Kidnapped to love

chapter 88

Hazel's dad was sitting on the patio, a drink in hand, as he enjoyed the silence of the night. He barely heard the footsteps approaching until he looked up to see his brother standing there. A grin spread across his face.

"Long time, brother!" he said, standing up to embrace him.

But his brother raised a hand, stopping him. "Don’t," he said, his tone cold and steady.

Hazel's dad frowned, taken aback. "What happened? What’s with the attitude?"

His brother’s eyes were sharp, unwavering. "I've been hearing things. What are you up to?"

Hazel's dad shrugged, feigning ignorance. "What am I doing?" he asked innocently.

"Are you serious? This rivalry—it ended years ago. Yet, here you are, clinging to it."

Hazel's dad's expression darkened. "It includes my family. My brother. How could I ever forget it?"

"Your family?" His brother shook his head. "There was no feud to begin with. Jasmin made that clear herself."

"She must’ve been manipulated, tortured into saying that," Hazel's dad snapped.

His brother raised an eyebrow. "Do you really think she'd be as happy as she is now if any of that were true?"

"You don’t get it, do you? You’re too trusting," Hazel's dad replied bitterly.

"I’m not naive. I just don’t think everyone operates with the same twisted mindset as you," his brother retorted.

Hazel's dad stiffened. "And what exactly is that supposed to mean?"

"It means you think everyone’s like you—willing to force, manipulate, and trap people into your schemes. Just like you did with Dimitri. You coerced him into this marriage with your daughter to strengthen your influence over him."

Hazel's dad's expression hardened, a hint of anger flashing in his eyes. "It was a family decision. An arrangement to foster friendship."

"Who are you trying to fool? You thought we were blind to your real intentions. You arranged your daughter’s marriage with the future leader, hoping to tighten your grip on power."

Hazel's dad clenched his fists, visibly rattled as his brother’s words cut deep, exposing plans he’d thought were well-concealed. "You have no idea what you’re talking about," he said through gritted teeth.

"Don’t I? You think Dimitri was naive? He knew exactly what you were doing. He just played along, waiting for his moment."

Hazel's dad’s face twisted in anger, about to fire back, but a guard rushed over, breaking the tense silence.

"Sir!" the guard panted, out of breath. "They...they escaped. Dimitri and the others—they’re gone."

Hazel's dad’s eyes widened, and he felt the blood drain from his face. He looked over to his brother, who simply shook his head with a look of quiet satisfaction.

"Seems your plans are falling apart faster than you thought," his brother said coldly, turning his back and walking away, leaving Hazel’s dad seething with anger and desperation.