Chapter 20

~NIKLAUS'S POV~

I look at my mother, who has unexpectedly shown up at my house today, wearing a frustrated expression. I can't believe she actually came to my house at 8 pm. Just as she had said, she actually arrived in the evening. Her hand glides along the armrest of my chair as she scans the room, seemingly in search of something.

"Could you kindly inform me of your purpose? I have work to do," I express with a furrowed brow.

She pivots towards me and smiles, saying, "Oh? Since when have you become committed to your job? What brought about this change? You are now working outside business hours? Wow."

I don't respond and simply sigh while gazing at her.

"Have you figured it out?" She asks.

"It's already been sorted out. Instead of coming to my house to ask me directly, why don't you confirm it directly from the company?" I shake my head at the extent she's willing to go to frustrate me.

"It's better to hear it directly from the source," she remarks, taking a seat and crossing one leg over the other. "So, the money has been traced?"

I sigh, "Yes, it has. It turns out one of the employees who left knew where the money has been going. When she attempted to speak up, she was threatened by the CFO, who's responsible for the missing funds. The other employees who left were terminated because they advocated for her," I explain to her. "So, you see? Finding them to destroy their lives wouldn't have helped matters. Communication matters you see."

She nods, "That's good. I'm pleased that there's at least something you can do." She shrugs and stands up before turning to me. "You have a date with Roland's family's eldest daughter on Friday."

My eyes widen at her words. I thought I had successfully convinced her to stop pressuring me about these dates? That only means she didn't believe I actually have a girlfriend, despite seeing the video of my date with Camille.

"I told you I have a serious girlfriend already."

"A serious girlfriend? You?" She scoffs. "You better get ready for your date because you would be marrying her. It would be very good for our business."

I scoff in disbelief, "Not only are you determined to make my professional life miserable, but you also want to intrude..."

She cuts me off, "Listen, Niklaus, marrying Freya comes with a lot of advantages. She's a very decent girl with a good reputation, unlike those other good for nothing women you sleep around with."

"I don't fucking care, mother! I don't give a fuck about who Freya is and I'm not going on a date with her."

"Yes, you are, Niklaus. I don't believe you actually have a girlfriend."

I bite my lower lip, boiling with rage. She's fucking persistent; she just won't stop until she gets what she wants.

"I cannot go on a date with her, especially not this upcoming Friday."

"Why? What's going on this Friday?"

"My schedule is quite busy."

"Then make arrangements to free up time."

"Well, I have a date scheduled with my current girlfriend."

She pauses for a moment, seemingly taken aback by what I said but she says anyways. "I am not going to sit back and watch you waste your time with girls that are obviously not up to your class. You will go on date with Freya and that's final."

"You can't just come into my house and tell me what to do."

"I could potentially take ownership of this house if I choose to. Test me."

I scoff, "So you're also considering claiming my property now?"

"Your current status and possessions are a result of my influence, Niklaus. Therefore, I have the capability to strip you of everything if I want."

I grit my teeth, "It's not my fault that I was born into privilege, and yes, I may have grown my wealth using our family's resources. But that doesn't mean I can't be self-sufficient."

"And how do you plan to be self-sufficient? Through painting? Do you think you can enjoy this wealth solely by painting? Just because your rebellious friend found success without his family doesn't guarantee the same path for you..." She steps closer to me. "You should appreciate what I've done for you."

I scoff, "What you have done for me? I never asked for this mother. You are not helping me, you have never been helpful. All you have ever done and will always do is suffocating me. Forcing me to do what I don't want to, forcing us to do what we do not love!"

"I only choose the best for you all. Everything was going perfectly fine when your brother was still here. You just had to go and ruin it."

I clench my hands into fists and take a deep breath. "Please, leave, mother. I've already done what you requested."

"You're going on a date with Freya this Friday, and rest assured, you'll thank me later. I'm not pleading with you to go on a date with her, nor am I requesting it. You will go with her."

"I am not going to!"

She frowns, "Why are you being so obstinate, Niklaus?! Just go on a date with her! Unless you want me to take actions you'll regret! Noah always heeded my advice. When he was here, you..."

I can no longer endure her mentioning Noah's name. "That's enough! Stop it! I'll go on the date, so just stop and leave my house," I yell, struggling to contain my rage.

She sighs and nods; "Now that's more like it." She begins to walk away, then pauses and turns to me. "And also, there's no need for games or deception. I looked into that girl you claim is your girlfriend—Camille Cooper, right?" She scoffs. "There's no way you could be with someone like her, Niklaus. I know the type of women you typically fuck around with, and she's far from it. Those women you're involved with at least usually come from affluent, high-class backgrounds, but this girl is from a lower social class. Her mother even runs a gigolo club. A gigolo club!" She laughs dryly. "Unless you've completely lost your mind, there's no way you'd seriously date someone like her. So, as long as she remains one of your casual flings, all is good." She smiles and continues to walk away.

Fuck! "I must be delusional to think she wouldn't investigate Camille. This is messed up.

"Argh!" I scream at the top of my lungs, hurling the vase on the table to the floor, unable to contain my frustration.

Butler Stevenson swiftly approaches me. "I will arrange for the maid to clean that up, Sir Niklaus," he says, his gaze fixed on the shattered vase on the ground.

I remain silent and proceed to walk past him, making my way upstairs.

MEANWHILE;

~CAMILLE'S POV~

"Carter, please. I'm sorry," I plead for what feels like the hundredth time to my brother, who continues to gaze at me with teary eyes and a disappointed expression.

"Why didn't you tell me?" he asks, clenching his fists.

I step closer, attempting to touch him, but he angrily pushes my hand away. "We don't need her, Carter. All she does is leave. It wouldn't have made any difference if I had told you. She didn't come to stay anyways."

Tears stream down his cheeks, the emotions he had been holding back now flowing freely. My chest tightens as I watch him cry. I despise this situation. This is precisely why I didn't want him to know she came and then she went behind my back to see him, painting me as the villain. How can I even begin to forgive her if she continues to make it so difficult for me?

"Does that validate your decision to keep it hidden? She came to visit us. How can she stay if you keep pushing her away?"

I let out a sigh and run my hand through my hair. "I'm sorry, Carter. I was wrong not to tell you. But I did it because I didn't want you to get hurt, okay?"

He shakes his head. "I understand that." He sniffles. "But she's my mother, Camille. She's your mother too. If she's sorry, why can't we just forgive her?"

I swallow hard, fully comprehending Carter's emotions. I grasp why he's upset with me. Whenever our mother appeared, I never informed him, but it was out of understanding her unreliability—she never sticks around. I can't feed false hope to Carter; it wouldn't benefit him in any way. And now, she went behind my back to see him and attempt to persuade him to forgive her. How could she exploit his youth and attempt to manipulate him?

"I'm sorry I concealed all of this from you, Carter, but I believed it was the right decision. I grasp your perspective, but I... I'm not prepared to forgive her. You're young and behaving appropriately for your age; you might not fully understand."

"Just because I'm young doesn't mean I'm a child! I'm 16! I know what I'm saying, and all I'm asking is that you should at least try to see things from Mom's perspective. She's just asking for a second chance!"

He's just not getting it!

"You don't understand, Carter!"

"You're the one refusing to understand because you're too stubborn!"

"Then go to her!" I yell in frustration and anger.

He wipes his eyes and seethes with anger.

"Where are you going, Carter? Come back here! Carter!" I scream after him but he doesn't stop and walks out of the house banging the door behind him.

"Fuck!" I mutter a curse under my breath before sinking into the chair, running my hands through my hair.

After sitting to regain composure for a while, I stand up and fetch my phone to call Carter. I hope he answers. The call rings three times, but he doesn't pick up. Oh God, where has he gone? I leave the room in search of him. Stepping out of the apartment, I still can't find a trace of him. I sigh before sending him a message. I AM SORRY, I DIDN'T MEAN THAT. PLEASE COME HOME.

I decide to do something I haven't done in a long time, call my mom. She picks up almost immediately.

"Hello, Camille?" her voice sounds unsure as if confirming if I'm really the one calling.

I don't even bother saying hi to her and just go straight to the point. "Carter left the house, and it's because of you!" I take a deep breath to clam down. "Help me call him, he will answer your call since you happen to be the best mother at the moment." I roll my eyes.

"Alright, I will call him now."

I hang up and heave a deep sigh running my hand through my hair. I lean against the wall of the apartment waiting for her to call me.

XOXO