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Chapter 19 – More Revelations

I heard Leon shuffle uneasily behind my door as I get dressed, slipping into an old pair of sweats and a long-sleeved tee to hide my bruises.

“You can come in now…” I said rather hesitantly as my heart pounded on my ribs rendering me unable to breathe normally.

Leon let himself in, his faultlessness dazzling me as he did. He pulled the gray and white striped beanie he was wearing, revealing his perfect disheveled dark hair. He removed the glasses too and pocketed it. There was no need to pretend.

I sat on the bed weakly, shaking the gloomy thoughts that crept through me.

Leon sat beside me cautiously with a foot distance, his composed features frozen into a stark sculpture as silence prevailed for several moments.

“What were you thinking? You scared the hell out of me,” he finally demanded, quoting me in a sarcastic remark.

“I… don’t know.” Or at least I refused to face it. I avoided the subject. “Last night… you know that guy.” It wasn’t a question.

Leon’s jaw stiffened as his eyes shifted to the window and stared there for a long time before nodding.

“Yes,” said he without looking at me. His voice was strained, as though he was admitting to a crime in front of a court. “He works for my brother.”

I didn’t know he had a brother. It figures because I never really asked him anything. I was always so busy admiring his perfection and or gawking at his every move that I almost forgot that he was human. There were things that he liked and hated. He had a past and he has a family. How could I have been so stupid?!

I’ve always hated shallow people who knew nothing but the superficial with a passion; and now I have become one of them.

“I don’t get it. If he works for your family then why did…” I could not make myself speak the words but he seemed to have understood what I wanted to say.

“He works for my brother. Not my family.” His fist clenched almost involuntarily until his knuckles turned white.

My hand reached out to his and brushed the stiffness away. He weaved his warm fingers through mine and fixed his brooding eyes on it.

“Me and Nathan… we don’t see eye to eye. We were raised in two different worlds. I wouldn’t say he had it easier than me but I guess we’re opposites.”

“So you grew up apart…” I mumbled absently as the thought of Leon’s brother raised my curiosity. I wondered if he would be as strikingly beautiful as Leon but decided no one could.

“Yes. Arthur took me in while Nathan was left with our mother.” His voice shook with belligerence as he struggled with the last word. “She is a supposedly respectable woman who lived in high-society, married to a rich English man who couldn’t give her children.

Arthur was working in London as a private tutor to the woman’s adopted daughter and I’m guessing they made out and eloped.” He shrugged reluctantly, letting out a humorless chuckle. I hate it when he does that. “And poof, thus Nathan and Leon.”

His smile faded as his eyes finally fixed on my face. “After a couple of years, the woman could not live simply without her luxuries any more. Arthur could only provide a simple life for us as a teacher but he tried so hard. I knew he did, to please her. But she ran off to her rich husband who welcomed her back rather with open arms. But he wanted a favor if she wanted to return.”

Leon let out a deep disquieting sigh. His eyes were quite grave; I couldn’t bear to look at them.

“He wanted an heir; a son. He chose the older one; my brother Nathan. Arthur wasn’t going to let them take any of us, but her husband used all his influence to threaten us. He had Arthur in a frame-up and they had to revoke his teaching license.” Leon’s eyes smoldered for a moment. I immediately knew this was very hard for him to explain so I listened intently.

He gazed again at our intertwined hands, squeezing mine gently in his. “He struggled to provide for the two of us, Nathan and I. But they took our home.” I can see only pain now in his eyes.

“Pressed charges about tax evasion and swindling and such things I could only imagine. So, as difficult as it was for him, he gave up Nathan and we moved from place to place since then. When I was eight, a talent scout spotted me at an acting workshop one summer in New Jersey.

I wasn’t that thrilled about the idea of the workshop but it was the least expensive of summer classes and Arthur needed to drop me somewhere supervised if he’s to work without being questioned by the social welfare department.”

The wistfulness in his eyes made my stomach twinge. I hadn’t imagined how hard life had been for him. I swore I’d never complain when he buy himself a new car or something downright expensive as such.

“So the talent scout entered me for several auditions, without Arthur’s knowing. I wasn’t at all interested at first but life was hard and I must do what I can to help my Dad. Hence, Jeremiah… It was my first film.” A bitter smile trailed on his lips.

Jeremiah; I’ve never seen it but it was familiar. So I nodded, with the mental image of an eight year-old, dark-haired Leon with the most innocent face I’ve ever seen in my life.

“Arthur was dead furious when I came home one day with the guardian consent papers for him to sign on. He told me that this would be the first and the last I’d do something conspicuous. We had to live a low profile life if we were to live in peace.

The woman’s husband died and she wants to take me away too. But Arthur finally arrived to the solution. Instead of hiding, why don’t we go all out in the eyes of the public where everyone can see us? Camilla Downing was not the type to divulge the products of her infidelity in public and Arthur was, of course, right.”

I creased my forehead. The name was unfamiliar to me.

“I thought Elizabeth Grest is your mother?” My voice was hoarse from all the details Leon had just laid out so very willingly for me. I knew this made him feel vulnerable so I was cautious.

He shook his head gently and closed his eyes for a moment.

“Elizabeth Grest was a fraud; a puppet to carry on Camilla’s bidding. The falsified documents and the witnesses were believable, of course. But the court found out and Camilla would not do things herself if she was to keep her reputation and power.”

“So she let us be for several years, keeping Nathan locked up somewhere away from the public just in case someone notices the resemblance between us and starts asking questions. It’s as if Nathan did not exist. He lived a miserable life; alone and uncared for. And Nathan blamed Camilla. He blamed Arthur. He blamed me.”

Guilt painted all over his face. I could see how broken he was as he talked about his brother and I couldn’t help but feel sorry for Nathan.

“He was left in the care of Larkin Frost…” he gritted through his teeth as he scuffled to say the name. There was a brief pause as he tried to steady his breathing, rage contorting his features.

Suddenly I knew what he was leading me to. “The man who—“ My voice trembled. I couldn’t say the words as mist started to form around my eyes.

He nodded bleakly. “I wished Camilla Downing was wise enough as to pick someone sane enough to raise her own son.” Leon cursed under his breath.

“That man…” He clenched his teeth. “Probably, you already have an idea how my brother turned out to be. I couldn’t understand why he had to do this. He already got what he wanted the most. He gained his freedom. He’s living the life he has always wanted.” He shook his head and closed his eyes tightly as he appeared to quarrel with himself.

“I’m sorry I’ve brought this upon you. I shouldn’t have had you involved.” He was arguing mostly with himself now and I could see his frenzied need to accept all the blame.

Fear gripped me but I struggled hard to not let it show on my face. “He… your brother ordered t-this?” My voice trembled as with my hands and he enclosed them tightly in his.

He nodded again, now more thoughtfully as he studied my face. There was a hint of fear on his face; not for himself, but for me.

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Ahh... the secrecy and the consequences... *sighs* I hope you enjoy and Please do me a favor and click that VOTE button :) I would really appreciate it ---- xoxo shim