Chapter 9
Derek tried to save the alliance without Mara.
That ended any claim he had acted only for his sister.
He approached Carlo privately.
Then Thomas.
Offered revised terms.
Whitfield would still provide access to its clubs and transport.
In return, Bellini would grant them influence through an “allied seat.”
No marriage required.
There it was.
Mara and Evan had become optional.
The plan outlived the romance immediately.
I confronted Derek in the same portrait gallery where he had held my brother down.
The pedestal was empty.
The portrait panel repaired.
Evan came because he wanted to.
He used a cane that day instead of the prosthetic.
His choice.
Derek looked at it and smirked.
“Downgrading?”
I almost moved.
Evan answered first.
“No.”
Then:
“Upgrading who gets to care.”
Derek’s smile faded.
Good.
I placed the revised alliance offer on the pedestal.
Not legal paperwork.
Just Derek’s handwritten allocation list.
Names.
Clubs.
Seats.
Promises.
“You’re dividing my family again.”
He shrugged.
“Your family wants what I’m offering.”
Some did.
Important distinction.
“Then why need me?”
He stared.
“Because without my approval, Whitfield access remained temporary.”
He wanted legitimacy.
The thing outsiders always need eventually.
Mara’s marriage was supposed to provide it naturally.
Without her, he needed formal family acceptance.
Not happening.
Derek turned toward Evan.
“You’re throwing away more than you understand.”
Evan smiled faintly.
“You told me I’d have nothing without Mara.”
Silence.
“I still have a brother.”
Derek rolled his eyes.
“A pitying brother.”
Evan’s face did not change.
“And you still need me to believe that.”
That landed harder than any punch.
Derek’s entire leverage depended on Evan seeing care as humiliation.
Once Evan stopped accepting that premise, the language became powerless.
I almost smiled.
May you like
My brother did not need me to defend him.
That might have been the first real change.
