THIRD PERSON POV
EARLIER THAT DAY
Ace's car screeched to a halt in front of the luxurious apartment complex, the same one where Diana, Beatrice and Zion had a conversation with Mrs Camila Langley, his stepmom. The irony wasn't lost on him as he stepped out of the vehicle, his eyes scanning the familiar surroundings. This was his family's estate, the one his father had built for his stepmother, and the place where Ace had often felt like an outsider.
As he walked towards the entrance, the gates swung open, and he stepped into the compound, the opulent decor and manicured lawns a stark contrast to the turmoil brewing inside him. He had just left Sharon on the side of the road, her words falling on deaf ears but he knew he had to push her away, for her own good.
The doors to the mansion opened, and Ace's stepmother, Camilla, stood in the entrance, a look of concern etched on her face. "Ace, darling, what's wrong?" she asked, her voice dripping with condescension but he snubbed her, knowing too well what she was playing at.
She smiled warmly as she closed the door behind him, but Ace knew it was just a facade. She was a master manipulator, always playing the doting wife when his father was around.
As he entered the study, his father's cold gaze met his, piercing blue eyes that seemed to bore into Ace's very soul. The older man's expression was unreadable, but Ace could sense the underlying tension.
"Father," Ace said, his voice neutral, but his tone was met with silence. It has been years since Aec referred to him as Father.
His father, Victor, leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers together. "So, what is this I hear?" he said finally, his voice dripping with disdain.
Ace stood tall, his eyes locked on his father's, but he didn't respond.
"Can't you speak?" Victor's voice rose, his patience wearing thin.
Ace's expression remained impassive. "What do you mean, sir?" he replied, the title a deliberate choice, a reminder of the distance between them.
Victor's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched in annoyance, his expression remained unyielding but after a brief silence he spoke up...
"What is it I'm hearing about you and Diana, your wife?" Victor's voice was low, but the underlying tension was clear.
The silence that followed was oppressive, as if the very air in the room had thickened. Ace's gaze didn't waver, but his jaw clenched ever so slightly.
"What sir," Ace replied finally, his voice devoid of emotion.
Victor's eyes narrowed, his expression unreadable. He stood up, his movements fluid and calculated, exuding an aura of power and control, as soon as he approached Ace, the air seemed to vibrate with tension.
"What do you mean by 'what, sir'?" Victor's voice was cold, detached. "What reason do you have for not staying in the same apartment as your wife?"
Ace didn't respond, his gaze dropping to the floor. Victor's fingers grasped his chin, lifting it up with a force that was almost painful. "Don't be stupid like your mother," Victor spat, his eyes blazing with a mixture of anger and disdain.
Ace's gaze snapped up, his eyes locking onto his father's with a cold intensity. For a moment, they just stared at each other, the tension between them affected every corner.
Victor's expression twisted into a cruel smile as he released Ace's chin. "Did that affect you?" he asked, his voice dripping with malice. "If it did, get your things back to the apartment with Diana. I won't have you embarrassing me with your childish antics." He added stepping away from Aec
"Your wife already told me about this," Ace said, his voice calm and collected. "I agreed to go back to the apartment to meet Diana tomorrow. I don't think this news is so important for you to call me on a weekend, and on the day you got back from the state."
Victor's eyes narrowed, his gaze piercing as he turned to face Ace. "You think you can question my priorities?" he asked, his voice low and even.
Ace's expression remained neutral, but his eyes flashed with defiance. "I'm just stating the obvious, sir," he replied, his tone measured.
Ace's words hung in the air, a subtle rebuke to his father's expectations. Victor's eyes flashed with surprise, and for a moment, he seemed taken aback by Ace's response.
As Victor turned to face him, Ace stood his ground, his gaze unwavering. The silence between them was oppressive, heavy with unspoken tension.
Victor's expression darkened, his eyes narrowing. "You think you're clever, don't you?" he sneered, but before he could continue, Ace spoke up, his voice low and even.
"Please, sir, do not speak about my mother," Ace said, his words a clear warning. "She is not stupid, and she was never stupid."
The air seemed to shake with tension as the two men locked eyes, the past hanging between them like a challenge. Victor's face twisted, his expression a mixture of anger and something else, something that looked almost like pain but it was quickly masked, replaced by his usual cold, calculating demeanor.
For a moment, it seemed like Victor would respond, but then he turned away, his voice dripping with disdain. "You're just like her, aren't you?" he said, the words hanging in the air like a challenge. "Stubborn and foolish."
Aec was ready to respond, always ready to be the bad son but the door to the study swung open, and Camilla sauntered in, a tray with two glasses of tea in her hand. "Oh my God, the tension in here is heavier than the humidity outside," she said, attempting to lighten the mood. "Do I have to open the windows and curtains?"
The room remained silent, with neither Ace nor Victor responding to her attempt at humor. Camilla's smile faltered for a moment before she recovered, setting the tray down on the table with a clatter.
"Ace, come have a seat," she said, her voice dripping with sweetness. "Why have you been standing?"
Ace didn't respond, his gaze fixed on his father, his expression unreadable. He knew Camilla's act was nothing than an act. She was playing the role of the doting stepmother, but he knew she was just as ruthless as his father.
Victor spoke up, his voice cutting through the silence. "Stop trying to be so kind to him, Camilla. He isn't worth it."
Camilla's face fell, but she quickly recovered, her expression turning innocent. "Oh, don't say that, Victor. He's your son, and I... I see he has a soft spot. Don't worry, he'll come around."
Ace's gaze never wavered from his father's, his eyes locked in a silent challenge. After a moment, he spoke up, his voice calm and collected. "Can I leave now?"
Victor's eyes narrowed, his expression unreadable as he regarded Ace. For a moment, it seemed like he would refuse, but then he nodded curtly. "You can leave."
As Ace walked out of the study, Camilla's voice followed him, her tone overly sweet. "There's fruit on the table, you can take some..."
Ace didn't respond, his footsteps echoing through the hallway as he made his way out of the mansion. The sound of Camilla's voice faded into the distance, and he stepped out into the cool evening air, feeling a sense of relief wash over him.
He didn't need her fake kindness or her fruit. What he needed was to get out of there and clear his head. The drive back to his place was going to be a long one, but at least he'd be alone with his thoughts.