#ALVIN'S POV#  

Huff, I finally found her. What is she doing in the garden alone?"Hey, Clarissa. What are you doing here alone. Your mum has been looking for you."

"So she cares" Clarissa sassed. Her statement literally made me freeze.

"You don't mean that, do you?" I chuckled awkwardly as I sat beside her on the stairs leading to the garden. She does not reply rather she shifts away from me but I scoot her closer.

"Tell me what's wrong, princess."

"Why don't you ask her? Ask her the real reason why I and Betty did not grow up together." Now, I'm confused.

"Mum wanted I and Betty to herself only. She is delusional." She murmured the last part to herself.

"What? Where did you hear that, Clarissa?"

"Dad. He says she has mental problem" She replies slowly. I immediately storm out of the garden in search of that as...! Where is that crook! Great, I can hear his voice from the kitchen. I had always perceived that weird vibe from him. He must obviously be the delusional one.

Kpaaa! was the sound of my right fist hitting his right cheek and another one, kpaaa! I feel two small arms round my abdomen from the back but it does nothing to calm me down as I tear the arms away from me as I rush to attack a shocked Brooks again. The cut on his lower lip and his blood on my fist finally satisfies me as I leave him on the floor. As I turn, I meet Erica on the floor holding her stomach with a frown etched on her face and I immediately rush to her. Gosh, what have I done.

"Are you okay?" She nods as I support her to stand up.

She looks over to Brooks at a corner of the kitchen and rush to him despite still crouching."Brooks!" She screams as his eyes flutter open. The possessive side of me is itching to tear him away from her. Only if she knows the rumours he has been spreading to her kids about her. She glares back at me.

"What did you do that?" She spits out in anger as she stands up to me.

My eyes trail over to Brooks who is still lying on the cold board. "Why don't you ask him what he has been saying to the kids?" I retorted back to in anger and disgust for me.

He spits out the blood in his mouth and struggles to stand while Erica rush to support him.

"Leave him alone, Erica! He does not deserve it." My possessive side wins over but rather than listening, she rolls her eyes at me.

"So say it. What did he tell the kids that makes him deserve your hitting?!" She screamed.

Brooks smirked. "Cat got your tongue?" He stuttered out.

"This vermin here told your kids that..." I suddenly pause to reconsider what I'm about to tell her. I'm about to tell her that the father of her kids has unfortunately been telling her kids that she has mental problems and is delusional and to cap it all that she deliberately separated Clarissa from her father and sister. Wow! It's better she does not know.

"Since cat got your tongue, get out of my house." Brooks said with a smirk still plastered around the corners of his lip. He knows I would be unable to say it so to prove him wrong, I open my mouth to tell Erica but my voice fails me. The thought to crush his mouth with my fist so that he would be unable to give me that annoying smirk runs through my mind and in an attempt to carry it out Erica blocks him despite been smaller in size than him thereby automatically making my fist hang in the air as I can't hurt her.

"What is wrong with you, Alvin? Can you just pause for a moment to examine your reaction and see how disgusted I am from it? Can you imagine, a whole CEO is resulting to violence? Just get out of my house!" She screams while still giving me that disappointing look that makes my heart constrict in pain.

"Ooh! So his house is now your house. Fine, I'll leave. You can as well make him your bo..." I quickly stop myself from saying something I would regret in the next hour.

"Stay away from him Erica. He is not a good guy and might probably have a mental problem. I just decided to warn you."

"You're just a jealous snob who takes out his jealously on others. A complete coward!" She screamed with her little body still trying to protect Brooks. Looking up at him, I see that smirk making my blood boil again but I rein it in.

"Tsk!Tsk! He is too young!" Brooks taunted.

"You repeat what you just said and have your teeth designing the floor!" I threatened with all sincerity.

"Behave Alvin!" Erica screamed in fury.

"A warning is enough for the wise, Erica."

"Why don't you call me a foolish person directly?" She sassed.

I took a long look at this woman I loved and I still love even though I don't understand what is going on with her and why she is behaving this way. "Is he threatening you?" I solemnly asked.

"No, Jesus! How would you think he would." Erica exclaimed.

"Then, I don't understand why you are supporting him!"

"One, don't raise your voice at me Alvin. Two, why won't I support him? You are obviously in the wrong here. You don't just walk up to someone and throw a punch. Lastly, get out. I'm tired of listening to you."

"Do you love him?" I voiced my fear.

"And what has that got to do with you?" Brooks who has been quiet throughout the banter spoke up but I did not bother to pay him the slightest bit of attention.

"For Pete's sake, It has every thing to do with me. I'm your boyfriend, remember?" I said facing Erica.

"You are just jealous, Alvin. Go and clear your head." Erica stated disinterestedly.

I subconsciously pull at my hair till I feel the pain on my scalp. "Fine, I don't care. He is dangerous, I've told you and I wish you all the best in dealing with your daughters. I would send someone to  get my luggage. Have a nice day." I said as I retreated.

On my way out, I see Betty crouched on the front lawn."Hi Queen Elizabeth. "

"Hi Alvin. Are you going somewhere?"

"No, I'm leaving. Do you trust me Queen Elizabeth?" She nods frantically excited at the nickname.

"Then listen. Your mum is neither wicked, having a mental problem or delusional. She loves you both dearly so don't pay attention to the false story that she separated your twin from you."

"If that is a false story then what is the true story?" She asks with a pout. This girl could be callous at times but she looks so cute now.

"I know the true story but it is only right if your mum tells you so don't give her a hard time, OK?

"OK"

"That is a good girl. Now, go and cheer your twin sister up. She is at the garden." Betty smiles as she runs to the garden. Lost in my thoughts, I startle a bit with the ringing of my phone but regaining composure, I pick the call up, bringing it to my ear as I stroll to my car. Looking at the entourages awaiting me, I give out a twisted smile. I've worked all my life building up my reputation so why do I feel so unfulfilled now just because of a lady. But I know that is a lie because she is not 'just' any lady. Darn it!

"Mr. Kings, have you been listening?" The slightly raised tone over the phone grabbed my attention.

"What have you been saying?" I asked Ryan nonchalantly as I slide into the  vehicle with the door held out for me.

"To the penthouse.", I whispered to the driver without checking who is the driver on shift today.

"Mr. Brooks Young has filed a lawsuit." Ryan repeated.

I bite my lower lip while exhaling to stop myself from giving him a harsh retort. I've known Detective Ryan for a long while now that it seems like a century and he has proved and is still proving to be the best in his field so I would not want that trust to go up in flames just because I am frustrated at a certain individual. I try to reduce the effect of my harsh retort.

"Are you still there?"

"I told you to dig out all relevant facts about Mr. Brooks Young but I'm not sure if you paid heed to the 'relevant' facts. What exactly is my business with Brooks' lawsuit, Ryan?" The last part came out louder than I planned as I rubbed my forehead in an attempt to satiate my apparent headache.

"You certainly have no business with Mr. Brooks Young's lawsuit except for the fact that it is a motion ex parte against Miss Erica Gardener's mental ability to remain the custodian to her kids." He dropped the bombshell without a pause making my head whirl in circles. I know I should have it that bastard well that he would not have been able to stand on his feet for some weeks.

"Gosh, my instinct never misleads. I always knew he is the devil!" I lamented.

"Send all the details to my office through fax and investigate more on it. I want every details on the facts of the case either emailed or faxed to my office before the end of the day." Dropping the call, I put my hand that was previously massaging my forehead on the armrest, trying to digest all the information I just heard.

I pressed the button to bring down the privacy screen as I whispered to the driver"Direction changed. I'm heading to the office." I just noticed, he is a new one.

"Yes Sir."

The papers are proof on it's own. Brooks is trying to prove that Erica is not mentally stable to be the custodian to two healthy kids. Can you imagine? After doing all this things behind her back, he would still have the audacity to act coy in her front! It's not too late to make a move.

"Get me the best defending counsel available."

"Nice, you finally remembered you have a friend. Well hello to you too, friend ditcher. Is this the proper way to greet a friend you have forgotten? What is up with the novel you are currently writing? Purple Me's fan are already expecting the release of your new book. You have not sent a new chapter alert to me in ages." I wanted to tell him that I have not been able to bring myself to write a new chapter because I'm unsure of my own life chapter but my ego rein that thought in.

"I'm sorry, Brahms but I've been really busy.  How is Melvin and Kelvin?"

"They are good. Kelvin has been busy throughout the whole week talking about his girlfriend, Clarissa. While Melvin has been moping around because her younger brother does not have time to play with her again." Brahms chuckled at the end.

My first smile today reared it's head out"Wow, Clarissa is Kelvin's girlfriend already."

"Do you know her?"

"Yes, she is my girlfriend's..." I take a pause unsure if the tag is still on her, unsure if I can still call her mine.

"What is wrong, Alvin?" I can feel the concern flowing richly from his voice.

"You would know if you just paid attention to what I said at the beginning of this conservation, you would know." I take in deep breaths. "I need the best defending counsel team available. My girlfr...girlfriend's baby daddy which is your son's girlfriend biological father is filing a lawsuit against my girlfriend. The case issue is whether or not my girlfriend, Erica Gardener is mentally stable to be the custodian to two developing kids."

"Crazy!!!" He exclaimed.

"I know so how fast can you get me the best defending counsel team available."

" I would place some calls. Be ready to have them flown in by tomorrow . Are you willing to release your jet?"

"Absolutely, please use whatever resources of mine that is needed, to pull the counsel in. Thanks for helping out." I replied.

"I feel that it is only when you need my help that you remember I am your friend and manager." He chuckled lightly.

"That is not true. We still attended Father's day at Kelvin's school not long ago."

"Now you tell me how long Father's day has been." Brahms calmly stated.

"It was just..." OMG, it's been long and it feels just like an event that took place a week ago. Ooh, how time flies!

He snickered"Oohoohooh,Can you see what I am talking about? Anyways, I'm here if you ever need to talk about anything. "

"Thanks, man. And the reason I'm holding back on my work is that I've been doing a lot of thinking lately and I think I'm going to hold back the publishing of the current book I'm working on. Instead, I would be publishing another one. I have a wonderful draft in mind."

"You can't just do that. The release date for your book is close by. Do you know how many months you have been working on this current book." Brahms complained.

"I know despite that I'm confident. Let me cross this current phase first, then we will discuss the next phase. Thanks for your help in advance."

"Sure but be ready to come up with explanations on why you want to start the writing of another book after you are done with this legal jargons phase." He cut the call, leaving me smiling.

Brooks is definitely not going to know what hit him but for a certainty, he would feel the effect of the hit. How dare he play with a Knight's woman!

A big hello to y'all. If y'all has been following me then you would have seen it on my message board that I took a break from writing for some weeks but I'm finally back. Thanks for reading nonetheless.😘 The story would soon be coming to an end then it would be undergoing some serious editing so if you have held back from sharing this story with friends and family because it is not complete, you can start telling them to anticipate the completion of the story.

This Brooks is something else right? How dare him? And our dear Erica is just too naive, right?

I hope you enjoyed the reading of this chapter. If you did, don't forget to press that shiny star button below has it has been waiting for you to press it since you were born😁 and I have been waiting for you to comment or send me a private message here on Wattpad since I was born😘😳

You know I love y'all for either reading, voting, sharing and commenting but I'm still gonna say it, I love y'all💕💕