The Bad Son (Book 2)

Chapter 26

Walking into the Medthanan Mansion was like walking into a war zone. Tin and Tul, despite still the two cups of coffee he was forced to drink, shared a glance. The maid who opened the door, instead of Tapi, curtsied, and rushed away at the sound of a glass breaking.

They could hear a raised female voice. 

Tul snickered. "Ah, so she picked today and it failed. By the way, I like your nickname. Step-monster. It's appropriate." He sat down to take off his shoes. 

Tin shuddered. They never had normal conversations. Why in the hell was Tul talking to him like a brother would? Tin heard the sound of more china shattering and thought twice about removing his Hugo Boss shoes. No, he definitely wanted a more sturdy sole on.

"Get up, Tul, let's see what the fuck is going on." He reached down and grabbed his hand and pulled. Tul went flying, so unsteady on his feet.

"Fuck, brother, I know you hate me, but can't you have a little sympathy for a drunk man?" Tul held his aching head. "I know what's going on. I tell you, I don't want to be here. Let's go find a bar and get drunk." He nodded his head as more china was smashed and they heard a woman screaming. "Yes, brother dearest, getting drunk is definitely safer."

"For who? You ass, the staff called for our assistance. We need to help them. That's what WE do, if we don't want our names splashed across the early morning papers." Tin rubbed his hand through his hair in frustration. For once, he didn't look completely "together." The stress of the day was taking its toll. He was ready to throttle Tul.

"Oh. I hadn't thought about that."

"I didn't think you had, since you're used to smearing my name in them. Father's name is quite different, since it affects the company you love so much." Tin muttered. He helped steady Tul, now that he was cooperating. 

They walked into the dining room, to find Phupha cowering under the large table, tears streaming down his face, with his nanny, shielding him from the worst of the scene. There was broken glass and china everywhere.

It literally WAS a war zone. Step-monster stood with a large soup tureen in her hands, raised defiantly above her head, screaming, "Of course, I never loved an old man like you! Why would I?"

Father sat calmly at the head of the table, with his ever present cigar and after dinner whiskey. When Tin was younger, he found those two smells, comforting. As he grew older, the smell of a cigar, would turn his stomach. Father was letting the step-monster rant and have a temper tantrum, he could tell instantly.

That's exactly how he cured Tin of his temper tantrums. It was what happened afterwards that was scary. Didn't this stupid woman know that?

Tul stood in the doorway, remembering exactly the same thing. He caught Tin's eye. "She really is stupid. Father is finished with her."

At exactly that moment, the soup tureen came crashing down, complete with the contents! Everyone but Father and the step-monster flinched, while Phupha screamed. It was then Tul realized his son was in the room, witnessing the bitch's break with reality.

"You pyscho! You hurt my boy and I will fucking kill you!" Tul stormed into the room and swept Phu into his arms, nodding his thanks to the shaking nanny. "You've destroyed enough lives. Now, you're moving on to the next generation? Fuck you, you bitch! I saved everything. I'm done keeping my silence."

He paused, holding Phu tight, shielding his eyes from the damage. "I told you to leave him alone. Since you didn't," He looked at his father, sitting amid the broken china and spilled food, "That step-monster killed Tin's mother. I have the proof." He fished out the USB stick he never left anywhere. "Here, he passed it to Tin, who was closest.  "I have copies. She also did other things, to the staff, and well, it's all on there."

"Phu and are going to our home now. Come, Nanny." He started to leave, then paused and looked directly at Tin, all signs of drunkenness gone. "Tin, I'm sorry, but we really do need to talk. Don't leave it too long. I have, and I regret it."

Tin was shaking. His hands were clenched into fists around the USB stick. "Father?" 

"It's true, Tin." His father sounded sad. "I informed HER that she had to leave."

"I'm not fucking leaving! I told you that! YOU WANT ME GONE, KILL ME!"

"Tin, close your eyes." Father's eyes were sad. Tin knew that look. He saw it for the first time when he was sent to boarding school. 

"Look, Step-Monster, I'd leave." Tin reasoned. "Father's giving you an opportunity to walk away. Take it." 

"I didn't invest all this time in raising you, to walk away!" She screamed. "I'm your MOTHER, not that bitch who died. I changed your diapers, I held you when you cried. I taught you to walk, to count and sing the alphabet song. Not her... but still, you won't call me mother." A slow tear dripped off her nose. 

"All of you Medthanan men are the same! Self centered!" She sank to the floor, now crying. "I'm not leaving this house unless I'm dead." There was blood all down her legs from the broken china. 

Father sighed. "Tin, take the staff and go. I need to talk to her alone. Afterwards, I think it's time we talk."

Tin nodded. He gathered the shaking maids, and with Tapi's help, escorted them out to the kitchen. They got out the first aid kit and cleaned up the cuts on the legs of the unlucky maid's.

"What the hell happened in there, Tapi?" Tin sighed, sitting down at the spacious kitchen table for the staff. Tapi placed a steaming cup of tea in front of him and stood at rest. "Oh for fuck's sake, Tapi, grab a cup of tea and join me. I've invaded your territory tonight. Forget about stations right now."

Tapi nodded. Truth be told, he could use a cup of tea, too. He grabbed the pot and another cup and slid into a chair across from Tin. He wondered if Tin knew he was only four years older than him... and found him very attractive?

"It's simple, Sir. The Master's Wife was told to leave directly after having dinner. A last meal with the family. Apparently the Master brought home divorce papers. It hit the fan after that." Tapi took a sip of tea and sighed. "She smashed all Christofle Paris porcelain dinnerware!"

The whine in Tapi's voice sounded so much like Can's that Tin smiled. Then it faded... "It's fine, Tapi. It's not like we can't afford it."

"That's not the point!" Suddenly, they jumped as a loud bang was heard throughout the house. "Young Master?"

"Yes, Tapi?" Tin didn't want to move. He was almost as scared right now as he was getting on the plane alone to go to boarding school at 8 years old.

"Do I go see what happened?" Tapi's hands were shaking around his teacup. 

"NO! No, Tapi. Father said to wait for him to call. We will wait." Tin's face was as white as Tapi's. 

Neither one was going to discuss the fact that they just heard a gunshot in the mansion. The maids had come running back into the kitchen and also stood there, waiting for instructions. Tin sighed. He now knew why Father wanted to talk with him. 

He was moving from Young Master to Master much faster than anyone expected. 

The question on everyone's mind right now? Was it self defense?