Chapter 36: Chapter 36

“HURRYYYYYY!!!!!!!”

“WAIT, IDIOT!! I WOULD HAVE TUMBLED UPON THE STAIRS”, Xander yelled while gripping the wooden railings at Brandon who was standing at the entrance wearing a scowl.

Well, Xander and Brandon had thrown a grand party for Evelyn's birthday in Blue Moon Hotel. They both were ready in their expensive Armani suits and were looking devilishly handsome. Xander abruptly stopped near the staircase. He then walked to the mirror that was placed on the left side of the staircase and started checking his hair.

“WE'LL GET LATE MARILYN MONROE!!”, Brandon shrieked and grabbed Xander's left elbow making him flinch.

“What the- At least let me check my hair,” he whined and tried to snatch his arm but Brandon tightened his grip further.

“Do it in the car. We are getting late. Come on man, we are the hosts of the party and we must reach on time. Have you ever seen guests arrive at the party before the main host?”, he said and tried to sound as reasonable as possible. Xander scoffed.

“Yeah yeah. Now you are trying to make me feel as it is incumbent on 'me' to reach on time when you have organized this whole party thing alone. Trying to get in my good books also, Bear?”, Xander grimaced and shot him a glare. Brandon was taken aback as he didn't expect him to be this rude. Xander then walked past him and headed outside their penthouse.

Xander straight went to his Audi R8 and unlocked it with his key fob. He then opened the car door and was about to get the inside car when he felt a strong grip on his right forearm. He looked up and found Brandon glaring at him with rage and frustration.

“What the hell is your problem?”, he asked him calmly although his eyes kept shooting daggers at him. Xander smirked and tilted his head slightly.

“Why? Did I say something wrong?”, he questioned him back and rested his left elbow on the door. Brandon exhaled loudly before he finally exploded.

“GOD XANDER!! I JUST CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU? YOU FOUGHT WITH EVELYN, RIGHT? SO WHAT? JUST SAY SORRY TO HER AND SHE'LL FORGIVE YOU!”

He yelled and jerked his hand harshly. Xander glared at him hard. He closed the door with a loud thud and turned towards him.

“You are no one to tell me what I should do with Evelyn. This is my and Evelyn's matter,” he seethed on his face. Brandon clenched his jaw.

“THEN WHY THE HELL ARE YOU VENTING OUT YOUR ANGER ON ME??”

“BECAUSE YOU ARE PUTTING A SPOKE IN MY WHEEL!!”

Xander finally lost his temper and blasted on him. Brandon looked at him with wide eyes. He couldn't believe his ears.

“What? What the hell are you saying? We all are friends. All three of us. What are you-“

“BUT I DON'T WANT HER TO BE MY FRIEND!!”

Xander shouted. Brandon stared at him perplexed.

“After so many efforts, Evelyn finally got out of Dylan's grasp. I thought now she will understand my love for her but no, you fucking came between us and destroyed everything. I understand it was my fault. I shouldn't have humiliated that waitress badly. But everyone does mistakes. She easily forgave you when you were the one who was barbaric towards that poor girl but no, I have to be the one who had to bear her hate. I was projected as the villain. I tried; I fucking tried every time to clear things between us but do you know what she did? She fucking slapped me. Still, I forgot everything but Evelyn wasn't talking with me when we went to wish her yesterday.”

Xander said and ran a finger through his hair in frustration. Brandon frowned, “She did talk to you. What are you-“

“Yes, she did but not like the way she talked with you. Listen, Brandon, I did so much for Evelyn. I was the one who had finally made her stable enough and supported her. You don't know how hard I have to work to steal Evelyn's certificates from the Black Estates. I have spent millions to lure the lawyers so that he can prepare Dylan and Evelyn's divorce papers. I had even bought Mr. Swift so that he can take Dylan's signature on the divorce papers stealthily. I have prepared everything for tonight. Evelyn will sign the papers; we will expose Dylan and then he will be straightaway thrown into jail along with his parents. And for Evelyn, I will take her along with me.”

Xander finally ended his speech. His words rendered Brandon speechless. Brandon felt as the ground was snatched beneath his feet. He had never imagined that Xander will go to this extent. Though whatever he had done was for Evelyn's wellbeing and to free her from Dylan's cage Xander was calling him a threat today which Brandon was finding it hard to believe. This wasn't the Xander he knows, he can't be this tawdry and mean.

“Xander, are you alright? I know you care for Evelyn but this is- I mean have you told Evelyn about this? Will she agree to sign these papers?”, Brandon asked him in a soft voice as he placed his hand on his right shoulder. Xander looked at him and scoffed.

“You're asking as if she has a choice? She has to. I have shed my blood, sweat, and tears for this day. If she doesn't, she will be doomed. Do you even know what Dylan has planned?” he asked him in a mocking tone. Brandon shook his head in negative. Xander rolled his eyes and looked away from him.

“Then you're in no position to judge me or my acts. I am telling you, Brandon, stay out of it. Let me handle the things in my way and I warn you. Don't you dare to ruin my plan.”

All of a sudden, his pitch dropped as he shot him a glare. His words were threatening while his expressions were grim. Brandon didn't like his tone. His face also turned dark in rage. He curled his fingers in a fist. He didn't like the way Xander was trying to take the rein of him as if he was stupid.

“You aren't my Boss that you are trying to control me. I am much smarter and better than you”, Brandon sneered. Xander let out a mocking chuckle.

“Yeah, a smarty pants who doesn't even know that 'his love' was already married and was getting tortured by his in-laws”, he mocked him and did a quoting sign in the air to emphasize the word 'his love'. His taunts triggered Brandon more as his face started turning red. Xander continued.

“What happened? I just stated the facts. You need to be serious sometimes, Mr. Stupid Bear.”

He smirked. Brandon was shaking in anger but then all of a sudden, the corner of his lips tilted upwards. He crossed his arms over his chest and shot him a smug smirk.

“Keep counting my flaws. I don't care because the person whom I adore still loves me with my stupidity and my childishness. And I think that's enough for me.” He chuckled. His words wiped the smirk off Xander's lips as his countenance abruptly turned rigid. He walked closer to him and looked straight into his eyes.

“You haven't done anything. I deserve Evelyn.”

He gritted with clenched teeth. But to his surprise, Brandon didn't react to his word and moved back from him. He then dipped his hands in the pocket of his pants and smirked.

“I didn't know that you're into conjuring because of the way you are acting, it looks like you are possessed but I am telling you, Xander. If you did the things, as you told me, to save Evelyn from Dylan then I will support you but if you are doing all this just to make her indebted to you. So that Evelyn is willingly subservient to you and you can marry her. Then fucking remember,” Brandon's gaze suddenly turned dark as he growled menacingly.

"I won't let that happen."

Xander looked at him in shock. His face lost color while his jaw dropped to the ground. Brandon kept glaring at him, his eyes were bloodshot while his jaw was clenched too tightly giving a perfect view of his sharp jawline. Xander then regained his senses after he finally understood the meaning behind his threat. He marched towards him angrily and grabbed his collar.

“YOU THINK THIS LOW OF ME!! YOU THINK I AM DOING THIS TO MARRY EVELYN!! YOU THINK I-“

“But it sounded like that only,” Brandon immediately cut him in midway. Xander looked down.

“I-I didn't mean-“, he stuttered nervously but Brandon didn't let him finish.

“The way you were raging, it looked like you are so desperate to make Evelyn a part of your life whether she likes it or not,” he spoke. Xander glared at him fiercely.

“NEVER!! I WILL NEVER FORCE HER TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT!! I AIN'T DYLAN!!”

“BUT YOU ARE SLOWLY BECOMING LIKE HIM!!”

Brandon yelled back and pushed him. Xander stumbled backward but somehow maintained his balance. He looked at Brandon with wide eyes who were glaring at him in anger and resentment.

“YOU ARE EVENTUALLY BECOMING LIKE HIM!! SEE, YOU DIDN'T EVEN REALIZE HOW CRUEL AND SELFISH YOU WERE BEING A FEW MINUTES BEFORE!! I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON IN YOUR MIND BUT I DO KNOW THAT WHATEVER YOU AND DYLAN ARE PLANNING CAN BE HARMFUL TO THAT POOR GIRL WHO HAD ALREADY SUFFERED A LOT!!”

He hollered at him. Xander instantly turned pale. He started shaking his head in negative but Brandon wasn't done yet.

“OH, JUST SHUT UP!! What did you say? If you did everything for Evelyn then your main concern should be to save her rather than to compel her to become your bloody wife. You do realize, where are you heading to now? Just to defeat Dylan and free Evelyn or should I say to snatch her from Dylan, you have now started to hate mine and Evelyn's relationship?”, he snarled. Xander shook his head in denial vigorously like a child.

“I said I didn't mean that. I know you both are just friends,” he replied. Brandon took long strides towards him. He then grabbed Xander by his collar and slammed him on his car.

“That's none of your fucking business if Evelyn is my friend or not! We neither need your permission nor we are bound to justify our relationship to you. Come to your fucking senses, Xander Knights. You have become that desperate to win that you don't even understand that if Evelyn sees you this way, how much hurt she will be? But no, you have just become crazy like Dylan. You don't even give a fuck about her feelings!! And what do you mean by she has no choice? If she won't sign on the papers and divorce Dylan, what you're going to do? YOU WILL BLOODY FORCE HER??”

Brandon growled and jerked him back. Xander was stunned by his words. His eyes got filled with heavy tears as regret hit him with full force.

“N-No I will never do that. I just want her happiness,” he cried. Brandon took a few steps back. He then pushed his hair back with his fingers revealing his broad forehead.

“And her happiness lies in her hands, in her decision, in her opinion, in her choice. I understood you have done everything for the sake of Evelyn's wellbeing but don't forget Xander, the last decision will be of her only,” he spoke in his deep raspy voice. Xander looked down while tears kept rolling down his cheek, one by one.

“I am sorry Bear. You are right. I have become so mad for winning that I didn't even realize that I was opting the same way as Dylan,” he spoke in a broken voice. Brandon's gaze softened. He knew Xander since childhood. He knew he was tensed and worried to save Evelyn. He didn't mean a word what he said to him. Brandon then walked towards him and placed a hand on his left shoulder in a comforting way.

“I know that. But Xander, you need to see things from Evelyn's point of view. She had already been forced into a toxic marriage by her parents. She was caged in a house where her voice, her opinions were never heard. The strong girl who had the caliber to run an entire company at an age of just 19 was oppressed brutally by her husband. Think of her mindset, that fragile soul had gone through some severe heartbreaks still she is smiling and is sane till today. Stop taking the credit that you made her like this. I agree it was all because of the strength that Aunt Maria and we had given to Evelyn but her main strength is her willpower. She is a warrior Xander because if any other girl would have been in her place, she would have succumbed to death by now. But no, Evelyn fought back, and now at the crucial moment when we have a chance to return her lost respect and worth when we should be standing beside her like her pillars, you are again thinking to break her trust? Just think Xander, how much heartbroken will Evelyn be if she comes to know how her friends are fighting with each other to again confine her back but now in their golden cage? How will she feel?”

He explained to him. Xander nodded while sobbing hard.

“I know. I lost my mind. I was already too stressed with Dylan and Evelyn's ignorance only made me more frustrated. I am sorry,” he mumbled guiltily. Brandon nodded and hugged him. Xander hugged him back.

“It's okay. I forgive you.”, Brandon patted his back. Xander rested his chin on his right shoulder.

“This fast?” he joked with teary eyes. Brandon chuckled and broke the hug.

“You know, how generous I am? Oh! Brandon. You have such a big heart,” he said and wiped off his fake tears. Xander chuckled.

“Now wipe off your tears otherwise Cutiepie will get doubtful. Moreover, we are going to celebrate her birthday”, Brandon snickered. Xander nodded and wiped his tears with the back of his palms. They both then adjusted their clothes.

Brandon then headed towards his beautiful Mercedes. Xander wrested the door handle of his car and said while smiling.

“I am sorry for my misbehavior Brandon. And also, for raising a finger on you and your Cutiepie's relationship when you both are no more than good friends-“

"I love her."

Xander instantly halted in midway as soon as he heard him. He immediately snapped his head towards Brandon who was about to get inside his car.

“What?”

He said and stared at him in bewilderment. Brandon stopped and looked back at him. All of a sudden, his lips tilted upwards as he flashed him a smirk.

“I wasn't born yesterday Xander. I know why are you highlighting this word again and again so that your path becomes crystal clear once Evelyn and Dylan get divorced. But keep this in your mind Pooh, I do love her, and I had even confessed my love to her,” he replied, his gaze was a mocking one. Xander's grip on the handle instantly tightened while his expressions turned hard. Brandon chuckled at his red face.

“But as I said, I will respect her decision. But you also need to keep in mind that the same applies to you as well.”

His face eventually turned stoic as he completed his words. Xander didn't say anything further. Brandon then got in the car and drove away while Xander kept glaring at his car with burning eyes.

"You wait for her decision Bear but I know for sure. Evelyn will only be mine at the end."

*****