Chapter 39

39 Truth And Desperation

Luke.

I couldn’t believe my luck. Tia must have made a strong impression on Bart for him to snoop around for

her sake. I have known Bart since I was twelve, and Bart has never spied on anyone.

We exited the room, and Bårt told me he had sent two people to work for us on the ‘holiday’ home. He

said they lived on the same street with us, and they were a couple. I was happy with his choice of staff,

and I thanked him. The last thing I wanted was a young maid that would like to try her luck with me or a

young man that would do the same with Tia. My wife and I needed peace, which was why we were

moving I thanked Bart and left the room to continue packing. Bart knew Tia and I were moving, but we

were going on vacation to the rest of the house. It would not be a crime to take an extended break and

maybe show up after the birth of Elisabeth’s child. I knew if I did that, my father would become

suspicious, so Tia and I decided we would spend one week in the mansion every month, which would

qualify us as living there. Tia had finished packing her essentials when I returned to the room. She

looked at me curiously.

“Elisabeth is back?” she asked, and I shook my head. I saw the relief on her face. The whole Elisabeth

issue was taking a toll on her. I could see

it even if she was trying to hide it and pretend she was okay. It was clear she was afraid that I might get

back with Elisabeth and keep her as a mistress. I did not know how else to prove my love and fidelity to

her. I just hoped that our time in the new house would take away our worries. My worries about her

getting with Caleb and her concerns about me getting back with Lisa. I went to meet her on the couch

and held her.

“You mean the world to me, Tia. Don’t forget that,” I said, and she nodded and smiled with a ‘you too’

expression on her face. I laughed and kissed her forehead. My actions placed a scowl on her face.

“I am not your little sister, Luke,” she said and kissed me sweetly on the lips. It was demanding, hungry,

wanting and reassuring. Out of breath, we broke the kiss, and she rested her forehead against mine.

“I am your wife,” she corrected, and I laughed.

The staff came to get our stuff, and Stacy and Monica accosted us outside the mansion. I saw Tia roll her

eyes. She didn’t have to be polite to Stacy anymore, not after what Stacy tried to do to her. “That is a lot

of packing for a vacation, Stacy said, observing the bags. I wanted to tell her to mind her business, but it

would be no use because I knew she wouldn’t. “What do you want, Stacy?” I asked her, and she smiled

at me. “Since you are in charge of the Moon money now, I

need you to transfer some funds to me,” she said casually, sounding as if it was her right. I did not know

if I should be mad or laugh. I looked at her to see if she was serious or not. The woman was serious, and

her little niece stood behind her, smiling at me. She was giving me looks that spoke volumes. The girl

was just in over her head. All this because of money? Monica had the wrong mentor. “I am not managing

Moon’s money, Stacy,”I corrected her, “My mother’s money is not Moon’s money. You need something,

go to your mate for it. I am sure father still has some businesses solely in his name that he is running

that have nothing to do with Diamond corp. Besides, you should still have a lot of money. After all, you

and Miles have been stealing from Diamond corp for a while now,” I said, and she opened her eyes,

surprised. “I never stole a dime; he gave me money to help him with some things, like his bids and so on.

I earned that money,” She protested. “Yes, you did by helping him defraud the company. Importing

substandard goods in wrong quantities. He wasn’t paying you from his pocket. He was defrauding

Diamond Corp to pay you,” I said, and a look in her eyes let me know she was clueless on the matter.

First, she was surprised, then angry and then she became sad. “Luke, you have to believe me. I wouldn’t

have let him steal from us. I was only helping a friend for a fee. I need money for many things, Luke,

Things I can not tell you about, but they are important. Life Threatening, to be precise. I could not

discuss it

with your father. That was why I decided to help Miles monopolise the contracts so i could get a cut. I did

not know he would underperform. I am many things, Luke, but you know I won’t lie about this.” she said,

and I believed her.

“Well, that is my answer,” I said and was about to turn to leave when she called back. “Please, Luke. I

really need this money,” she said, sounding desperate. “What have you been doing with all the ones you

have been taking? Father still does your shopping for you. I changed your closet the same time I

changed Tia’s. You have no business or responsibilities, Stacy. What are you using all that money for?” I

said, and she wiped away her tears and held a firm expression, stating she wouldn’t answer my

question, so I opted to walk away. “Don’t you dare walk away from me, Luke!” she retorted, and I could

not deal with her shit “Take it up with your mate,” I told her, and Tia approached us and touched my arm

that had my Key Mark. She knew it was beginning to burn from anger. “Take it easy, Luke. She is your

stepmother,” she said to me gently and hugged me. “Stacy, you have to discuss your financial needs with

my father,” I said to her calmly. “Aesop won’t help me, Luke. You know he won’t help me,” she said, and

Monica went to hug her.«

11

TEL

“Dont cry, please. We will survive..” She said to her, and I wondered where all this was coming from. Why

the hell was this my problem? “Please, Luke, Help me. I have tried everything I can..” Stacy said, finally

swallowing her pride. “Luna Stacy, Are you in trouble?” Tia asked calmly, and the woman looked at her.

“Easy for you to ask; you have everything,” she snapped at Tia, and I wondered why she hated my wife

so much. “Let’s go,” I told Tia, and we started to walk.

“Someone is Blackmailing me, Luke!” Stacy called out, and I stopped in my tracks. I turned to look at her,

and she seemed serious. “Someone is blackmailing me.” She confessed, ” If I don’t pay up, he says he

will ruin me,” she said with the utmost difficulty. “How long?” I asked, and she wiped away her tears.

“Twenty-three years now,” she said, and I could not believe this woman. “What did you do twenty-three

years ago that will make someone have so much power over you, Stacy? “I asked my stepmother, but

she held her peace. “Please, Luke, help me,” she pleaded. I was the last person Stacy would ever ask

for help; she must be desperate.

“Whatever you did, you better come clean to my father about it because I will not be giving you

money for anything,” I said and walked away. I heard her wailing and her niece consoling her, but I didn’t

care. If someone had been blackmailing her for years and she had kept it to herself and opted to steal

instead of coming clean, she was better off broke, so it will stop. However terrible her crime was, it was

best in the open so she could have peace. Walking away and deciding not to help her was for her good

and nothing else. We entered the car, and I collected the keys from the driver. Tia sat in the passenger

seat, and I started the engine. “I think you should help her, Luke,” Tia managed to say, and I glared at her

in shock. “I know I sound crazy, Luke, but you are the last person she would open to or show

vulnerability. Whatever it is, it is serious. The woman is obviously backed to the wall,” Tia said, and I

giggled.

“She better tells her mate,” I said and stepped on the gas. That bitch did not deserve sympathy. I was

curious to know what it was anyway, but it wasn’t my problem. The woman committed a crime, and she

had to deal with it. The person squeezing her was probably living large somewhere or building an empire

for himself while she stole and bled my father dry. Whoever it was, needed to know she did not have

access to money again.

We got to our home, and the two people Bart had sent to work for us came to help with our luggage. Tia

was excited; I could feel it. We stood outside admiring the building, with me hugging her from

behind. I kissed her neck and breathed in her scent. “Thank you, Tia,” I said, and she turned to look at

me, wondering why I would thank her. “You brought colour into my world, Tia,” I said and kissed her

passionately. Then lifted her bridal style and carried her into the house.