#Chapter 98 – Home again

Victor is the last to leave the venue, wanting to ensure that he has left no mess behind and that no one lingers to gossip. He wanted the affair finished, complete, and stayed to ensure that it would happen.

Some of his guests protested, saying they wanted to stay overnight, but offered the venue an obscene amount of money to close out their tabs and ask them, politely, to leave. The venue happily complied.

He had been hoping that Evelyn and the children would have stayed behind – he still wanted a word with Ian and Alvin, whom he hadn’t seen since that morning’s awful trail, but he had received a text from her, earlier, letting him know that she wanted to get them home.

Evelyn: Stephen has offered us a ride home with some of the Betas and we are going to take it. I’m sorry if you wanted us to stay, but they boys are so upset – I just want this day to be over.

He understood, of course – he wanted the best thing for them. And Evelyn was a good mother – she would know what they needed.

Finally, when all is complete, there is only a single black sedan left with Beta Stephen as the driver. Burton gives him a little bow, holding the door open as Victor leaves the venue at last.

“I’ll follow tomorrow, sir. Some affairs to complete here.” Burton murmurs.

“Good,” Victor says, pausing to look him in the eye. “We’ll be glad to have you.”

Burton nods and smiles, heading back into the venue as Victor climbs into the car.

“Sir?” Beta Stephen asks through the lowered partition between front and back seats.

“Home, Beta.” Victor says, leaning his head back and closing his eyes. “Let’s go home.”

Some time later, they pull into the driveway and Victor blinks awake, not realizing he had fallen asleep. He runs a hand through his hair, looking up at his house, not knowing, really, what to expect when he goes in. Will Amelia be there, packing? Or waiting to scream at him?

Honestly, he wouldn’t be surprised by anything at this point.

Giving Stephen a nod as he exits the car, Victor makes his way up the drive. The Betas guarding his door give him a salute and, he could swear, a sympathetic look. Well, at least they’re still on his side.

He gives them a nod and opens the door.

The house is silent, empty and dark. The cleaning and cooking staff have been dismissed for a couple of days, on vacation during the time when Victor and Amelia expected to be celebrating.

few days,” he

by the utter quiet of the house. He wonders

back door creeks open, and

around the corner of the door

around the island

but doesn’t come in. Victor sees that Alvin is standing behind him, almost afraid. Looking beyond them, Victor doesn’t see Evelyn and wonders if

a little wary. “Are you mad

and going to his knees so as to

said you weren’t,” Alvin chimes in, still peeking out from behind

feel bad,” Ian picks up, hanging his head. “For ruining your nice

sorrow. “Come here, guys,” he says,

is sorry. I

her!” Alvin says, his voice guilty. “We

to ruin everything,” Ian

“None of that,” he says, sternly. “You two deserve a mother who loves you, who can take a few pranks without resorting to cruelty,” Victor says, surer now of

to

sent to Colorado,” Alvin says, looking

“You knew about that school in

eyes at Victor. “We know about

well, maybe I didn’t give you credit for being such good

his head, he also adds, and so do

already have a mommy who is better than that,” Ian says, smiling and stretching his hands over his head. Victor is glad to see that the sorrow and worry is starting to disappear from

a knowing look. Victor chuckles

Does she know you’re

from the doorway. Victor looks up, surprised, to see that she’s leaning against the door frame, surveying the scene before her

a little at a loss

giving

an awkward silence between all of them for a moment as they stare at each other,

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