Page 113 of One Nightstand With My Ex's Uncle

LUCAS’ POV.

“Isn’t it pathetic?” I asked him, as tears formed in his eyes. “Why can’t you be half as strong as your mum? You know she of all people will be heartbroken if you die.”

“Hard to believe.” He said, turning away from me.

“And your dad? Derella? Me? What would you expect us to do when you leave just like that?”

“She told me to get lost.”

“Get lost in the afterlife? Did she say that? You know she would live with regret thinking she caused your death. Do you want that? And the public? Then, they’d say, ‘Oh! He died because he was humiliated; his family could not save him; he was ashamed of himself; he couldn’t bear to see his dirty secrets spilled.

’ Do you want to give them that satisfaction? ” I asked.

“Maybe you don’t know how it feels.”

“I know, okay? It hasn’t happened to me before, but I can imagine just how wronged I’ll feel.

Everyone is caring about taking it down, and restoring the family honor, but no one cares about your personal image.

I know you feel that way, and truly, it’s unfair, but you just have to be patient.

Even though you feel sad, mad, wronged, and pained, you just have to wait it out.

Are you going to throw away bright and beautiful years waiting for you just because of one dark month?

You should have a will to live, even if you lack everything.

” I said, and he watched the pool, with his lower lip quivering.

“I don’t want to die too, but… she’s just so harsh! I don’t want to speak to her.”

“I won’t stop you from doing that. You can decide not to talk to her until she comes around. That is fine by me, but stuffing about fifty pills into your mouth, intending to chew them all is not fine at all.” He sniffed. “Will you try it again?”

“I won’t.” He said, “Instead, I want to transfer out of my school.”

“Why?”

“They’re all happy—happy about this.”

“So you’re running away?”

“It’s not running away.”

“Then what is it? Face them, Derel. Say it in their faces that it was photo shopped. Let them know you can’t do something as shameful as that.”

“And…what… what if I did it?”

I froze.

“I’m joking.” He said, with a little smile. “Look at your face.”

“Gosh, don’t joke like that, Derel.” I said, chuckling. “So, what do you say? Have a men’s night?”

“Would you let me drink?” He asked mischievously.

“Of course, I will let you drink.”

“Great!”

“Apple juice.” I completed, and his smile ran down like the rainbow, making me laugh. “Turn eighteen first, and we’ll have our first drink together.” I said, leaving, and he followed.

“Eighteen? You know that doesn’t happen until two years later!”

“Then stuff yourself with apple juice for two years.” I replied, going down the stairs.

~

The next morning, I tried calling Emily on my way to work, but she ended the call almost immediately. I thought of calling again, but decided against it.

Maybe she was so busy she couldn’t pick the call, but still, would she just ignore the call?

“Tray,” I called.

“Yep?” He asked, scanning through some documents in the car next to me.

“When you call a woman, and she cuts the call, what does it mean?”

“She doesn’t want you to disturb her.” He replied absentmindedly, then turned abruptly to me.

“You have a woman, Lucas?” Derel asked in shock from the passenger seat.

“Gosh, I forgot you were there.” I said, preparing to park the car.

“Since you’re here, I’m guessing you should know now. It’s Emily.” Tray said to him.

“You like Emily!?”

“No, I don’t.”

“Yes, he does.” Tray and I spoke at the same time, and I looked at him.

“Oooh, in times like this, the friends are the ones to be believed.” He said, and he and Tray did a high-five.

I shook my head. “It’s not exactly a thing to be proud of. Don’t tell anyone.”

“Sadie wanted us to match make you and Emily. This will only make it easier.” He said, and I shook my head.

“Sadie’s always finding people to match make. When will she grow up? Tray, you haven’t answered my question.”

“Oh yeah, Emily won’t cut your call on purpose. My guess is she’s asleep, and John saw the call come in.” He replied.

“Perfect.” I said, pushing the door open with a smile. We had arrived at the influencers’ house, and panic attack or not, denials or not, I wasn’t leaving until I got my answers.

“Where’s it?” I asked Tray, and he took out the mini camera chips we had gotten. He attached one onto my tie, one on Derel’s front pocket, and the last one in the middle of his shirt.

We were going to record as much as we could, and if we got evidence, or proof, we’d delete the useless footage, and pick out what we needed.

The girls made us breakfast, and it was quite alluring.

But of course, I couldn’t forget the most important part. I was going to question them, and I told Derel to have a chat with them, to try to sense their reactions. There was a possibility we could catch one of them giving a secret smirk, or a condescending look.

Looking at him, I saw him playing with the roasted broccoli on his plate. The breakfast was one I knew he liked.

Roasted broccoli and bacon pasta salad. He usually enjoyed it, but he had been playing with it, nudging it gently back and forth with his fork.

“Is the food not to your liking?” Sandra asked him.

“No, it’s nice.” He said, but still didn’t eat out of it.

“You should try it. Sandra’s a great cook.” Jenny said, shyly.

“I will.” Derel replied, and took a mouthful.

Tray’s phone rang.

“Why the hell is she calling me?” He muttered, and I looked at his phone.

“Who’s ‘Devil at Eight?’” I asked, and he got up with a smile. “Sadie. Excuse me please.” He said, and left the table.

“I’m guessing this is the last meal we’re having together, as boss and employees.

If I can’t find who I need to find today, I’m dismissing all of you.

” I said, and they stopped eating, looking at each other again.

“I might consider not being harsh if you come clean. Whoever did this should come clean. If you don’t, then I can’t guarantee what will happen. ” I said, chewing slowly.

Tray returned, and I was shocked to see it was with Sadie, and one of her older friends.

“Good morning.” The boy greeted us all, and the girls greeted back, but I was too stunned to reply. What was she doing there?

“Derel, Tray, would you guys mind sitting on the sofas?” Sadie asked, and Tray took off his plate with a menacing look.

“Wait till I get you, Miss Granger.” He whispered, and I almost chuckled. How did she manage to get something on Tray? Derel stood with his food, and Sadie and her friend sat.

“I guess I can also have two servings of this.” She said, with a bright smile.

“Wait a sec.” Sandra said, leaving the table.

“Doesn’t Emily know what’s happening? Oh yeah, wait, meet George. A friend of mine.”

“Hi George. Nice to meet you.” I said.

“Nice to meet you too, Alpha Lucas.” He replied.

“Alright. Now can I know what the two of you are doing here instead of school?” I asked.

“My teacher said not to enter the class without showing her my project, which is completely undone, so he’s here to help me with it.

I actually intended to visit your employees to ask them for help, since I can’t imagine who else would help me.

It’s funny to see you’re having breakfast while Derel’s nudes are online.

Oops, sorry Derel. Where were we? Isn’t Emily aware of all that’s happening?

” She asked, after spilling words like rice pouring from a punctured sack.

“Thank you.” She said, sweetly, as Sandra served her and George.

“Thank you.” George said.

“Keep eating. We won’t discuss anything as long as she’s here.” I said to the girls, who had stopped eating.

“Duh, I don’t need to know what’s going on, but anyways, as for my project, I’ll need lots and lots of Wi-Fi.” Sadie said.

“Hotspot?” I asked.

“No, just the Wi-Fi. I can’t do it at school, and no one would listen to me at home. This was just the greatest opportunity. Now, can we sweet ladies kindly turn on our Wi-Fi?” She asked, and they did so. “You too, Lucas. You have your phone on you right, Derel? And you too, George? And Tray?”

“How many people’s Wi-Fi do you need?” I asked.

“As many as possible, but I’ll have my meal first.” She said, taking large bites. “Rush it up, George. We’re still returning to school.” She said, and I looked at the influencers who were probably still wondering about the little girl who had suddenly barged in, talking nonstop.

She and George finished their food before everyone else, and George got on his laptop. The two of them sat in a corner, doing their so-called project, while I stared at the influencers, slowly scrutinizing them.

“What if you search all our rooms?” Jenny asked. She was obviously unable to take it off her mind.

“We did that already, didn’t we?” Paris asked.

“Then we can do it again.” Jenny replied. Tenor packed up the plates, as she could see almost all of us were done eating, and we talked right there at the dining table.

It took Tenor ten minutes to return, and she looked pale.

“Is there no way you can find out who’s making us go through all this trouble? I really like this job.” Keith said.

“You can search our rooms again. Do anything. We won’t complain.” Judy added.

“Isn’t there a way you can get someone to prove it’s photo shopped?” Paris asked.

“Well…”

“Lucas!” Sadie suddenly shouted.

“What’s wrong with you?” I asked, tiredly, and she ran to me with the laptop.

“Look at this.” She said, placing the laptop in front of me, and I saw photos—the photo shopped photos of Derel.”

“You’re not supposed to be looking at this.” I said, about to shut the laptop, but she swatted my hand away.

“Not that. This!” She said, and I saw photos. Photos striking the same poses Derel had struck in the indecent photos. Except the faces were different. They were the original photos, and Derel’s face, and body had been adjusted onto them.

“Whose…whose… who owns… whose…?” I began, speechlessly.

“Phone?” She asked, with a smile.

“Phone.” I said.

“I believe it’s hers.” She said, looking up at one of the girls, and I looked up.

It was………

Damn!

Jenny!