Chapter 218: Bitter Memories

A black Maybach sped furiously into the Blakewood estate.

Tristan stepped out the moment it stopped and strode into the mansion with hurried steps, his expression dark and unreadable.

“Welcome home, sir,” several maids greeted as he entered, surprised to see him return so suddenly since he rarely visited the family estate.

But Tristan paid them no attention.

The moment he stepped into the spacious living room, he heard Celine’s familiar laughter mingling with another female voice he recognized well.

He entered without hesitation.

“Brother, you’re here!”

Eve’s excited eyes met his. She was seated beside Celine, both women seemingly talking and laughing like they’d known each other before this.

“When did you get back, Eve?” he asked.

“Last night,” she replied brightly. “Grandpa told me you’d be visiting with your fiancée, so I wanted to surprise you.”

Shock was an understatement for Eve’s reaction when she’d seen the news online about her own brother’s engagement. At first she had thought it must have been fake news, and the pictures were merely fabricated because tell her why the man in the picture looked every bit like her brother, but he was down on one knee proposing to a woman.

This couldn’t be Tristan. She had instantly decided and ignored the news for several days until she continuously saw the pictures everywhere, coupled with how much her grandmother was reminding her to come back home in time for a huge gala.

The Blakewood family never threw any celebrations unless it was a big deal, something seemed fishy.

Eve had quickly called her grandfather and questioned him over the phone, she didn’t know what kind of secret surprise they wanted it to be for her but apparently they weren’t going to tell her until she returned to meet her brother’s fiancèe…and his children.

CHILDREN??!

In a single moment, everything Eve knew had been overturned. Her brother was engaged to someone… probably that mysterious woman he danced with once at his company’s anniversary party.

Heck, she hadn’t even been invited to her own brother’s engagement party!

And children…where did kids suddenly come from in Tristan’s life?

Not until she’d rushed back home and actually met the woman…

No way, it was Cristal! Her brother was actually getting married to Cristal? And to top it off, Cristal’s twins were her brother’s biological children?

Celine was shocked to see that Tristan’s sister whom she’d heard quite a lot about was actually someone she’d met several times when she was in Westbrook. They might not have been considered friends, but they’d spent enough time together to be considered more than acquaintances, however the moment Tristan stormed in, a heavy nervous weight settled in her chest.

“Are you still angry with me about the company, brother? You’re so angry you didn’t even invite me to your engagement? I mean even if you are, you could at least have…”

“We’ll talk about this later, Eve.” He suddenly cut her off, that was when she noticed the clear anger in his eyes.

His gaze shifted to Celine, his expression hardened.

“I’m assuming you know we have to talk.” His stern tone made the room fall silent. Without another word, he turned and walked away expecting Celine to follow.

Eve looked from her brother to Celine’s face, seemingly realizing the sudden tension in the room.

Eve glanced nervously at her.

“Uh-oh… are you in trouble?”

Celine smiled faintly. “I’ll be fine.”

Then she hurried after Tristan.

Eve knew that when her brother got angry, the lines usually blurred. People considered her the only person he truly cared about after their parents passed, but even with her his rage seemed to make him forget how precious she was to him. She was tempted to follow them so her brother’s anger wouldn’t ruin the new, beautiful relationship in his life but she stopped herself.

They were a couple, maybe this was something they needed to work out on their own. With that thought, Eve sat down nervously waiting for them to finish talking.

…

Tristan walked down one of the long hallways and entered a room. She followed him inside, closing the door gently behind her.

His back was turned, but she could feel the anger radiating from him. “Where are the kids?” His cold question hit her, echoing in the silence of the room.

“They’re with the rest of the family, at the memorial tower.” Celine admitted knowing this was exactly the cause of his rage. When his grandmother had told her about bringing the kids over to meet their own grandparents, Celine had expected this exact reaction from him if she’d told him, so she didn’t.

“I once told you this didn’t I?” He said again after a long silence, “I don’t want my kids anywhere around that man, or his memories.” He sounded eerily calm but she could feel the rage seeping through.

“I’m sorry,” she said softly. “For not telling you before bringing them here. Grandma said it was time they met their grandparents, or at least their memories.”

He said nothing.

“I didn’t tell you because I knew you wouldn’t agree to come.”

“Since you knew that,” he said coldly, “why did you do it anyway?”

“I… it’s because I don’t want you to remain in the shadows of your past forever, and I don’t want the kids to have bitter memories about your family either.”

“Bitter memories? That man left a lot more than just bitter memories behind!” He said through gritted teeth.

Tristan exhaled harshly, dragging a hand through his hair then he approached her,

“Look, Celine,” he said more quietly, placing his hands on her shoulders. “I know this isn’t your fault. Grandma must have told you some tragic version of the story and convinced you this was a good idea, that bringing them into that man’s memories are a good idea. I’m not angry at you. I’m angry that they pulled you into this.”

“But they weren’t lying Tristan, no matter what happens, your father is still…”

His jaw tightened instantly and he stepped away sharply again, frustration surging back into his face.

“You know nothing, Celine. Don’t get involved in this.”

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