Chapter 24: Pup Scuffle
Edrick

I returned to the party with Moana, trying to quell my anger over seeing Moana and Ethan together. I wasn’t quite so much mad at her, although she should’ve been more professional, as I was mad at him. I knew that he was up to something… Always.

“There you are, darling,” my mother said, reaching out and squeezing my hand as Moana and I approached.

“Edrick,” my father suddenly said, pushing himself up from his chair. He didn’t like to admit it, but he was getting older and was starting to have some difficulty with sitting and standing. “Come with me. I’d like to talk to you.”

I knew where this was going, but I also knew that I didn’t have a say with it as I watched my father walk away. My mother, who also knew what he was about to say, gave my hand another squeeze before I followed him.

We walked over to the bar, where he ordered us each a glass of whiskey.

“Here,” he said, shoving the glass of whiskey in my hand.

“Thank you,” I replied, swirling the brown liquid around a bit in my glass before taking a sip, steeling myself for what was about to come.

“Now… I’m sure you know why I wanted to speak with you,” my father said, fixing his icy gray eyes on me.

I nodded. “I know, father. It’s time to find a mate. You’ve been saying this for years.”

“I only say it because I worry about you,” he said, stroking his white beard with his hand. “You’ve already had one illegitimate child. It’s only so long before you have another, given your track record.”

“I’m not worried,” I replied tersely. “Besides, marriage is a distraction.”

“So is dealing with

a secret from the public, and it had worked so far; but my father wasn’t entirely wrong. Not only was it taxing on such a little girl to be kept cooped up and hidden away, but it also became me ntally taxing to work so hard to hide her. Many journalists and papa raz zos had been paid off with hefty sums of money, not to mention her mother, who occasionally showed up demanding more. But despite all of that, Ella was mine, through and through. I didn’t consider her to be any less

gesturing with his glass as he referred to Ethan. “It’s too much of a bother, and it’s bad for the company’s image. Do something about your love life, and then you can claim that Ella is your wife’s child. Why

inside of me, and I tried to quell it with another hefty

setting my glass down on the bar. “I’m not interested in Kelly like that. And the more you entertain

have a better chance with a human girl?” He nodded his head toward Moana, who was crouching in front of Ella and brushing a bit of hair out of

about

Ella looked up as I approached, softening my demeanor, although I still felt the fires of rage inside of me from

wrong, Eddy?” Kelly

didn’t answer — and thankfully, I didn’t need to, because the orchestra suddenly began to play Vivaldi’s Winter. I glanced up to see a dreamy smile beginning

Moana has never had the pleasure of attending one of our banquets,” my mother suddenly said, looking over her shoulder at me from her seat. “I’ll watch Ella. Why don’t you two go

dance came to an end, however, I felt Kelly’s and my father’s eyes on me, and stepped away from Moana with a bow. She said she had to use the restroom, so I pointed her in the right direction and returned

me. She appeared a bit too drunk, and her face was red from the alcohol. “Let’s dance. I haven’t danced with anyone

I’m a little tired. Why don’t you ask one of my cousins?

cousins, who had all come tonight without dates, then shook her head and abruptly turned on her heel. “Nevermind,” she said brusquely. “I’m going to use the ladies’ room.” I watched as she stumbled off and disappeared

as Ella wriggled off of her lap to run off and join

a good nanny. Ella likes

you like her?” she

liked Moana, to a certain extent. She was a good nanny and helped

alerted by the sound of worried voices

and Adam?” my older cousin, Maria, asked, stopping in front of me. She was referring to her two sons, who were often known for causing a bit of trouble. Her husband, Maurice, stood next to her

shook my head. “I haven’t seen

lately,” Maurice said. “We’re worried that they’re off somewhere, probably in

still

sound of heels clicking on the

but she insisted on wandering, and now she’s in

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