CHAPTER 91: THE IN-LAWS

Gerald twisted the dead skin on his thumb every now and then in a disturbing manner that irritated the person beside him in the carriage, but the servant didn’t dare to show any emotions or look away so as not to provoke the young master.

Ever since the young man had walked through the gates of his father’s manor, he’d only caused trouble and miserable nights for the servants. It was as if Nikolai housed a bitter old man, not a son. The man had decided to give his son time to think about what he actually wanted to do, maybe get down from the high emotions.

Nikolai wasn’t a man that moved with mere words and agitation. He knew Gerald had only come to him because his pride was wounded. Of his two sons, Gerald had the thinnest pride, shown in how easily he was provoked.

It took Nikolai only a day to see that fine clothes and idleness would not tame Gerald. The man saw with his own eyes the havoc his son wrecked among the servants and how he forced himself on the maids and hit them afterwards. Nikolai knew he had to make a move and get Gerald out of his house before he did worse.

Currently, they sat in the same carriage heading in the direction of the Browns’ and each stop they made Gerald popped his head out of the small window to check if they had arrived, and if it wasn’t the case he returned to his habit of picking the dead skin around his fingernails and bouncing his feet noisily on the floor.

The servant, who could no longer endure the torment, scrunched his nose and turned his reddened eyes aside

"What did you just say?" Gerald asked with his brows drawn together and his hands fisted.

The servant touched his chest, "I—Young master I didn’t—"

"Shut up, you filth! You think I don’t know what you’re thinking? Did you just scowl? You dirty—" Gerald paused when he saw his own hand stopped in the air. He tried to move it again, but it wouldn’t budge. With fury and a stern glare, he turned to meet his father’s tired gaze.

"That’s enough, son," Nikolai breathed, slowly letting go of his son’s hand. He returned his attention to the trembling servant, "You, get down and announce our arrival."

"But father!" Gerald whined, his face red with shame.

The servant didn’t wait to be told again; he jumped and disappeared from the carriage like he was never there.

"If you keep doing this, they won’t respect me!" Gerald continued, pouting his lips.

Nikolai rubbed his forehead tiredly, "I’m asking you one last time, do you wish to have Jenna returned back to you as your wife?" he asked, ignoring his son’s words.

"Yes," Gerald nodded, "And I want Rhane—"

Nikolai sucked his teeth, "I’ll do what I wish to Rhane, just let me know if you really want Jenna back or not."

Gerald inhaled deeply, "I want her back," he mumbled, touching the short beard under his chin.

Nikolai nodded, "Then allow me to do the talking," the man spoke more as an order than as advice. He didn’t want his son to mess things up by bringing up how he treated Jenna in the past. No father, not even himself, would let that settle without a dust.

And having any issue with the Chief Merchant wasn’t what Nikolai wanted. He had his plate already full with Gerald. Tapping on the carriage wall, Nikolai signaled the servant to set the stand stool.

Once the father and son stepped down from the carriage, making their way towards the Browns’ gate, Jenna’s father was already standing outside with his small cane tapping on the back of his head.

"Old friend," Nikolai decided to give the friendly greeting first. "You still look as good as yesterday, the saying that the road keeps you younger is really true."

Jenna’s father let out a hearty laugh, his round stomach shaking, the corners of his eyes crinkling shut. Once he stopped laughing, he took a step forward and stretched his hand for Nikolai to take.

"Nikolai, if I read what you sent correctly, we shouldn’t be making silly jokes." Master Brown remarked, his expression slowly turning into a frown.

"Tainting a family name doesn’t require a meeting but intense punishment," his gaze shifted from Nikolai and settled on Gerald. With an even more stern voice, he asked.

"What have you done, Gerald?"

A loud gulp was heard by both men coming from Gerald.

"I..." Gerald shifted to one leg, rubbing at his itching eyes and nose, "I didn’t mean to... she—"

"My son has been having a hard time," Nikolai spoke up, "It’s better if we speak about it."

Master Brown remained fixated on Gerald with a frown present. Slowly he relaxed and sighed, "I’m sorry I didn’t train my daughter properly. Jenna used to be a really sweet child."

"Don’t sweat it, we all know how these children are. We try our best and they grow up to become too stubborn." Nikolai added, patting the man on his shoulder for comfort.

Gerald almost let out an audible sigh of relief. He’d thought that his father told Jenna’s father everything and he was in trouble.

"Gerald, son, you shouldn’t have let your wife slip past you! Your father here is a tough man, if you have a bit of his traits Jenna won’t be running around with that half-brother of yours." Master Brown paused to cough, then he continued.

"I knew he was trouble the first day I met him with Jenna! That filth laying his hands on my daughter. It shouldn’t go unpunished,"

Nikolai’s lips curled, "Which is exactly why we are here."

Jenna’s father tilted his head, "You mean you didn’t come to oust my daughter for bringing shame?"

Nikolai tutted, shaking his head. "How long have we been friends? Actually, my son here has decided to take his wife back."

The Chief Merchant’s eyes lit up, "Oh really?"

"Yes, but we can’t relax after that except we get rid of the one problem that keeps Jenna from leaving her matrimonial home." Nikolai said, giving the man a knowing look.

"One problem..." Master Brown moved his eyes side to side trying to think, "That other son of yours?!"

Nikolai snapped his fingers in approval. "I’ll need your influence with the council, I’ve sent them a letter but also... if there’s a Brown seal following mine. He should be out of our faces and let our children enjoy their marriage."

Master Brown gave Nikolai’s words a thought for a moment. In a way he benefited more, since his family name wouldn’t be dragged through the mud. Instead, one man would take all the blame.

"Let’s go inside for a good meal and discuss properly, old friend," Brown mused, shaking his friend’s hand. "We should even plan another wedding, don’t you think?"

Nikolai’s lips curled at the corner, it was easier to twist everything and make it look like Jenna caused it all. And since he came first, it was going to be difficult to get father to believe daughter. That way sending Jenna back to Gerald and getting rid of Rhane wouldn’t be too much work.

"I’m really glad we are in-laws. We understand each other." Nikolai chuckled, following the Chief Merchant inside his house.

Gerald, who had stayed silent throughout the conversation, trotted behind his father, his chest swelling with glee he couldn’t contain. Gerald wanted to see Rhane’s face when he took Jenna again.

"Just wait and see, Rhane." Gerald muttered to himself with a grin.