Free Web NovelChapter 62: The gift (1)
"How long will you keep this up for, Layla? I don’t have time for all the glances and whispering you are doing. Be out with it," Hank said, ready for an earful.
While he spent his time speaking of Ian, Layla had her plans to remind everyone that he was a bastard. Hank was certain that no one had forgotten how Ian came about. She was stirring up family drama simply because she was jealous and worried.
How many times did he need to tell her that he was not throwing Victor to the side now that Ian was back? Ian returned and all of a sudden Layla was like a mad woman.
Layla kept her attention on the servants moving around as it was soon time for dinner to be served. She shouldn’t have to say why she was upset as she had already made her thoughts known.
Hank had spoken of Ian as this wonderful son he cared for, not bringing up Victor who was by his side today. How could she not be in a foul mood? Even though hours passed, she was still stuck on it. Nothing was worse than having to listen to her peers be curious about Ian.
Victor wished the conversation would end as all he wanted was a peaceful night at home. Why did Ian’s return have to cause this much drama? So many years had passed so why couldn’t the hatred go away and Ian be accepted?
Victor was still stuck on how short his conversation was with Ian. Did Ian still hate him? Hate him because he was the son paraded around or hated him for not speaking up? Whenever he spoke up in the past he was silenced by either his mother or Ian.
"This is going to be a long day. Do you want to get a drink with me, Victor-"
"He can’t drink with you. He has medicine to take and after an eventful day, he should get some rest. Or do you want to kill him now because your spare is back in town?" Layla questioned, no longer able to hold her tongue with Victor mentioned.
"Why do you always need to make it like Ian is my son and Victor is your own? They are both my sons. I thought we were through this that you are not innocent in all this. You would have done whatever it took to have a child before you became pregnant with Victor. Did you expect me to kill Ian then?" Hank asked.
Victor was confused by what his father meant. What role did his mother have in his father’s affair? ƒгeewebnovёl.com
Layla wished Hank would stop mentioning the plan they had years ago. When they no longer needed Ian, he should have been sent away. The Kingsley name taken from him and he would never know he was part of the family. They could have paid someone to raise him as their son.
It would have been easy for those who knew of Ian’s existence to forget about him.
"Tell your father how you feel," Layla urged Victor as two-on-one would have a better outcome.
"I am in need of a break and Ian’s presence will offer that for a moment. Right now, he doesn’t want to be with us so there is no need to argue about him," Victor replied. They were going around in circles for someone who didn’t like them and didn’t want to come here.
"I must do something to get him to return. That boy is too stubborn. I told you to take care of having someone tutor him," Hank said, placing blame on Layla.
"I sent him tutors. You have to blame that maid around him that always got in the way," Layla replied, her mood soured even more by the mention of the woman. "You mustn’t get ahead of yourself and remember that he is a spare. You defended him today only for him to ignore you."
"I expect him to be a little rebellious at first but in time he will come around to need us. How long can he sustain himself by pouring drinks for drunks? He has done one thing right by going to Scarlet’s side. Courting her and getting married to her soon would do well for him," Hank said, ignoring the disrespect as Ian was still doing well.
Layla tapped her fingers on her arm. She was tired of speaking or hearing about Ian. She didn’t realise just how wonderful life had been without him around. Layla regretted her plans to get rid of him so he could never show up before them again had not worked.
Layla didn’t care that she had agreed to Hank’s plan in the past. She didn’t want a son that didn’t come from her having any ties to her. "Scarlet might be a little out of her mind right now because of the divorce. There will be a moment when she realises who is by her side and ignores Ian. You shouldn’t think too much of their relationship." freewёbn૦νeɭ.com
"What we must do is focus on Victor getting married. There are many young ladies wanting to join our family. Why don’t you focus on that, dear?" Layla asked. "I will allow you to make a little use of Ian for Victor to rest but you must stop speaking so highly of him."
"I mean, you said that he serves drunks," Layla chuckled, humoured as it was fitting for Ian.
Ian’s mother spent her life serving others and now Ian was doing it. Why keep Ian away from what was meant for him for too long?
"His mother," Hank accidentally said out loud. He had wondered what came of her after she left.
Victor watched as his mother’s smile disappeared. What was his father thinking?
"You bastard!"
Victor sighed, pushing his chair back as he could not sit around to endure another argument about the affair or Ian. "I will be back when it is time for dinner," he announced.
"Take me with you," Hank pleaded as there might be a murder if he was left alone with his wife.
"Go alone, Victor. Your father and I need to have a long talk," Layla said. She had suspected that Hank might still be thinking of the old whore. She wouldn’t be surprised if they were still in touch.
Layla could never let go of the plan years ago considering Hank had fallen for a woman meant to disappear from their lives after the baby was born. Layla finally managed to fire her at some point after Ian ran away but was that the last that Hank saw her?
Victor gladly left his father behind. This was his father’s doing for saying something that would upset his mother so he should face the consequences alone. Victor had no idea where to go at first to be away from his parent’s arguing but then a place came to mind when he thought of Ian.
Victor went to a window and looked out in the distance to a small cottage. Ian didn’t want anything from his past but Victor couldn’t help wanting to give Ian what he had saved. There might be something that Ian missed and would like to have.
All his life Victor had listened to his mother boast about the fact he had gotten to live in the large home while Ian was forced to a small cottage, but it had always been the cottage where he had his best memories.
"I am useless," Victor whispered.
