A billionaire’s kiss

Dear brother,

I know you hate me for how I was to Alice but it was never my intention to hurt her. In truth, I did all of this so that I can protect her. But I will not use that as an excuse. I’m still to blame for every tear she shed, for every pain I caused you. I’m truly sorry Ian. I wish I could change everything but unfortunately that’s not possible.

I have a lot to explain so I’ll start from the beginning. I know you hated mother for how she treated me since we were small. But it was much worse when you had closed your eyes for the night. She would beat me, whip me, burn me. She took out her frustration on me. Later I found out that I’m not her child. I’m father’s mistress’s son. I hid it from you because I didn’t want anything to be different between us. You were the only person who was kind and loving to me in that family and I didn’t want to lose you.

My life was doomed the day I was born. And I knew it right away when the board members suggested that I take the next CEO position. I wanted to give it to you but you once told me you just needed to live a quiet life. And I couldn’t take it away from you. So I accepted the position but since that day I had only faced hardships. The business world questioned me, pointed fingers at me all because of the articles that speculated about me. And I had a good idea who has done all that. Yet I didn’t give up. So your mother, Elisa found another way to corner me. She forced me into a marriage but little did she know she gave me all the happiness in the world by doing that.

Over time I fell in love with Alice and Elisa noticed it, knew she made a mistake. It was a few months later that the CCTV footage was released. Lauren sent me a video saying she would sleep with our father so I went that day to stop her but she had already done it. So I took her away from the hotel before she could make more mistakes but I was foolish. I didn’t know I walked right into a trap.

I wanted to prove I wasn’t a cheater but at the same time I didn’t want to destroy Lauren’s reputation. I’m not that kind of a person. So I went back to the hotel to get any evidence that could prove I went to the hotel alone and came out in just a few minutes but nothing was there. Everything was erased. I was cornered, I was hated. Weeks later Alice got into an accident. I was drowned with grief but I had a feeling it wasn’t just an accident. So I went hunting for the truth before anything could get erased, before anyone could be bought. That’s why I couldn’t come to the hospital.

And then I found out everything was done by Elisa and the SBS director Mark. Mark gained all the dirty secrets of other businessmen through her. She made him rich and he supported her in everything. Through SBS she cleared a path for you to become the CEO. She destroyed our rivals for you. But I didn’t know she was capable of killing, hurting an innocent like Alice to destroy me and that was my biggest mistake. I underestimated her.

Thereafter I isolated myself in the studio fearing if I didn’t, Alice would get hurt again. The evidence I found after the accident was all erased the next day, like I predicted, everyone witness was bought. I had no proof against Elisa. But one night Lauren called me, drunk. She confessed that she was told to sleep with our father by Elisa. Elisa had promised her that she would get me back if she did that. The next day I went to meet Lauren in a restaurant to ask her to help me but she refused. It was the time that the paparazzi captured our next photos. I thought I was being careful but Lauren had already told SBS I would be there. I was shackled yet again.

I had no proof and I knew if I didn’t do anything Elisa would hurt the person I love the most. Even if I resign from the postion she would hunt me down because in her mind I’m always the barrier for your success. I can’t have her hurt Alice so I set a trap myself that risks my life. And if you receive this letter that means I was successful.

I’m sorry brother for leaving you. But if my death protects Alice then it is worth it. Take care of her and yourself. Find a person you love and trust me, there’s nothing more better than that.

I love you brother.

You’ll find all the evidence you need in the photo of Himalayas.

Yours sincerely,

Nathan.

…

Day of Nathan’s death.

Nathan sat on a stool in his studio and clutched his phone in his hand, his heart pounding in his chest. He glanced at the clock in the wall, a bead of sweat trickling down his forehead.

He closed his eyes and inhaled sharply, thinking of all the good memories he shared with his wife. It was all for her, he chanted in his head. He would do anything for her.

He has sent a message to Mark asking him to be here. He had called him and said that he had something to reveal about his family. He had done it purposely, to protect Alice from those who’s trying to hurt her. He would take them down for her.

He heard the door open and his mouth went dry. The fear he had was not for himself but for the idea of leaving Alice. It pained him. But it would protect her. He repeated.

He straightened up as footsteps approached him. He heard more than one pair and knew exactly for whom the other pair belonged to, even without seeing that person.

Mark appeared first, a sly smile playing on his mouth. “You told me you had to say something”

Nathan nodded and stood up. “I did”

“What do you want to talk to me about?”

Elisa appeared behind him and his eyes darkened at the sight of her. A woman who tried to kill his wife, that’s all he saw. His eyes flicked back to Mark. “What do you think?” He retorted.

Mark’s lips twisted into a smirk. “And you think I would help you?”

“I expected better from you”

Elisa scoffed. Mark smiled maliciously. “Do you think I’m a dog who bite the hand that feeds me?”

Nathan smirked. “At least you accepted that you’re a dog”

Mark’s jaw clenched and he moved to attack Nathan but Elisa grabbed his arm. “Stop” Fire blazed in her eyes. “We didn’t come here to fight like some rogues. Get a hold of yourself”

Mark reluctantly backed down and Elisa’s gaze slid to Nathan. “Foolish boy” She took steps forward till she stood in front of him. He hated her. He hated her eyes more, which resembled that of his brother. They were nothing alike apart from their features. She was a cruel woman while Ian was a kind man.

Elisa cocked her head to the side, observing him. “You look more like him than your whore of a mother” She tsked. “Pity she drowned in our lake”

Nathan’s eyes widened in horror and Elisa chuckled. “Oh my, don’t tell me you didn’t find it out when you went asking around after Alice’s accident” She laughed and shook her head. “Shame I told them to tell you that too”Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Nathan’s forehead creased and then he staggered back as realisation dawned upon him. “Y-you set them up? The witnesses? You told them to tell me the truth?”

“Of course. Do you think I’m foolish enough to leave evidences? You did exactly what I wanted. After hearing the truth you isolated yourself from everyone” A smirk twisted in her lips. “Just like how a suicidal person would do” She took another step closer and leaned into his ear. “Now no one would suspect even if you die”

Nathan swallowed as truth hit him hard. He fell right into their trap, more than he thought but… they also didn’t know he was one step ahead of them. His gaze slid to the photo of Himalayas. For my Alice. He repeated.

Elisa stepped back and looked up at him, her jaw clenching in fury. “You shouldn’t have been born” She spat angrily. “You’re a bastard yet you stole every spotlight from my boy. If it wasn’t for you my Ian would’ve already become the CEO. If it wasn’t for you he would’ve already gained everything. But instead he became a shadow of you. He became a second choice because of you!” She snarled.

Nathan’s eyes brimmed with tears and he glanced at her. “Do you even know what he wants? Do you even care what he wants?”

A muscle twitched in her jaw and she hissed. “Do not dare teach me about my son. He is the legitimate heir and I know what he wants. I’m his mother”

Nathan snorted. “He hardly considers you one”

Elisa’s eyes turned into slits and she grabbed a gun from Mark’s pouch and pointed it at him. “Shut the fuck up!” She screamed, rage swirling in her eyes. “You bastard. How dare a whore’s son try to mock me?” Her finger went to the trigger. “I’m gonna fucking kill you”

Nathan chuckled. “You’re gonna destroy your plan like that? Didn’t you come here to make it look like a suicide?” He pointed to the gun at his forehead. “You’re not doing a very good job”

Mark placed her hand on Elisa’s elbow. “He’s right. Everything would go to waste if you act on impulse”

Elisa’s jaw clenched and she backed away. “Do you think I won’t kill you? Is that why you’re trying to act fearless?” Elisa asked in a mocking manner.

Nathan scoffed. “Oh I have no doubt about that. But-” He cocked his head to the side. “Don’t you need a suicide letter to complete your plan?”

She glared at him but then a twinge of surprise crossed her eyes. She laughed sinisterly. “And you’ll willingly write it?”

“Under one condition”

“And what would that be?”

His face turned serious, his eyes pleading. “Don’t hurt Alice” He swallowed. “Please”

Elisa smirked. “And what makes you think I would keep that promise?”

“Someone like Ian is born out of you. That means you must have at least bit of humanity and Alice is no use to you after I’m gone” A tear fell down on his eye and he inhaled sharply. “So please” He knelt down to his knees and looked up at her. “Please don’t hurt her. I b-beg you” His voice broke.

Elisa’s eyes glinted with joy as she watched his misery. “Fine I won’t hurt her. That’s a promise. Now” She pointed with her gun to a stack of papers lying on a low table. “Begin writing. Write that you cheated on your wife and died out of misery after your mistress was taken away from you. Write that you hated your wife and that she made your life miserable to the point you loathed your life”

Nathan hesitated and looked up at her. A smirk twisted in her lips and she leaned down to his height. “Why? Did you think you I would grant you a promise without consequences? With this your wife will hate you. With this your brother will hate you more” She chuckled and stood straight. “Do it”

Nathan squeezed his eye shut and braced himself. He would do this, for Alice, for her safety. When Elisa and Mark are gone, Alice will be safe forever.

With trembling hands he wrote the letter, wishing Alice wouldn’t believe it. He couldn’t fathom the idea of bringing more tears to her eyes. But he had to do it, so that she may live. He folded the letter and placed it on the table.

Without looking at Elisa he said, “Do it”

Elisa moved to his side, pointing the gun at his head above his ear. His gaze once more slid to the Himalayas, Ian would know. He thought.

“Any last words?” She asked mockingly.

Fearlessly he glanced up at her and smiled. “Ian will be ashamed to have a mother like you”

That was all Elisa needed. Rage stormed through her and she pulled the trigger. Blood splattered on to a skirt and she backed away as Nathan’s body fell to the ground, blood pooling around him.

She cursed seeing her dirtied dress and gave the gun to Mark. “Do your job” She ordered.

Mark wiped her fingerprints off the gun and knelt down brushing Nathan’s fingers over the gun. Then he kept the gun down on the blood coated floor and stood up.

Without any remorse or a glance at the life she just took away Elisa walked over to the door and looked at the clock. “We need to go. Leonard will be hear soon”

Mark turned to her. “Why did you ask me to tell Leonard that Nathan contacted me?”

Elisa gave him a side smile. “To put a leash on Leonard”

“What do you mean?”

“Leonard started all this” She gritted her teeth in anger. “He went fucking women to women. He’s foolish more than anyone. But-” She turned to Mark and gave him a coy smile “We can use that foolishness to our benefit. Or might I say, your benefit”

Mark’s brows creased in confusion and Elisa continued, her eyes gleaming with triumph. “Leonard will come here to threaten Nathan not to publish a news about Lauren and him. But seeing his son’s dead body he will no doubt just take Nathan’s phone that contain the evidence and run away like the fool he is” She snorted. “After all, the only thing he cares about is his position. Take a video of him leaving the studio and use it to blackmail him. Show that he’s not powerful as he think he is. Control him through it and use it whenever he thinks to cause problems to Ian. And when we don’t need him-” She smiled maliciously. “Take him out and make my son the Chairman”

With that she left the studio.

But little did she know that all her crimes were being watched by a small camera hidden in the mountains of Himalayas recording the day’s events.