The Royal Contract

Chapter 730: A monster in a saint’s clothing

Looking at her, Gerald always thought that his interest in her had something to do with attraction. Luckily, he did not act on his impulse, discovering it was nothing like that.

But he was sorry to get himself in business with Nick and to put her through that horrible situation. Had he known earlier about their relationship, he might have acted differently.

He still believed that despite the unpleasant things he had done to her in the past. He was still not a complete monster. He would have protected her if he had known she was his sister.

“Honestly, I do not know,” Dani finally answered him as her eyes gazed at him as she sat on her chair with a big desk standing between them.

He could not blame her. He was also still processing all of this until now, still undecided on what to do with the new knowledge that he still had a family. Well, besides, the dead ones.

However, he could read a slight fear in her eyes, something he had not seen before when she was with his company. But could he again blame her when he had been the cause of many of her sufferings?

“I guess that is a fair answer.” He responded as he fixed his coat and settled more comfortably in her seat.

.....

His eyes wandered around her, looking at her office with different eyes. It was not the first time he was here, but he was not particularly interested to know her at this level before.

“What about you? How could you sleep at night, knowing that you have caused a lot of misery in the lives of the people of this city?” Dani asked him with accusation in her eyes and anger evident in her voice.

As a lawyer defending the weak and upholding the law, he would agree with her. He should not be able to sleep at night after the many crimes he had committed, but that was just part of his life.

“Like a baby,” Gerald answered her sister without batting an eyelash as he sat confidently on his chair. “Don’t act so high and almighty. I might not be a good person, but so was our father. Did you also judge him just like this?”

He knew he had hit a nerve when she suddenly looked away. Although his father, Joaquin, had told him many lies about his father, he still learned that Ethan was not exactly innocent either.

Ethan might have done lesser evil than his friend, Joaquin, or him, his son. Still, he was guilty of sins that might not merit a day in a cell, but still a mortal sin that damaged the lives of several people, including him.

“Yes, Dad is not perfect. But unlike you, he had mended his ways. He had tried to walk the right path after realizing his mistake. What about you? Are you willing to do the same thing?” Dani looked up and gazed at him.

Her eyes were blazing with determination to put him in his place. Gone was the fear he saw earlier, replaced by fire, ready to battle him in a day in court.

“Maybe.” He replied to her last question, studying her face for a reaction. Suddenly, a surprise registered in her eyes. He knew she was not expecting that from him. “Maybe not.” He added, not wanting her to assume anything yet.

As he said earlier, what he discovered about himself was mind-blowing. It was not easy to uproot himself from what he had grown accustomed to growing up. And then, suddenly, transfer to another location and expect to thrive.

He had to assess himself first and his situation. Before he could decide what the best course of action would be for him. After all, he was not just anybody. He was the King of his world, and he could not simply abandon his kingdom just because she said so.

“As I said, that is the difference between you and Dad.” She concluded, not exactly condemning him in her voice but more like she resigned that it was his fate.

But was that true? Was he not capable of changing his ways? Did he have to continue being King under the shadow when he could be King up above the towers?

That remained unknown until he had evaluated the aspects of his life and his options. It would not be an easy transition if he would opt for what Dani wanted.

“I wish I could tell you that I am the same as your father, but I am not. He did not exactly raise me to become just like him.” He knew he had again made a point as her eyes slightly softened.

He was not asking for sympathy when he came here, but he wished to make amends with her. He was not expecting that she would accept him with open arms, but at least he would like to make the first step.

“Dad already said he was sorry about what he did to your parents and you. What more do you want?” Dani looked at him with sadness. “For him to grovel at your feet.”

Ethan already did. He would have told her, but it was not necessary. He was not here to gloat at her or make things worse for their situation.

“All of what happened in our lives is now history. Don’t you think? I am here not to talk about what we could not change.” He explained to her as he crossed his legs to make himself more comfortable.

“Then, why are you here?” She asked, cutting him off. “Do you wish to surrender? I could certainly help you with that.” She mockingly responded to him. This chapter is updated by Noᴠelꜰire

Again, he could only smile at her attempt to be funny. But he was not laughing. Of course, he understood her sentiment.

“Not that. I wish I could picture myself behind bars, but I am afraid of being confined in tiny spaces.” He responded with a grin on his face. “But seriously, I did not come here to pick a fight with you.”

She was about to interrupt him again, but he raised his hand to her, stopping her. “Please let me finish.”

Finally, he pulled himself up from his seat and walked, across the room, to the nearby window. He gazed outside, collecting himself from what he was about to say next.

As he said earlier, he had always been fascinated by her and always enjoyed her company. He thought it was an attraction he felt for her, not knowing that there was a different connection running through their veins.

“I am sorry.” He said, loud enough for her to hear him. But his lips did not usually use those words in his world, but he uttered them just for her. “I am sorry if I did not say it when I first learned that you are my sister.”

“I am sorry for what I did to you in the past.” He finally said it.

She seemed speechless after his unexpected apologies, but he knew she was waiting for him to say it. However, she was still not expecting he would do it.

After all, to his sister and her friend, and probably the other people who might discover his true identity, he was just a monster in a saint’s clothing.