Chapter 44
Aidan's POV
Damien's present is indeed the best birthday present ever. I was still in a trance after watching the video till the end, trying to comprehend some things and asking myself how he got to Tessa when I received my mother's call. She called to wish me a happy birthday and I told her I was coming over to the house.
I am on my way to the house now, smiling inwardly for having tangible evidence to present to my father so he would stop supporting Tessa and stop pestering me about getting married to her. I feel the video is enough to convince dad of how slutty, and unworthy she is to become my wife.
All I need to do is to get to the house on time before father leaves for work and show him the video.
When he is done watching it, I want to know what he will say and I want to see his reaction to it. I am hoping this will make him change his mind and help me find another way to win the award without Tessa and her father's help. I don't need them.
I grin at the thought once again as I wheel the car towards my father's mansion. The idea took form suddenly in my mind when my mother asked of Anna. I know she wants me to make Anna my fiancee before the award so I can be seen as a responsible businessman.
Father also wants me to do the same with Tessa but I know he has an ulterior motive. Thus is why I decided to go and show him the video so I can get his full support, even though I don't care if we fight again after he must have helped me.
Damien has just proven to me that he can get whatever he wants and this award is amongst the things he can get.
I increase my speed in anticipation and excitement and within minutes, I drive into the mansion. All I want to do now is burst into my father's room and go straight to show him the video, then, I will go see mother but I changed my mind. Mother is more important.
Even though I was tempted to call Tessa and tell her what I have seen which is one of the reasons why I can't marry her, I feel doing this should be the first.
The butler greets me as I walk in and saunter into my mother's room. I knock once and enter. She is laying on her bed and I see her turning to see who is coming in. She smiles when she sees me.
"You have no idea how happy I am whenever you come here", her face lit up in joy. I move towards her and embrace her. "When you said you were coming, I didn't want to raise my hopes high that you would come as you said."
"I'm here, mother", is the only thing that comes out of my mouth. I didn't know what else to say other than that. I know I have made a lot of promises to my mother about coming to visit her, without fulfilling them. I understand her fears.
"Are you here with your bride?" She finally pulls away from the hug after pecking my forehead in adoration.
"No", I answer sharply with a frown. Anna hasn't called and her mother too.
I haven't had time to think of what else to do about her since I woke up this morning. My mother's question now is a reminder that I need to do something quick about convincing her to let me get the diagnosis done on her and bring her to mom.
I don't want to see my mother angry again and I want to start fulfilling all my promises to her. If I promise to come to see her, I must spare time to come and since I have already promised to bring Anna, I need to find a way to convince her to come with me.
"I thought that was the reason why you were coming", I see the flash of disappointment on her face and I decide to go see Anna today, before or after closing from work.
"No. I came for something more important", I declare.
She scoffs and folds her arm. "Isn't she important, she is carrying your heir."
"I know, mother", I say and drop the package on the bed beside her before sitting on it. "She is just proving hard to deal with."
"How?" She raises a brow.
"She is stubborn. She said she won't marry me."
Mother exhales deeply and looks thoughtful for a while before facing me squarely. "Should I follow you to her house? Maybe she will listen when I talk to her '
"What? No, mother!" I can't imagine how Evelyn will feel when I or my mother begins to beg her daughter to marry me.
She is the desperate one not me and I am not willing to let her win again for the second time. "Don't worry, I will handle it. I will bring her to you, soon." "Are you sure?" She peers down at me.
"Yes, mom. Is my father at home?" I ask, remembering my reasons for coming here.
"I think so, why do you ask?"
"I am here to see him", I stand up and take a hold of the package. I had repackaged it in the office before coming here.
"What is that? You got a birthday present?" Mother asks.
"I want to show dad something and I know it will stop him from persuading me to marry Tessa," I explain.
"What is that?" She demands.
"A video of Tessa's sex tape with Damien. It happened yesterday night", I utter with a smile.
Mother frowns. "Tessa? And who?"
"Damien. You don't know him?" I don't intend to show my mother the video. I will be uncomfortable letting her watch it.
"I do now" recognition flashes across her face. "Is he back In New York?"
"Yes, that's why father wants me to marry Tessa. He knows how influential and popular Damien's father is and he is scared Damien will get the award. I am scared too." Mother sighed deeply. "Don't worry, you will win the award." She assures me.
"Really?" She nods.
"How did you get the video?"
"Damien sent it to me. He already threatened to get Tessa just like he did with Paige." I tell her.
"He is still holding grudges against you?" She asks and I shrug.
I have no idea why Damien is doing all of this and what he stands to gain from hurting me.
"I need to go and show dad before he leaves", I am about to move when she grabs my hand.
"Don't show him", she instructs.
"What? Why?" I want to get it done so I can go back to work.
"This will not stop your father from persuading you to marry her. Remember I told you he has a lot to benefit from having Julian as his father-in-law. Showing him this is just like wasting your time, he won't listen to whatever accusations you lay upon her even when the evidence is available."
"But father can't let me marry her when he gets to know she is indeed a whore", I disagree.
She chuckles lightly as if she knows something that I don't. "Believe me or not, your father won't stop pestering you."
I gaze down at the camera in my hand and mutter some curse words. I can't believe that I came all the way here for nothing.
"Sit, son!"
I comply with a sad look on my face. My excitement has vanished but I still want to give it a try to know if my father will still insist I marry her or not, even after showing him the video.
"What do I do, mother?" I don't want to disrespect her.
"You know what to do already, son", she mumbles.
"I don't", I admit in confusion. I don't know what to do. Should I just let go and allow Damien to win despite how hard I have been working for years to attain this position?
"Pretense",
she leans forward and whispers into my ear.
"Pretense?" I furrow my brow and say it out aloud.
"Let your father and Julian's father think you are in. On the award night, you will then present Anna as your bride-to-be instead of Tessa. The results must have been collated before that day and Julain will question you for betraying him. If he does that, you can show him the video. He won't be able to fight you for betraying him. Do you get the logic?"
I am quite amazed. I nod with a new sense of excitement.
"That is all you need to do. Showing your father this will do nothing but ruin your chances. Do you get me?"
"Yes, mom", I grin in happiness and satisfaction. I am already thinking of how best to go about the plan and I can't wait for things to unveil on the award night. I stand up again and kiss my mother on the forehead. "You are the best, mother."
"I love you, son."
"I love you too, I need to go now", I pick up the package. I want to go back to work and keep it safe for future reference.
"Won't you go see your father?"
"Not anymore. I will come visiting soon." She nods with a smile.
I bend to peck her again before strolling to the door.
"When next you are coming, come with your bride." Mother instructs sternly.
I smile without turning back. "Yes, mother."☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐