Chapter 231
Theo had arrived with a bag of money for Caspian. One of Caspian’s men inspected the money and they had gone ahead to count it. They packaged the money back into the bag and tossed it at Theo’s feet. Theo looked down on the bag before him, fear enveloping him. He was scared that the money was not complete and could warrant Caspian’s anger and lead him to torturing him.
“I swear it’s complete. I double checked it.” He said in defense after he didn’t get an explanation.
“You’re right Theo, it’s complete.” Caspian answered confusing him the more.
“Then why….”
“I’ll go straight to the point. I’m here to make a deal with you and I hope you accept.”
“A-a deal?” He stuttered. He wasn’t sure he was hearing right. Why would Caspian want to make a deal with him?
“From today I don’t want you to remit any money to me. I can return everything you ever paid for and you can use it as you please.”
Theo was overwhelmed at this point. Was this a joke of some kind. A thought flashed into his head as he thought of what possible reason Caspian would make such a ridiculous offer.
“H-how is my sister? What happened to Camilo?” He asked as his chest constricted painful from the ugly thought that swarm into his head.
“She’s fine.”
“Alive?”
Caspian hesitated a moment but soon caught up with what Theo was thinking.
“Yes.”
“Then why would you make me such an offer. It doesn’t make any sense.”
“To you, no but to me yes it makes sense.”Content is © 2024 NôvelDrama.Org.
“Why?”
“I want your sister, Camilo. I want to keep her by my side. You can see each other as you please but I want her. No, I need her.” Caspian confessed much to his shock.
Theo didnt take the offer lightly. He had thought it was a joke at first so he dared to laugh but immediately composed himself as not to offend Caspian.
” Waiting for your answer Theo.” Caspian continued, maintaining a serious tone but Theo scoffed in disbelieve.
“Are you… Really asking me to sell my sister off to you because of money?”
“In my own understanding I’m not asking you to sell her but if I must have her to myself I can’t just accept the money you owe me when she’s the reason you’ve suffered so much to pay up. See it as my way of appreciation.”
Theo shook his head at the abomination spilling from Caspain’s mouth. He must think he was all about money. Thinking too low of him like that was what got him mad.
“I have done dangerous things all these months just to have my sister set free. I would never give her up not to you. I know you hurt her, you don’t respect her. I won’t subject my sister to a life of slavery for money.” He yelled but surprisingly Caspian remained calm.
“You’re right to feel this way but I’ll give you some time to think about this. Consider this also, She wants to stay ”
“I don’t believe you. Camilo would never feel that way. What gives you such confidence?”
“We are in love with each other!” Caspian yelled back and Theo froze for some seconds squinting his eyes in disbelieve as well. He dragged his feet back still in disbelieve at the shocking revelation.
“What?”
” You heard right. Camilo and I have been in love with each other for a while. We’re very much into each other and have even spoken about our future.” He said and a bright smile lengthened his lips shocking Theo even more.
“I don’t believe you. I’ll have to hear from Camilo before I believe a word that comes out of your mouth! Bring Camilo to me and only then would you have an answer.” He said panting.
Caspian already knew how tough this was going to be. He had not told Camilo about the offer. He wanted to surprise her with the news if Theo accepted their relationship.
“Then you disapprove of our love?”
“I can’t even imagine how such a vile thing can happen.”
“I saved your life.” Caspian reminded
“You should have killed me instead than telling me my sister is in love with the same man that has tortured me for months!” Theo said with so much anger and hate in his voice.
Caspian stared at him for a while. Maybe he should have killed him and have Camilo all to himself but that would have been the Caspian of before. Selfish and ruthless. With Camilo, he felt more human and could never think of harming her brother again.
He could easily threaten Theo with Camilo’s life just to keep him away but he wasn’t that kind of man not anymore.
“Let me see Camilo. I want her to look me in the eye and tell me that she fell in love with you and I promise you only then will you receive an answer from me.”
Caspian dipped his head in defeat, that was the only way. He knew Camilo would admit to it but would that change Theo’s mind?
Theo on the other hand had started suspecting that Caspian had a thing for Camilo especially after he set him free even when he was an accomplice to the ugly even of that faithful night. He could not understand why Caspian would do such a thing but now he knew why, it was because of his sister but what he could never accept was that his sister was in love with such a cruel monster.
That would be the greatest betrayal for him. He had risked his life just to raise money and set her free yet she fell in love with the very man that caused his misery.
He could not be betrayed that way, never. Not by his own flesh and blood.
“I’ll arrange a meeting for you.” Caspian said and he felt disturbed. If he was confident to let him have a talk with Camilo about it then could it be that he was telling the truth?
______
Caspian had gotten home later in the evening after accepting Theo’s condition of meeting Camilo. He got to the room and found Camilo laying in bed waiting for him.
She stood up hastily from it and approached him looking worried.
“Where have you been?” She asked palming his cheeks. “What happened? You look troubled.” She continued and led Caspian to sit on the bed.
“I met Theo today.” He said and she narrowed her eyes curiously at him.
“For the remittal?” She asked feeling sad. She didn’t hold a grudge against Caspian for making her brother remit the money he owed. He had saved her brother’s life so it was right that Theo paid the money he owed even though she wished that burden could be lifted from him.
“He came for that but I offered to give him back every penny he has paid. I wanted to free him of his debts Cami.”
He said and Camilo looked more confused.
“Why?” She asked her voice a bit cracky.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you earlier but I made the offer so he could let you make a decision on where to stay. I told him I wanted you to be with me.”
“You said that?” Camilo asked more in disappointment. ” Why would you do that? Theo would never accept that. No, you should have discussed this first with me.” She said expressing her disappointment which saddened Caspian.
“Don’t you want to be with me?” He asked searching her eyes for truth. Camilo sighed and took a more relaxed posture.
“I want to Caspian. You know I do. We even talked about having a future together but that doesn’t give you the right to bargain with my brother like that. You don’t expect him to accept the fact that his only sister is in love with you after everything he has been through.”
Caspian remained silent thinking everything through. He was excited and had rushed into things without examining the possibilities thoroughly.
He thought he was doing something good for Camilo and helping Theo’s life as well.
“Fuck! I messed up.” He cursed burying his head into his palm. Camilo leaned forward and held his hand pulling him to her. She stood up and sat on his thigh while he wrapped his hands around her waist.
“Forgive me my love. I pissed your brother off.”
Camilo was worried about Theo and how he had taken the news but she understood Caspian as well and knew he was making efforts because he loved her.
She wrapped her hand around his neck and leaned towards his shoulder to rest on it.
“You did what you thought was right for us. I can’t blame you for that. She said and caspian raised her jaw. He looked at her lips and kissed her softly.
“… but now your brother wants to meet with you. Only then can he give me an answer.” This worried Camilo even more. She wasn’t ready to face Theo because he’d feel betrayed if he learnt of the truth but it couldn’t be avoided.
“Okay… I’ll meet him then.” She said and Caspian hugged her more tightly. Meeting her brother wasn’t what really mattered it was the battle that would ensue if Camilo decided to stay with him even after her brother refused.
He didn’t want to hurt Camilo’s feelings fighting her brother over her but if that was what it took then he wouldn’t hold back in a fight.