Chapter 182: Carlien's dilemma 4

''No, I am only telling you to get mentally prepared for what I will do to you if something happens between Lucas and Lazarus'' Jordan said and left her alone as he went to join Paige and the rest. Yvonne bit her lips as she fought the tears that threatened to fall. Her hands clutched to her bag tightly a she watched the happy atmosphere between Jordan and Paige. Why can't it be her? She just came back to him and he was slipping out of her hands. All these years, she had kept tabs on him and knew he was still single. She had thought it was because she still had a place in his heart and just when she decided to return to his side, he chose someone else.

Yvonne held the helm of her long dress and started walking towards the entrance. She saw Lucas at a distance making a call. She stood there waiting for him to finish. She had indeed come with Lazarus to the party to create tension but that was because she thought she could the distraction to have a moment with Jordan, she knew very well the bad blood between the two brothers and had taken advantage of that.

Lucas turned and saw Yvonne. He walked and almost pass her by without a word when she spoke, ''do you also hate me that much?''

''Yvonne, the last respect I had for you just died after what you did today. Whatever will happen between Lazarus and I is on you''

''Are you also going to blame me for your family problems? I wasn't the one who drove a wedge between you and your brother. If you hadn't insisted on getting married to Mali that year despite knowing that your brother had feelings for her, she wouldn't have ended up dying''

''Shut up!!'' Lucas looked at her with bloodshot eyes.

''Why? You still can't get pass that event? Even your brother is back two years after and is doing well. Do you know what he told me when I asked him why he fought with you for Mali knowing well, she had feelings for you? He said he just loved snatching things away from you. Things that make you happy, people that make you happy are the ones he will take away from you because you and your mother killed his mother and snatched his father from him''

''Are you done?''

''No, why must I be the only one hurting when you all are happy? That girl, I can already see the end from here. She… is going to end up just like Mali, dead. Because in the end, you two will be so focused on fighting and getting her that you will forget about her feelings and the fact that the decision to choose who to be with belongs to her. You didn't bother to care about her feelings and even when she told you she was beginning to waver; you still were headstrong on getting married. I will bring a lot of flowers to her burial this time around when you and your brother also destroy the same way you did to Mali'' Yvonne said and walked away as tears fell from her eyes.

She wasn't going to be the only unhappy one. She was going to make sure everyone gets to be unhappy just like her. Mali was her best friend, back then she and Mali were just like Paige and Carlien, they fell in love with men who were best friends and thought everything was blissful until everything just got out of control with Jordan's mother's accident, Mali's death, she cheating on Jordan and Lazarus leaving the country.

Lucas's gaze turned cold as he looked at Carlien chatting with Lazarus at a distance. They looked happy. When did they know each other? Why was it that anytime he was closed to finding something that made him happy, he had to fight with his brother for that thing?

This was why he had refused to have any lasting relationship after Mali passed away. Because in the end, they would always choose the legitimate son over the bastard of the Askia Dynasty.

Every single thing he worked hard for, yet he never got recognition for it because his mother was the other woman, the one who destroyed the perfect family and he… was left to pay for that crime all his life. Since, she wasn't his to begin with, it was better to let go before things got complicated.

With that thought, Lucas turned towards the entrance, leaving without informing anyone.

At a distance, Lazarus watched the lonely figure leaving and smirked. He quickly stepped in front of Carlien who turned. She was this close to seeing Lucas leaving and he wasn't going to let that happen. This time around, he was going to emerge the winner, because he knew her and liked her first.

''Come with me'' Lazarus said, pulling Carlien along.

''Wait, I'm hungry. I haven't eaten anything yet. Let me tell you, Lucas managed to bring me here because he mentioned the good food that will be available''

''Lucas, Lucas. This is the fifth time you've mentioned him in our conversation. Are you that close to him?''

''Well, he is my friend and today I just found out he is your brother too''

''He is not my brother'' Lazarus said indifferently.

''But, everyone said''

''Forget what everyone tells you and listen to only what I say. He is just the son of a woman who my father cheated with on my mother. His mother was the housekeeper in my house but she slept with my father and gave birth to him, a bastard first son''

''Lazarus, I don't like your tone. No matter what, Lucas didn't do anything wrong. It was his mother who cheated, must you be this hostile towards him?''

''Carlien, don't support him. I feel hurt just listening to you call his name. Let's not talk about him anymore. You said you were hungry, let's go and get you something to eat but, you mustn't eat too much. You will spoil your perfect figure if you grow fat''

''Lazarus, I find that offensive, whether I grow fat or not, what matters is that I am comfortable in my own skin. I don't like you saying that about my body, it makes me feel like an object and I hate been seen that way''

''I'm sorry, I won't say that again. Let's go'' he said pulling her along.

.....

''Jordan. I haven't seen Lucas around again'' Paige asked after looking around for him.

''He is probably in his car'' Jordan answered as he kept feeding her.

''That's enough, I will grow fat''

''I don't mind. A little flesh is good, that way, I can get something to grab unto the day I make love to you'' Jordan whispered the last part into her ears and her face turned red with embarrassment. She flushed and pushed him away. Jordan looked at her and chuckled.

''Pervert, I'm not talking to you'' Paige said and walked over to Jessi and Mirabel.

Carlien and Lazarus joined them.

''Carly, taste this. It's so delicious'' Paige said lifting a desert with her fork for Carlien.

''Hmm, this is so good. How could I have missed out on this good stuff?'' Carlien said as she munched on the desert.

''He ran away again. Well, that is what he is always good at; running away''

Lazarus said as he stood beside Jordan.

''Why won't he run away? Do you think everyone is a masochist like you? You not only enjoy hurting other people but you don't mind getting hurt in the end''

''That's harsh, Jordan. Mind your language. Paige and I were classmates. I am closer to them and my presence can change the status of your relationship with her''

''If you can make Paige change her mind about me, then I wouldn't be Jordan. Also, I am not your family member, so I don't mind dealing with you mercilessly''

''You should be on my side, Jordan. We are the legitimate children, in the end, everything he has worked for and how much effort, he has put into making our family what it is today will come to me, because I am the legitimate son. He will always remain the son of a housekeeper who betrayed her madam''

Jordan turned and held his collar tightly startling the ladies.

''You don't want to mess with me, because I don't forgive my enemies or people who mess with me. Be on your side? Do you think I am blind? Keep deluding yourself''

''Elder brother, people are watching'' Jessi said and Jordan looked at the people watching them with interest. He let go off Lazarus and turned to the ladies.

''Paige, get everyone and let's leave here''

''Okay'' Paige answered and looked between him and Lazarus. Everything happened so fast that none of them understood what was going on, still, Paige could sense that they didn't have the best of relationship with each other.

''Carlien, are you also leaving me?'' Lazarus asked solemnly while he looked at Carlien, putting her in a dilemma. He had always been aware that she held a soft spot for him and right now, even if it meant exploring it, he was willing to do that.

Carlien looked at him and turned to Paige. She turned back to Lazarus saying, ''I'm sorry Lazarus, I don't find you so pleasant today, I came with my friend and I am leaving with her''

''But, you love me. You have always loved me, Carlien''

''Yes, but you have always ignored me. I liked you but it didn't make me stupid enough to ignore the fact that you don't have any manners. Lazarus, I am disappointed in you as a friend'' Carlien said and walked away. The rest joined her leaving Lazarus. He looked at the people staring at him and screamed at them.

''What are you looking at?''