Challenging a Cold Heart

Chapter 41: Deverells

Vincent's POV

I stared at the spacious room into which Rei had brought me. Sun light streamed into the room through wall high glass on one side of the building. Inside the room, there was an area with cushioned black sofas and a table in the centre. The ceilings were decorated beautifully in a flowery pattern reminiscent of roman baroque ceilings and there was a magnificent chandelier in the middle. I should be used to luxury having grown up in it but the Deverells took it a notch higher than that in their interior designing.

I didn't get to appreciate the interior though because Ryuu arrived a while later with his twin brother. They were identical twins but you could immediately tell the difference between them. Ryuu's hair was thick and styled wavishly while Rei cut his hair very short and kept the hair swept back from his face in a way that made him loose the waviness of his hair. Also Ryuu maintained a shadow of beard while Rei was clean shaven. From what I've heard Ryuu was older than Rei by only a few minutes but Ryuu looked more mature than Rei because of his appearance.

None of the twins were smiling as they regarded me. I stood up but Ryuu gestured for me to sit down. I sat down and Ryuu took the sofa seat infront of me and Rei took the sofa seat to my left.

"Ryuu, can we make this quick? I have someone waiting for me in the mall." I said, mustering nonchalance in the face of what we were about to discuss.

Ryuu pursed his lips in disapproval at my tone and Rei scowled at me.

"Hey, it's not like we have time to spare either. Your little shopping expedition could wait." Rei snapped.

I bit my lower lip uneasily as Ryuu draped his arm over the sofa seat while he leaned back looking at me contemplatively.

"Why didn't you tell me about our son when we met last time?" He asked me, cutting straight to the matter.

I looked hesitantly at him as I considered what I should say. I didn't know how he would respond if I told him that I was worried he would take Max from me. I guess I could simply be honest.

"I am sorry for not telling you." I said finally.

"Sorry? That's what you have to say for taking eight years of my nephew's life from us?" Rei snarled. I glanced at him. Why did he sound more upset than the real father? I thought in irritation.

"Why is he here with us?" I asked Ryuu.

"It was Rei who pieced it together and found out that Max was my son after he talked to you two days ago." He said.

"Does he not have a better job to do other than investigate whoever talks to you?" I asked him in irritation.

"Hey, I am here. And for your information, you were suspicious from the very beginning. It's a very good thing I put my investigative experience to good use to find out more about you. Or we wouldn't have known that there was a Deverell heir living among normal children." He said.

"Is a Deverell heir an angel? Or something distinct from normal children?" I asked morosely.

"Don't egg us into a fight Vincent. You know very well that there is nothing normal about our family heir." Rei snapped angrily. I ignored him and looked at Ryuu.

"I would like to talk to you alone." I insisted to Ryuu but Rei frowned at that.

"Hey, you can say what you have to say in my presence." Rei said and I scowled at him.

"Rei, can you please stay outside?" Ryuu asked him.

"No. I am not staying outside. You know I have a right over Max. This guy deliberately kept Max away from us all this time. You know what Andrew said about why he couldn't tell us about the baby and you damn well know what Jenna said about how he manipulated her to giving up Max. To top it all, the poor boy is kept in a boarding school now, deprived of love. This hermaphrodite is not fit to be Max's parent. I don't want your feelings to mess this up for me, brother." Rei said.