✧

I don't think twice about getting in my car as soon as Luca leaves. I know better than to follow him. He needs time to digest what just happened and I hope he realises deep down that I'd never do anything to hurt him–even if I wasn't completely honest in the beginning.

His voice when he asked me if any of it was real. Fuck. It haunts me.

Does he really think I could fake all of that? I know he saw how I looked at him, as if he's the only person in this damn world that could ever hold my attention. But it's true. When he's around I see no one else.

It's always him I focus on in a sea of bland civilians.

My fingers grip on my steering wheel so tightly that I almost rip the skin over my knuckles. The image of his damp face covered in tears slides into my mind and I shake my head, trying to rid myself of those awful memories.

No. I will put things right. Even if it gets messy.

As soon as I arrive outside my parents mansion I barely acknowledge how I managed to get here. I wasn't thinking straight. I haven't been thinking straight for the last hour. It's infected by visions of myself throttling my father for what he's caused.

Then the thought of Luca never forgiving me crosses my mind and it feels like someone has taken a chainsaw to my chest. I refuse to let him go. Even if I have to fight and prove myself over and over again. I will do it. Without a doubt.

I'm surprised I didn't collide with a tree head on.

I take a moment to compose myself because I know as soon as I step inside their house, all hell is about to break loose. I'm not even going to be sorry for it. I tug the keys out of the ignition and climb out my car.

My hand raises to the door and I press on their stupid, fancy doorbell because their house is so fucking big that they need one in every room. I can hear it chime through the glass doors and I resist the urge to roll my eyes.

Keep calm, Declan. Keep breathing.

I spot my mothers small frame as she approaches the door. As soon as she opens it she glances up at me. "Declan," those hazel eyes soften at me. "What a lovely surprise it is to see you."

"Hi, mum," I say as I step forward and press a soft kiss to her cheek. "Where is dad? I need to speak with him urgently."

"Oh," she flashes me a smile. "He said you'd be over to talk about the business. It sounds really exciting!"

I turn to her with clenched brows. I know that my mother doesn't understand much about dad's business or mine or how any of it works. He tells her one thing and she runs with it, not knowing if it's good or bad. He manipulates the situation every time.

"Does it?" I shoot back lazily. "Because I'm about to lose my fucking shit with him."

My stomach clenches for swearing in front of my mother like this but I can't help it. I have to release some of it now before I start tearing down their entire house without a tiny piece of remorse.

She blinks at me like I've told her that I committed a murder. "I'm sorry," I heave and take a quick breath. "But I need to speak to him now."

"He's in the kitchen," she says wearily, her finger pointing down the hall.

I take off before she finishes talking. I take long strides and keep my eyes focused ahead of me. My hand pushes onto the door which leads into the pantry of the kitchen, then I see him. Sitting there at the counter with a newspaper in his hand whilst he attempts to do the sudoku.

Fuck his sudoku. I'm about to rip his head from his body.

As soon as I reach the counter I rip the paper from his hands and toss it across the room. He flinches, not even realising that I'm here. Then he looks up at me and peels his glasses from his face.

"Declan–"

"How fucking dare you!"

He blinks once and then has the audacity to smirk in my direction. "Dare I what?" He says with a hint of sarcasm. "I was only helping your cause, Declan. Giving you a little push in the right direction. I saw an opportunity for you and I made it happen. You should be thanking me."

Before I know it I've got him by the collar of his shirt and thrusted him back into the counter by the window. I level my face with his and for the first time in my life, I'm sure I see a slash of fear cross his old, tired eyes.

"How dare you take Chessman's and make it into something I never wanted! It is their family business, a fucking family! You are so heartless and I will never forgive you for this. Stop meddling in my life before I do something that I won't even end up regretting." My voice is so low and venomous that it hurts my tongue to speak.

His body wobbles as I push him further into the counter. "Declan–" my mother's voice alarms me. "Stop. Please."

I hate the way she's speaking like she's actually scared of me.

But fire is pouring out of the top of my head. "You forged my signatures." I grit my teeth. "You went into my business without permission. Do you know I could take legal action against you? I fucking will take you to court if I have to."

"It's your fault for using the family solicitors," his eyes glimmer as if he's still trying to get under my skin. "You think that they won't give me information on what you're doing without some easy bribing?"

My nostrils flare. "I hate you."

His expression drops for a mere second. "Let him go, Declan," my mother pleads once more.

I release my father but keep staring down at him with fury lighting up my eyes. "I swear to God, if you let this go ahead then I'll take you for everything you have. All the fraud you've committed, criminal acts you've swept under a carpet, let alone forging my signature. I'll send you packing and I won't regret it one bit."

"You wouldn't dare," he growls.

"Fucking try me, father."

He stares up at me as I stare down at him, grateful that I have a few inches on him. I like the idea of looking down my nose at him in disgust, as if he's nothing more than shit on my shoe. Right now he practically is.

"You're really going to do all this for a lousy cafe business?"

My eye twitches at his rude tone. "It's more than a lousy cafe. It's a family business, built with love and care. But you wouldn't know a single thing about that, would you? Not everything is about money. I'd rather have nothing than a single penny from you."

"Choose wisely, Declan."

"I already have." I spit in his direction. "I think it's you that needs to choose wisely because I will fucking destroy everything you've built."

When I take a step back he glares at me. I glare right back. Then I straighten myself out and turn away because I'm sure if I look back again, I'll punch him straight in the face and feel happy about it.

My mother's face is streaming with tears and I instantly feel a pang of guilt. Her hands are shaking in front of her as I walk towards her. I pause and press a kiss to her head. "I'm sorry, mum. He crossed the line. He can mess with whatever the hell he wants, but mess with Luca and his family? I won't stand for it."

Her watery eyes flick towards me. She has nothing to say. I expected that.

"He made his bed," I heave. "Now he can lie in it."

Then I step away from her before making my way to their front door. As soon as I'm outside I pull my keys from my pocket and slide into my car. My knuckles burn and I want to punch something so badly but that's not going to help my case.

I drive away without sparing the house another look.

As soon as I get home I'm on the phone to my private lawyer and those shady solicitors to get this shit sorted. I don't care if it's a Sunday, I'm not going to go another day without this being sorted.

I can't let Luca think his entire life and future is being ripped from him.

My heart drops when I dread him going home to his mother, spilling everything. Fuck. Fuck!

There is no way they'll ever be able to forgive me. Not when they know that I made an agreement with my father in the first place. They will think that I'm feeding into this just to get them to believe me but it couldn't be further from the truth.

After being on the phone for hours and hours, I barely get anything resolved. I let my anger get the better of me, shouting down the line because I have no one else to throw my frustrations at.

I will fix this. I don't care what Luca believes, I'm going to prove him wrong.

If this remains fucked up for them, I'll never forgive myself for getting involved in the first place. Not if I've broken Luca's heart beyond repair.

Once I'm off the calls I start pacing. I can't just sit here and do nothing. I have to do something. So I do the only thing I can think of. I get back in my car and head over to Luca's house. I have no idea if this is a good idea but I feel useless at home.

Luca has been gone for over seven hours. I don't know if anything could have changed in that time but I have to try. I can't go a single night knowing that he thinks the worst of me. It'll fucking destroy every part of my body.

I park up outside and give myself a pep-talk. Say it how it is because it's the truth.

My head nods once and I walk towards their front door, raising my hand to knock. I stand back, a wave of anxiety rushes over my body. I haven't felt like this in years. Never do I feel out of my comfort zone and right now all I want is to see my boyfriend.

Hazel answers the door. I can't find any words as she stares back at me. It's obvious that her eyes are tired, even a little bit red. "Hazel," I exhale slowly. "Please give me a chance to explain."

"Luca isn't here." Her arms fold over her chest defensively.

My chest deflates but I have to make this up to Hazel as well. It's not just Luca I've let down, it's the both of them and their family business that means everything to them.

"I want to tell you the truth," I heave. "I want to tell you everything."

Her blue eyes glance down quickly. "Okay," she rasps but doesn't invite me in.

So I explain everything. Right down to the last detail. Hazel doesn't interrupt, she listens and I'm grateful that she doesn't slam the door in my face. If I were in her shoes, I wouldn't even give myself the time of day. I have no idea how she's being so patient right now.

When I stop to take a breath she keeps her eyes on me. My heart aches.

"I am in love with your son, Hazel."

Hazel's lips press together in a subtle smile. "I know you are, Declan. I know."

A breath of relief wracks through me. "Please believe me when I say I didn't know about his plan. I would never do that to you guys. I'm doing everything in my power to get Chessman's back into your name."

"Despite everything," she sighs. "I do. Even when Luca explained what he knew earlier, I felt like something wasn't right. I might not know you that well Declan but I just couldn't believe you could be capable of something like that. You always gave me kind and genuine vibes."

"Thank you," my knees almost give out. "But I need Luca to believe me. That what we had between us was real."

Her lips slant to the side. "He's taken it pretty hard. But I know my son, he'll come around. He just needs some time alone. You're good for him, Declan. Don't let him go."

"I would never dream of it."

✧

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Author's Note

Declan standing up to his father? HE IS THE FUCKING DADDY😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨

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I'm so fucking proud of Declan 🥹

Him going to Luca and Hazel's house and him telling her that he's in love with her son. BRB sobbinggggggg

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