Chapter 46

46 Down Memory Lane

Luke.

The following weeks after the eventful breakfast at the Moon mansion moved slowly. No major event

happened; it felt like a breather. Tia and I spent most of the time working and coming home pretty late.

She had got the hang of it, and the board members liked her. It was amazing how fast things were going

for us. All my prayers concerning my marriage were answered, all except one. I really wanted Tia and me

to have children together. I just had to keep my fingers crossed.

It was Saturday morning, and Tia decided she wanted to visit her folks. I knew I would miss her because

she would spend the entire day with them, but we had been married for five months, and she had not

visited them in those months. It was only fair that I let her go, however lonely the house would get.

Thanks to Stacy and all the stories she concocted about me, I didn’t really have friends. People usually

stayed away from me, so being alone became a habit. I tried dating a few ladies when I was sixteen, but

everyone felt I was bad news. It seemed as if everyone knew that Caleb would be named the next Alpha

because they had no respect for me. When I got older, ladies came, but it was for money and nothing

more. I remembered how I asked Elisabeth out. She was so happy, and I thought she was it. We did

everything together and were always together, but she always made it seem like she was doing me a

favour. When Caleb was named Alpha, her behaviour changed utterly. She would often talk down at me

and tell me how weak I was to let Stacy walk all over me. I honestly did not want the Alpha position, and I

told her I wanted a peaceful life. Things were still lovely, and everyone saw us as inseparable. It was

amazing how quickly everything changed. When we turned twenty-two, I asked her to marry me. She

said she would think about it and started avoiding me. I went crazy for a month. Eventually, I had to

confront her about it. She said she wasn’t ready for that kind of commitment, and I wondered why she

just didn’t tell me immediately. I told her it was okay and that I could wait. Everything went back to

normal, and she kept bleeding my pockets. She wanted expensive things and wanted to go to expensive

places. Every time we had an argument, she would threaten to leave me, and I would plead with her,

afraid of being alone. The height of it was when she said she wanted us to see other people. Initially, I

wasn’t comfortable with it, but she insisted, and I let it be. She claimed she was only with someone else

once when she got drunk, but I knew it was a lie. I honestly did not care and remained with her out of

habit. By then, Stacy had gotten all she wanted, so I ran into trouble less, and it was good for a while.

One day my father tells me during breakfast that I will be getting married to Tia Lockwood. I was stunned.

Caleb wasn’t at the table then.

FLASHBACK

Seven months ago “What! isn’t she Caleb’s girlfriend?” I asked my father, and he did not say a word. “My

boy is too good for that gold-digging piece of trash,” Stacy said and excused us from the

table. I looked at my father, confused and sad at the same time. “Father, she is Caleb’s girlfriend,” I

protested. “I like her for you. I do not want your relationship with that Barnes girl anymore. Tia is smart

and intelligent and finished second place among her set at the academy. She is a real Luna material,” he

said with a straight face. “Then marry her off to her boyfriend. He will be Alpha,” I protested. “I do not

want her with Caleb. He isn’t good for her,” My father said, and I began to laugh out of anger.

“or she isn’t good enough for Stacy’s son,” I said, pointing out the real issue, and my father frowned at

me.

“We both know you are not in love with this Barnes girl. If you go through with this marriage, I will reward

you greatly,” He said, and I could not believe my father was trying to bribe me to marry Tia.

“And if I refuse?” I asked him, wanting to know how far he would go.

“Then I will cut you off,” he said, looking at me angrily, “We both know the Barnes girl will leave you the

moment she knows you are broke. You can’t survive out there with an Alpha Key mark and packless,” he

said, and I realised how cruel my father was. He had left me no other choice. I had to accept.

Three days later, I bumped into Stacy, and she had her nose turned up.

“So I see you accepted the match. Thank you for your service, Luke. The Lockwoods had their designs

on Caleb, but once your father offered them money to settle for you, they accepted immediately. You are

Lucky, Luke, that your father can buy you a wife; that is the only way you can ever have one. Everyone

knows Elisabeth turned you down. You should thank your father, “she said, and I walked away quickly.

END OF FLASHBACK.

My conversation with Stacy made me go to Tia’s house and tell her a lot of nonsense about never

touching or loving her. I was a jerk because I remembered how she stood and took it. Little did I know

that she was being forced into this against her will and the Lockwoods’ options weren’t so good. I was

glad that instead of being miserable like Stacy wanted, we decided to try, and now we have something

beautiful together. My father knew all along that she would be good for me. I was glad I was sensible

enough to accept. The truth is Tia would have fallen in love with me even if I didn’t inherit Diamond corp

or become the Alpha heir. Elisabeth got pregnant because she knew I had inherited the company. I really

should have kept my mouth shut. After I inherited the company, she started talking about being my

mistress and building a life with me, but I could never disrespect my wife like that. The day I accepted the

union with Tia, I let Elisabeth go. I thought it would be a painless break; that was why I had sex with her; I

did not know she had plans for me. Now I see. If Tia wasn’t the way she was, I would have annulled the

marriage and lost incredibly.

I sat on the porch of our Holiday home and thought of the past and everything that had

happened that led us to where we are now. So much had transpired in so little time, but I wouldn’t

change it for the world. I hope Caleb finally moves on with Kimberly and learns to love her, just as Tia

and I decided to try and found love in the process. I know my brother has a good heart and is madly in

love with Tia, but he made his intentions known too late after he got Kimberly pregnant. Stacy was the

real gold digger, and I now knew why she was always digging. Her blackmailer turned her into one. I

hoped she would confess whatever it was to my father so she could be free.

I took out my phone and called Mike Crawford. He was my friend; I met Mike when I was twenty. We

were best friends until Elisabeth said he made passes at her, and I ended the friendship. We hadn’t

spoken for a year, and I knew it was a bit out of the blues, but I figured since I was no longer with Lisa, it

would be nice to rekindle the friendship.

“Luke?” Mike said, and I was silent a bit. I did not expect him to answer the call, but he did.

“How are you, Mike?” I finally spoke, and he sighed. “Great. By the way, congratulations,” he said, and I

thanked him. “Do you mind grabbing a beer at Blues?” I asked him,

“Yeah, sure,” he said, and I smiled internally because I expected him to say no, but with how he

sounded, it wasn’t going to be awkward.

I got dressed and placed a call to Tia. She answered.

“Hey, Love,” she said with her soft, seductive voice. Even when she was angry, her voice was still soft. I

exhaled.

“I am meeting up with an old friend at the Blues. You can come to meet us there when you are done.

Make sure you slip into something accessible…” I said, and she giggled. “Will be there, Love,” she said.

“I love you,” I said and hung up. Tia sounded excited, and I wondered what she was discussing with her

mother. Somehow I suspected I was a significant part of that discussion. I arrived at Blues fortify five

minutes after calling Mike. He was waiting for me at the bar. Knowing my wife would be coming, I said

we should head to the WIP section. The club was honoured to have me. It was amazing to see how the

tables had turned. There was a time they wouldn’t treat me like royalty here, but I was a king suddenly. I

liked it, and I got to enjoy every bit of it with my darling wife. “Out of the blue?” Mike said, sipping his

drink, and I nodded. “Now that Elisabeth and I are no longer together, I figured I want my friend back,” I

said, and he frowned.

“I thought she was your mistress?” he asked, and I shook my head. “Damn, Luke, that is what has been

going about the city. About how much you love her that you could not leave her for your purchased wife,”

He said, and I got angry. My anger was not directed at him but at the nonsense circulating town. I

wondered how Tia must have felt hearing that every day for two months after we got married. No wonder

she was cold towards me. She didn’t trust my intentions when I told her I wanted to try.

“That is not true. My wife and I are very much in love, and I do not have a mistress,” I told Mike, and he

seemed stunned.

“But Lisa’s carrying your baby, though?” he asked, and I was ashamed of myself. “Damn, Luke, I see she

has got you in knots. How’s your wife handling it?” he asked. “It is hard. She tricked me. Told me she was

safe and three months later called me and told me she was pregnant.” I confessed. “Elisabeth had

always been the sneaky type. You know she tried to make me fuck her once?” he said, and I was

shocked. “Yeah, Luke. At Ray’s party. The same night she told you, I made passes at her. It was actually

the other way around. I tried to tell you, but you were too angry,” he said, and I felt like a fool. “I am sorry

about it, Mike,” I said, and he leaned back in the chair. “No problem, Luke, We are cool,” he said, and a

dark-skinned gorgeous girl came and ran her fingers through his afro. I was surprised at him. “Yeah,

Luke, meet Natasha. She is my one. We are getting married in two months. Hopefully, our Alpha can

grace the occasion with his Luna,” he asked, and I smiled and nodded. “Sorry, I asked her to come,” he

quickly said, and I told him it was okay and that Tia would be joining us soon. “How did your brother take

it, though? I heard she was his girl?” He asked, and I shook my head.

“They were best friends. Caleb is with Kimberly Miles,” I said, not wanting to sound like the big brother

that stole his brother’s woman.

“I guess we need to stop listening to gossip then,” Natasha said respectfully and sat next to Mike. They

kissed passionately, and I began to miss my wife.

“Now that I know Lisa and you aren’t together, I must tell you that she is seeing Joey,” he said, and I

wondered who Joey was.

“I heard she moved into the mansion; well, you should kick her the fuck out. Because the law states if

she is seeing someone, you are not responsible for her.” Mike said with a tinge of anger. Obviously, he

didn’t like Lisa, and I could not blame him.

“Who is Joey?” I asked.

“Joey McBride. The guy that owns the Joe’s Car Wash,” he said, and I was stunned. “Fat Joey?” I said,

and he began to laugh because that was what we called the guy.

“He has lost a lot of weight now. With muscles and all and the carwash business is doing good. He has

money now,” Mike told me, and I was happy about this news. “They were dating before you got with Tia.

She was cheating on you with Joe. Something about an open relationship. I thought you knew, and

besides, we weren’t on speaking terms then. You said I should never call you again. The last thing I

wanted was you to have your father cut me off the mark. So I kept my peace. I ran into her a couple of

times.” He said, and I

felt like a fool. I had felt guilty for breaking up with her because I was getting married. Mike had just taken

away whatever bit of affection I had for her. The girl was genuinely crazy.

Talking about how much she loved me and wanted me back meanwhile she was with Joey. Good

riddance.