Chapter 26: Mercy
It is said that he who shows mercy to others, shall have mercy shown to him – compassion extended in desperate times when one could otherwise be treated harshly. But to overlook evil, a clear presence of remorse must exist – forging a promise that extended kindnesses will not be taken for granted lest the offer of mercy be cast aside…
"Conrad Grayson involved in M.V.A., blood pressure-170/100, pulse-120, possible head trauma; C.T. scan recommended!"
Emily listened in earnest as the paramedics rushed two gurneys through the hallway of Hope Memorial Hospital, keeping her attention focused on the status of Father Paul.
"Paul Whitley B.P. – possible spinal injury, significant blood lost at scene," the paramedic was informing the head nurse staff, while Emily gripped his hand.
"Please hold on," she whispered, studying Father Paul's blank expression beneath his oxygen mask. She was flush with emotion, inwardly praying for him to survive. "Hold on, Father Paul," she repeated, just as the paramedics neared the corner.
"You need to wait here," the head nurse stopped her, allowing the others to proceed while restricting her to the corridor.
Emily complied reluctantly, staring after the paramedics until they disappeared and then finally allowing the shock of the events to penetrate. Instinctively, she began walking back down the corridor towards the ER entrance, stepping outside to make the first of two phone calls. She paced while the phone rang and was unable to disguise her fear upon Daniel's prompt answer.
"Em?" he hailed her in a distressed tone from the beach house. "Where are you? Did you get to Amanda in time?"
"No, I never made it there," she rushed; certain he would detect the fear in her voice. "Daniel, I'm at the hospital there's been an accident—"
She could not finish before he jumped in. "What—A-Are you hurt?" he asked right away.
"No, I'm fine," she assured him, hearing his sigh on the other end. "But I need you to come down here – its Father Paul… and… your father."
Instantly concerned, Daniel did not hesitate in reply. "I'll be right there."
SCENE
"Victoria, you're crying?"
Patrick approached his mother with a tender expression after following her retreat to the balcony of her bedroom. She stared out over the sea, with a forlorn look cast upon her face. "Tell me what's wrong?" he insisted, taking her hand.
"Oh, Patrick," she sighed in a breathy reply, facing him with heavy guilt in her eyes. "Perhaps Charlotte was right – I should have never sought to bring you back into this family," she admitted. "It's destined to cause you nothing but ruin."
He wrinkled his brow. "What are you talking about?"
"Conrad," she answered, meditating pensively. "Not only did I learn today that his sins with the Initiative are once again at fault for our loss of fortune," she began, recalling the standoff at Nolan's housewarming. "But he is intent on dragging me to hell with him." Patrick narrowed his eyes and Victoria finally explained. "He's gone to do something to destroy me and this entire family. God have mercy on my soul."
Patrick shook his head at her complacence. "You act like you're—like you're bound to Conrad with no way out?" he asserted, prompting her to look up at him. "You are Victoria Harper—the woman who made an enviable life from nothing!"
She forced a numb smile at his encouragement. "That's who I was once," she acknowledged. "But not anymore thanks to my mistakes– one of which was ever conceding to marry that brute of a man," she digressed, peering into her son's eyes. "But above all else I chose to let you go – something I now know you have yet to forgive me for."
Patrick scrunched his face in protest. "What do you mean?" he challenged her. "Of course I've forgiven you; that's why I'm here."
She obliged him with a wave. "There's no need to be ashamed – Daniel and Emily told me they took pity on you for never being provided with the due settlement you were promised." While he looked off in irritation, she placed a consoling hand on his arm. "And I don't fault you for coming back for it; you were only seeking that which you deserve—"
"Is that what you think?" he accosted her in surprise. "That I'm just hanging on looking for my inheritance?" He bristled, growing angry at the thought. "Well I apologize if helping you look for your stolen money gave you the wrong idea, but that is not what I've been doing. And as far as Emily is concerned, I can assure you she wasn't showing any special mercy– she paid me for a service, getting close to you!" He retracted, sensing he was stirring up concern in Victoria. "But the truth is; I stayed because I wanted to know the mother I never had!"
With her eyes fixed intently on her son, Victoria became more certain he was telling the truth. She pushed the thought of Emily's beguile aside in favor of the breakthrough with her firstborn. "Oh, Patrick," she cajoled softly, reaching out to stroke his face. "I meant no harm. I simply was saying I would understand if that were the case. But clearly there's so much more to you than that."
"Just like there's more to you," he intimated, grasping her hand on his cheek. "I know that because you and I are the same," he added. "And to prove it, come with me—" he invited her, while she looked up in intrigue. "I still have more than enough to live on from that five million; we'll take it and leave the Hamptons."
Victoria lowered her eyes, despite being touched by his offer. "I can't let you do that, son," she insisted. "And I can't abandon Charlotte to deal with Conrad's mess; my children need me now more than ever."
"Even Daniel?" Patrick argued. "He obviously helped Emily cook up whatever falsehoods she told you about me."
"Daniel is under a powerful influence," Victoria asserted in his defense. "But thankfully I have retained an even more powerful one. Aiden Mathis is living in the pool house and he is going to stay in my employ until he finds that money… and helps me destroy that lying bitch," she spat, fuming. Patrick applauded her determination with a supportive look, while she finished. "I refuse to let this family be left with nothing, come what may from Conrad's confession—"
"Mrs. Grayson?" Victoria and Patrick turned at the sound of Bianca's voice, allowing the maid to quietly enter with her news.
"I'm so sorry to interrupt but – there's been an accident."
SCENE
Jack forced himself through the routine of opening the Stowaway, doing his best not to show his raging emotions from the night before. But by late morning when Charlotte arrived for her promised visit, his patience had worn and it was becoming harder to mask his inner struggle, especially amidst her pertinent conversation.
"…so I'm thinking about searching out new lodging," she started in, bouncing Carl on her lap before tackling the stack of wedding invitations she had brought along. She spread everything out on a table in the back while Jack replaced a light fixture.
"Oh yeah?" he answered flatly, distracting himself with the bulb.
"First of all, I'm always home alone," Charlotte elaborated with a shrug. "Which I didn't mind at first, but in that big house with Daniel off to work and Emily off to do…" she searched aimlessly for words. "Whatever it is she does, it's kind of lonely. And I usually just end up here," she chuckled. Jack neglected to respond but Charlotte continued anyway. "Like this morning, for example, no clue where they are. But," she reasoned. "They are getting married soon and I'm sure they'll want their own space. They haven't mentioned it yet, but it had to have crossed their mind already?"
"Mm," Jack mumbled, distracted.
"Plus," she continued, nuzzling Carl's face. "Once your little cousin arrives the house is gonna get a lot louder!" she cooed to him and then turned back to Jack. "I'd rather not force that on them. I know as a non-working single mom it's going to be hard finding a place, but I have to at least try…" she trailed off, noticing Jack appeared not to be listening.
"Hm?" he finally replied after the silence. "Oh, of course you can stay here," he answered absentmindedly, returning to the supplies room.
"Oh no, Jack I wasn't asking—" she insisted, but he was already nearly out of earshot. She gave her curious look to Carl instead and lifted him onto her hip, heading over to the bar. "Hey," she prodded Jack when he returned. "Are you alright?" She glanced upstairs instinctively, wondering. "Jack, believe me I wasn't trying to impose—"
"No, I think it's a good idea," he obliged anyway. "Move in whenever you're ready."
Charlotte watched him restock the top shelf, only growing in wonder. "Are you sure? 'Cause I mean if you and Ashley…" she paused as he sent her a glare that strongly argued the opposite. Reading it, she shifted tone. "Did it not go well with you two last night?"
"Charlotte, please," Jack finally sighed in exasperation, facing her. "I told you, nothing is going on with me and Ashley, alright? She's just trying to be nice by helping me out with some things, but that's it." He waited for her to nod at the clarification and then went further to add. "She's not interested, I'm not interested and that wasn't her when you stopped by here."
"Oh," Charlotte answered, accepting it immediately. "No, that's fine I get it." But her curiosity continued to pique at his wording. "So it was… someone else?" she asked.
He looked up from the glasses he was arranging on the counter, realizing his choice of words. "It was… no one," he finally answered, thinking back upon the painful evening. "Just me being ridiculous," he added genuinely, trying to excuse his odd behavior. He looked up to see if she was buying it but Charlotte only studied him innocently.
Saving him from further scrutiny, her phone began to ring. "Here, he's getting too big for you to be lifting him," he offered, reaching over to take Carl from her. "You should get that," he added.
"It's just Daniel," she informed him, ignoring it. "I'll call him back –this is more important."
Jack rolled his eyes. "Charlotte, give me a break—"
"Jack, we're family," she finally insisted, leaning forward. "And family should be able to talk to each other about anything." She pled with anxious eyes, now even more certain that he was keeping something from her. "Come on, if you're serious about letting me stay here can't you at least tell me about whatever is bothering you?"
Jack rubbed his brow, shifting Carl on his hip. "I'm sorry, Charlotte," he apologized genuinely. "I can't tell you this."
SCENE
"Emily!"
Daniel's heart skipped a beat as he spotted her coming out of the emergency waiting room, with clear distress painted across her face. Emily looked up at the sound of his voice and turned in time to catch his embrace. He pulled away in a hurry. "How are they—what's going on?"
"They're still running tests on your father," she informed him. "But he was coherent when he came in –his injuries were minor."
"And Father Paul?" Daniel verified, sensing pain behind her eyes.
She looked at him solemnly, an emptiness in her reply. "He's… he's gone."
Daniel's face sank in despair, mirroring the angst that quickly filled Emily as she relived the reality before him. "He lost too much blood … they worked on him as much as they could but…" she trailed off, lowering her grim expression towards the ground. "This is all my fault. If I hadn't brought him into this in the first place—"
"Hey," Daniel consoled her instinctively, reaching in to draw her close. "Don't do that to yourself. You were just trying to make this right—" he fumbled for words, knowing there was little combination that would bring her peace. Confirming his assumption, she nervously stepped away and began to pace from intense worry.
"Did you tell Charlotte?" she asked, fighting to stay focused.
"I tried to call but she didn't answer," he replied. He edged closer, unwilling to let her grow too distant. "Em, maybe it's for the best – she can't stand the sight of my dad now anyway; I can talk to her later."
"She's probably at the Stowaway," Emily reasoned. "I just don't want her hearing about it on the news—" Before Daniel could respond she shifted topic to vent about the lost opportunity. "I can't believe we were this close again." She gestured with her index finger and shook her head angrily before concentrating on something behind Daniel.
He turned to follow her gaze and saw Patrick slowly coming down the hall. Rushing to intercept, Daniel stepped away to meet him first. "It's just family beyond here, pal," he cut him short.
"You mean a family of liars?" Patrick snapped back, just as Emily came up beside Daniel.
"Daniel, let it go—" Emily urged him, but he was already provoked.
"Yeah, starting with our dear old mother—" Daniel retorted, staring Patrick down.
"Your dear old mother," a voice interrupted them just beyond Patrick. "Like it or not, is still closest of kin." Victoria appeared in the hallway and took Patrick's arm, clearly intent on keeping him at her side.
"Yeah, well he isn't!" Daniel argued, thrusting a finger in Patrick's face despite Emily pulling at him to retract.
"Oh and what are you gonna do to make me leave?" Patrick challenged, inching closer. He looked to Emily. "Come up with more lies or write another check?"
"Enough!" Victoria charged, stepping between them. She turned graciously to Patrick. "Perhaps it's best if you wait downstairs, dear," she suggested.
Patrick put his hands up in surrender, though still boldly undeterred. "I'll do you one better," he obliged. "I'll be back at the Manor. It's obvious this family has enough problems on its own." He turned on his heel and started back down the hallway, shaking his head scornfully.
While Victoria sighed at his exit, Emily shot him a spiteful glare and Daniel finally relaxed. "Satisfied?" Victoria asked him dryly, while he barely acknowledged her with a glance.
Just then the attending doctor interrupted them, arriving with an update. "Excuse me? Is this Conrad Grayson's family?" he asked, as they all turned.
"Yes," Victoria confirmed. "Can we see him?"
SCENE
"Well, just when I thought I couldn't be any more repulsed by my father's schemes…" Daniel vented as he trudged up the porch steps to Emily's beach house.
But rather than follow him inside, Emily remained at the bottom. "I'm not coming in," she declared firmly, staring towards the path to Nolan's house. "I've got work to do."
"Em, look this isn't over," Daniel insisted, edging back down the top step. "Just because my father had a change of heart about confessing doesn't mean he's going to get away with it."
Emily shook her head, still not budging. "Daniel, do you know how hard it was watching him lie through his teeth? Pretending he was an innocent while Father Paul is dead?"
Daniel finally came down to her side. "Hey, of course I do," he reminded, placing his hands on her shoulders. "I was standing right next to you, remember? But, none of us could foresee that this accident would happen. In his twisted sense of fate," he digressed with angst. "My father sees it as divine intervention – like his secrets were destined to follow him to the grave, or something," he guessed, rolling his eyes. "But we're not going to let that happen."
"No we're not," Emily affirmed. "Because I'm going to find out the truth about what happened. And this time Conrad won't be able to pin it on another man."
Daniel wrinkled his brow. "What are you saying – you think my father planned this?"
She raised her chin assuredly. "I was there, Daniel. Conrad came up from the driver's side – he was behind the wheel, not Father Paul, like he's alleging. For all we know, maybe he never intended to confess – maybe this was just his way of taking him out?"
Daniel struggled to follow her reasoning. "But how could he know whether he would survive the crash? My father is many things, but suicidal isn't one of them." While Emily paused to acknowledge his point, he questioned another. "Why don't we just confront him about this? Tell him the truth – tell him everything we know and insist he either come clean or we'll expose him for this too?"
"Expose him with what?" Emily argued. "My word won't be enough, especially now that your mother is involved." Her eyes sharpened with intensity. "I saw that look she gave him – she's more likely to kill your father herself than let him drag her reputation down."
"Heh, maybe we should let her," Daniel scoffed, only partially joking.
Emily shook her head, regaining confidence in her original theory. "No, in order to make sure this doesn't get swept under the rug again, we need proof." She squeezed his hand before breaking away. "And I'm going to find it before it's too late."
Daniel watched her go, recognizing her familiar level of determination as one that could not be stopped. So rather than bother, he merely sighed and went inside, making another attempt at reaching Charlotte on the phone.
Meanwhile, Emily completed the brisk walk to Nolan's house, arriving at his patio door just as he was getting up from the couch. "Ems," he greeted her, removing the phone from his ear. "I just got your message, what happened—"
"Conrad happened," she replied irritably, walking past him into the living room. "Father Paul's dead and I'm almost sure he caused the accident." While Nolan's eyes widened in shock and sympathy she faced him with her request. "I need to find the car and prove that Conrad was driving. Can you get me into the police database?"
Nolan furrowed his brow. "Uh, with what – my library card?" He gestured to their surroundings. "Ems, tech-time-out remember? Besides," he reasoned while she rolled her eyes impatiently. "Murder by auto accident? Conrad is pretty psychotic, but would he really risk his own life? Unless… someone else is behind this…"
Emily stared back pensively. "You mean someone who wants him dead?"
Just as they each acknowledged the other's train of thought, Nolan's patio door slid open and Aiden stepped in. "I just heard the news," he announced, walking over. "I assumed you would be calling a summit—"
On cue with her assumption, Emily stepped forward to accost him. "Where's Amanda?"
"Didn't you speak with her?" he asked, based on their last conversation.
"I never got there – I was first on the scene of the crash," she explained quickly before diving into full-on interrogation. "Aiden, if Amanda had anything to do with this, I swear to God –" she threatened in a low whisper.
"It wasn't her!" he defended briskly, inches from Emily's face. "I know for certain because she was with me all night." While Emily shook her head ruefully, Nolan turned up his nose in disgust. "She told Porter the truth," Aiden continued. "And then she came straight home—"
"Wait, wait," Nolan could not resist breaking in. "Home, as in, your current residence? As in the Graysons' pool house?" He looked at Emily in surprise. "Is he serious?"
"Unfortunately, yes," Emily glossed over irritably, redirecting back to Aiden. "Where is she now?"
"Gone, as a matter of fact," he asserted proudly. "She packed her things and left this morning. She listened to you," he emphasized, hoping Emily would back off. "She didn't want to cause any more trouble."
"Or she's running from the trouble she already caused?" Emily argued back, still not convinced.
Seeing the two at a standoff, Nolan interrupted. "Hey, maybe our initial theory was right – maybe Conrad really did do himself in this time." He looked to Emily hopefully. "Look, I still don't want to break my tech rule, but I can try to see what I can find out—"
"Forget it, I'm already on it," Aiden interjected, glaring at Emily. "I still have an inside advantage, remember?"
Emily met his stare with a daring one of her own. "Then I suggest you use it."
SCENE
"Jack, that's terrible!"
Ashley listened as Jack relayed the events of the previous evening while she occupied Carl in his highchair beside her. While Carl became fixated on the toy she handed him, she turned her attention to Jack on the other side of the bar counter, wishing there was more she could do to help.
"What's even worse is, while Amanda was here? Charlotte came by," he continued sheepishly. "And she stopped by again this morning to ask me about it. She knows something's up."
"Did you tell her?" Ashley pursued nervously.
"Of course not," he reassured her, keeping his voice low. A lost expression came over his face. "But I'm running out of things to say… if she's not asking questions she's making assumptions. She thought it was you here last night."
Ashley gave him a funny look. "Goodness," she stammered. "One appearance at Nolan's and all of a sudden we're a couple," she laughed, while Jack looked down uncomfortably. "Pregnancy hormones are wreaking havoc on that poor girl's imagination – and yours isn't too far off," she reminded him, leaning forward. "Jack, you don't honestly believe Amanda's in love with someone else, do you?"
He looked up solemnly, peering at Carl. "I don't know but I don't care. My mother left me and Declan we were young," he recalled. "Without giving us a reason, without saying goodbye – she just took off. And that's exactly what I don't want for our son." He turned back to Ashley. "I love Amanda, but I can't let her keep doing this to us."
Ashley nodded in understanding. "Maybe she's just protecting you?" she guessed.
"Why?" Jack asked, growing animated. "Why use that as a protection now when that's what we've been doing all along by hiding out!" His temper mounted and he turned to busy himself behind the bar again, adding. "Either way, I've had enough of her and Emily's lies."
On his last words, Ashley furrowed her brow in interest. "Emily?" she repeated to his back. "What does she have to do with it?"
Realizing his slip in terms, Jack slowly turned around to fix his mistake. "Not Emily," he clarified nervously. "I meant just Amanda's lies – you know what I mean." He looked at her for reassurance but there was still suspicion in her eyes. "Anyway, I told Charlotte she could live here," he added, changing the subject. "She wants to give her brother some space and it'll be good for the cousins to be together."
That elicited a smile from Ashley, looking over at Carl's oblivious grin. Despite the distraction, she continued, "But Jack – are you sure that's wise? What if Amanda decides to back – how long can you keep her a secret from her own sister—"
"She's not coming back, Ash," he assured her firmly. "Besides – finding out she's alive only to find out she's abandoned us again would only break Charlotte's heart." He dropped the towel in his hand on the counter in resolution. "It's time to move on, for all of us."
Sighing heavily, Ashley pressed her lips together, translating what that meant for the article she was planning in Voulez. "So… does that mean you want to forget about telling her story?"
Jack pondered, realizing that despite his long-suffering rift with Amanda, in reality it was not her story that Ashley strove to liberate, but Emily's. And in that regard, perhaps it did her a disservice to let it go. "I guess that depends," he deliberated. "How much of it do we want to tell?"
SCENE
Emily returned home from Nolan's, only to catch Daniel on his way out. "Make any headway on your investigation?" he inquired right away.
"Nolan's still staying off the grid, but Aiden's looking into it," Emily informed him shortly. Before he could ask further, she spied Charlotte's purse on the table. "How did she take the news?" she asked.
"Not good," Daniel responded grimly. "She ah—had a minor panic attack; got a little short of breath."
"What?" Emily motioned towards the stairs, but Daniel pulled her back gently.
"It's alright; she's sleeping," he assured. "I called the doctor and he prescribed bedrest and no more stress-inducing announcements. With those two things she should be fine."
"That's not going to be easy with the way things are going around here," Emily inserted.
Daniel acknowledged it with a nod. "Well, I've got a plan for that – or I should say, she does." While Emily looked on in interest, Daniel reached into Charlotte's bag and handed her a brochure. "This fell out of her bag when she came in. She's thinking about moving out."
"Moving out?" Emily questioned, perusing the brochure abruptly.
"Hey, maybe it's for the best?" he suggested, lowering his voice. "It'll give us a chance to figure things out without having to worry about her overhearing or… supposedly 'dead' people popping up," he suggested, getting a glare in return. "Anyway, it's not up to us. If this is what she wants to do, we need to support it—" he paused to give Emily time to digest while she continued staring at the brochure. "I have to head into the office, think about it alright?"
Daniel started towards the door and then stopped short to double back. "Oh one other thing," he added, and Emily finally looked up. "The detective called – he was going to stop by later for your statement—"
She wrinkled her face in distress. "With Charlotte here—?"
"But I askedhim to come down to my office instead," Daniel finished, attempting to calm her down. Realizing her nerves were still shaken from the stressful night and Charlotte's decision, he reached in warmly to grasp her shoulders. "Hey – I told you I'm taking care of this," he brought his hands up to cup her face, raising her eyes to meet his. "I'll give him your statement."
"Make sure you tell him I couldn't be sure who was driving," she reminded him earnestly.
"I will," Daniel promised. "Don't worry. Besides, we've still got the exclusive on my dad in Voulez, remember? As long as we run that article it's as good as a confession." He waited for a nod from her and then planted a soft kiss on her forehead. "Which is why I need to get into the office now to make sure it runs – I'll see you later." He glanced in the direction of the upstairs briefly. "Don't get too worked up about Charlotte – you're not going to lose her."
Wistfully, Emily accepted his consolation, despite knowing he could only speak for the time being and not the future.
SCENE
"Patrick Osbourne, I presume?"
Aiden approached the edge of the Grayson pool, observing the tall young man that had just finished a lap and rested along the side. Patrick looked up, squinting in the late afternoon sun. "Should I know you?" he asked.
"No, not really," Aiden chuckled. "It's your mother that employs me, not you."
"Ah," Patrick nodded, realizing. He emerged from the pool, wrapping a towel around his waist. "Right, you're the guy that's trying to find her money?" When Aiden ducked his chin in confirmation, Patrick approached him. "Look, I'm sure she appreciates what you're doing but it's really not necessary."
"Oh?" Aiden challenged him. "Your mother doesn't seem to think so." He shot a glance over his shoulder back towards the house. "I'm surprised you're not by her side in wake of recent events?"
Patrick tousled his wet hair. "Well, this family doesn't exactly welcome my presence," he explained, brushing by him.
"I wonder why that is?" Aiden persisted, and Patrick stopped in his tracks.
"Listen," he accosted him, padding back over. "You may be hired as an investigator, but you'd do well to keep your interests in the financial category, alright?" Aiden raised his brow and Patrick continued. "For someone who doesn't share much about himself, you sure ask a lot of questions."
"Pardon me for that," Aiden humbly acknowledged. "Merely part of the job, you understand." He took his leave, exiting the pool area.
"You headed to see my mother?" Patrick called out, watching him walk away.
Aiden doubled back. "Ah, yes… I was just about to walk up to the Manor?"
Patrick studied him with care, securing his towel around his waist. After a moment's thought he decided to come over and walk ahead of him. "Here, follow me," he instructed Aiden, taking the lead. "Wouldn't want you to get lost on the way over?"
Aiden snickered, aware that the other's paranoia was kicking in and clearly he did not want him snooping around. But rather, it proved a point he had already begun to suspect. "Well, thank you," he obliged, mumbling under his breath. "I certainly trust your knowledge of the premises…"
SCENE
"Hey, Ash did you get word on the write-up-" Daniel peeked into Ashley's office only to stop short at the person he saw seated in her place. "Margaux?" he stammered in surprise.
"Daniel," Margaux LeMarchal looked up and rose to her feet. "What are you doing here? I was so sorry to hear of your father's accident on my way in this morning." She softened her eyes sympathetically. "I thought with his condition, you would still be at the hospital?"
"Ah, yeah well it was a rough night," Daniel explained uneasily. "I needed a distraction." He studied her oddly while she walked over towards him. "I uh – I didn't think you were due back until the release party next week. Where's ah—where's Ashley?"
"I was just about to ask the same question," Margaux replied, crossing her arms in wonder. "I've tried to reach her several times; it seems my partner is otherwise detained?"
"I'm sure lunch with a client just ran long," Daniel found himself alibiing, watching Margaux lift a file from Ashley's desk.
"Ah, yes," she entertained, holding up what appeared to be expense reports. "A client who is a fan of the Stowaway, it would seem? I continue to see this local muse on her charge account." Daniel remained quiet while Margaux perused the file and eventually closed it. "But of course, that's her affair. And at any rate, perfectly timed – I came back early to oversee things, and I've decided to change direction with our cover issue."
She turned to go back to Ashley's desk and this time Daniel followed in concern. "Change direction?" he asked.
"Daniel, I simply couldn't forgive myself if I allowed this insensitive pictorial of your father to go to print–" she lamented, holding up the early draft. "And right after an unfortunate accident? That's not the image I want for Voulez," she continued, tossing it into the trash.
Daniel flinched as it thudded to the bottom. "Ah, I assure you," he tried to persist. "I don't take it personal—"
"But I do," she insisted, raising an eyebrow. "And I'm not certain why Ashley assigned you this story in the first place, but I will discuss with her in private." Daniel opened his mouth to protest in her defense, but Margaux silenced him with a wave of her hand. "Pas un mot," she commanded, which he roughly understood to mean 'not another word'. "If you insist on working, then perhaps we can talk about your assignment for next month's issue – I envision something much less dark."
Curious despite feeling defeated, Daniel pressed. "Don't tell me we're back to Nolan Ross?"
Margaux chuckled. "Perhaps another time," she admitted, and then leaned forward onto the desk to impress her answer. "But for now I want you."
"Me?" Daniel shrugged, shifting uncomfortably at her overture.
Margaux smiled. "You and Emily, that is. The exclusive Grayson wedding issue – it will be featured front page."
SCENE
"Comfortable?" Victoria sneered in jest, wheeling Conrad through the foyer of Grayson Manor.
"Well, considering it's only been two days since my second brush with death in the past year, and your self-serving illegitimate son is still living under my roof, sucking dry the last morsels of our dwindling assets…" Conrad trailed off, amusing himself with the blatant irony. "Yes, I'd say I'm as comfortable as can be expected."
"Good," Victoria responded in kind. "Don't forget the daughter that continues to loathe you – evident by her lack of call or visit. But cheer up," she added painfully, parking his wheelchair. "Remarkably, you're still able to walk – an ability I suggest you exercise, as this is where my caretaking duty ends." With that she walked away, in search of Patrick.
Conrad rolled his eyes. "Victoria, don't tell me you're still upset over my almost confession?"
"Nonsense," she humored him from the hallway. "Since it led to the death of your confidant, it's all the more certain to seal your fate in hell." She smiled after her icy remark. "Welcome home, Conrad."
He grumbled at her brisk departure, waving off the maid as he struggled to stand without assistance. Aptly timed, he rose to his feet just as his phone began vibrating on the foyer table and reached it on the last ring. "What is it, Detective?" he answered gruffly. "Oh, I had it moved off site, Piedmont Salvage Yard. Yeah, have it taken care of quickly. And, uh, don't call again."
He hung up quickly, just as he heard the sound of a presence nearby. "Welcome home," a brisk voice startled him from behind.
Conrad nearly lost his balance, whirling around to face Aiden staring right back at him. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"I just moved into your pool house," he gestured with a nod, crossing his hands behind his back.
"Oh, well, I just got off the phone with the police," Conrad replied, holding his cell phone up. "I'm happy to call them back?"
Aiden grinned. "Scared?"
"Of being killed in my sleep by a bitter ex-employee?" Conrad snickered back. "Damn straight." He turned to the maid who was passing through. "Bianca, could you please inform the staff that Mr.
Mathis here is to be denied access to the manor? And, uh, have the doors to my suite and study locked at all times during his inevitably short stay." She nodded at his orders and he turned to address Aiden again. "So why don't you go back to your cabana? And then prepare to keep going back over the ocean."
"Well, if you still ran this house, I might actually be scared," Aiden retorted, walking away per Conrad's request. Once out of earshot, he slipped into a corner and quickly began to dial Emily. "It's me," he identified once she answered. "I have the information you were looking for."
SCENE
Emily had just hung up with Aiden and was on her way out when a knock sounded at her door, revealing Ashley on the other side. "Hey—" she barely answered before Ashley was plowing through into the kitchen.
"Tell me you're on your way to go looking for that bloody drifter!" she announced, storming over to the counter before Emily even had a chance to shut the door.
"Amanda?" Emily clarified her reference in a low whisper, coming over to stand across from her. "Not exactly; how do you know about that?"
"Jack told me," Ashley confessed, to a surprised look in return. "I dropped by the Stowaway yesterday and he gave me the full rundown – including her confession about being 'in love' with someone else," she added, making quotation marks in the air.
"She told him that?" Emily verified, sighing in response. "None of this was supposed to happen – things are getting completely out of hand."
"I'll say," Ashley confirmed. "I just found out my partner's back in town a week early."
Emily snapped up at attention. "Margaux?" she deduced, wondering why Daniel hadn't mentioned it the day before.
Ashley nodded. "And not only did she manage to yank the expose' on Conrad but she promptly reamed me out for trying to publish it in the first place. I doubt she'll even give a second look to the story I was working on about Amanda…" she trailed off to herself. "Which is just as well, now that she's flown the coup yet again—"
"Forget about her," Emily cut in forcefully. "And lower your voice, Charlotte's resting upstairs."
Ashley complied with a suspicious look. "Right – about that, Jack said she's planning to move in with him?" A look from Emily confirmed it was the truth. "Emily, don't you think you ought to tell her that her sister is still alive, in case she turns up? How long is this charade going to go on?" she pressed, the emotion in her voice rising.
"Ashley, we've got enough to worry about without sending Charlotte into an early labor," Emily reminded her with a stern look. "And right now I have somewhere to be, so I need you to calm down, go back to the office, and do everything you can to get that story on Conrad back up and running. Can you do that?"
"Emily, I told you—" Ashley began.
"You have just as much stake in that magazine as Margaux does," Emily continued. "Use it. Trust me – you'll thank me later." With a determined look in her eye, she waited for an affirmative nod from Ashley before adding one last request. "And when you get there – I need you to give Daniel a message."
"What's that?" Ashley inquired as Emily walked her to the door.
"Tell him to meet me at Piedmont Salvage Yard."
SCENE
It was early evening when Nolan answered his door chime, only to find Aiden at the door stoop rather than the delivery he was expecting. "Oh – I uh, thought you were dinner?" he responded in surprise.
Aiden gave him an odd look. "Resorting to cannibalism? That's strange even for you," he quipped as Nolan let him through.
"Well, as much as I dearly miss my sweet chords of connection," Nolan explained, following him into the living room. "I'm not quite that far gone. Ordering take-out at least gives me another soul to talk to in this big, empty palace."
Aiden chuckled. "So you're bored, then? Well, perhaps I have something to hold your interest."
"Mm, a formal request?" Nolan deduced, joining him on the couch. "No wonder you chose the front door instead of slipping in through the back," he paused to pretend an inquisitive look. "Or is that reserved just for when Ems is around?"
Ignoring his playful banter, Aiden reached into his pocket and produced a medium sized velvet box. He opened it for Nolan to see – a delicate silver necklace was inside with a modest diamond at the center. "Radiant," Nolan remarked, leaning back in wonder. "But I prefer check, credit card or ."
"It's not a payment," Aiden insisted, snapping it shut.
Nolan turned up his nose. "A gift? For whom…?" he answered his own question before Aiden could. "Amanda?" Suddenly uncomfortable, Nolan rose from the couch with a stern look. "Uh, listen I know I've been a fairly neutral subject in this whole deal, but Jack's a friend of mine, okay? And I'm not helping you decide on a gift for his wife, especially when the ink on their separation isn't even dry—"
"Nolan, that's not what this is," Aiden insisted, standing also. "It's more than a gift – it's a tracking device." He extended the necklace again for Nolan to see and this time turned it over to reveal the carefully installed chip in the back. "I purchased it after her latest disappearing act as a way to keep tabs on her, but I need a program to activate it."
Aiden looked at him suggestively, but Nolan continued backing away. "Uh, Tony Stark, aren't you forgetting something?" he reminded him, pointing to the general area. "Computer-free zone. So even if I wanted to help, which for the record I don't, I couldn't."
"This isn't about helping me," Aiden emphasized, edging nearer. "It's about helping her. Amanda's on a dangerous path – even Emily knows it. Granted, I may be partially to blame," he admitted in wake of their affair, while Nolan scoffed at the premise. "But this is my chance to make things right. I have a feeling she will come back and when she does, we can't afford to lose track of her again." He paused to wait for Nolan's consideration, adding. "No matter whom she chooses to be with."
Reluctantly, Nolan deliberated and finally took the box from Aiden's hand to stare closer at the chip. "Standard configuration," he mumbled aloud, ascertaining it would be a fairly simple program to write. "Well," he finally sighed. "I guess I just keep trying to quit and they just keep pulling me right back in."
Grateful for his concession, Aiden thanked him outwardly. "I owe you for this."
"But just so we're clear," Nolan asserted. "I'm not doing this for your sake – I'm doing it for Jack."
SCENE
Emily stayed low to the ground as she crept through the perimeter of the junk yard, quickly spying Conrad's car, untouched amongst the heaps of flattened vehicles. Pulling her dark hoodie up over her head she took out her phone and moved swiftly, careful not to draw any undue attention. Yet despite her caution, there was still one person who was able to spot her from a distance, startling her as they snuck up behind.
"You know, the more I know you, the less I know you," Daniel announced, prompting Emily to spin around sharply.
"Daniel, get down!" she ordered him, motioning for him to lower his stance so as not to be seen. He followed suit, crouching on the other side of the car while she scanned the area and then finally acknowledged him again. "What took you so long?" she asked.
"Well I had to come up with a reason to tell my boss why I was leaving work early," he retorted in a low whisper, glancing around. "Other than 'to scour a junkyard with my ninja fiancé'!"
"Oh, really and which boss is that?" she whispered back, edging closer to him. "The one I told to give you the message or the one you didn't tell me was back from Paris?" When Daniel's face read surprise, Emily asserted back. "I'm guessing you left out Margaux being back for a reason?!"
"As a matter of fact, I did-!" Daniel hissed back, cut short by the loud sound of a machine crunching metal nearby.
"Shh!" Emily called out, and ran around the side of the car. They stayed low until the sound grew louder, forcing them to run out of its way behind a large stack of tires. Emily leaned her back against them, turning her face to keep discreet while Daniel pressed up against her protectively. They froze in place until the sound died down and they relaxed, suddenly realizing how close to each other they were.
Inches away from her mouth, Daniel gazed into Emily's eyes while a sultry feeling awoke in him. "You know, not everything has a hidden meaning," he picked up from their conversation, barely giving her enough space to exhale. "I just got worried after Margaux pulled the story on my father – I didn't want to give you any more bad news."
"It's just as well," she replied, gasping from their brisk escape. Her glance fell down to his lips also and then trailed down further. "I have something to show you." Daniel followed her leading gaze, but rather than play into his fancy Emily merely raised the phone in her hand. "Look – I just took this video of the entire car. Look at the steering wheel – that's housing for an air bag that Conrad had installed, but it must have deployed when the car hit the pole."
Daniel narrowed his eyes, watching closely. "That's why my dad has burns on his face and Father Paul didn't?" he guessed.
Emily nodded. "This could really prove that he was driving, which means he had the air bag removed and destroyed before they towed the car—" before she could finish, the loud beeping behind them resumed and again they crouched back against the tires. This time, Daniel could see that his father's vehicle was being lifted into the machine, followed by a thundering crush moments later.
"Well," he gaped, dejectedly. "That just confirms he knew about it."
Emily glanced back over her shoulder. "Don't worry about that, we have all the evidence we need right here," she insisted, holding up the video.
"Let me see that again," Daniel asked, a thought striking him as she handed it over. He studied it carefully and began shaking his head a moment later. "Ah – Ems I think we've got a problem."
"What?" she sighed.
"After my DUI I spent a lot of time in driver safety courses," he prefaced. "One of the first things they show you is all the damage that can be caused by driver error." He zoomed into a frame and froze it, then tilted it to face her. "And this isn't one of them. See that? That's the brake line – it's punctured, and not from the crash."
Emily peered closer, realizing he was right. "So you're saying…"
"Someone did this," he finished. "Someone went out of their way to cut that line and made sure that him and Father Paul never made it to the station."
Emily clenched her jaw, angrily processing the reality. "And I think I know who."
SCENE
It was becoming a habit for Emily to parade into the pool house unannounced, only this time rather than bursting through angrily, she entered in a slow stride, mindful of her dinner worthy dress and heels. She couldn't help but steal a glance around the room to personally confirm that all traces of Amanda were truly gone, but despite the evidence it did nothing to change her suspicions. "Aiden, we need to talk," she called out briskly.
At the sound of her voice, Aiden emerged from the bedroom, raising his eyebrows at her presence yet again. "Well, if it isn't one half of the royal couple," he greeted her, meeting halfway through the room with a bristly glare. "You realize the frequency to which you visit here is incredibly dangerous—?"
"So is protecting Amanda," Daniel finished, entering a few paces behind Emily. He also was dressed smartly, convincing Aiden that wherever they were headed, they were going together.
"As I've told you both repeatedly," Aiden rebuffed, eyeing him with an unsavory glance. "Amanda went to see Jack and then she was with me the night of the crash. Not a single minute was unatoned for." He stood his ground, cocking his head dismissively. "Now shouldn't you two be interrogating the Master of the House after the information I gave you this afternoon?"
"The information you provided only determined one thing," Emily explained, handing over her phone for Aiden to see. "Despite Conrad being in the driver seat, that ride was doomed before it left. Someone had already punctured the brake line – someone skilled enough to know what they were tampering with, who could have accessed it any time the day before."
Aiden viewed the video closely, absorbing the detail while the others watched. Yet when he finally looked up, he remained resolute. "This still doesn't prove it was Amanda," he argued, handing it back over. "She's not the only one who could have done this—"
"You're right, there's always you," Daniel suggested arbitrarily.
"Daniel—" Emily tried to dissuade him.
"Clever as always," Aiden chided him dryly, ignoring it. "But I'm referring to your half sibling." Daniel perked up at the mention of his brother while Aiden continued. "Today I discovered that Patrick has had unlimited access to the entire premises far before I moved in here. And trust me—he knows it well."
Daniel glanced over to Emily in confirmation. "He's got a point."
"I wouldn't put it past your mother to employ him for something like that," Emily added with a respective nod, turning her attention to Aiden. "But we would need to find proof, and fast."
Aiden jumped in without hesitation. "I think I can manage that."
Emily narrowed her eyes at him; meanwhile Daniel checked an alert on his phone. "Right, my mother's starting to get antsy," he reminded her. "Whatever announcement they plan to make, they want us there for it now."
"Perhaps it's your mother confessing to attempted murder?" Aiden sniped, getting back at Daniel for earlier.
Daniel feigned a dry laugh. "Very funny; I'm heading over there – you coming?" he gestured to Emily.
She remained in place with her hands fixed on her hips. "I'm right behind you," she asserted over her shoulder, and Daniel reluctantly left her to finish with Aiden alone.
Aiden brimmed with interest while she remained, speaking only once Daniel had shut the door behind him. "What's this about?" he asked.
"Unlike Daniel," she asserted, inching closer with distrust in her eyes. "I'm not so easy to convince. I think you're still protecting Amanda… And you seemed all too certain that you could find proof Patrick was behind it—"
"Emily, for the last time," Aiden began to protest but she continued.
"Regardless, I don't care. Whether you have to search the Manor for proof or you have to plant it there yourself, just make sure that Patrick takes the fall." She paused to intensify her stare. "And then you need to do whatever you can to ensure Amanda doesn't go back on her decision to leave. My sister is moving in with Jack and she can't take another shock in her condition."
Finally understanding her path of reasoning, Aiden glanced down his nose at Emily, slowly bringing his chin to a nod. "Well, that shouldn't be a problem," he assured her.
"Aiden," Emily repeated, emphasizing the seriousness of her request. "I need a guarantee that she is far away – do you understand?"
As his mind trailed to the tracking device he had just employed Nolan to help him configure, Aiden continued to beam with confidence. "Like I said," he promised. "That shouldn't be a problem."
SCENE
"Alright, Mother. You insisted I be here so – what's the news?"
Daniel settled into the couch, shooting an impatient stare across the room to where his mother stood fixing herself a drink. "Well, it appears I'm one for three this evening," she supposed without answering his question, gazing around the empty room instead.
Rolling his eyes, Daniel fidgeted with his wristwatch. "Emily's right behind me," he replied. "And shouldn't you have an idea where your other son is?" He added a dry snicker. "I expected him to be hanging off the hem of your dress."
Victoria glared at his caustic remark, and came over to take a seat upon her throne. "Despite this family's constant lack of hospitality," she informed him. "Patrick should be joining us shortly. But I was referring to your sister."
"Charlotte's still not feeling well," Emily inserted from the hallway, garnishing their attention. She entered the room poised as usual, giving a discreet nod to Daniel as he watched her take a seat next to him. "And since you gave no information other than gathering for 'an announcement', I thought it best not to give her any further cause for stress. As you know her condition is very delicate, Victoria."
Victoria glowered at Emily's pretentious tone, souring with her own reply. "Yes, I'm aware," she stated flatly, turning her attention back to Daniel. "However the invitation was extended on behalf of your father – it's his news to share, not mine."
Emily crossed her legs and turned away while Daniel continued with Victoria. "So what is it – what's the news?"
Just as Victoria shrugged her ignorance, the sound of Conrad's wheelchair could be heard from the hallway, as Bianca wheeled him into the front of the room. Once he was parked, he made a grand gesture of waving her off while he struggled to stand to his feet and took a vile of medication in hand, dramatically pouring the pills onto the floor. He concluded his charade by stomping onto the pills, crushing them into powder.
Victoria finally chimed in. "While I adore performance art, why don't you just get on with it?" she sneered.
"I received a call from the hospital today asking me to come back for an M.R.I.," Conrad explained. "It confirmed a shocking discovery - I've been misdiagnosed. The nerve damage that was once thought to lead to a future of paralysis – it does not, nor has it ever existed. And despite recent injuries, my bullet wound has completely healed."
Emily sucked in a dreaded breath and exchanged a discreet glance with Daniel. It was only a matter of time before Amanda's crafted scheme at the beginning of summer eventually unraveled. The only stray thought that remained was whether she was at the helm of the second accident that eventually led to its undoing.
Meanwhile, Victoria was voicing her shock without hesitation. "What? How did they explain the symptoms?"
Conrad shrugged. "Seems they were brought on by stress and the medication itself," he replied obliviously. "I realize now what Father Paul meant when he said that he'd been brought back into my life through divine intervention. He was clearly God's vessel to show me that I'm meant to live a long and meaningful existence here on earth," he elaborated, taking a seat across from the other three. "And Father Paul is now doubtless in heaven, having earned his wings."
Daniel and Emily could barely stomach their disgust, with the latter only forcing a half-hearted reply. "Well, that's one way of looking at it," Emily managed.
In a rare sense of comradery, Victoria tacked on to her reply. "Or perhaps Father Paul is laughing at you because you had to step down as governor for naught?" she stung at Conrad. "I know I certainly am."
Conrad glared at her, and then turned to address Daniel, who remained quiet. "I assume by your silence that you also share your mother's merriment at my misfortune? Or perhaps what I sense is displeasure – that yet another attempt to rid me from this family's helm has faltered?"
Daniel burrowed darkened eyes into his father at the accusation, shaking his head. "This entire ordeal has only convinced me of one thing," he gasped heavily. Sensing he was beginning to come apart, Emily rested a gentle hand on his arm but he continued regardless. "That if someone like you can not only get away with murder but live time and again to talk about it – then there really is no justice at all!"
"Daniel—" Emily begged, but he was shaking off her grasp and storming out of the room before she could stop him.
"No, let him go dear," Conrad waved it off, while both women watched Daniel's departure. "He clearly resents my place in this family, a feeling he's been harboring for some time. But regardless, I intend to reclaim my rightful position as master of this house."
Victoria eyed him sharply. "Is that so?" she challenged. "And just what gives you the idea that he even cares enough to resent you so deeply?"
Conrad chuckled snidely and went to fix himself a drink. "Isn't it obvious? If his reaction just now wasn't enough, there's the coup he led against to me to acquire Grayson Global last summer, followed up by a near assassination—"
"You're insane if you still believe Daniel had anything to do with that!" Victoria belted, ready to dive into a fight.
Before it could escalate further, Emily leapt to her feet. "If you'll excuse me – I'm going to go check on him," she advised in a tempered tone, addressing Conrad specifically. "And Conrad, contrary to what you believe – we're relieved to hear the news." She sent a meaningful look over to Victoria before concluding. "We want nothing more than to have you both there, in good health, on our wedding day."
Leaving Victoria with a scowl at the reminder of their nuptials, Emily exited to let them finish their argument and found Daniel in the foyer by the front door. "Hey," she whispered, reaching out to pull him back. "What was that all about – you almost lost your composure back there?"
"Can you blame me?" he retorted immediately. He bit his lip to restrain the anguish that still remained from a stressful week, heightened by the last straw. "Emily, I'm sick of doing this – I'm sick of sitting here watching him act like he's untouchable-!"
"Daniel, shh!" she calmed him, glancing back to make sure no one heard. "You think I don't feel the same? But we have to wait until we have everything we need to do this – and losing it in front of your parents is only going to draw suspicion. Come on, you can't give up now."
Daniel sighed, avoiding eye contact with her but deep down inside he knew she was right. "What did you have to talk to Aiden about?" he digressed, lowering his voice.
Not expecting the change in subject, Emily shifted focus. "Nothing, I just wanted to make sure he understood the seriousness of his assignment," she replied vaguely.
"So you trust him again?" Daniel questioned, looking into her eyes.
"Mercy is a trait I'm trying to work on," she relented with a shrug. She knew he would sense there was more to it than that, but banked on his understanding.
Just as she suspected, Daniel fell in line. "I guess I can relate to that," he agreed with a guilty expression, finally taking hold of the hand she had outstretched. "Listen Em, I'm sorry I didn't tell you Margaux was back in town. But I just didn't know what to say. The July issue went to print. There's nothing me or Ashley can do – she refuses to run the article."
Emily accepted it without despair, taking his other hand. "So we have to start from scratch," she shrugged. "Weren't you the one that told me this isn't over?" she reminded him with a hopeful nod.
Daniel agreed, feeling a weight lift off of him as he stared into her eyes. There was a soothing nature about Emily's confidence, a feeling that no matter what happened she could always come up with another plan. And while it scared him at times, it was moments like these where it brought balance to their complicated and deeply entrenched relationship. "You know," he suggested, pulling her in close to wrap his arms around her. "We've been getting pretty good at forgiving each other lately… maybe that means we're gonna make it this time after all?"
Emily settled into his grasp, thinking. "Maybe," she entertained him, staring into the distance. "Except there's still one more person we need forgiveness from."
Daniel followed her concern, lifting his chin slightly to take his turn at reassurance. "Once Charlotte delivers safely – we'll tell her everything," he promised.
She affirmed her agreement with a soft peck on his lips, relieved that he appeared for the moment to be back on track. The noise of Conrad and Victoria's bickering could still be heard in the distance, making for a timely reminder that it was best to get going. "Come on," she urged him, motioning towards the door. "Let's go home."
Daniel escorted her out with a half-grin, keeping an arm around Emily's back while they began the walk down to her beach house. Despite the evening's troubles, they left with courage, having survived yet another setback seemingly without letting it damage their relationship. And yet, just the opposite was true, for as they disappeared into the night neither took notice of Patrick – who watched them go silently from the top of the stairwell, having overheard every word of their conversation.
SCENE
"I got your message."
It was nearly midnight when Aiden heard the familiar sound of Amanda's voice, interrupting his contemplative stare onto the rolling waves of the sea. He maintained his stance, keeping his back to her along the shoreline, enticing her to come down to his side. When she did, he finally spoke aloud. "Something told me you hadn't gone for good," he sighed in relief, turning to face her. A second passed and he found himself pulling her into an embrace, resting his chin on her hair before speaking again. "But I'm afraid I have to ask that you do."
Amanda pulled away slightly, looking up at him. "What?" she noted in surprise, separating from his grasp. "Then why did you send for me?"
"A few reasons," Aiden replied with tenacity, elevating his chin to look down at her. "But most importantly, to ask you an honest question – did you sabotage the brake line in Conrad's car?"
She stifled a laugh, resting her hands in the pockets of her sweatshirt. "No," she answered flatly and immediately Aiden believed her. "Not that it's a bad idea," she added. "Is he already back driving these days?"
"He's up to quite more than that," Aiden summarized, excluding the detail. "But I had a feeling you had nothing to do with it, I just had to be sure," he asserted confidently. "Just like I had a feeling you were still nearby. I knew you couldn't bear the way you left things with Jack."
She lowered her head in guilt, confirming he was right. "I still love him," she admitted sheepishly.
Aiden absorbed it with a clever repartee. "If you really loved him, you would have confessed to everything," he scolded, prompting a pained look to cross her face. "You really think you deserve his mercy after concealing the truth from him?" Amanda was stunned to silence, recognizing the power in his assertion. When she neglected to reply, he continued. "Perhaps you were sparing yourself more than you were protecting him."
She finally looked up in alarm. "Is that what you think?"
Aiden gazed back towards the sea. "I think you're conflicted. A part of you wants your family … and a part of you wants to disappear with me… and yet you believe you deserve neither," he digressed, returning his gaze on the last word. She did not deny his assumption, but instead forced herself to look away. "Which brings me to the other reason I sent for you – until you decide what it is you want," he continued. "I think you're better off staying far from those you have the potential to hurt."
Amanda scoffed at his ruthless honesty. "Now, who's protecting their feelings?" she alleged.
But Aiden edged closer to articulate the real reason. "This isn't just me we're talking about. Charlotte is moving in with Jack, and as she still believes her sister is dead, she can't afford to have any sudden jolts in her condition." He stood back reluctantly. "It's no longer safe for you to be here… not that it ever was."
Amanda let out a grand sigh, running her tongue along the inside of her lip in diffidence. "So you want me to run away with you?"
He shook his head solemnly, knowing he had quite a bit more investigative work to do now that Amanda was confirmed to be innocent. "Not with me – I still have unfinished business here."
Realizing his decree was not an invitation, but a farewell, Amanda's countenance fell and she abruptly turned to walk away. "Well, then. That settles it," she surrendered. "Goodbye, Aiden. Have a nice life."
Before she could take off, he caught hold of her arm. "Amanda," he begged her to listen. "I know you think I'm turning my back on you, but I'm not."
"Really?" she shot back. "'Cause it sure feels like it—"
"Amanda, please," Aiden insisted, forcing her to look at him. "The truth is – in the time I've spent with you, I've been able to see you for who you truly are." Amanda remained silent, leave for an attempt to restrain tears with a sniffle. As a final endearing gesture, Aiden reached into his pocket. "Here," he offered, taking out the velvet box. "I want you to have this."
While Amanda remained still yet surprised, he removed the necklace and delicately fastened it around her neck, resting a finger on the stone and then nudging her chin when he was done. Amanda looked down at the necklace and then up at him longingly.
He managed a pained smile and leaned close to whisper into her ear. "Keep it to remember who that person is. And when you get tired of running from your identity," he instructed her. "Perhaps we'll find each other again."
SCENE
"Ah, burning the midnight oil, as it were?" Conrad commented, finding Victoria admiring an antique oil painting in her parlor at half past midnight.
"Reminiscing on simpler times," Victoria retorted, in the wake of their argument earlier that evening. She allowed her gaze to drift up to him with contempt. "Alone, I might add. So get out."
Conrad chuckled, ignoring her request to take a seat beside her instead. "There's that spunk I fell in love with," he quipped. "And I will leave just as soon as you describe to me Mr. Mathis' exit plan. So you have until breakfast to remove him, or I'll do it my way."
"Now that would be unwise," Victoria countered, stewing in thought. "Aiden may be the only hope we have of stopping Daniel from marrying Emily." She gestured in the overall direction of the upstairs. "Patrick overheard them talking in the hall just before they left earlier, something involving a private conversation with Aiden that Daniel questioned her about." She raised her brow in suggestion. "It seems that she has some inexplicable weakness for him."
Intolerant, Conrad finally got up. "God, are you still chewing that same bone, woman?" he bemused her. "Use that tenacity to get him out of my pool house—" he was nearly out of the room when Aiden crossed his path at the entrance.
"You may want to rethink that idea," he suggested strongly, reaching his gaze to include Victoria as well. "I looked into your accident," he continued to Conrad.
"And why was it your concern?" Conrad questioned immediately.
"Because I don't like you," Aiden answered gruffly, eliciting a light laugh from Victoria in the background. He kept his arms crossed behind his back, standing at full attention. "And I thought maybe you'd intentionally harmed that priest, but I discovered something far more surprising. Somebody tried to kill you by tampering with your brakes..." He turned his gaze to Victoria again, who had now grown serious. "And I have good reason to believe it's someone you know well."
"I can only imagine who it is—'" Conrad guessed, just as Victoria leapt to her feet.
Ahead of his suspicion, Victoria cut in. "Conrad!" she demanded, rushing over to intervene before Aiden could respond. "Let's save the conclusions until it's been confirmed," she allayed him sharply. She gave Aiden a meaningful look. "You said you have reason to believe, but can you be certain of whom you suspect?"
Sensing that Victoria had a much greater stake in knowing the truth first, Aiden reserved his reply. "Ah, well, no," he backtracked, convincing Conrad with a measure of uncertainty in his expression. "Naturally I have to do more research before I can be… absolutely sure."
"Mm," Conrad replied in intrigue. "You do that," he instructed him, clapping him on the back as he cast a gaze back at Victoria. "And while you surface the culprit perhaps you may earn your stay here after all."
With that he led him out of the room, leaving Victoria to stare after them as fear sank into her heart. She watched Aiden go with apprehension, knowing there was a fair chance that one of her own offspring was in fact responsible.
SCENE
Emily was halfway down the stairs when she stopped short on the landing, spotting her sister seated at the kitchen counter. "Charlotte?" she called out to her, switching on a light while simultaneously tightening the belt cinching the silk robe around her waist. "Are you alright? It's nearly 3 in the morning?"
"I'm fine, just can't sleep," Charlotte assured her. She turned from her cup of tea, cracking a half smile. "I would ask why you're up at this hour, but I'm not sure I want to," she hinted.
Emily blushed and shied away from the question, pouring herself a glass of water. "You – ah, practicing for late night feedings with Declan Jr?" she averted instead, joining Charlotte in the seat beside her.
"I guess," she shrugged, glancing down at her tea bag. "Except I'll be sitting at a bar instead of your kitchen counter," she divulged, immediately looking at Emily for response.
Emily hid behind a sip of her glass and then eventually made eye contact. "Daniel told me you're moving to the Stowaway," she admitted. "And I understand why you made the decision. I just don't want you to feel like you had to?" She placed a hand on her arm in assurance.
Charlotte smiled. "That means a lot, Emily," she confided. "Really, it does. But you and Daniel are getting married. I mean, that's a big deal," she emphasized, while Emily pondered in agreement. "You'll have enough on your plate without adding an infant to that in the first year," she continued, adding. "Well at least not one you didn't plan on yourselves!"
Emily chuckled, blushing again. "No, your brother and I are definitely planning to wait," she enforced, softening her gaze. "But that doesn't mean we don't want loads of time with our little nephew," she insisted, resting her hand on Charlotte's belly. "Promise you'll still bring him to visit his auntie every day?"
A sweet glimmer of appreciation fell over Charlotte's face. "Promise," she replied happily, resting her free hand on top of her belly also. "Every day."
At that exact moment, just as the two sisters smiled in unison, the baby kicked. "Oh!" they both exclaimed, and Emily's face lit up with a rare glaze of excitement. They kept their eyes and hands fixed on the spot and moments later, it happened again. "I think he likes that plan!" Emily joked with a wide grin.
Charlotte could barely contain her own joy, feeling a sense of relief that all was going to be well. Suddenly deciding something, she drew her gaze up. "Hey, Emily?" she asked, getting her attention. "I guess I probably should have asked you this before but… would you," she stammered, glancing away and then back again. "Would you be the baby's godmother?"
Touched beyond what she conceivably thought possible, Emily was beside herself in reply. "Charlotte," she breathed, at a rare loss for words. "Of-of course, I'd love to!" she finally managed and gave her a sincere hug of appreciation.
But even as Charlotte hugged her back, Emily could not part with deep feelings of guilt, knowing her sister had bestowed her with an honor that in truth she did not deserve. Her only consolation was hoping that the plans she was desperately trying to finish by the summer's end would go off without a hitch, and that Charlotte would thereafter find it in her heart to forgive…
END OF CHAPTER
A/N: Sorry for being gone so long dears! It's been a busy past couple of weeks but as it turns out the last few days I've had SO many Revenge ideas come to me that I can't WAIT to get back to writing the rest of the season. I already have some big changes planned that should be interesting, and a few ways to speed us along to the big episode foreshadowed in the outset. SO with that being said, please hang tight and in the meantime tell me what you thought about this chapter? I tried to include enough Demily to hold everyone over and still keep things interesting on the other fronts. Would LOVE to hear your feedback/thoughts/comments and stay tuned, there are BIG things coming very soon! As always, much much ~love and revenge~ MothToANewFlame