His Perfect Wife Strikes Back

88 A War Between Brothers

"First of all, let me be clear," said the old woman, looking at her two grandchildren at the same time, "Frade, when you were in the hospital, I had Arthur picked up in pudding. Although you had been in charge of the Logan family, the doctor said you might never wake up, so I and the other elders of the family agreed that Arthur would take over the family. Whatever mistakes he has made, I have decided to forgive him."

The old woman took a sip of whiskey and then said, "But God always likes to play tricks on people. My dear grandson Frade has woken up. It's a medical miracle. I'm afraid even the doctor can't explain why. Don't get me wrong, my grandson. I was so happy to hear that you had woken up."

"I want you to announce your decision as soon as possible," Frade said deadpan.

"Someone can't wait," Daley said sarcastically. "Are you afraid of losing the right to run the family?"

"Maybe I should just shoot you. It would be easier."

"That's enough," the old woman scolded her two grandsons. "Just hear me out."

"I think you should play fair," the old woman said after a few seconds of silence.

"How?" Frade asked.

Daley turned his face to the right as he listened intently to what the old woman was about to say. The old woman set her crystal wine glass on the table. She told everyone.

"Based on the fact that our common goal is the Moors, I have decided that whoever brings down the Moors first will have the right to rule the family," the old woman said gravely, "This time, I will not allow you to kill each other. A Logan doesn't point a gun at his own people. That's the rule. And you, both of you, have betrayed that rule. I can forgive all the mistakes you have made in the past. But for now, I want you to get along. Your first task is to destroy the Moors. I think you heard me."

Her voice was heavy and powerful and full of authority. Although she was in a wheelchair, she exuded an aura of strength that enveloped everyone in the room like a huge encirclement. It was the first time I had ever seen Frade and Daley shut up, and even the most ferocious male wolf had to bow his head in respect of the once-dominant wolf.

But why a she-wolf? Where's their grandfather?

"I will distribute your resources fairly in our family," continued the old woman, "You will not only destroy the Moors, but you will take back the business that the Moors took from you. As the future head of the family, you need a brain as well as a fighting force. So, do you have any questions about my decision? Your suggestions are welcome."

She glanced sharply at her two grandchildren, and after confirming that neither of them had any questions, she told Daley.

"You told me you were going to marry a Green girl, but I found out she was married to Ron Moore. Arthur, are you sure you're making the right decision?

"I'm absolutely sure," Daley said in a calm but confident tone. "Eva will be my wife, and there's no doubt about it."

Then I felt someone staring at me, and the look made me uneasy. I was sure who those eyes belonged to, so I kept my head down and tried not to touch him. After a while, the feeling disappeared. I breathed a sigh of relief, and then I heard the old woman's voice again.

"I have no objection to your marriage. After all, she is a Green girl," her golden eyes rolled in their sockets, "If the Logan family can marry the Green family, it will be good for us."

"I'm going to show you who's in charge," Daley said as he looked at Frade, who gave him a scornful smile.

"We'll see."

"Live in peace," the old woman reminded her two grandchildren again, "In order to get along better, you have to stay here tonight. From now on, you have to come to see me twice a week. In addition to reporting to me, you have to have dinner with me."

"I don't think dinner is necessary," Frade objected.

"I agree." Daley unexpectedly sided with Frade.

Both of the brothers seem to be averse to spending time with their grandmother. But the old woman said in an unquestionable tone.

"That's an order!"

Even if they didn't like it, no one raised any objections. The old woman broke into a satisfied smile.

"Now, the boys can go." She looked at me. "You stay. I want to talk to you."

I looked uneasily at Daley, who whispered to me, "I'll be waiting for you outside."

"Relax, I'm not going to eat your fiancee." The old woman looked at Daley unhappily, "I think you and your brother should go to the restaurant for a drink and repair your brotherhood. Don't squat outside the door like a little boy eavesdropping."

Daley kissed me on the cheek before he left, and Frade was already out the door. Now it's just me and their grandmother in the room.

"Would you like a drink?" said the old woman, taking another sip, and I saw that the whisky in the bottle was now half gone. Even though the old woman drank a lot of whisky, she still kept her wits about her.

"I don't need it. Thank you, Mrs. Logan," I said.

"Call me Vickie. We'll be a family." She gulped down the whiskey and burped contentedly. "So, if you don't mind, how do you know Arthur?"

"Daley saved me on Pudding Island," I corrected. "It was Arthur."

"That's okay. I know people in Pudding call him Daley." Vickie smiled. "That sounds like a savior's name."

"But why did you go to Pudding Island?" She asked. "I hear it's not a very nice place."

"I was sold to Pudding," I said. "My father sold me to a local trafficker."

Vickie looked shocked and the glass she was holding was gently placed on the table.

"It must have been hard for you on Pudding." Her tone softened. "Even a heartless father wouldn't sell his daughter to that s.hithole."

But he's not my father.

"I don't mean to pry, but I've never seen a single girl in Arthur's life," Vickie said. "I used to wonder if he was gay. But now it seems he's still interested in women."

I know she must be joking about Daley being gay, but this is the second time I've heard anyone say anything about Daley. It's all the same subject. He'd never had another woman before.

I believe it should be true.

"I thought you had something special going on with Daley," Vickie said. "I wondered if you were a mole, but you're not the woman I thought you were."

A spy? She thinks I'm a spy. Does she think I'm Mia? Daley said that Mia was a mole placed by the Moors to spy on Frade.

"I had no idea who Daley really was," I said truthfully. "I didn't know he was a Logan until he brought him back to the states."

"Thank you for your honesty," Vickie said. "We'll talk next time. I hope you have more time to spend with me."

"Good-bye," I said to her.

The door closed behind her, and Vickie remained in the room. I walked alone in the broad corridor. Precious paintings from the last century hung on the wall. The spotlights project onto the painting to make the figures look like real people. I walked along the corridor. Just as I was about to call Daley, a hand came out of the darkness and pulled me into the corner.

I saw a pair of eyes as bright as emeralds staring at me, and in the darkness I heard a slow, heavy breath coming from his nose. The feeling was as familiar as when I first met him.

"Who the hell are you?" The familiar voice whispered in my ear.