Benson's POV
I was lost in thought, until Christian's call snapped me back to consciousness. My father had just called me to invite me and Violet to dinner, and it made me wonder why. Did he think he still had a chance at winning me over after ruining my life? I hated him with everything and all i want is to get my revenge. To do so I'd need to play along to his games and requests so I decided to go with Violet. I had called Christian earlier to find out if Violet was back from wherever she went so she could prepare but he missed my call and was just returning it.
"Hello sir. I am sorry I missed the call, I was retrieving those school documents." He said.
"It's fine. I am already on my way back to the house so never mind." I said. Putting the car to a halt as soon as I reached the front of the house. I didn't see the need of parking inside since Violet and I would be leaving soon anyway.
I was welcomed by Han, who informed me Violet was now around. I silently scoffed. I don't know why she would tell me anything about her. I honestly didn't care. She didn't matter to me and could do whatever she wanted. Even sleep around like she is used to.
I walked up stairs and approached my room door, but before i could even turn the door knob, the door creaked open with Violet appearing in front of me.
What on earth was she doing in my room?
I angrily looked at her, waiting for an explanation.
She looked at me. Her eyes are deep black. Not the usual random black, hers were deep. Like an endless dark sea that should seem eerie but instead carried so much warmth and energy. I watched how she hesitated and her lips stuttered.
"I-I came to get my note." She finally spoke.
"Next time, have the maids get your note. And don't you ever come into my room again." I said. She folded her lips and walked past me. I took a short deep breath as the atmosphere was covered with a strawberry scent. One I am slowly coming to get used to. I had read the note before leaving the house. She apologized to me and even though I still hated her for what she said to me, I appreciated it. Now she was taking it back? So it wasn't even genuine.
"Oh," I said before she was out of my sight. "We have dinner with my father today by 7pm. Get ready."
Before she could say anything to me I walked into my room. My whole room is covered in her scent. I didn't know what it was but it made me feel the same way I felt when I kissed her forehead on our wedding day.
I sat on the bed feeling defeated as memories of my childhood flooded my mind. Everytime i think about it, it hurts. Everything hurts. There wasn't a moment in the past 21 years of my life when I have been able to get over all that happened. It lives with me. And to an extent is now a part of me.
Images of my father in grandma's office flowed through my mind as we approached the building. Since the incident, this is the first time I would come here again. I thought I could handle it and play along but I was wrong. I don't know how I would feel if i go inside that house.
I let out a deep sigh. "Wait!" I said to the driver.
"Yes sir." He answered. Halting the car right after the gates were turned open.
I closed my eyes and thought about why I was doing this. I am doing this for grandma.
"Let's go."
The car parked inside the house and Violet and I came down, making our way in. The house was still the same. Even though several rearrangements had been made it still carried that aura of trouble and greed.
Some maids ushered us to the dining. My brother was already seated, our stepmother and her son were also seated. They welcomed us and Harriet, my step mother started conversing with Violet.
"Who knew you had the courage to come here. I underestimated you big brother." Henry mockingly said. You would think he was my step brother but he was infact my biological brother who just happened to take after our father in everything including his evil heart. If it wasn't for his birth our mum would still be alive.
I remained silent.
My step brother Westley, stood up from a chair beside me and went to sit beside his mother.
I thought he was just being a kid until i heard him speak.
"Mum, I don't want to sit down beside a crazy man. What if he harms me."
My heart hurt but I had expected this. Everyone always looked at me differently because of a lie my father made up.
In few seconds he joined us at the table. And after a few minutes he asked to see me. I didn't like where things were going. I had thought the farthest I would get in the house was the dining, now he wanted to talk to me probably in his study!
I looked at Violet, she looked like she was having a good time with them.
I followed my father and he wasn't leading me to his study. He was going to grandma's study instead.
I froze. Wondering why he would want me to go there. Did he suddenly forget all that happened or was this a deliberate act?
"Come on. I have something important to show you." He said. I wondered what it could be. As I followed him, the memories of that day I had tried so hard to surpress, clouded my mind.
As we got in, he locked the door and walked to a chair by a giant wooden table. That was where I mostly saw grandma sit. Just there, carefully reviewing documents and working all day. Her office still looks exactly the same. The furnitures in the exact space and even a photo of me she kept on the table.
"Do you still remember that night?" His cold voice interrupted my thought.
"What night?" I asked. He wouldn't possibly deliberately remind me of that night.
He scoffed. "Oh, you want to pretend like you have forgotten. You think it would erase the fact that you snitched on your father?"
I remained silent wondering how he could be so evil and still blame me.
"That night when your grandmother pleaded and begged me for her life." He scoffed. "If she wanted to live so badly why didn't she just assign me CEO why was she keen on working hard until her death. Greedy old woman."
I don't know what it was but I was finding it hard to breathe. The only thing I could see and hear was my grandma's muffled words as she struggled and begged for her life. I couldn't get past it. I dropped to the ground, gasping for breath.
He stood up from the chair and walked up to me. He gently put an arm on my shoulder and bent to my level.
"Why are you doing this?" I asked through rapid breaths.
"I have worked hard in the past 16 years to build a greater legacy than that old woman left. Your marriage to their daughter is to run smoothly so they don't terminate our contract. Send that whore away from your house. I warned you to never speak to that girl again, her father is a betrayer." He pressed hard on my shoulder.
Now i get it. Violet had reported me. That was why he asked for this meeting. He never wanted to see me. And Violet was also on his side?
I finally caught my breath and broke down in tears.
He scoffed, "You cry? I've always wondered how a weakling like you came out of me. I would have thought your mother had an affair but dna prooved you are my son. Pathetic."
"Ahhhhhhhhg," I shouted. I could hear my voice echo through the walls. These walls that stand as the only witness to my greatness nightmare and my pain.
"Oh, and like i always say. You would never be able to go against me, and if i ever hear even as little as a whisper about the things that happened behind these walls, you will end up 'falling from the staircase' like your grandma did." He said casually. And walked out of the room as he unlocked the door.
I wasn't even sure about what I was doing anymore. I had initially accepted to marry Violet so I could fight against my father using the company but now I didn't know how to go about it. Everyone thought I was crazy and nobody would even get close to me.