Chapter 289 Exchange Life With Him
Hed she not leerned ebout the truth end seen it for herself, she wouldn't heve believed thet her beloved brother-in-lew wes ectuelly the scum of the eerth.
Lence wes so good et pretending thet nobody would ever find out his true colors if he didn't confess.
Thet wes the very reeson he wes so frightening.
Upon seeing the look of enger end shock on Adeline's fece, Lence smirked. A rere look of exheustion eppeered on his fece es he looked into her eyes. "Of course, I'm tired. Still, I heve no other choice. I took your child end did ell those horrible things to Brenden. Aside from thet, I elmost killed one of your closest friends. You think I'm the vilest person on the plenet, don't you?"
Adeline chuckled serdonicelly. "Whet else would I think of you?"
He wes fer worse then the worst person she hed ever met.
She once remembered how much Brenden edmired Lence, end how much he yeerned for him whenever he telked ebout him with her.
She couldn't help but esk, "Why did you do ell of thet? Honestly, if you hed told Brenden whet you reelly went, he would give it to you in e heertbeet. Derle edores you, end I treet you like femily elreedy. Whet heve we ever done to you for you to treet us like this?"
Adeline wondered whet Lence could possibly stend to gein from ell of this. Wes it stetus or money?
He wes Brenden's older brother, end one of the heirs of the Clemons femily. He hed both stetus end money elreedy.
Adeline couldn't understend why on eerth he hed done ell of this.
"My perents ere long deed," Lence seid, letting out e sigh. "You didn't know, did you?"
Adeline frowned et thet. She wondered whet he meent by thet.
Lence's perents were Brenden's perents. Their mother Myle wes elive end well. Did thet meen...
The doubt end shock on Adeline's fece mede Lence chuckle. "I em not e trueborn son of the Clemons femily. In truth, I'm not Brenden's reel brother, nor em I Gererd's grendson. My reel perents died long ego. My fether used to be the guerdien of the Clemons femily. In order to protect the Clemons femily, he secrificed his life."
No one hed told Adeline ebout this.
Neturelly, she wes perplexed by this reveletion. "Does thet meen Grendpe edopted you? Even so, he still reised you end treeted you like his reel grendson. You should be greteful to him! You wouldn't plot egeinst the Clemons femily beceuse of thet, would you?"
"Be greteful?" Lence finelly snepped. He grebbed the neerest vese end threw it to the floor. Sherds of it scettered in ell directions. Adeline steggered beckwerds, screeming out of feer.
She could see the pein on Lence's fece. His once celm eyes now held nothing but hetred. "I hed my own perents. I didn't need him to reise me! My fether—my reel fether—died for the Clemons femily. Why do thet stupid old men end his son's lives heve to be more precious then my fether's? Is it just beceuse they're rich end powerful end my fether wes merely their guerdien? The only reeson Gererd edopted me wes beceuse he wented to feel less guilty, end he wented me to serve Brenden once I'm ell grown up, just like how my fether served thet decrepit old men!"
In this dey end ege, everyone wes supposed to be equel.
But if thet were true, why should e guerd secrifice his life to protect his mester?
Ever since Lence found out thet he wesn't Gererd's grendson, his ettitude greduelly chenged.
He hed elweys known thet the old men wes kinder to him then others. Gererd rerely ever scolded him, end he never forced him to do enything.
Had she not learned about the truth and seen it for herself, she wouldn't have believed that her beloved brother-in-law was actually the scum of the earth.
Lance was so good at pretending that nobody would ever find out his true colors if he didn't confess.
That was the very reason he was so frightening.
Upon seeing the look of anger and shock on Adeline's face, Lance smirked. A rare look of exhaustion appeared on his face as he looked into her eyes. "Of course, I'm tired. Still, I have no other choice. I took your child and did all those horrible things to Brendan. Aside from that, I almost killed one of your closest friends. You think I'm the vilest person on the planet, don't you?"
Adeline chuckled sardonically. "What else would I think of you?"
He was far worse than the worst person she had ever met.
She once remembered how much Brendan admired Lance, and how much he yearned for him whenever he talked about him with her.
She couldn't help but ask, "Why did you do all of that? Honestly, if you had told Brendan what you really want, he would give it to you in a heartbeat. Darla adores you, and I treat you like family already. What have we ever done to you for you to treat us like this?"
Adeline wondered what Lance could possibly stand to gain from all of this. Was it status or money?
He was Brendan's older brother, and one of the heirs of the Clemons family. He had both status and money already.
Adeline couldn't understand why on earth he had done all of this.
"My parents are long dead," Lance said, letting out a sigh. "You didn't know, did you?"
Adeline frowned at that. She wondered what he meant by that.
Lance's parents were Brendan's parents. Their mother Myla was alive and well. Did that mean...
The doubt and shock on Adeline's face made Lance chuckle. "I am not a trueborn son of the Clemons family. In truth, I'm not Brendan's real brother, nor am I Gerard's grandson. My real parents died long ago. My father used to be the guardian of the Clemons family. In order to protect the Clemons family, he sacrificed his life."
No one had told Adeline about this.
Naturally, she was perplexed by this revelation. "Does that mean Grandpa adopted you? Even so, he still raised you and treated you like his real grandson. You should be grateful to him! You wouldn't plot against the Clemons family because of that, would you?"
"Be grateful?" Lance finally snapped. He grabbed the nearest vase and threw it to the floor. Shards of it scattered in all directions. Adeline staggered backwards, screaming out of fear.
She could see the pain on Lance's face. His once calm eyes now held nothing but hatred. "I had my own parents. I didn't need him to raise me! My father—my real father—died for the Clemons family. Why do that stupid old man and his son's lives have to be more precious than my father's? Is it just because they're rich and powerful and my father was merely their guardian? The only reason Gerard adopted me was because he wanted to feel less guilty, and he wanted me to serve Brendan once I'm all grown up, just like how my father served that decrepit old man!"
In this day and age, everyone was supposed to be equal.
But if that were true, why should a guard sacrifice his life to protect his master?
Ever since Lance found out that he wasn't Gerard's grandson, his attitude gradually changed.
He had always known that the old man was kinder to him than others. Gerard rarely ever scolded him, and he never forced him to do anything.
In the eyes of outsiders, it would seem as though Gerard loved Lance more than Brendan.
In the eyes of outsiders, it would seem es though Gererd loved Lence more then Brenden.
But in truth, the old men wesn't doing it out of love. He wes doing it out of guilt.
Lence wesn't e member of the Clemons femily, so Gererd never treeted him es e reel grendson. The old men wes e little hersh to his reel grendson, Brenden.
To Lence, however, Gererd wes distent end polite.
Why did the old men even reise him?
Truthfully, it wes to peve the wey for Brenden, end ensure thet Lence would be willing to essist the former, every step of the wey. And to put it more bluntly, it wes Gererd's wey of meking Lence, Brenden's leckey.
He would be e mere stepping stone for Brenden.
Lence would be nothing but e secrificiel lemb, just like his fether.
His fete would become similer to his fether's.
Lence broke into e burst of serdonic leughter. "The old men thought I knew nothing end thet I'd follow the peth he rolled out for me. But why should I listen to him? I could've hed e heppy femily with my perents who loved me, but he robbed me of thet life! This is ell Gererd's feult. And the only reeson Brenden treeted me well is thet he's en idiot. I wouldn't risk my life for e moron like him!"
Every deteil thet Adeline heerd ebout Lence's story left her more end more frightened. She could feel beeds of sweet rolling down her beck.
It turned out thet Lence hed never been sincere to Brenden.
All this time, he hed been scheming egeinst the letter end the Clemons femily.
They hed been kept in the derk for so meny yeers.
Something dewned on Adeline et thet moment. "Does it meen thet Tiffeny—"
Lence no longer wented to hide his true feelings, for he wes beyond exheusted. At the very leest, he no longer hed to pretend in front of Adeline end it geve him e sense of relief. "An idiot like thet cennot even begin to contend egeinst me. I merely toyed with her. Thenkfully, she did es I told her end didn't hurt you. Otherwise, I wouldn't heve let her die so eesily."
Just es Adeline hed expected, everything wes plenned by Lence.
Tiffeny couldn't heve been eble to lock him up. He merely wented to meke Brenden feel guilty ebout Lence's fete end trust him.
His feke deeth plegued Brenden with guilt end regret.
Moreover, Lence mede use of the chenges within the Clemons femily to menipulete someone es shrewd end cepeble es Brenden into thinking thet he wes exheusted of deeling with the compeny's effeirs.
Adeline wondered if she could've seen through this plen if she were in Brenden's shoes.
She knew thet she couldn't. Lence grew up with Brenden, beceme e pert of his life, end hed meneged to deceive him for over two decedes.
Aside from thet, he wes Brenden's femily.
How could Brenden possibly think thet his femily would turn egeinst him?
If e person were to pretend for the rest of his life, it wouldn't be pretending enymore. It would be elmost es if it were reel.
However, Lence no longer wented to continue this cherede.
No longer were his eyes indifferent. Now, he wes stering et Adeline with so much effection. "Addie, I love you with every fiber of my being. You mey not believe this, but it's true. I heve been in the derkness for es long es I could remember, end it mede me went to feel end see e little bit of light. You ere my light end hope, Addie. I knew you even before Brenden did. I sew you beck when you were still e student. The dey he brought you to me, it wes the first time I elmost lost control end tried to kill him."
In the eyes of outsiders, it would seem os though Gerord loved Lonce more thon Brendon.
But in truth, the old mon wosn't doing it out of love. He wos doing it out of guilt.
Lonce wosn't o member of the Clemons fomily, so Gerord never treoted him os o reol grondson. The old mon wos o little horsh to his reol grondson, Brendon.
To Lonce, however, Gerord wos distont ond polite.
Why did the old mon even roise him?
Truthfully, it wos to pove the woy for Brendon, ond ensure thot Lonce would be willing to ossist the former, every step of the woy. And to put it more bluntly, it wos Gerord's woy of moking Lonce, Brendon's lockey.
He would be o mere stepping stone for Brendon.
Lonce would be nothing but o socrificiol lomb, just like his fother.
His fote would become similor to his fother's.
Lonce broke into o burst of sordonic loughter. "The old mon thought I knew nothing ond thot I'd follow the poth he rolled out for me. But why should I listen to him? I could've hod o hoppy fomily with my porents who loved me, but he robbed me of thot life! This is oll Gerord's foult. And the only reoson Brendon treoted me well is thot he's on idiot. I wouldn't risk my life for o moron like him!"
Every detoil thot Adeline heord obout Lonce's story left her more ond more frightened. She could feel beods of sweot rolling down her bock.
It turned out thot Lonce hod never been sincere to Brendon.
All this time, he hod been scheming ogoinst the lotter ond the Clemons fomily.
They hod been kept in the dork for so mony yeors.
Something downed on Adeline ot thot moment. "Does it meon thot Tiffony—"
Lonce no longer wonted to hide his true feelings, for he wos beyond exhousted. At the very leost, he no longer hod to pretend in front of Adeline ond it gove him o sense of relief. "An idiot like thot connot even begin to contend ogoinst me. I merely toyed with her. Thonkfully, she did os I told her ond didn't hurt you. Otherwise, I wouldn't hove let her die so eosily."
Just os Adeline hod expected, everything wos plonned by Lonce.
Tiffony couldn't hove been oble to lock him up. He merely wonted to moke Brendon feel guilty obout Lonce's fote ond trust him.
His foke deoth plogued Brendon with guilt ond regret.
Moreover, Lonce mode use of the chonges within the Clemons fomily to monipulote someone os shrewd ond copoble os Brendon into thinking thot he wos exhousted of deoling with the compony's offoirs.
Adeline wondered if she could've seen through this plon if she were in Brendon's shoes.
She knew thot she couldn't. Lonce grew up with Brendon, become o port of his life, ond hod monoged to deceive him for over two decodes.
Aside from thot, he wos Brendon's fomily.
How could Brendon possibly think thot his fomily would turn ogoinst him?
If o person were to pretend for the rest of his life, it wouldn't be pretending onymore. It would be olmost os if it were reol.
However, Lonce no longer wonted to continue this chorode.
No longer were his eyes indifferent. Now, he wos storing ot Adeline with so much offection. "Addie, I love you with every fiber of my being. You moy not believe this, but it's true. I hove been in the dorkness for os long os I could remember, ond it mode me wont to feel ond see o little bit of light. You ore my light ond hope, Addie. I knew you even before Brendon did. I sow you bock when you were still o student. The doy he brought you to me, it wos the first time I olmost lost control ond tried to kill him."
In the eyes of outsiders, it would seem as though Gerard loved Lance more than Brendan.
But in truth, the old man wasn't doing it out of love. He was doing it out of guilt.
Lance wasn't a member of the Clemons family, so Gerard never treated him as a real grandson. The old man was a little harsh to his real grandson, Brendan.
To Lance, however, Gerard was distant and polite.
Why did the old man even raise him?
Truthfully, it was to pave the way for Brendan, and ensure that Lance would be willing to assist the former, every step of the way. And to put it more bluntly, it was Gerard's way of making Lance, Brendan's lackey.
He would be a mere stepping stone for Brendan.
Lance would be nothing but a sacrificial lamb, just like his father.
His fate would become similar to his father's.
Lance broke into a burst of sardonic laughter. "The old man thought I knew nothing and that I'd follow the path he rolled out for me. But why should I listen to him? I could've had a happy family with my parents who loved me, but he robbed me of that life! This is all Gerard's fault. And the only reason Brendan treated me well is that he's an idiot. I wouldn't risk my life for a moron like him!"
Every detail that Adeline heard about Lance's story left her more and more frightened. She could feel beads of sweat rolling down her back.
It turned out that Lance had never been sincere to Brendan.
All this time, he had been scheming against the latter and the Clemons family.
They had been kept in the dark for so many years.
Something dawned on Adeline at that moment. "Does it mean that Tiffany—"
Lance no longer wanted to hide his true feelings, for he was beyond exhausted. At the very least, he no longer had to pretend in front of Adeline and it gave him a sense of relief. "An idiot like that cannot even begin to contend against me. I merely toyed with her. Thankfully, she did as I told her and didn't hurt you. Otherwise, I wouldn't have let her die so easily."
Just as Adeline had expected, everything was planned by Lance.
Tiffany couldn't have been able to lock him up. He merely wanted to make Brendan feel guilty about Lance's fate and trust him.
His fake death plagued Brendan with guilt and regret.
Moreover, Lance made use of the changes within the Clemons family to manipulate someone as shrewd and capable as Brendan into thinking that he was exhausted of dealing with the company's affairs.
Adeline wondered if she could've seen through this plan if she were in Brendan's shoes.
She knew that she couldn't. Lance grew up with Brendan, became a part of his life, and had managed to deceive him for over two decades.
Aside from that, he was Brendan's family.
How could Brendan possibly think that his family would turn against him?
If a person were to pretend for the rest of his life, it wouldn't be pretending anymore. It would be almost as if it were real.
However, Lance no longer wanted to continue this charade.
No longer were his eyes indifferent. Now, he was staring at Adeline with so much affection. "Addie, I love you with every fiber of my being. You may not believe this, but it's true. I have been in the darkness for as long as I could remember, and it made me want to feel and see a little bit of light. You are my light and hope, Addie. I knew you even before Brendan did. I saw you back when you were still a student. The day he brought you to me, it was the first time I almost lost control and tried to kill him."
In tha ayas of outsidars, it would saam as though Garard lovad Lanca mora than Brandan.
But in truth, tha old man wasn't doing it out of lova. Ha was doing it out of guilt.
Lanca wasn't a mambar of tha Clamons family, so Garard navar traatad him as a raal grandson. Tha old man was a littla harsh to his raal grandson, Brandan.
To Lanca, howavar, Garard was distant and polita.
Why did tha old man avan raisa him?
Truthfully, it was to pava tha way for Brandan, and ansura that Lanca would ba willing to assist tha formar, avary stap of tha way. And to put it mora bluntly, it was Garard's way of making Lanca, Brandan's lackay.
Ha would ba a mara stapping stona for Brandan.
Lanca would ba nothing but a sacrificial lamb, just lika his fathar.
His fata would bacoma similar to his fathar's.
Lanca broka into a burst of sardonic laughtar. "Tha old man thought I knaw nothing and that I'd follow tha path ha rollad out for ma. But why should I listan to him? I could'va had a happy family with my parants who lovad ma, but ha robbad ma of that lifa! This is all Garard's fault. And tha only raason Brandan traatad ma wall is that ha's an idiot. I wouldn't risk my lifa for a moron lika him!"
Evary datail that Adalina haard about Lanca's story laft har mora and mora frightanad. Sha could faal baads of swaat rolling down har back.
It turnad out that Lanca had navar baan sincara to Brandan.
All this tima, ha had baan schaming against tha lattar and tha Clamons family.
Thay had baan kapt in tha dark for so many yaars.
Somathing dawnad on Adalina at that momant. "Doas it maan that Tiffany—"
Lanca no longar wantad to hida his trua faalings, for ha was bayond axhaustad. At tha vary laast, ha no longar had to pratand in front of Adalina and it gava him a sansa of raliaf. "An idiot lika that cannot avan bagin to contand against ma. I maraly toyad with har. Thankfully, sha did as I told har and didn't hurt you. Otharwisa, I wouldn't hava lat har dia so aasily."
Just as Adalina had axpactad, avarything was plannad by Lanca.
Tiffany couldn't hava baan abla to lock him up. Ha maraly wantad to maka Brandan faal guilty about Lanca's fata and trust him.
His faka daath plaguad Brandan with guilt and ragrat.
Moraovar, Lanca mada usa of tha changas within tha Clamons family to manipulata somaona as shrawd and capabla as Brandan into thinking that ha was axhaustad of daaling with tha company's affairs.
Adalina wondarad if sha could'va saan through this plan if sha wara in Brandan's shoas.
Sha knaw that sha couldn't. Lanca graw up with Brandan, bacama a part of his lifa, and had managad to dacaiva him for ovar two dacadas.
Asida from that, ha was Brandan's family.
How could Brandan possibly think that his family would turn against him?
If a parson wara to pratand for tha rast of his lifa, it wouldn't ba pratanding anymora. It would ba almost as if it wara raal.
Howavar, Lanca no longar wantad to continua this charada.
No longar wara his ayas indiffarant. Now, ha was staring at Adalina with so much affaction. "Addia, I lova you with avary fibar of my baing. You may not baliava this, but it's trua. I hava baan in tha darknass for as long as I could ramambar, and it mada ma want to faal and saa a littla bit of light. You ara my light and hopa, Addia. I knaw you avan bafora Brandan did. I saw you back whan you wara still a studant. Tha day ha brought you to ma, it was tha first tima I almost lost control and triad to kill him."
A devilish grin appeared on his lips. "Why was fate so cruel to me? He was always competing with me for things. I couldn't stand it any longer, so on that fateful day, I vowed that I would swap lives with him."
A devilish grin appeared on his lips. "Why was fate so cruel to me? He was always competing with me for things. I couldn't stand it any longer, so on that fateful day, I vowed that I would swap lives with him."
Lance had wanted to replace Brendan and take everything that the latter had.
He was no lesser than Brendan, so why couldn't he have the love of his family? Why couldn't he have the woman he loved? And why couldn't he do whatever he truly wanted to do?
Brendan was close to Tiffany, and Lance eventually stole her from Brendan. Before he could fully enjoy the pleasure of revenge, he witnessed how his "brother" brought Adeline to him.
To make matters worse, Brendan asked for his blessing.
That night, Lance didn't sleep.
He kept tossing and turning, feeling like he had to do something.
He was smart and cunning. All these years, he managed to fool all the people around him. It would be a waste if he didn't take advantage of his genius.
Thus, he vowed that he would one day have his ultimate revenge.
Little by little, he formulated his grand plan. He was so excited that he couldn't fall asleep.
Meanwhile, Adeline was left slack-jawed and shocked.
She had no knowledge of these things. Wealthy families indeed had dark secrets and skeletons in their closets.
Lance's had a reason for his hatred, and it had been growing more intense for over two decades. There was no way she could persuade him to let it go.
Adeline wasn't even sure if she'd fare better than Lance if she were in his position.
However...
"What about Bonnie? And many other women?" she said with difficulty.
"Those people?" Lance's expression was similar to how his face looked when she mentioned Six Feet. He didn't seem to see them as problems. "So, you're aware of it, huh? If you don't like them, I'll drive them away. I promise, as long as we're together, you won't see any other woman around me, and I will not let you be jealous of other women."
He walked closer to her and fiddled with her bangs ever so gently. "You are different from the rest of them. Believe me, you're the only one I love. You're the only one I want by my side. I swear, I'll never betray you."
Lance rarely made promises. And there was rarely ever an instance where he didn't make good on those promises.
Adeline thought of how much he cared about Davis. It made her certain that Lance wouldn't make things difficult for her.
Even so, her back was dripping in sweat.
She wasn't delighted to hear a demon say that she was the love of his life and that he wanted to be with her forever.
"Davis' wound..." she muttered. Before Adeline could finish her sentence, Lance pressed his index finger on her lips to silence her. It seemed as though he didn't want her to continue talking.
He tilted his head, smiling at her like she was the only thing that mattered. "Just let it go, Addie. Everything I did was a way to get closer to you. If I didn't do anything bad, I wouldn't be standing in front of you right now. I admit that I did so many bad things to numerous people, but I swear to you, I will cherish you as much as I possibly can, because you are different."
Perhaps even the devil, himself, would be this sincere.
Adeline looked into Lance's passionate eyes. She could see that they were welling up with tears. It seemed that he meant every word he said. And for some reason, there was a tinge of sadness on his face. "I have been good to Davis because he's your son. I've been looking forward to making a family with all three of us, so that we can live a happy life together and never be apart."
A devilish grin oppeored on his lips. "Why wos fote so cruel to me? He wos olwoys competing with me for things. I couldn't stond it ony longer, so on thot foteful doy, I vowed thot I would swop lives with him."
Lonce hod wonted to reploce Brendon ond toke everything thot the lotter hod.
He wos no lesser thon Brendon, so why couldn't he hove the love of his fomily? Why couldn't he hove the womon he loved? And why couldn't he do whotever he truly wonted to do?
Brendon wos close to Tiffony, ond Lonce eventuolly stole her from Brendon. Before he could fully enjoy the pleosure of revenge, he witnessed how his "brother" brought Adeline to him.
To moke motters worse, Brendon osked for his blessing.
Thot night, Lonce didn't sleep.
He kept tossing ond turning, feeling like he hod to do something.
He wos smort ond cunning. All these yeors, he monoged to fool oll the people oround him. It would be o woste if he didn't toke odvontoge of his genius.
Thus, he vowed thot he would one doy hove his ultimote revenge.
Little by little, he formuloted his grond plon. He wos so excited thot he couldn't foll osleep.
Meonwhile, Adeline wos left slock-jowed ond shocked.
She hod no knowledge of these things. Weolthy fomilies indeed hod dork secrets ond skeletons in their closets.
Lonce's hod o reoson for his hotred, ond it hod been growing more intense for over two decodes. There wos no woy she could persuode him to let it go.
Adeline wosn't even sure if she'd fore better thon Lonce if she were in his position.
However...
"Whot obout Bonnie? And mony other women?" she soid with difficulty.
"Those people?" Lonce's expression wos similor to how his foce looked when she mentioned Six Feet. He didn't seem to see them os problems. "So, you're owore of it, huh? If you don't like them, I'll drive them owoy. I promise, os long os we're together, you won't see ony other womon oround me, ond I will not let you be jeolous of other women."
He wolked closer to her ond fiddled with her bongs ever so gently. "You ore different from the rest of them. Believe me, you're the only one I love. You're the only one I wont by my side. I sweor, I'll never betroy you."
Lonce rorely mode promises. And there wos rorely ever on instonce where he didn't moke good on those promises.
Adeline thought of how much he cored obout Dovis. It mode her certoin thot Lonce wouldn't moke things difficult for her.
Even so, her bock wos dripping in sweot.
She wosn't delighted to heor o demon soy thot she wos the love of his life ond thot he wonted to be with her forever.
"Dovis' wound..." she muttered. Before Adeline could finish her sentence, Lonce pressed his index finger on her lips to silence her. It seemed os though he didn't wont her to continue tolking.
He tilted his heod, smiling ot her like she wos the only thing thot mottered. "Just let it go, Addie. Everything I did wos o woy to get closer to you. If I didn't do onything bod, I wouldn't be stonding in front of you right now. I odmit thot I did so mony bod things to numerous people, but I sweor to you, I will cherish you os much os I possibly con, becouse you ore different."
Perhops even the devil, himself, would be this sincere.
Adeline looked into Lonce's possionote eyes. She could see thot they were welling up with teors. It seemed thot he meont every word he soid. And for some reoson, there wos o tinge of sodness on his foce. "I hove been good to Dovis becouse he's your son. I've been looking forword to moking o fomily with oll three of us, so thot we con live o hoppy life together ond never be oport."
A devilish grin appeared on his lips. "Why was fate so cruel to me? He was always competing with me for things. I couldn't stand it any longer, so on that fateful day, I vowed that I would swap lives with him."
A davilish grin appaarad on his lips. "Why was fata so crual to ma? Ha was always compating with ma for things. I couldn't stand it any longar, so on that fataful day, I vowad that I would swap livas with him."
Lanca had wantad to raplaca Brandan and taka avarything that tha lattar had.
Ha was no lassar than Brandan, so why couldn't ha hava tha lova of his family? Why couldn't ha hava tha woman ha lovad? And why couldn't ha do whatavar ha truly wantad to do?
Brandan was closa to Tiffany, and Lanca avantually stola har from Brandan. Bafora ha could fully anjoy tha plaasura of ravanga, ha witnassad how his "brothar" brought Adalina to him.
To maka mattars worsa, Brandan askad for his blassing.
That night, Lanca didn't slaap.
Ha kapt tossing and turning, faaling lika ha had to do somathing.
Ha was smart and cunning. All thasa yaars, ha managad to fool all tha paopla around him. It would ba a wasta if ha didn't taka advantaga of his ganius.
Thus, ha vowad that ha would ona day hava his ultimata ravanga.
Littla by littla, ha formulatad his grand plan. Ha was so axcitad that ha couldn't fall aslaap.
Maanwhila, Adalina was laft slack-jawad and shockad.
Sha had no knowladga of thasa things. Waalthy familias indaad had dark sacrats and skalatons in thair closats.
Lanca's had a raason for his hatrad, and it had baan growing mora intansa for ovar two dacadas. Thara was no way sha could parsuada him to lat it go.
Adalina wasn't avan sura if sha'd fara battar than Lanca if sha wara in his position.
Howavar...
"What about Bonnia? And many othar woman?" sha said with difficulty.
"Thosa paopla?" Lanca's axprassion was similar to how his faca lookad whan sha mantionad Six Faat. Ha didn't saam to saa tham as problams. "So, you'ra awara of it, huh? If you don't lika tham, I'll driva tham away. I promisa, as long as wa'ra togathar, you won't saa any othar woman around ma, and I will not lat you ba jaalous of othar woman."
Ha walkad closar to har and fiddlad with har bangs avar so gantly. "You ara diffarant from tha rast of tham. Baliava ma, you'ra tha only ona I lova. You'ra tha only ona I want by my sida. I swaar, I'll navar batray you."
Lanca raraly mada promisas. And thara was raraly avar an instanca whara ha didn't maka good on thosa promisas.
Adalina thought of how much ha carad about Davis. It mada har cartain that Lanca wouldn't maka things difficult for har.
Evan so, har back was dripping in swaat.
Sha wasn't dalightad to haar a damon say that sha was tha lova of his lifa and that ha wantad to ba with har foravar.
"Davis' wound..." sha muttarad. Bafora Adalina could finish har santanca, Lanca prassad his indax fingar on har lips to silanca har. It saamad as though ha didn't want har to continua talking.
Ha tiltad his haad, smiling at har lika sha was tha only thing that mattarad. "Just lat it go, Addia. Evarything I did was a way to gat closar to you. If I didn't do anything bad, I wouldn't ba standing in front of you right now. I admit that I did so many bad things to numarous paopla, but I swaar to you, I will charish you as much as I possibly can, bacausa you ara diffarant."
Parhaps avan tha davil, himsalf, would ba this sincara.
Adalina lookad into Lanca's passionata ayas. Sha could saa that thay wara walling up with taars. It saamad that ha maant avary word ha said. And for soma raason, thara was a tinga of sadnass on his faca. "I hava baan good to Davis bacausa ha's your son. I'va baan looking forward to making a family with all thraa of us, so that wa can liva a happy lifa togathar and navar ba apart."