novelraw Chapter 149: You Are Free
Chapter 149: You Are Free
Chapter 149: You Are Free
The screech of tires and the jarring impact of metal on metal jolted Brandon from his self-absorbed thoughts. He slammed on the brakes, his body lurching forward against the seatbelt. He swore under his breath, his anger flaring. This was the last thing he needed.
He threw open the car door and stormed out, his eyes scanning for the offending vehicle. He spotted it a few feet behind him, a sleek black salon with a dented front bumper and tinted windows which were wound down. A man emerged from the driver’s side then he opened the back door and a man came out, his expression calm, almost amused.
Brandon’s anger intensified. He marched towards the man, his fists clenching. "What the hell do you think you’re doing?" he yelled, his voice laced with rage. "You just rammed into my car! Does your driver even know how to drive?"
The man remained unfazed, his expression unchanged. He simply shrugged, his eyes meeting Brandon’s. "It was necessary," he said, his voice smooth and even.
Brandon’s brow furrowed. He could not understand the man’s nonchalant attitude, he had just rammed into his car and yet he was so calm.
"Necessary?" he repeated, his voice laced with disbelief. "You just caused an accident! What do you mean, it was necessary?"
The man took a step closer, his eyes narrowing slightly. "I know about your... Lyse problem," he said, his voice dropping to a low, almost conspiratorial whisper.
Brandon froze. His anger was replaced by a sudden wave of unease. How did this stranger know about Lyse? Had Levi sent him here to hurt him? He glanced around and noticed that there was no one around, a sense of apprehension rose in him.
"What are you talking about?" he asked, his voice cautious.
"I know that you are having trouble with Levi," the man continued, ignoring Brandon’s question. "I know you want Lyse back. And I know you want revenge on Levi for taking everything from you."
Brandon’s heart pounded in his chest. This was getting stranger and stranger. He didn’t know this man, yet he seemed to know intimate details about his life.
"It is a shame that a father cannot give way for his own son, such a terrible situation that should not even be happening in the first place." The strange man continued.
"Who are you?" Brandon demanded, his voice laced with suspicion.
The man smiled, a slow, almost predatory smile that sent a chill down Brandon’s spine. "Someone who can help you," he said. "Someone who wants the same things that you do."
"You want Lyse too?" He asked, his eyes narrowing.
His question made the man laugh. "As fascinating as I find Ms Spade, I have no interest in joining the fight for her hand." He said.
"So what do you want?" Brandon insisted.
"Revenge." The man answered simply, the lightheartedness gone from his face.
Brandon remained silent, his mind racing. He was very wary of this mysterious stranger, but he could not deny the flicker of hope that he had ignited within him. The man’s words had struck a chord, tapping into his deepest desires: to win back Lyse and to get revenge on his deadbeat father who had abandoned him.
"Why should I trust you?" Brandon asked, his voice cautious. "I don’t even know you. For all I know, this could be a set up."
The man chuckled, a low, almost sinister sound. "Because," he said, his eyes meeting Brandon’s, "there are a lot of people who have been hurt by Levi Van Doren."
"That still does not answer my question!" Brandon snapped impatiently.
The man stretched out a hand towards him. "I am your uncle, Levi’s half-brother."
Brandon’s eyes widened in shock. Levi’s half-brother? He had never heard of such a person. He wondered what the hell was going on in that family, was it a tradition to just have children scattered around the world.
"What?" Brandon stammered, his voice laced with disbelief.
"It’s true," the man confirmed, his voice firm. "My father had an... affair before he got married. I am the result."
He paused, his expression turning grim. "Levi has always had everything," he continued. "The wealth, the power, the family name. He has always been the favored son even though I am the first son, I have been relegated and scorned."
His voice dropped to a low whisper, filled with resentment. "I have been living in his shadow my entire life. And I am tired of it, it is time for what I am owed."
Brandon stared at him, his mind reeling. This was a revelation, a twist he had not seen coming. He could see the bitterness in the man’s eyes, the deep-seated resentment towards Levi.
"So you want revenge on Levi too?" Brandon asked, his voice cautious.
The man nodded slowly. "Yes, that is what I want." he said. "And I think that we can help each other achieve our goals."
He extended his hand towards Brandon. "My name is Brett," he said.
Brandon hesitated for a moment, then shook Brett’s hand. He felt a strange connection to this man, a shared sense of grievance, a mutual desire for revenge from the same family who had alienated them because they wanted to maintain their pristine image.
"What do you have in mind?" Brandon asked, his voice laced with curiosity.
Julian smiled, a slow, almost predatory smile that mirrored Brandon’s own. "I have a plan," he said. "A plan that will not only get you Lyse back but will also make you a very rich man."
He paused, his eyes gleaming with a chilling intensity. "And it will destroy Levi in the process."
Brandon’s heart pounded in his chest. He was intrigued, drawn in by Brett’s promise of revenge and wealth, and most importantly Lyse back in his arms. He knew that this was a dangerous game, but he was desperate.
He realized that by losing his relationship with Lyse, he had lost his sense of self-worth. He was willing to risk everything to get her back.
"Tell me your plan," Brandon said at last, his voice low and determined.
Brett leaned in closer and smiled triumphantly. "We should not discuss business out on the street nephew, let us go somewhere without prying eyes and I will tell you all about my plan."
"But my car." Brandon said as he turned to his car and remembered the damage which had been done to it.
"Don’t worry about that." Brett waved dismissively, "My men will take care of it."
With that, he led Brandon to a Rolls Royce parked a little distance from them and they got into the car before they drove away.
Brandon looked in the back and saw some men getting into the cars which they had left and he marveled at the man he was sitting beside, he wondered who he was and how he was able to wield such power.
Meanwhile, in the hospital. Levi stood up slowly from his seat and looked down on Lyse, his eyes sad and regretful.
"Fine." He said, his voice a pained whisper.
Lyse narrowed her eyes as she looked up at him, not sure she had heard him right. At that point she was sure he was going to spring another trap that would ensure she stayed by his side.
"What did you say?" She ventured slowly.
"I said that you are free to leave." He said, his voice louder as he put his hands in his pockets resolutely.
Lyse tilted her head, still in disbelief. "What... what does that mean?"
"Nothing is holding you to me Lyse, you don’t have to pay for not seeing the contract through." Levi answered. "I will need you to sign some documents but you don’t owe me anything anymore."
"The hospital bills are paid and you still get the payment we agreed on, you are free." He continued and before she could protest and tell him she did not want his money, he was out of the room while she stared with her mouth agape.
She was completely stunned. She had thought that he would insist that she stay or at the very least, try to get her to pay for breaking the contract but he left just like that.
Lyse should have felt relieved but she felt strange instead, a little let down that Levi had just walked away and after saying that he loved her. Who said that and just walked away without fighting for their supposed love?
’Snap out of it! You said you wanted out and he has let you go, what are you still complaining about?’ She scolded herself and told herself that it was all for the best.
She did not fit in his world and she definitely did not want to be with a man who was okay going after his own son’s woman, ex or not. She was determined to pay back everything she owed Levi however, she did not want to be indebted to him.