...Daven's POV…
Selena wouldn't stop talking about her fiancée Taylor coming over today.
I love my baby sister, and that's the only reason Taylor Seville can step foot in this mansion. Apart from that, I dislike him a lot.
I believe Selena deserves better. But she's in love, And I want her to be happy.
While she was still blabbering to Uncle Francis and the rest about how amazing and hardworking her Taylor is, my eyes fell on the very mysterious Adriana.
She was staring at Selena with creased eyebrows, and pouted lips. After a few sentences from Selena, she would roll her eyes.
I have to stifle my laughter each time she does that.
After breakfast, Eric and Adriana were the first to leave the table, I watched as they both left for work.
If I say I wasn't feeling guilty about what happened last night, I'd be lying.
The last person I want to betray in this world is Eric.
Making out with his wife was a stupid thing that was caused by my lack of control.
Just one mention of my name, and I folded, I melted, I forgot it was forbidden and that I've already lost her. She is not mine and she never was.
Most importantly, I forgot that she was up to no good.
I can't point fingers directly at her but I am 99 percent sure she had something to do with the Lukeham deal sabotage.
But then, I had no evidence, and looking at it from a wider perspective, it made no sense.
Why would Eric's wife want to ruin his family? She's not just a daughter-in-law but she also works for our jewelry company.
So why would she want her employers to go down?
I don't know what she is up to or which of our rivals sent her, all I know is I heard her making a call talking about it. Makes me remember how I caught her snooping around the first time we met in the house. At the moment, I just thought she was lost or something, but now, with all this, I'm pretty sure she was spying on Dad and Uncle.
I left the breakfast hall when I realized I was the only one still present.
Since I didn't have a place in the Willingham Company any more, I had all the time in the world to investigate Adriana.
"Grandma." I called when I spotted her seated in her favorite spot in the garden.
Believe it or not, she's the smartest lady in these walls.
"Amore mio," Grandma said, tapping the space beside her.
I took a seat, enjoying the scenery too.
"Come stai?" She asked, again in Italiano.
"I'm fine maa," I replied.
"Your father is being too difficult." She hissed.
"I understand him, grandma. I did disappoint him a lot." I said playing with my fingers.
As the oldest son of the Willingham family, it is pathetic that I became an addict. I put them all to shame. Till date, I don't know what I was thinking or how I ended up wasting like that.
But the thing is, Dad never actually cared much about me. It had just always been Eric. Not that I cared much about it. Sometimes I just wished he gave me a chance to prove that I was not as weak as he believed.
"I don't like how Anthony behaves! You are the oldest son! And I won't rest till you get your rights."
"Grandma, that's really not necessary at the moment." I said, holding her hands in mine.
"Instead, tell me about Eric's wife." I said before she could protest.
A scowl creased grandma's face, deepening the wrinkles around her eyes.
"I know nothing about that witch!" she spat.
"Oh granny," I wrapped my arms around her, giving her a side hug.
"Just tell me what you think about her." I pressed.
"I think she's a witch! A daughter of that little Steele family who are fighting to stay in the business world." Grandma was passionate about her hate for Adriana.
"Ever since she set foot in this house. there has been nothing but chaos!" she yelled.
"How did her family convince Anthony to accept her as our Eric's wife? The Lukehams and others are doing better than them. But Anthony rejected everyone just for her! It's fishy!"
"Grandma," I said, planting a kiss on her forehead.
"I would love to listen all day, but I need to meet up with Liam." I straightened up, my eyes locking on hers.
She was clearly not pleased with me leaving, but just let out a defeated sigh.
"Alright. I'll see you later, Amore mio," She said.
"Bye."
"Drive safely," She smiled.
"Will do maa,"
A smile crept on my face as I made my way to the parking lot.
Grandma is the only reason I still live here.
Though Selena and Mom would be on my necks too, I wouldn't listen if it wasn't for grandma.
Making her happy is worth the humiliation I get from Dad.
I checked my phone to read Liam's text again. He had sent the address of the private investigator I asked him to get.
"Thanks buddy. I'll be there in a minute." I texted back. I slipped into the driver's seat, then drove off.
"Daven!" Liam said, the moment I parked my car in the driveway.
He gave me a hug the moment I stepped out of the car.
He has never been this affectionate but I guess you can blame it on the fact that we haven't met since when I was taken to rehab.
"Missed you buddy," I said to him.
"How pathetic, I didn't even feel your absence. At all!" He huffed,
I rolled my eyes at his gesture.
"Yeah right, like you weren't dying or something."
"Shut up Daven, the investigator is waiting."
Liam led me into the building and up the stairs to a private office.
We exchanged pleasantries, Then I went straight to the point. Telling him all I know about Adriana.
"Find out if she's working for someone and who? If she has any secret meet ups. I want answers real fast. Before she sabotages something again."
"I won't let you down sir." Chris, the investigator said.
Liam and I spent the rest of the evening together, laughing and catching up on things. I knew it was time to leave when he started asking questions.
"But the same lady, Arianna, is the one you've been looking for?" He asked.
"Liam, It's Adriana. Yes, she's the one I've been searching for."
"But how are you able to watch your brother bang her every night?"
he squeezed his face.
"We don't share a room. I don't have to
deal with that." I said, but the truth is, I care. I wanted her to be mine. It hurts.
"I know, but you had this crazy obsession for her!"
Obsession is an understatement, I was crazy for her. I searched every inch of the town but couldn't find her.
"Eric's a bastard! Always taking what's yours!" Liam said.
The feud between Eric and Liam would never end, and I have made peace with that information.
"He didn't know." I yawned.
"Yeah right. And he didn't know you were the rightful heir before taking over?" He spat.
"Let's not talk about this Liam. I need to head back now."
"Alright Mr Toxic family. Have fun!" He said.
…
I got home in time for dinner. Taylor was already there, I was glad I didn't have to witness his grand entrance.
"Daven, it's nice to see you." Taylor said upon seeing me.
"But, I hope everything is good with you," he added.
"Like, I hope Selena's safety is assured."
I knew where this conversation was heading the moment I got here.
I would stand up and walk away from the table, but Taylor wasn't worth the stress. To think I grew up playing in kindergarten with a prick like him.
"Taylor, One more disrespectful word from those lips and you'll be thrown out of this house. Fool,"
Uncle Francis said.
I gave him a grateful smile.
My attention was diverted by an incoming call.
It was the investigator.
"Excuse me," I stood up and walked away from the table.
"Chris, what's up?" I was wondering why he called so quickly.
"Adrina Steele. No one knew her as their daughter until the night of the gala. And only two days after, she was set to marry Eric." Chris kept talking.
"It took them only one week to get married.
I did a little digging on why no one knows who she was even though the Steeles were always present in many occasions."
"Well, what did you find?"
"That she is not their biological daughter. She was adopted seventeen years ago."
This information hit me like a rock.it won't be funny,
If Dad finds out about this.
"Do some more research on the place she was adopted. I want to know where she actually came from." I said, looking directly at her captivatingly beautiful face through the glass door.