Outside the farmhouse, Ryder and Theo stared at each other. Finally seeing the infamous Ryder Walker, the only thing Theo could do was question his father's decision. What was the old man thinking leaving Calantha under the care of the murderer?
Theo mentally sympathised with his sister. She had every reason to be angry or hate their late father because the man who stood before him was nothing to write home about. No wonder his sister described him the way he did. Dirty Visitor. He deserved the name. Unkempt hair. Mustache that looked like cat whiskers. Eyes hidden behind bushy brows.
Ryder internally chuckled knowing exactly what the young man was doing. He could tell the young lad wasn't pleased with what he saw, and that made him happy. He had grown a thick skin. He knew better to allow insignificant looks to affect him. "When you are done with your assessment, let me know so we can discuss why you called me out here,"
Theo cleared his throat but didn't bother to hide his displeased look. He squared his shoulder. He wasn't going to let the man's criminal history deter him. He had one mission in mind. Protecting his sister. Until he was able to clear the mess their late father created. "My name is Theodore, Theo for short,"
One brow pushed up, Ryder asked, "You called me out here to tell me your name?"
"What? No. It's about my sister."
"Okay." Of course, he wanted to talk about his sister.
His indifferent tone made Theo's jaw clench. What was he thinking? The man was a murderer, he probably had no feelings. "She doesn't know about everything."
"You have to be specific?"
Looking beyond his untamed brows, Theo saw something. "Can I confide in you?"
"No," Came Ryder's fast reply
"As expected from a man like you." Theo spat at him, hoping to get a reaction, but not even a strand of hair on the man's face moved. "She doesn't know the condition we are in."
"What condition is that?" Asked Ryder.
One look at the Ryder told Theo that the man knew everything, more than he should. "Right now, she doesn't know that we have lost everything. She doesn't know about our father's—ahem, inappropriate lifestyle, and I plan to keep it that way until everything is sorted out."
"How do you plan to do that?" Ryder found himself asking as his eyes narrowed infinitesimally.
"I—I," Theo opened and closed his mouth like a fish freshly brought out of the water body. "There is always a way out."
Personally, Ryder thought the boy was still too young to carry the burdens their careless father had dropped on them. He was only sounding like that because he didn't know what the world was like. It wasn't for children who had been shielded with money and luxury, in other words, the weak. It was for the strong. Those who were ready to dive headfirst into hell. It was for people who were ready to take the bull by the horn and tackle it to the ground, but the young man standing before him looked like he would do anything but dive headfirst into hell or take a bull by its horn. To Ryder, he believed nature made it so that everyone must have a taste of life, and maybe what was happening was their own way of having a taste. Enjoying the drama, he asked, "Does she even know why she is here?"
"Not really, and I plan to keep it that way. All she knows is that she will spend a short while with you as your wife until I can take her back."
"I see. She doesn't know the part of the agreement that says she becomes my wife permanently after you are unable to pay off your father's debt in three months?"
Theo's fingers ran through his hair. That didn't sound pleasing at all. Nothing about the situation was pleasant at all. Nothing about the man was pleasant. Damn, if he could he would take his sister and run away from the continent. He would take her to where nobody would be able to find them, but he had to clear his father's name. He had to bring peace to the chaos his father created. "She does not know about it. Please, don't mention it to her. I promise she won't stay with you for that long. I will get your money."
"If you say so. If that is all," Ryder turned away, ready to head inside and continue what he was doing,
"Wait, one more thing. I hope you don't plan on doing anything to my sister because I won't forgive you if even one strand of hair on her body gets touched by you,"
"If it helps you feel better, I have no use for your sister. All I need is something equivalent to the money your father owes me. I am not even sure if she measures up to my money,"
The veins on Theo's neck popped, "What does that mean? She is worth more than your money? Do you hear me?"
"We will see about that," Deciding the discussion was over, Ryder walked away."
In the house, Ryder found Calantha standing in the same spot they had left her. As if sensing her presence, she didn't dare to look up. As her eyes were glued to the not-so-beautiful floor. Redhead, great! He chanted in his head as he heard the entrance door close behind him, "I will give you two some time to talk,"
"That would be great," Came Theo's words.
Turning to Calantha, he said, "When you are done down here, go upstairs, head down the hallway on your left. Continue straight until you reach the last door on your right, that is where your room is situated," Not one word was uttered by the lady, making him wonder if he had chosen a deaf lady as his collateral, but then he remembered seeing the siblings conversing earlier.
"She would be up shortly," Theo replied in place of Calantha.
Sparing one last glance at Calantha, he reached for her belongings, and in one swift move, he had everything in his hands, going up the stairs. The wooden steps cried under his weight as he ascended. Just how old was the house?!
After his footstep was no longer heard, she looked up. Her eyes blur once again. Whatever happened to not crying again? She internally scolded herself and wiped her eyes, "What will happen now?" She asked, her voice hoarse from crying.
"Oh, Cal, everything will be over before you know it,"
"Are you sure, Theo?"
No, Cal, I am not. He was tempted to say, but instead, he smiled, "Yes," He quickly grabbed her hand and squeezed, hoping to provide as much comfort as possible. "Yes, Cal, I am sure,"
Against her will, her eyes welled up again, "But why can't I stay with you? I want to stay with you, Theo, please."
"I wish I could do that, Cal, but you will stay here— for now."
"I don't want to. I want to go with you. Take me with you, Theo,"
"I can't, Cal,"
"I will kill myself if you leave me with that disgusting man." She threatened,
Before Theo could catch himself his palm was already flying across and colliding with Calantha's cheeks. To say Calantha was shocked by her brother's action was an understatement as she stared at him eyes wide in shock as she clutched her aching cheek. It was either the world was coming to an end or it was just her world. "Don't ever utter such words in your life. Do you hear me?!" His nose flared in anger but the tears were there in his eyes begging to be let out, "You want to take your life and leave me all alone in this world? Is that what you wish to do? Go ahead then! I bet I can take one more loss!" His hands quickly shot to wipe the tears before they could fall.
"No, Theo, I do not wish to leave you alone, I just can't do this."
"Calantha, I need you to stop thinking about yourself for once! Think about other people and how you can help them! I need you to think about me and how you can be useful to me!"
"You know I am always thinking about other people which is why I am here!" She yelled back
"Then finish it,"
"I just can't!"
"Please, just think about papa,"
"If I am walking away from this place it is because of him. He did this to me. He made me an object of mockery in front of my friends and society at large."
"Then do it for me, not for papa. Can you? I promise to get you out of here before you know it." Only heavens knew how much she wanted to refuse, but one look into Theo's big green eyes, had her nodding. Theo looked like he had conquered the world. His tensed shoulder suddenly let loose. "Thank you, Cal,"
She didn't trust herself to make any reasonable sound other than the sob threatening to choke her, so, she nodded again. For Theo. For my brother. She chanted in her head. "Here," He brought out a piece of paper from his hip pocket and handed it to her. "You can write to me using this address." Calantha frowned at the unfamiliar address, "That's where I would be staying for now until they are done with the house." Once again, she nodded. "I should be on my way now. Do take care of yourself, okay?" He hugged and kissed her forehead. "Stay strong for me. Will you do that?"
"I will try," she wanted to say, but again, she found herself nodding. With one last hug, he left. She expected him to change his mind and take her with him, but that never happened as she watched him close the door, disappearing from her view. Her body crumbled to the wooden floor.