Forbidden Mate- A Step-brother Romance - Chapter 68: Chapter 68

~EMILY~
The pictures seem to stare back at me, almost mocking me.
I had hoped it wasn't true, but the evidence lay right in front of me. There were several photos of Apollo kissing Lana, along with other intimate moments that made my stomach churn.
“There are more pictures,” James tells me, his tone serious. “But based on your reaction, I don’t think it would be appropriate to share those with you.”
How much worse could they be?
“I can’t believe this,” I whisper. “Why her, out of everyone?”
“Well, she is a beautiful young lady—”
His voice trailed off as he caught the glare I shot his way.
“Since I fulfilled your request and delivered quickly, how about we discuss payment and that bonus you mentioned?” He asks.
I take something out of my pocket and he follows it with his eyes.
He nodded toward the card I handed him with my secretary’s number. “Meet with her. You can discuss everything, she will answer all questions and give you the money that was promised.”
He agrees, saying, “It was a pleasure doing business with you, Mrs. Reign. Feel free to call me anytime you need help finding more information. I'm always ready to assist.”
I didn’t bother seeing him out this time; I was too rattled by the images scattered across the floor.
“How?” I demand, frustration bubbling up. “How could Apollo do something like this?”
There had to be a rational explanation. He wouldn’t mess around with someone like her. I knew my son well, and whatever the reason was, I needed to uncover it and put an end to this madness.
A chilling thought struck me. He was living under the same roof as her—anything could happen while they were together. They might even be sharing a bed for all I knew.
My ex-husband was so oblivious to the chaos happening in his own house! Pathetic! His new wife was no better; I’d always known she was a gold digger. Of course, she would train her daughter to be just like her, using her body to ensnare my son. Disgusting.
I angrily slammed a few books onto the floor, trying to keep the noise down. If I raised my voice, my daughter would undoubtedly call Apollo. I didn’t want him to know I was aware of his relationship with this girl.
Suddenly, everything clicked into place. This was why he had been acting so strangely toward me lately. She was the reason, and her influence was starting to control him. The more time he spent with her, the stronger the attraction would grow.
I had to act quickly before this girl sabotaged the engagement ceremony before it even had a chance to begin!
I dialed Jada’s number.
“Mrs. Reign,” she answers, her voice warm. “It’s a pleasure to hear from you. How can I assist you?”
“Jada, dear, I need you to come over right away. We have a lot to discuss.”
Without hesitation, she agreed and hung up.
Time was of the essence before Lana got in my son’s head and clouded his judgment. After everything I’d done to shape his future, I couldn’t allow someone like her to ruin it.
I was still in disbelief. I couldn’t understand what Apollo saw in her. This was why he hesitated to go on that dinner with Jada—it wasn’t because he craved freedom; he had already turned his attention to another woman.
It took Jada an hour to arrive. The maid led her into my room, and I quickly gestured for her to take a seat.
“We have a problem,” I said, cutting straight to the chase.
Her brow furrowed. “What’s wrong, Mrs. Reign? Did something happen?”
I nod. “It turns out there’s someone standing in the way of you and my son.”
I could see her surprise register. Jada reminded me of myself—pleasant when necessary but fierce when required. She wanted this marriage just as much as I did, and I could see the determination in her eyes. She already cared for my son, a feeling I’d sensed from their first meeting.
“What do you mean?” she asks, striving to maintain her composure.
“Do you remember Apollo’s stepsister?” I questioned. “She was the one who answered the door when we visited and spoke rudely to us.”
Jada nodded, her recollection evident.
“I remember her,” she says. “She was lacking in many areas.”
I smiled; she echoed my initial thoughts about the girl.
“Well, it seems she’s been trying to steal my son away from you,” I continued, handing her one of the photos showing them kissing.
Her grip tightened on the picture as she stared at it, processing what it meant. I wasn’t sure if showing her the evidence was wise, but I hoped it would motivate her to make my son see her in a better light.
“I don’t understand,” Jada says, forcing herself to stay calm. “Apollo is mine. He will be marrying me. Why does she think she can take him from me?”
I sighed, feeling a sense of betrayal from Apollo. I never imagined he would get involved with someone like her. “Apollo has disappointed me but he is still my son and doesn't know any better for himself. I need to guide him back in the right direction.”
Jada nods thoughtfully, “She must have done something to ensnare him, or maybe she's just a name in his roster.”
“No,” I reply softly. “This girl truly has a grip on him. A mother knows these things. We need to expedite everything—the engagement first, then the wedding soon after. We can't afford to waste any time, especially with her so close by, able to strike whenever she wants.”
“But she’s living under the same roof as him,” Jada points out. “We’re all the way over here. What can we possibly do to keep them apart?”
I knew that she was right. Jada was a smart girl, she was already thinking of everything even though I'd only just shown the pictures to her.
There was another reason I'd brought her here. I needed her to start packing her bags immediately. I was not about to let Lana take my son from me. I would go down fighting before I let something like that happen. If making that possible meant I needed to make a few sacrifices, I was more than ready to do that.
I smile reassuringly, “Don’t worry about that, dear. I already have a plan in mind.”