Chapter 7

"Father knew," Chad sneered. "Did you really think no one else would find out?"

Stefano. EJ cursed inwardly. Had Stefano told Chad? How much had he told Chad? Did his brother know about the pregnancy scare? About the Dimera doctor? Stefano wanted this marriage with Samantha. He wanted a united Brady and Dimera family. Could Stefano have brought Chad to reclaim Abigail before EJ could make another mistake?

Chad and Abigail were over. Abigail would never forgive him.

Would she?

EJ felt a dark jealousy creeping over him like a fog.

Stop this, Elvis. Stay focused. Chad is just fishing for proof. Do not give him what he wants.

"I cannot believe that you would really think that Abigail Deveraux and I could be involved."

Chad raked a hand through his hair in frustration.

"I wouldn't have believed it without proof," Chad said. "Not because I trust you... You are capable of anything and any time. You've proven that. I just can't believe that Abigail would have you. How did you manage that? We were so happy together. She loved me. But she couldn't look past my lies. Why would she willingly become involved with you? Everyone in Salem knows how evil you are.

"Would you like to know how I found out, EJ?" he actually smiled, but the smile never reached his eyes. "I had a visit from a messenger. He had a delivery from a Mr. Percy Ruggles in England. Shall I read the letter or just jump to the graphic pictures? It's pretty hot stuff."

EJ's heart stopped. Damn that Ruggles. He'd sent Nick's "Greetings" goon away. He'd destroyed the photos at Nick's house following his death. He'd underestimated both men.

"Chad...I don't know what that man has told you..."

Chad rolled his eyes at EJ's feeble attempt to deny the affair.

"Abigail and you...even with all of your history, I never would have thought it possible. You usually care about family, EJ. Abigail was mine. You knew that."

EJ sighed. He had known that. He just had not cared. He'd just wanted to keep her quiet...and then he'd just wanted to keep her.

He'd hurt yet another person with his inability to control himself.

"I'm sorry," he admitted. "It just got out of control. I cannot explain my actions. I bloody well did not plan this. She's just..."

"Perfect? Good? Decent? Beautiful? Honest? But you didn't care about that, did you? You didn't care that by entangling her in your and Sami's mess, you could destroy her? Have you thought about what you've actually done to her? What you've put her through?"

Chad was deadly calm. Only his eyes betrayed his fury. Stefano had that power. His brother had finally succumbed to his genes...he was a true Dimera now.

EJ had pushed him to it.

He'd turned his brother into the man he'd tried so hard to deny.

"You had Sami. You had what you said you wanted," Chad said. "Why wasn't it enough? Damn it, EJ. Why did you sleep with Abigail? Was it good for your ego? She's young and beautiful and she wanted you, so you couldn't resist?"

This was getting out of control fast. EJ had to stop this. He couldn't risk a fight that would draw attention to this discussion.

"It wasn't like that, Chad. Please let me explain..."

Chad laughed.

"You don't have to explain a damn thing," he said. "Nick took care of that for you. He made sure Ruggles delivered his letter in the event of his death. Quite an insurance policy, don't you think?"

He glared at EJ. "At least that bitch Gabi is going away for her crimes. Finally. What about your crimes, brother? What should be done about those?"

Chad walked slowly up to him, one of the few men EJ knew was tall enough to look him directly in the eye.

"Should I discuss this with Sami? I'm sure she'd love to know just how devoted you've been?"

EJ cursed. "You wouldn't want to do that, Chad. You wouldn't want to hurt Abigail by telling Samantha. You know how volatile Samantha can be."

Chad grabbed EJ by his lapels and pulled him against his chest. "You didn't care about Abigail at all, you bastard. You just cared about getting what you wanted. You just cared about yourself."

EJ knew his brother was wrong. He did care about Abigail. Too much. He'd left his rehearsal dinner last night to check on her.

Despite what he'd told her, their relationship had become special to him. He would miss it. He would miss her...and the way she made him feel.

"Chad? Oh my God, Chad. What are you doing?"

Abigail.

EJ's eyes met hers over Chad's shoulder. She was deathly pale, her mouth open in shock.

Chad abruptly dropped his hands and turned to face the woman he still loved. She'd left him because of dishonesty and begun an affair with his engaged, crime lord brother.

His anger with EJ was greater than his disappointment with Abigail. She had been so hurt by his lies. That pain had obviously clouded her judgment.

"Decided to drop in to wish the groom good luck, Abigail?" he asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

She ignored the comment. He had no right to question her motives.

"Did you decide to come back and ruin another wedding?" she asked, referring to his outburst at Nick and Gabi's first wedding.

EJ had always admired her fire. Abigail did not back down from a challenge.

"Speaking of ruined weddings, EJ and I were just settling a few things before his trip down the aisle," he smirked. "I'd like to talk to you about some things, too. How is that you couldn't love me enough to forgive me for my lie, but you could handle having an affair with my brother?"

Abigail felt like she'd been punched in the stomach. Seeing Chad had been shocking enough, explaining her feelings for EJ was something she was simply not prepared to do.

"Chad, do not attack Abigail. She did nothing. She did not ask for this," EJ said quiet, but filled with dark menace. "She does not deserve your anger."

Abigail narrowed her eyes at both men. She was not doing this... not today, not ever. Chad had fallen in love with her best friend during their first relationship. He'd lied to Cameron about having cancer to clear the field to win her back. How dare he question her about anything? I was none of his business.

"What happened between EJ and I is between EJ and I. You gave up the right to have a say in my life a long time ago."

Chad stepped away from EJ, cursing under his breath.

"Why EJ, Abigail? Of all of the men in this town, why EJ?"

Abigail looked over at EJ. He was so beautiful. He took her breath away. Even now, ready to marry Sami and with Chad in the room, she was drawn to him.

"I love him."

The admission slipped from her lips before she could stop herself. She gasped and clapped her hand over her mouth in shock. Had she really just said that?

EJ couldn't believe she'd just said it either...

She could not love him. He was wrong for her in every way. He was everything she did not need in a man.

She knew him. She may not know all of his sins, but he'd certainly given her enough of a run down last night to make her realize that he was the last person she should love.

She knew him.

And yet she loved him.

He didn't think. He strode across the room and grabbed her hand.

"Abigail..."

She pulled it back.

"Don't, EJ," she whispered. "I had no right to say that. Especially not today of all days."

EJ's eyes were mesmerizing. They caught and held hers. He shook his head.

"I cannot believe that you really could love me, Abigail. You shouldn't love me. I am not worthy of your love."

She sighed and put her hand over his heart.

"I can't help it. I wish I could stop," she said sadly. "I know it's a mistake. I know you don't love me."

The moment was lost to the sound of slow clapping across the room.

"Bravo, big brother, bravo," Chad said, glaring at them. "She's fallen in love with the devil. What a touching story. The angel and the devil...will her love save him from his evil ways? Oh wait...I forgot. He's marrying the mother of his children this afternoon. How's that supposed to go, I wonder?"