Chapter 37

They always said that you had a feeling in your gut when something bad was about to happen.

Even though I tried to imagine how could this whole thing possibly end, I noticed that I was slightly shaking.

Only a few seconds later did I understand that I was terrified. Completely, utterly, totally scared.

I knew Seeley had made some improvement in his anger issues but I just knew in my heart that this would send him over the edge.

And I wouldn't even try to stop him.

Seeley's eyes scanned all of us before turning back to his father again despite burning in his eyes. I'd never seen him like this.

At that particular moment, Seeley Drewitt seemed crushed and his eyes were full of red.

"Hi, Seeley." Perkyn said awkwardly, sensing the tension that appeared above us like a gray cloud.

Maybe I shouldn't have told Seeley to come here. Maybe I should have told him when we were in private and he could do no harm to his father.

Not that he wouldn't have deserved it but this could end really badly for Seeley.

God, what was I thinking?

I felt like I'd been torn into two pieces and my heart didn't know whose side should it stick with.

I wanted Oswald to be confronted about being a manipulative piece of shit but I cared for Seeley so much that I didn't want him to get arrested if Delilah or Perkyn would call the caps.

Yes, I could expect Seeley to explode that badly.

"Do you guys know each other?" Oswald asked, his voice low. Delilah took a step closer to me, examining Oswald and Seeley standing almost in front of each other.

Perkyn looked at Oswald and gave him a weak nod. No matter how much respect he had for Oswald, he was afraid of him. His eyes gave it away.

"Yeah, we'd met before." Perkyn said and stared at Seeley.

Delilah cleared her throat, trying to gather her thoughts.

"Are you Heddy's friend?" Delilah asked, trying to get answers to her own question. The poor woman had no idea what was waiting for her.

I wanted to tell her that it was best if she'd leave but I knew that she wouldn't move an inch from her husband.

Not when Seeley was eyeing him with deadly eyes.

"They were classmates in high school." Perkyn answered when Seeley ignored Delilah.

Delilah looked at me for a brief moment before turning back to Seeley.

"Is there a problem, Seeley?" Delilah asked carefully while clinging onto Oswald's arm while he was standing there as still as a rock.

I gulped and watched Seeley's eyes drop to their hands and his eyes narrowed while clenching his jaw.

"There happens to be one small problem, Mrs. Drewitt." Seeley's voice was full of venom as he clenched his fists.

Delilah gave Seeley a confused look after realizing that he knew their last names. Little did Delilah know that if Oswald would have man up, she'd be the stepmother to two sons, not one.

"What…" Her voice trailed off and Oswald grabbed her hand suddenly.

"Honey, just go upstairs."

"No, Oswald. Why are you acting like this?" Delilah asked, her voice small.

"Delilah…"

"Just tell me—"

Seeley sighed and when Oswald was about to slam the door into Seeley's face, Seeley put his hand up, stopping him.

By the look on Delilah's face, she must have thought that Seeley was a drug dealer or a wanted criminal.

I already took a step toward Oswald but Perkyn grabbed my arm softly and pulled me back to him. When I looked up at him, he gave me a slight headshake, silently instructing me to stay still.

"Yes, Dad…" Seeley said, spitting the word dad while his eyes turned into something cold that I'd never seen in him before. "Why won't you tell your wife about what the hell is going on?"

Delilah froze and snapped her head to Oswald.

"Why would he call you like that?" She asked, trying to find a solid reason to deny her theory about Seeley.

"I don't…"

"Don't you dare lie to your perfect family in your perfect house with your perfect car and perfect neighbors." Seeley snapped and pushed the door open.

Perkyn looked like he has seen a ghost when Seeley stepped into the house with a bitter and grim smile on his lips.

"Dad, what's going on?" Perkyn asked and Seeley seemed to hesitate a little before he scoffed and shook his head.

"You've got to be fucking kidding me." Seeley spat as he glared at his father who didn't look shocked at all.

Oswald seemed sad but probably because his secret has been revealed.

I watched the man move his neck before slowly turning to me.

"This was your doing, you bitch?" Oswald gritted his teeth while letting go of Delilah's arm.

I wanted to yell at him even scream how much of a spineless coward he has been but when I looked at his twisted face from the range, I took a step back.

When Oswald started to walk in my direction, my heart skipped a beat as Perkyn stepped in front of me the same time Seeley grabbed his father by his arm and landed a solid punch on his jaw.

I could hear Oswald's teeth knocking together as he fell against the wall.

I didn't know if it was Delilah or me who screamed but I knew that it was full of terror.

Seeley leaned closer to Oswald who was trying to catch his breath and wiped the blood off his face.

"I'll knock your fucking teeth down your throat if you talk to her like that ever again." He threatened him in an ice cold tone. "Do you understand me?"

When Oswald turned back to Seeley his eyes were full of hatred. That was the moment that made it all clear. He never loved his younger son. He despited him and did everything just to avoid him.

My stomach turned at how much hate they have felt for each other. I've never seen something like this until now.

It was a disaster and I wanted to run away because I didn't want to be a part of this but I also couldn't look away.

"Get out of here, Seeley."

Seeley lifted his jaw and swallowed hard.

"The fuck I will."

Delilah's lips were trembling as she was watching Seeley and Oswald glaring at each other.

"I'll call the police."

Seeley let out a loud laugh that was full of exhaustation, anger and frustration but nothing positive.

"And what exactly are you planning on telling them?" He asked. "That your son crossed your property? They will laugh at you for being a dilusional clown."

"Your son?" Delilah seemed to find her voice however it was filled with defeat. She sounded so broken just like anyone would have who just found out that their significant other has been lying to them.

Oswald looked at Delilah and dropped his gaze.

"I didn't even know he was here." Oswald said.

I was surprised that Seeley hasn't told his father where would he be gone for months but a part of me supported his decision. He was an adult now and his father didn't care about his wherabouts most of the time.

"Jesus, Oswald…" Delilah buried her face in her hands.

"I can't believe this." Perkyn whispered but everyone could hear him.

As if Oswald has only realized now that Perkyn was here too and walked to us. I hid behind Perkyn's shoulders, holding into his arm while Perkyn couldn't even look away.

"Son, Perkyn… I know I'm not perfect but that doesn't mean that I don't love you. You are my blood and flesh and I'd do anything for you. I was only—"

"Lying to me for my whole life?" Perkyn interrupted him harshly. Then he looked at Seeley. "Lying to both of us? What kind of sick game have you been playing?"

"This is not a sick game…"

"Living a double life is pretty much is." Delilah snapped, her cheeks flushed. "We are married for God's sake Oswald. There was no reason for you to lie to me. To your son… sons."

"You're nothing." Seeley said. "You've been an asshole for your whole life. And you have a fucking family over here? And back in Hillsboro I thought that or hoped that you were only gone for most of the time because of your fucking job!"

"You don't know shit, Seeley." Oswald said in a chilling tone.

Seeley shook his head and pushed Oswald away by his chest.

"I think I know fucking plenty, Mr. Perfect." Seeley yelled. "You've been humiliating me ever since I was born, you were there when we lost Alexa and Mom but all you did was tell me to grow up because men don't cry! I was crying for my mom and my sister while you were here, making another family and playing the perfect father while I even considered killing myself!"

I teared up at the emotional outburst Seeley has just had. I'd never known about the death of his mother or sister but now the names tattooed on his heart made sense.

Whenever someone was asking Seeley about his mother or any possible siblings he just found a smart way to avoid giving a straight answer to that question.

Seeing tears gleaming in Seeley's eyes made my heart shatter into million pieces. I wanted nothing but to hug him and tell him that everything will be all right but we were pretty fucking far from all right.

"So, don't you dare go around and tell me what I should or shouldn't do because you have no fucking right!" Seeley yelled.

"You've had to learn how to grow up!" Oswald raised his voice, putting oil on the fire.

"Isn't that what fathers are supposed to do?" Seeley spread his arms in a defeated yet intrusive way. "Be there for their kids, teach them things, support them, inspire them and show them how a man should behave?"

"But you learned that anyway."

Seeley let his arms fall against his legs and let out a scoff.

"Yes, I have." Seeley nodded. "At horrible costs. It would have been much easier if there was someone I could look up to. But you were too busy to play the role model for your other son."

I understood Seeley's pain absolutely. Finding out that your father has not been the person you'd always thought him to be must have been devastating.

Oswald really did ruin Seeley's life in a way.

"Priorities, huh?" Seeley asked harshly, his words cutting through my heart each time. "You are the reason mom died and yet here you stand still talking back to me like you have a place to even say anything!"

I was shocked that Seeley dared say something like that but I didn't have a hard time believing that Oswald had been the reason for many things that went wrong in Seeley's life.

I was crying for the broken and damaged boy standing in front of us, screaming his pain and anger out while Oswald didn't even blink.

"What are you talking about?" Perkyn asked.

Seeley ran his fingers through his hair, almost trying to tear them out of its place. His chest kept rising and sinking as he tried to calm his temperature.

"My dad had the fucking nerve to blame my mother for Alexa's death." He said slowly while there was a storm hiding in his green eyes. "And when he took revenge because he had thought he was entitled to it, my mother died in the process. That is who your fucking father really is, Perkyn."

My heart skipped a beat as tears started to roll down my cheeks. I pressed my palm against my lips while staring at the three troubled men looking at each other.

Everything felt like a nightmare that came true. And all because Oswald has been nothing but a liar and a gaslighter ever since he had become a father.

One of his sons had somewhat a decent life that had its scarier downsides too while the other grew up to be an emotional trainwreck.