Chapter 39


    39 Truth And Desperation


    Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Luke.


    I couldn’t believe my luck. Tia must have made a strong impression on Bart for him to snoop around for


    her sake. I have known Bart since I was twelve, and Bart has never spied on anyone.


    We exited the room, and B?rt told me he had sent two people to work for us on the ‘holiday’ home. He


    said they lived on the same street with us, and they were a couple. I was happy with his choice of staff,


    and I thanked him. Thest thing I wanted was a young maid that would like to try her luck with me or a


    young man that would do the same with Tia. My wife and I needed peace, which was why we were


    moving I thanked Bart and left the room to continue packing. Bart knew Tia and I were moving, but we


    were going on vacation to the rest of the house. It would not be a crime to take an extended break and


    maybe show up after the birth of Elisabeth’s child. I knew if I did that, my father would be


    suspicious, so Tia and I decided we would spend one week in the mansion every month, which would


    qualify us as living there. Tia had finished packing her essentials when I returned to the room. She


    looked at me curiously.


    “Elisabeth is back?” she asked, and I shook my head. I saw the relief on her face. The whole Elisabeth


    issue was taking a toll on her. I could see


    it even if she was trying to hide it and pretend she was okay. It was clear she was afraid that I might get


    back with Elisabeth and keep her as a mistress. I did not know how else to prove my love and fidelity to


    her. I just hoped that our time in the new house would take away our worries. My worries about her


    getting with Caleb and her concerns about me getting back with Lisa. I went to meet her on the couch


    and held her.


    “You mean the world to me, Tia. Don’t forget that,” I said, and she nodded and smiled with a ‘you too’


    expression on her face. Iughed and kissed her forehead. My actions ced a scowl on her face.


    “I am not your little sister, Luke,” she said and kissed me sweetly on the lips. It was demanding, hungry,


    wanting and reassuring. Out of breath, we broke the kiss, and she rested her forehead against mine.


    “I am your wife,” she corrected, and Iughed.


    The staff came to get our stuff, and Stacy and Monica osted us outside the mansion. I saw Tia roll her


    eyes. She didn’t have to be polite to Stacy anymore, not after what Stacy tried to do to her. “That is a lot


    of packing for a vacation, Stacy said, observing the bags. I wanted to tell her to mind her business, but it


    would be no use because I knew she wouldn’t. “What do you want, Stacy?” I asked her, and she smiled


    at me. “Since you are in charge of the Moon money now, I


    need you to transfer some funds to me,” she said casually, sounding as if it was her right. I did not know


    if I should be mad orugh. I looked at her to see if she was serious or not. The woman was serious, and


    her little niece stood behind her, smiling at me. She was giving me looks that spoke volumes. The girl


    was just in over her head. All this because of money? Monica had the wrong mentor. “I am not managing


    Moon’s money, Stacy,”I corrected her, “My mother’s money is not Moon’s money. You need something,


    go to your mate for it. I am sure father still has some businesses solely in his name that he is running


    that have nothing to do with Diamond corp. Besides, you should still have a lot of money. After all, you


    and Miles have been stealing from Diamond corp for a while now,” I said, and she opened her eyes,


    surprised. “I never stole a dime; he gave me money to help him with some things, like his bids and so on.


    I earned that money,” She protested. “Yes, you did by helping him defraud thepany. Importing


    substandard goods in wrong quantities. He wasn’t paying you from his pocket. He was defrauding


    Diamond Corp to pay you,” I said, and a look in her eyes let me know she was clueless on the matter.


    First, she was surprised, then angry and then she became sad. “Luke, you have to believe me. I wouldn’t


    have let him steal from us. I was only helping a friend for a fee. I need money for many things, Luke,


    Things I can not tell you about, but they are important. Life Threatening, to be precise. I could not


    discuss it


    with your father. That was why I decided to help Miles monopolise the contracts so i could get a cut. I did


    not know he would underperform. I am many things, Luke, but you know I won’t lie about this.” she said,


    and I believed her.


    “Well, that is my answer,” I said and was about to turn to leave when she called back. “Please, Luke. I


    really need this money,” she said, sounding desperate. “What have you been doing with all the ones you


    have been taking? Father still does your shopping for you. I changed your closet the same time I


    changed Tia’s. You have no business or responsibilities, Stacy. What are you using all that money for?” I


    said, and she wiped away her tears and held a firm expression, stating she wouldn’t answer my


    question, so I opted to walk away. “Don’t you dare walk away from me, Luke!” she retorted, and I could


    not deal with her shit “Take it up with your mate,” I told her, and Tia approached us and touched my arm


    that had my Key Mark. She knew it was beginning to burn from anger. “Take it easy, Luke. She is your


    stepmother,” she said to me gently and hugged me. “Stacy, you have to discuss your financial needs with


    my father,” I said to her calmly. “Aesop won’t help me, Luke. You know he won’t help me,” she said, and


    Monica went to hug her.?


    11


    TEL


    “Dont cry, please. We will survive..” She said to her, and I wondered where all this wasing from. Why


    the hell was this my problem? “Please, Luke, Help me. I have tried everything I can..” Stacy said, finally


    swallowing her pride. “Luna Stacy, Are you in trouble?” Tia asked calmly, and the woman looked at her.


    “Easy for you to ask; you have everything,” she snapped at Tia, and I wondered why she hated my wife


    so much. “Let’s go,” I told Tia, and we started to walk.


    “Someone is ckmailing me, Luke!” Stacy called out, and I stopped in my tracks. I turned to look at her,


    and she seemed serious. “Someone is ckmailing me.” She confessed, ” If I don’t pay up, he says he


    will ruin me,” she said with the utmost difficulty. “How long?” I asked, and she wiped away her tears.


    “Twenty-three years now,” she said, and I could not believe this woman. “What did you do twenty-three


    years ago that will make someone have so much power over you, Stacy? “I asked my stepmother, but


    she held her peace. “Please, Luke, help me,” she pleaded. I was thest person Stacy would ever ask


    for help; she must be desperate.


    “Whatever you did, you bettere clean to my father about it because I will not be giving you


    money for anything,” I said and walked away. I heard her wailing and her niece consoling her, but I didn’t


    care. If someone had been ckmailing her for years and she had kept it to herself and opted to steal


    instead ofing clean, she was better off broke, so it will stop. However terrible her crime was, it was


    best in the open so she could have peace. Walking away and deciding not to help her was for her good


    and nothing else. We entered the car, and I collected the keys from the driver. Tia sat in the passenger


    seat, and I started the engine. “I think you should help her, Luke,” Tia managed to say, and I red at her


    in shock. “I know I sound crazy, Luke, but you are thest person she would open to or show


    vulnerability. Whatever it is, it is serious. The woman is obviously backed to the wall,” Tia said, and I


    giggled.


    “She better tells her mate,” I said and stepped on the gas. That bitch did not deserve sympathy. I was


    curious to know what it was anyway, but it wasn’t my problem. The womanmitted a crime, and she


    had to deal with it. The person squeezing her was probably livingrge somewhere or building an empire


    for himself while she stole and bled my father dry. Whoever it was, needed to know she did not have


    ess to money again.


    We got to our home, and the two people Bart had sent to work for us came to help with our luggage. Tia


    was excited; I could feel it. We stood outside admiring the building, with me hugging her from


    behind. I kissed her neck and breathed in her scent. “Thank you, Tia,” I said, and she turned to look at


    me, wondering why I would thank her. “You brought colour into my world, Tia,” I said and kissed her


    passionately. Then lifted her bridal style and carried her into the house.