tell me to stop Natasha it’s entirely up to you.” Chauncey said looking up at her his face still stinging and likely red from the slap earlier she had given him.

Natasha felt absolutely enthralled by how he was arguing back. Natasha needed it. She needed to fight with him. She was angry and she believed that she actually deserved to lose her baby at one point. Leaning in she slipped her tongue into his mouth. Feeling the intensity of how he was kissing him. Facing herself in a mirror across the room she could barely look at the woman she had become. Determined to feel something even though she was empty and felt nothing but anger and rage. She was full of rage for losing the company, for loving Anderson, for having to marry a man she cared nothing about. As she stared into his eyes she wondered if he truly did care or was these just words? Chauncey was the least trust worthy Devonshire and trying to understand him was something Greer learned, not her. Nor did she truly want to but at this moment she needed him and needed to feel something.

When he began to touch her body and picked her up by her waist she felt enthralled. This is what she needed. Unabashed sex with all the kinks and intensity. As she leaned in and passionately kissed Chauncey feeling his lips devouring her collarbone, and feeling his succulent lips feasting on her nipples. She moaned as she immediately removed his shirt and quickly placed her claws into his back as her legs wrapped around his waist she began to quiver. Her body was putty into his arms as she looked at him unbuckling his pants. “Did I say stop Chauncey. I wanted you to fuck me the moment that I walked into this room. Or do I need to go to him. He’s downstairs you know? Are you going to do what I need you to do or are you going to let him do it for me?”

Chauncey had no idea what had come over him as he feasted on her breasts but he was quickly lowering his pants while she told him what he wanted to her that she wanted him to fuck her. His fingers playing inside of her heat for a moment before he shoved himself into her letting out a grunt into her shoulder. He pinned her hips to the wall and sat her down on the nearest end table where a lamp and the landline to the phone was his hands roughly palmed her ass while he began to pound inside of her and he was certain if anyone was ont he other side they would hear that table beating on the wall. He wasn’t sure he fucking cared while he looked into her chocolate eyes, eyes that were often times more colder than normal since that night on the stairs. Which only infuriated him harder made him angrier as he began to fuck her harder groaning out as he did so.

Chauncey looked at the GPS signal on his phone winding down the roads of Atlas Falls about a mile from the Devonshire mansion turning on Brighton Drive. She had been here for a few hours and honestly he was starting to worry about Natasha ever since the baby, she barely spoke to him or anyone. Locked herself in her room with her trusted assistant and maids. She was a stone statue at work and he had heard her crying so often in the room next to his that it pained him. He was never good at relationships but he was honest to fucking God trying with her ever since that night Greer wasn’t even a thought in his head. When he put his Mazerati in park in the driveway he was relieved to see her car, of all the people Natasha had gotten close to Brenda over the last few months which was odd but not alarming and he waived off the valet that had come to take his keys pulling out his phone he proceeded on foot zooming in on the screen. He passed through the courtyard garden and past the stable seeing she was by the Kincaid pool. When he turned the corner though there she was and he froze looking at her naked in the pool with Anderson.

She was naked in the pool swimming away from Anderson as he gleefully chased her and he wanted to wonder where Cara was and did she know? He watched as Anderson scooped her into his arms and kissed the woman he was going to marry, watched as Natasha kissed him back and felt a fury inside of him that he didn’t know that he had was that where she went some nights and even before she was pregnant. He watched as Anderson spread her legs and mounted her underneath the waterfall feature and then realized his hands were shaking in rage. He was worried about her mental state worried about the child that they had lost and she was as calm as a cucumber fucking Anderson in a pool. He took a few steps back wiping at his eyes realizing he was actually crying before heading back to his car the valet asking if he could take a message. He simply shook his head no what message could there be thanks for fucking Anderson and making him look like a fool? No he was going to marry her for DGI and fuck his way into anything that moved now.

“You like that? I’ve thought about this months Natasha ever since you’ve locked that door to your room not letting me in. Thought about this fucking you till you scream my name and I give you what you want again a baby to hold.” Chauncey said ramming into her center and he flexed his hips up into her center and he had to grin at her leaning back to take him into her body deeper. He saw her eyes rolling into the back of head for a moment and he stopped placing her feet on the ground and bending her over the table before slowing inching his way back into her feeling her pressing against him begging him to move and he waited till the last moment to give her what she wanted gently rocking his hips to begin with. “Fuck you feel nice after so many months. Does he do it like this to you?” Chauncey asked leaned down as he picked up his pace whispering into her ear as his fingers moved between them to play with her clit wanting her to scream hard when she did so Anderson heard when he walked by knowing he was planting Devonshire seed inside of her this time not him.

The truth was Anderson had lost that passionate side to him since the fall. She saw him slipping away and that little meeting with Cara and Poppy she felt it. He wasn’t going to love her as much as he had, if it was his political ambitions or her she knew. Chauncey was showing passion and this moment she felt him deep inside of her mind. Maybe this could work. Maybe she could actually be happy with Chauncey then it hit her. She was using him. She was using Chauncey because she couldn’t have Anderson. She didn’t give a fuck about Poppy or Wyatt she would have her happy ending and it didn’t end with Chauncey Devonshire. Clenching tightly as she felt herself coming as she gripped his back as she leaned in kissing him passionately.

When she was speechless and didn’t even respond to his question he knew the answer they could be content with each other, obviously whatever was going on with Anderson was coming to a close. Meaning he could take over and he felt himself swelling underneath her lost in the moment that for right now Natasha was receiving his advances and it was enough to send him over the edge releasing deep inside of her his hips flexing at ever shot, his hands gripped her neck gently when she leaned back and kissed him to drown out her screams and his own groan of pleasure. He thought about leaving the comfort of her heat afterwards but instead he figured even that was cold for him on their wedding day, so he stayed flexing his hips into hers each time. Making sure that she got every precious drop of his seed inside of her, he could fix what they had lost in another child it wasn’t like he was infertile. When he was fully soft he pulled out of her gently and stepped back looking at her. “I think we’ve settled I can satisfy you Natasha if you’ll let me we can actually try and make this work and be beneficial to both of us. I’ll see you in a while on the other side of the aisle.” Chauncey said touching her face lightly as he went into the bathroom to clean himself up looking in the mirror wondering if his father was right and if this was really what he wanted to do.

**********

The purple Egyptian lotuses were stunning against the gold, white, and black decorations. She honestly had outdone herself with this wedding. It was a mixture of modern and something out of Egyptian times. The Pharaohs would have loved this wedding she thought to herself. Jon had harassed Jackie who looked pale ever since. She didn’t like that SOB after all the things he was doing to Skye. He wasn’t a good guy anymore and she knew it. The other day she noticed him leaving the Rawlings with Maggie the skunk. Or at least that’s what she called her. She hated to say it but Jon was cheating on Skye but how could she say that when her sissy hadn’t put down her foot and demanded a relationship. He just got to fuck her miserably and then get to screw Maggie. She wanted to bring it up to Skye but she was still so guilty over the Miles situation. Not to mention someone tried to mow down her best friend. When she saw Skye walk in she smiled at her. Recently she had been auditioning and gotten a play on Broadway which meant Skye wasn’t in the city as much but she was proud. Skye always dreamed of her name in lights and honestly she was on her way.

“You look amazing and physical therapy has done wonders because I can’t even tell you couldn’t walk a couple of months ago. I’m so proud of you my sister and my best friend and my girl and my homie. This is about the best wedding ever and tonight I’m breaking the curse. A wedding without a hitch.” She clapped as she saw Skye’s stressed face. Walking to the bar she picked up her IPad. “Skye what’s the matter honey? You look like you are wrestling with something girl. So before you hear on the streets, I’ve decided to look for my family. I don’t want them or anything I just think I should know where I come from and why I wasn’t wanted. I’m going to hire a private eye and um I hope to find out who I am.” Holding the Ipad close to her chest she felt Skye’s apprehension. “I know you don’t care but it’s my choice and I have to know okay.”

Skye held onto the walking stick her OT said it would be another week maybe two before she could get rid of it and be back to her normal self, well at least as normal as she could think she could be. Someone had tried to run her down after the wedding and her talk with Lex, she knew it wasn’t a talk though it was a threat one that she was going to do her best to make sure stayed that just a threat. She wasn’t completely stupid when it came to the Hessington family but since that night no one has requested that she leave again Jon hadn’t even brought up going after Miles perhaps he thought it was a pipe dream that even she knew it was. Whatever the case Lex and Charles hadn’t harmed Merci or him, that was part of the bargain she had made with Lex and it wasn’t like either of the were brave enough to march over to Jon’s house and demand she leave after rehabbing from the hit and run that nearly left her dead with three broken ribs and a broken leg. She was living with Jon but it wasn’t like they were together they were playing house while he worked and spent some of his evening out coming home early in the morning and she tried to not think about where he was, if she did it broke the fantasy she had built in her head. The fantasy that Jon would forgive her for everything with Miles and that they could move forward, Thor was back with Cassie where he belonged and she thought that Jon would finally forgive her.

“I’ll just be glad to get rid of this stick in a few weeks so it’s not getting in the way of me on stage. I have no idea what would have happened to me if Lex hadn’t of found me in that ditch when he did, I could have died Merci and it’s not like he had to stop or take me to the hospital after the hell I brought back on his family with Jon and Miles.” Skye said softly she of course was grateful that Lex found it in his twisted and demented heart to try and save her. Or did he, anyone could have not seen her on that road between the snowstorm that hit after the wedding, the lack of lights along that winding curve she felt a chill on her skin and brushed it off. Her lips were pursed thinking about mentioning that she could start to look for her biological parents, she got that Merci needed that closure, she at least knew her biological family had been Merci didn’t. “I’m fine just processing everything since the wedding, I still can’t believe they haven’t found the car that hit me. You know I think of you as a sister Merci the only family I have left that won’t or haven’t disowned me. I fully support you no matte what you decided to do, just be careful while you do okay?” Skye finished looking at the glass of champagne in front of her before raising the glass and taking a long drink of it.

Merci looked at her best friend and sister and she felt her love and concern because honestly finding your birth family was something that challenges you to the core.. After all these years she still wanted to know why? Was she not good enough to love and to keep? Was she not pretty enough or not the skin tone? What was it? She absolutely wanted to know her story, and why she was given away. Folding her arms around herself. “I just think that I deserve to know exactly who I am. I deserve to know where I come from and what is my place in this world. I can’t stand that they just threw me away. I can however understand it if I know my truth. I’m actually going to ask Devin to help me and I’m going to dig into it. I have some information and I will be careful. Emotionally because I don’t expect those people to be my family. I expect some truth. But they’ll never be you.” Merci said sternly, letting Skye know that nobody would take her place in her life. Skye could and would be in the room when she gave birth that’s the connection.

When the conversation turned to Jon and her relationship with him. “I know you always thought you’d end up with Jon but like this? I always imagined you two would end up together but Skye you don’t deserve this. He is playing because you hurt him and it’s clear to me and Devin. He isn’t the awe shucks boy you fell for, he’s a man hurt and I just want you to understand that.” As a couple they chose to stay out of there crazy ass white friends shit. She however saw how Jon’s behavior had shocked Devin. Something was different even between them as friends. “Look someone tried to take you out and I won’t be having it. I won’t be dealing with losing my sister. So I’m going to need you to get stronger and figure out if you want to stay with Jon or leave him. But this isn’t it. I just know you deserve more than all of this Skye.”

Skye had not idea what it was like to be thrown away like Merci was she at least had memories of her parents before the accident that claimed their lives and left her an orphan, well not an orphan her aunt and her grandmother both couldn’t handle an emotional preteen and the feelings she had. So she grew up in foster care with Merci in that group home and no one wanted preteens to adopt she wasn’t that dumb and learned that early on, her parents had left her a small sum that she got when she turned eighteen. She had blew that on drugs and partying with Catherine Scottswood and the rest of the group, eventually falling hard and harder into drugs with Jackson. Veronica and Max welcomed her and at times she felt she lived a double life but she always came back to her sister Merci and realized the rich always stayed with the rich and the poor and the unwanted stayed with the poor. When Merci started to talk about her and Jon she closed her eyes not wanting to think about it Jon tossing that ring at her to pretend to be engaged to get Miles back she simply put the ring in a drawer to be rid of it, she wasn’t going to do that.

“I want you to answer the questions you have Merci and no matter what happens I’m always going to be your sister from another mother period, you have no memories of your parents and you deserve answers. I at least have those answers and memories. I know how they died and why they are no longer here, you don’t hell you want help finding someone to find them I can arrange that too.” Skye said looking at her and then down at her walking cane to help with her leg wondering if she should actually take Lex’s warning the other night before someone tried to run her over and leave town. Everything would be so much simpler if she would leave town Jon wouldn’t look at her like he fucking hated her, trying to guilt her to take Miles away from the only family he had ever known, a family that despite being dark at times a family that really loved him. “I’ll handle Jon okay he ahs every right to be mad at me right now Merci what I did was fucked up I know that. I just booked Broadway and have a career ahead of me when I’m ready to make a decision about Jon I will tell you first okay?” Pausing she took another drink of her champagne before looking at her sister. “So you tell Devin yet about what you have in mind maybe he knows someone who can help.”

Devin had walked into the event and made sure that Merci was talking to Skye while he went and approached Willow asking her for a microphone it took an extra hundred dollars from him pocket to do so but he had planned this moment out sliding her the instrumental version of the song he wanted her to play. They had only really been together not even a year but he knew after taking her to meet his parents and Rochelle that he wanted to marry Merci which was weird as normally he would go seek out a girls father’s permission he was old school like that and had been raised like that int his case there was no one to ask. He supposed that he could ask Skye but that seemed even weirder. So instead he told Willow to play the son when he gave her the cue and let him do the rest and he fully expected his best friend to be here for it too only he wasn’t. Regardless of all the craziness that was his life the last six months and everything with his uncle he had Merci and maybe they both needed a restart and they could start together. Walking to the stage he took the microphone and turned it off the wedding hadn’t started yet and now was the perfect time.

“Has anyone seen the rest of the damn flowers in here so my girl doesn’t have to chase them down? Speaking of which is Merci DuBois here?” Devin asked feigning to look over the crowd for her and seeing the shock on her face and the unamused one on Skye’s face wondering for a second if he was about to look like a fool. He moved down the stairs hoping his swagger was enough to pull this off his voice often left something to be desired he looked at Willow and pointed to her to start the song as he picked up the microphone the lighting technician shining the light on him and Merci as he belted out the first lines of Can’t Take My Eyes Off You he heard his voice cracking as he went through the motions of the song. He was pretty sure he heard people hollering and pointing too, at his awful performance not to mention the terrible dance moves he had practiced over Skype with his sister hopelessly trying to improve his rhythm. When the last part was belted out to everyone in the room and he heard clapping erupting he dropped down on a knee hoping he didn’t rip his pants as he took out the velvet box popping it open. “So now that the entire world knows that I can’t take my eyes off you Merci. You’re in every part of my mind, body and soul. I know that it’s been a wild ride but I wouldn’t want to do it with anyone else. I also know it may not be the biggest ring ever but I’d hope you’d do me the honor of at least giving me the chance to love you for the rest of our lives.”

Merci was talking to her sister and then Devin crashed her event in one of the worst renditions of ‘Can’t Take My Eyes Off You’. Her eyes began to well up with tears as she began to understand what he was doing. She felt Skye’s hand squeeze hers as she looked at him. Stepping to him she felt like she was floating. Merci was from the gutter and here she had a good man making an absolute fool of himself in front of a crowd of people. Her heart raced as she felt Skye pushing her forward toward him. As she laughed at the croaks in his voice, it truly endeared her more to this corny but perfect proposal. She trembled a little as she covered her mouth unsure of what to do because she didn’t like to cry in front of people. Ever since Kendrick death she truly felt set free. When she met Devin somehow she knew. She knew that he was going to be special to her and seeing him dropping down to one knee she gasped. Covering her mouth she smiled as she listened to him profess to love her for the rest of his life. Looking at him Merci bit her lip and nodded her head.

“I wouldn’t want to spend the rest of my life with anyone else but you Devin Thompson. I love you from the top of your head to the bottom of your feet. Yes I will marry you and I can’t imagine God giving me a better man to love for the rest of my life than you.” Merci croaked out as Devin placed the ring on her finger and she almost passed out. She heard people clapping and everyone cheering as he stood up she leaned in and kissed him immediately. How couldn’t she? He’d just bore his soul and she needed to taste her fiance’s lips! Merci had so many favors she could call in for the blackest, but most chic damn wedding ever. She was going to do it big and she was going to know her family when she did it. She wanted to scream and jump up and down so she did. “I’m engaged sissy!” She ran to Skye and waved her ring screaming. Hugging her sister who actually had tears in her eyes for them. Merci could see Jackie, Bliss, Max, Selina and so many others in the crowd. Lauren was clapping for her she always volunteered at the girls home after Victoria’s death. It was nice to see her and Jackson even looked happy for her. “I love you.” She walked to Devin and jumped in his arms. “I love you Devin! Merci Thompson, that sounds good!”

Devin was thrilled when she said yes and people cheered for them smiling at her as he placed the ring on her finger and then kissed her back spinning around. Even if nothing else went right today for Merci at this wedding his fiancee would have this to hold onto this memory where he publicly committed to her and declared his love for Merci DuBois for all to see. He could see various people congratulating them and even had mustered a smile from Skye and he had to wonder if everything didn’t go to shit if Jon would have been there too cheering them on. He didn’t have to reflect further as Braden and Zach had come up to congratulate them and Merci’s assistant had come to let her know that they were just about ready to start meaning he hadn’t upstaged Chauncey or Natasha and there wouldn’t be heat about it. He was so happy as he got out his phone dialing his parents for a quick Facetime call to tell them the good news.

**********

Chauncey had adjusted his tie one last final time before opening the doors and then walking down the aisle to marry Natasha. He waited patiently for the wedding march after his brothers had lead Natasha’s cousins down as their escorts at the event. Quite the opposite approach he mused from his brother’s wedding where his sister’s were all involved, it didn’t matter to him in the slightest. Natasha was not Bliss, Max or Belle she was a business partner and wanted her family represented as well. They had opted for a simple marriage in front of a justice of the peace and had a private Nika ceremony at the hotel the night before her father had insisted and he had paid a hefty sum to marry her. He looked at her in her dress as she walked down the aisle and was taken in by her exotic beauty in the dress. The curves of it hugging her body that mere an hour before he had his entire fill of in the groomsmen room. He repeated the basic vows and waited a beat before relaxing when she did too, he wasn’t naive about either of them keeping them. He was going to try though at least until his father named the CEO replacement that was something they both had agreed upon once his father was dead they were free to do what they wanted and with whom until then they would present themselves as the perfect pair. He saw his mother wiping her eyes and almost rolled his own, she was so sentimental and the truth was he learned long ago that maybe it was just easier to be in an open relationship which is why the arrangement with Natasha worked. He realized he was spacing out when Natasha gritted her teeth and dug her claws into his hand and realized they were onto the ring part.

“This ring is almost as beautiful as your smile. Let’s embark on this new journey together and live life by each other’s side. Of course for richer or poor and sickness and health the rest included. Not that my lovely wife needs money in the least.”  Chauncey said his charming smile in place as Rory had handed him her wedding ring to slip it on her finger, even their ring exchange had been hand picked out by Natasha’s assistant. A simple statement not some fake grand gesture of his love to her, wrapped in fake promises they were going on a new journey together as man and wife, partners at DGI but it wasn’t love. He would be by her side to swipe SandStar right out from Jackson’s nose once he was CEO and return it to her and together he needed her contacts to expand to new business ventures. They could co-parent if needed, and were free to do what they wanted. “Natasha” He asked quietly, realizing she was just standing there and only hoped he wasn’t stood up again at the altar.

Natasha walked down the aisle was a blur as she caught the eyes of Anderson. It was almost like he was begging her not to do this. As if he had any fucking reason to trust him. He would never leave Cara and if he did it would be career suicide. She would get what she wanted. After all, she had spent a lifetime getting exactly what she wanted. Natasha was given the best and she knew that something in life had to be taken from her. That meant that she wasn’t going to be able to have Anderson when she wanted him. That meant that she was going to settle for this man who seemed to want her. He seemed to love her and seemed to consider her to be his equal. Conflicted was the way she felt and she did know that her family had come from Egypt, and India. Listening to his fake words she almost believed him he was convincing until he drifted off. Until she swore she saw a flash of Greer LeClerq there. Call her jealous but she never could get why men threw themselves at Greer. She was vain and shallow. Nothing about her was deep but her empty wallet on fashion. Well she could cover this in her papers.

“I’m sorry. I was just thinking our child would be here. But our future is ” She squeezed his hand because honestly Chauncey went through a terrible ordeal during that time. He was right by her and that wasn’t even his baby. “I can’t breathe.” Natasha said seeing people’s nerves get riled up. Reaching for her cousin’s Naira hand she took the ring. Raising Chauncey’s hand she smiled, putting on a show for people so it looked even more real. They were after all impressing Lowell Devonshire and had to make this work. He had to become CEO or else SandStar would never return to her lineage. She sniffled fakely but effectively. “This ring is strong and binds me to you as your wife, friend, and partner. I will never forsake you or leave you in the wind. Together we will rise and conquer any obstacle like we already have.” She placed the ring on his finger. She heard the justice of the peace speaking with his powers and she felt Chauncey pulling her to him. As she heard the music and people cheering for a successful wedding. She could hear Merci screaming happily. As she and Chauncey walked down the aisle together seeing their family following she literally wasn’t lying when she said she couldn’t breathe. She couldn’t believe her father snuck here to be with her and him talking to Lowell didn’t make her feel any better. “Did you know my father was going to be here?” She whispered through a fake smile.

Chauncey had almost choked on air when he thought he saw a glimpse of Greer out of the corner of his eyes looking at them at the altar and then he blinked and she was gone something he thought in his head for sure. Natasha had went though the motions placing the ring on his finger and doing her duty to marry him and then the justice had announced them man and wife. He had leaned forward stroked her face for the good will of their guests mainly his father and hers. He knew that she had spoken from the heart about the child that they had lost in truth his son would be here if it wasn’t for whoever pushed her down those stairs and it was okay to mourn him in that moment. To remember what was taken from them and DGI’s adding legacy of grandchildren. He was going to show his father that he was ready and if that meant playing the part of the perfect husband to his father from here on out he would do it. He had assumed that her father had left the country after their ceremony last night so he was a bit shocked that he had stayed a bit more shocked that he was with his father. His father no doubt keeping his secret about CEO close to his chest and after their talk he wondered if it would be him or Jackson.

“I actually had no idea that he was still in town or that he would be attending the more American modern wedding. I thought you said that his health was deteriorating too fast for him to make long trips?” Chauncey said shaking a few hands and letting the statement slip out as quietly as possible. Surely something was up so much that Natasha’s father felt it fit to risk his fragile health and stay for their second nuptials. Not that he was upset at the matter he had just assumed that their ceremony the night before would have been sufficient. On the other hand perhaps his father and hers had more in common than just finances, both were in frail health perhaps that was what they were commiserating over. He had to hide the dark smirk he wanted to give Tess who was there as well as they approached fucking viper. “Father I see you and Ramses have met again. I was just telling Natasha we are so grateful that you both gave us permission to see that this union actually happen. It feels like it has been so long in the making.” Chauncey said and then he looked at Tess and decided to at least publicly play nice he knew something she didn’t and it tickled him pink. “Ms. Blisston. Oh I’m sorry, pardon my manners Tess.”

Lowell smirked at his son when he referred to Tess by her maiden name. He was a son of a bitch but he was his son. That was Devonshire’s signature as he took Natasha’s hand and kissed her hand. “Welcome to family my dear as your father-in-law I expect that the prophecy of grandchildren will come to light. I was discussing SandStar with Ramses and we both were pleased with the accomplishments that it’s bringing DGI.” Lowell said clearly poking the bear in Chauncey and Natasha. He however saw them smiling at each other and wondered if they were for real. It was nice to see his eldest smiling so brightly. “You two are a beautiful couple aren’t they Tess?”

“Where are my manners?” Tess said, looking at Natasha and leaning in to kiss each cheek. “Oh they must be in the same place as Chauncey’s memory. It’s Ms. Devonshire now.” She hissed as she looked at him with menace. She couldn’t wait to strip them of everything. “Now Natasha why don’t we let the men talk for a moment. I think your cousin was showing me her couture line. I would love to buy a few items if it’s anything like your gown.”

Ramses looked at his daughter walking off with Tess Blisston and wondered if his little girl had bitten off more than she could chew with these people. “Lowell, I assure you that if my daughter is hurt in any way, this will not end well for the Devonshire’s. Chauncey I’ve given you my blessing but I trust you not. Nor do I trust you with her heart. You are a known gigolo and I don’t think you have the sense to not disrespect my daughter. I’ll make this clear if you don’t hold up your end I’m coming for you.” Touching Lowell’s shoulder. “It was good to see you old friend.”

Lowell waved at Ramses as he saw the man walking away and locked eyes with Chauncey. “I truly hope that this is love. Or you may have married the end of DGI.” Lowell walked away no longer able to hold his contempt for Chauncey at this moment. With what Ramses said he knew that he meant every word. “I’ll see you soon son, the medication is kicking in. I need to rest.” With that he waved at Tess and his nurse to come and he was leaving the wedding before the reception could begin.

Chauncey looked over at his father and Ramses as they both spoke of his and Natasha’s marriage he had to bite back a smile or a smirk in this case. Their father’s were truly archaic when it came to their beliefs and he couldn’t help the side eye that he shot Tess as she drug Natasha away with her for a few moments.  In truth he had every intention of honoring his vows to Natasha until after his father had made the choice about everything with DGI and who knew what the future held. If their encounter in the room before they said I do was any indications perhaps he and Natasha could make that work. Until that time though he watched as his father walk off with Tess his secrets were just that his own he would do what he want and when and no one not even Ramses could stop him.

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