Chapter 281 - All shades of wrong

''The Charles you know, Elizabeth's husband. '' She was no longer ashamed of anything; worse things had already happened to her, so this was nothing.

''Mom… how could you? '' Richard was disappointed. Even if she wanted to cheat on her husband, she could have done it with any other person, why would she cheat on him with Charles! It was all shades of wrong and besides, Elizabeth was a very nice person; he didn't even want to think about how broken she would be when she hears the news.

''I know it's wrong, I regret it, but I can't change a thing, it has already happened. He was the one I was supposed to marry, but; '' she paused, remembering how her parents forced her into this sick marriage, ''your grandparents wouldn't hear of it, they wanted a Howells' in-law, I think they should be glad now, they have gotten exactly what they wanted. I wish I followed my heart, I wish I didn't listen to them. ''

Richard heaved a long sigh and fell back on the couch. To think that something like that has been happening under his very nose! And the worst part was that he didn't even suspect them, Charles barely talked to his mom; they didn't even act like they knew each other. Who could ever think that they were screwing behind the scenes? This was so f.u.c.k.i.e.d up, how will the family take this?

Richard was drained, he was yet to swallow the pill that was his father's death and now his mother was revealing her deepest secret.

''I love him, Richard; he was the one keeping me sane all these while, if not for him I would have snapped a long time ago because your father was a difficult person to live with. ''

Richard's eyes lifted to her; ''Love him? '' He asked, it was in the present tense so he wanted to be sure he wasn't hearing things.

Michelle was quiet for a moment;

''Yes, I love him and I still do, but it's not important, I already made the mistake from the beginning, so I'll have to live with it. Nicklaus and Tiana know about it, so they'll be telling everyone once everything is settled. I'm already prepared for anything that's going to happen like right now, I don't even care anymore, I've already been through a lot, I just want all these to be over.

Once we put that man six feet underneath, I'll leave for Singapore, thankfully, I bought a penthouse last year, you can come visiting whenever you like. ''

His family was never an exciting one, but at least they could pretend to be happy, but right now, he couldn't even pick the crumbs, everything was shattered.

''I'm sorry. '' He said to his mom, and Michelle stared at him in surprise;

''I'm sorry that you had to go through all these, it must have been hard. '' Richard stared at her; she was a very strong woman to be able to live with such pain all these years.

She smiled; ''yeah, it was really hard, but I don't regret it, I don't regret marrying Douglas, because if I didn't marry him, I wouldn't have had you. ''

Richard smiled and Michelle took his hand;

''Be strong okay? '' she said; ''Just stop carrying women about and settle down, I want to see you wed before I leave, your father was greedy, but I know you aren't, leave everything about the Howells' Corporation unless you want to end up the way your father did. ''

''I can't even fight, it's exhausting. '' he said and they both laughed; ''yeah, very. Your father spent most of his life fighting for something that is not his, and now he couldn't even enjoy the one that was his, too bad. ''

The room became quiet as they sunk into deep thought;

''Mom, I always got your back no matter what; I want you to know that. '' Michelle nodded with a small smile and she squeezed his hand;

''Thank you, ''

…

''Do you believe that? '' Tiana asked Nicklaus as they drove to the family home. Nicklaus thought for a second;

''I don't, not even the least. I know that man, Douglas isn't one to kill himself even if he didn't have anywhere to run to, and in this situation, he actually could have escaped, so I don't believe he killed himself. ''

''I think Michelle did it. '' Tiana added immediately he finished speaking;

''Why? ''

''Cause I told her he was the one who killed her sister; '' Nicklaus turned to her in shock;

''when? ''

''Well, when I was at their home, Douglas wanted to keep me there till the day I announce his taking over of the company, but I knew it would be risky, so I thought of a way out, and luckily, his wife walked in, and started to laugh and ridicule me, I shut her up by telling her I know about her affair… ''

''What the hell! '' Nicklaus exclaimed, making Tiana laugh out in the car;

''Well you can't blame me, I didn't have a choice, as soon as I told her, she instantly became mute, and then I ordered that she let me out, on my way, I told her that her husband might have been behind her sister's death, I think she fixed the dots herself. ''

''Beautiful… you are really stubborn. What if she killed you so you won't tell anyone? '' Nicklaus asked, looking worried.

''Nah, she couldn't cause I told her if anything should happen to me, everyone would know about her affair. ''

Nicklaus sighed and pinched her cheeks;

''I'll punish you when we get back home; ''

Tiana m.o.a.ned when she heard him, she didn't know why his voice suddenly sounded so flirty, turning to face him, she arched her full chest;

''I want to be punished, babe,'' she said in a s.e.xy tone, her fingers tracing his arm;

Nicklaus smirked when he realized how flirty the discussion has become;

''I'll spank you really; ''

''Damn, I want that, '' Tiana groaned, her hands slid down and she grabbed his manhood.

A groan formed at the back of Nicklaus' throat as he wasn't expecting that;

''I'm driving, wife. ''