Chapter 24: Pup Scuffle
Edrick

I returned to the party with Moana, trying to quell my anger over seeing Moana and Ethan together. I wasn’t quite so much mad at her, although she should’ve been more professional, as I was mad at him. I knew that he was up to something… Always.

“There you are, darling,” my mother said, reaching out and squeezing my hand as Moana and I approached.

“Edrick,” my father suddenly said, pushing himself up from his chair. He didn’t like to admit it, but he was getting older and was starting to have some difficulty with sitting and standing. “Come with me. I’d like to talk to you.”

I knew where this was going, but I also knew that I didn’t have a say with it as I watched my father walk away. My mother, who also knew what he was about to say, gave my hand another squeeze before I followed him.

We walked over to the bar, where he ordered us each a glass of whiskey.

“Here,” he said, shoving the glass of whiskey in my hand.

“Thank you,” I replied, swirling the brown liquid around a bit in my glass before taking a sip, steeling myself for what was about to come.

“Now… I’m sure you know why I wanted to speak with you,” my father said, fixing his icy gray eyes on me.

I nodded. “I know, father. It’s time to find a mate. You’ve been saying this for years.”

“I only say it because I worry about you,” he said, stroking his white beard with his hand. “You’ve already had one illegitimate child. It’s only so long before you have another, given your track record.”

“I’m not worried,” I replied tersely. “Besides, marriage is a distraction.”

father scoffed. “So is dealing with illegitimate

my best for the last eight years to keep Ella a secret from the public, and it had worked so far; but my father wasn’t entirely wrong. Not only was it taxing on such a little girl to be kept cooped up and hidden away, but it also became me ntally taxing to work so hard to hide her. Many journalists and papa raz zos had been paid off with hefty sums of money, not to mention her

bother, and it’s bad for the company’s image. Do something about your love life, and then you can claim that Ella is your wife’s child. Why not Kelly, after

and I tried to quell it with another hefty

I said, setting my glass down on the bar. “I’m not interested in Kelly like that. And the more you entertain that idea, the more you’ll stoke the

father said. “I don’t suppose you think you’d have a better chance with a human girl?” He nodded his

“You don’t need to worry about that. She’s a human,

my father. Ella looked up as I approached, softening my demeanor, although I still felt the fires of rage

wrong, Eddy?” Kelly

to play Vivaldi’s Winter. I

attending one of our banquets,” my mother suddenly said, looking over her shoulder at me

was surprised to find that Moana seemed to have some experience with dancing. As our dance came to an end, however, I felt Kelly’s and my father’s eyes on me, and

suddenly said, staggering up to me. She appeared a bit too drunk, and her face was red

shook my head. “Sorry, but I’m a little tired. Why don’t you ask one of my cousins? I heard that Karl has a bit of a

male cousins, who had all come tonight without dates, then shook her head and abruptly turned on her heel. “Nevermind,” she said brusquely. “I’m going to use the ladies’ room.” I watched as she stumbled off and disappeared through the door, before I let out a sigh of relief and sat

sweet girl, you know,” my mother said, watching with amusement as Ella wriggled off of her lap to run off and join the other children. “She’s

shrugged. “She’s a good nanny. Ella likes

you like her?” she

was a good nanny and helped out around the

could answer, I was alerted by the sound of worried voices approaching

my older cousin, Maria, asked, stopping in front of me. She was referring to her two sons, who were often known for causing a bit of trouble. Her husband, Maurice,

shook my head. “I haven’t seen

said. “We’re worried that they’re off somewhere, probably

Moana still hadn’t returned from

clicking on the marble,

tried to stop her, but she insisted on wandering, and now she’s in the middle of a

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