The Billionaire's Unwanted Bride novel Chapter 33

Damien's POV

After the call with Donovan, the driver drives into my father's home. I look up at the building, The interior and exterior of the building doesn't cease to amaze me. I love the home because of its coziness and how comfortable it makes me feel.

This is where I was born but I left home at an early age when my mother died. Ever since then, I always visit but I don't sleep here.

It has a game room and an inbuilt gym house with a tennis court. The pool here is amazing and I would have loved to take a swim before going back home if only I didn't have other things to do.

When the car stops, I get out and look around as I button up my long sleeve shirt. I miss being here, even though it brings memories that I want to let go of. I begin to walk in when the butler opens the door.

"Welcome sir", he greets me.

"Frederick, how do you do?" I smile at the old man. He was in his middle age when I was a little boy. I know he likes me and I like him too.

"I am fine, sir. Your father is in the living room upstairs", he tells me.

I nod with another smile before walking upstairs. I know my father is waiting for me already.

"Damien?" I hear someone call me from behind. I need no soothsayer to tell me who it is. She is my father's newest attraction and he is already talking about getting married to her.

Catherina and my father have been together for 2 years now. I don't like her, even though she is kind to me. But I feel uncomfortable around her because she reminds me of someone, Lisa.

She looks like Lisa and the first time my father introduced her to me, I thought it was a ghost. Also, I feel the kind gestures towards me are fake, I feel she doesn't love my father and she is here for a different motive.

She is always beside my father, even when he is on business trips, which is why this place is always empty, whenever father is out of New York.

"Catherina", I reward her with a smile. I don't know how to pretend when it comes to the people I don't like.

Catherina knows I don't like her but she is still nice to me. It looks like she is bent on letting me accept her for my father. I am bad at hiding my emotions.

"How have you been, dear?" She touches my arm and I almost flinch at the action. She looks older than Lisa.

Even if Lisa is still alive, she can't be this old, I say to myself.

"I am fine", I smile again, gazing at her pretty face.

Lisa and Aidan were agemates while I was older than them with 3 years. If Lisa is still alive, she should be 26 years old by now but the woman before me looks like someone who is way past 35 or even 40. My father just clocked 50.

"Your father is upstairs", she informs me, jerking me out of my reverie. I nod and turn before moving upstairs. I heave a sigh of relief that I have escaped her today.

Even if I want to come to live here because of how homely the place makes me feel, I know the thought of Catherina won't let me.

I see father sitting on the armchair, sipping a drink and reading the newspaper with his glasses sitting comfortably on the bridges of his nose. My father loves reading.

"Good evening, father", I greet politely with a bow. My hands are behind me in respect. He raises his head.

"Damien, you are here?" He drops the newspaper on the small stool in front of him. He stands up and moves close to me with a smile. He pulls me into a hug when he is close enough.

"I miss you son", he beats my back and laughs when we disengage. I chuckle too and watch his face. I miss him too and I respect him so much.

I realize my father is aging slowly and the thought of my mother jumps into my mind. A tear almost drops but I quickly control myself.

"Come sit", he leads me to the armchair. "How have you been?"

"I'm fine, father. What about you?" It's been two years since I last saw my father. That was the year I left New York with Paige.

"I am doing great, my wife is taking good care of me", he grins.

I am confused by the remark. "Wife?" I question with a raised brow.

"Yes", he sits upright. "We wanted to surprise you with it."

"What? You guys are married?" I can't believe my father got married to Catherina without letting me know. Now I am more than convinced that Catherina is up to something and I am going to find out what she is hiding.

"Yes, it was just a small wedding. We only have two witnesses in the church and the court. We know and understand how busy you are and Catherina suggests we use it to surprise you....."

"When did you get married?" I am furious and I am not going to hide it.

"Two weeks ago."

"What?!" I exclaim loudly in shock.

"I wanted to tell you last week when we spoke on the phone but since you informed me of your intention to come down to New York, I just thought I should tell you when we see each other. I'm sorry, son", he pats my back. The smile on his face has vanished.

Father is no longer the agile man I know him to be. His eyes do not hold twinkles and mischief like they used to, they are dull and dark instead.

I don't know why I am feeling this way, why I am this angry at Catherina for forcing my father to the altar. I know my father loves her but he had no intention of getting married after my mother, Catherina changed his mind. She is up to no good.

"I'm sorry, Damien", he apologizes again.

I exhale deeply and place my head on the edge of the chair, thinking of what to do.

Catherina seems like a smart woman but I want her to know I am smarter. I am sure she is married to dad because of his money.

"Catherina is a good woman. Loyal and sweet, I don't regret marrying her, Damien", he says.

You won't regret it now until she begins to show her real color, I thought to myself

"Besides, she reminds me so much of your mother", he adds, and that infuriates me the most.

"How can you compare that bitch with my mother?" I can't help but shout. He looks surprised that I am shouting at him. My mother is different, she is faultless and too good.

"Why the hell are you shouting?" His eyes are red in anger. Even though I know I am not supposed to shout at him for doing something as stupid as getting married to someone who obviously wants him dead, my anger intensifies when he yells back.

"Do you even know who she is?"

"Who is she?" He barks at me. "She is my wife now and you can't change that fact. You can't also dictate what I should do or what I shouldn't. You are my child, not my father."

"Oh, Goodness", I hit my forehead in frustration. "If only you hadn't compared her with my mother, maybe we would still be talking like mature men and go to the issue of why I am here." I am here to talk to him about my revenge and to ask him to help me win the award but it is obvious today is a bad day.

"How is it a bad thing to do? Your mother was my wife and she is dead....."

"Because of you", I interrupted angrily. I can't take a hold of my anger anymore. I am disappointed in my father for being stupid and acting like a child. Even a young boy would see through Catherina and know she isn't here for love.

"What?" He exclaims. "Me? Are you insane?"

"No, father", I stand up. "Mother died because of your insecurities and because of how careless you are."

He isn't saying anything. We are silently glaring at each other with my chest heaving up and down in anger. He closes his eyes after a while and when he opens it, he points his finger to the door.

"Get out."

"What?"

"Get out!" He repeats.

I nod and then go towards the exit. When I get to the door, I decide to try my luck once more to get him to listen to me, maybe I would be able to ask for his help. I decide to let go of my pride and beg him.

"Father...."

"Get out!" He yells, cutting me short and standing up.

I can't believe he is asking me out of his home, the home where I was born, because of some bitch. I glare at him angrily before storming out.

****

When I get home, I walk into the house, fuming in anger. I can't believe my father has suddenly become stupid and insensible. How can he get married to that woman who he doesn't even know much about?

I flop heavily to the sofa and my phone rings. It is Donovan.

"Hello, boss."

"Donovan?"

"They are at the party now", he informs me. I totally forgot I have plans of going to the party if that is where I can meet Tessa.

My anger suddenly dissolves at the thought of meeting with someone I can derive pleasure from. I don't care whether she is good in bed or not, making love to her while knowing she is Aidan's girl is enough to give me pleasure.

I sigh heavily. "Send me the address."

"Ok, sir. Should I wait for you here?" He asks.

"No", I say. I don't want Tessa to see me with Donovan so she won't feel threatened. I want to be as gentle as possible with her and I will try every means to have her in my bed tonight. I don't even care whether I will have to force her.

"I'll come home right away." He utters, and I drop the call. I stand up abruptly.

I need to take a bath first, I say inwardly.