Chapter 724 Friendly Warning
While the ladies had retired to their bedrooms, and the elders to their rooms, Tom, Harry, and Bryan remained outside enjoying a nightcap as they conversed.
"So, what is it like taking care of a pregnant lady? Share tips with us bachelors," Harry said and Bryan smiled smugly while Tom watched in amusement.
Perhaps in the past he would have felt a bit jealous at the subject considering that both Bryan and Harry would be fathers while he wouldn't because Lucy wasn't willing to, but now that he knew Lucy was gradually changing her mind he felt more at ease.
Bryan cleared his throat as though he was about to give an lecture important lecture and Tom shook his head as he waited to hear what Bryan had to say.
"I read that pregnancy is different for every woman. So, it might not be the same experience for you. However, I can tell you how each symptom can be managed. I've read extensively on the subject," Bryan said and Harry shook his head.
"When the time comes, I will read up on it myself. Or maybe I should start now," he said thoughtfully.
"Why now? It's not like you are married yet or getting married any time soon. Or do you plan to knock her up before marriage?" Bryan asked with narrowed eyes.
"Harry isn't like you. He is much more decent than you," Tom said and Harry chuckled.
"I wouldn't vouch for me if I were you," Harry said and Tom raised a brow.
"More decent than me? That's rich coming from the one who just recently got out of a DNA drama. I'm not the one who banged the same chick as grandfather," Bryan said and Tom glared at him while Harry laughed out loud.
"If it makes you feel better, you hit it before your grandfather did," Harry said and both him and Bryan laughed while Tom eyed them with displeasure.
"It's not funny," Tom said and Bryan shrugged.
"Your sense of humour is faulty because the joke is on you," Bryan said and Harry chuckled.
"Anyway, I'm thinking or proposing to Jade sooner than later. I don't think I can wait until six months as I wanted to," Harry said, and both brothers momentarily forgot their bankers and raised their brows.
"I said it! She got you wrapped."
"How soon?" Tom and Bryan spoke at the same time.
"As soon as I clear up the mess with Sara, which I can assure you is pretty soon. It's a matter of weeks. The moment I clear it up, we can go on the vacation and I plan to propose to her while we are there, and hopefully we can have our wedding in three months or less if she is okay with it," Harry said and Tom grinned as he slapped Harry on the back.
"That's great! I'm happy for you!" Tom said happily while Bryan grinned as he extended a hand to Harry for a handshake.
"I suppose this is meant to be a secret?" he asked and Harry nodded.
"Yes. I'm telling you because you are both her elder brothers. So, consider this as a sort of consent-seeking conversation," Harry said and Bryan smiled.
"You are such a gentleman. I hope Tom turns out like you," Bryan said and Harry chuckled while Tom scowled.
"Well, what sort of proposal are you aiming for? Do you want something private? Or would you want us to be there? We could fly over to join you on the said day and make it more surprising for her," Tom suggested and Harry grinned.
"I think that would be wonderful. All I have to do now is make up my mind on where to spend the vacation," Harry said and then picked up his phone when it started ringing.
Although it was late at night, he was curious to hear what the caller had to say since he had given him an assignment.
"Excuse me for a minute," Harry said to both brothers as he walked away from them.
"It's good to see that you were right about Harry. He's a great guy," Bryan said with a small smile.
"You're only just realizing it now? I'm never wrong about people," Tom said proudly.
"Yeah. I guess that's why you slept with grandfather's girlfriend," Bryan said dryly.
"Is there a particular reason you're trying to provoke me by continuously bringing that up?" Tom asked as his patience gradually ran thin.
Bryan shrugged as he picked up his glass, "Not exactly. I just find it really amusing the more I think of it," Bryan said with a grin as he raised his glass in a silent toast before taking a sip.
"I see. I owe you one," Tom promised with a stiff smile as he also raised his glass to Bryan.
Harry returned with a frown etched on his fae as he sat down.
"Is everything alright?" Tom asked and Harry shrugged.
"It depends on what you make of this. The source of the scandal has been traced. It was from Kimberly not her parents," Harry said and Tom nodded thoughtfully while Bryan looked at Harry in disbelief.
"Kimberly? Are you sure about that? Why would she do that? Besides, she told us her parents were behind it," Bryan said and to both their surprise Tom smiled.
"What is amusing you?" Bryan asked and Tom sighed.
"I understand the game she is playing. I think she is an upgraded version of Anita," Tom said and Harry raised a brow.
"What do you mean?"
"Isn't it obvious? Grandfather must have told her the reason for the prank, and I think they must have both figured out that it was Lucy who didn't want to get married. Kimberly probably thinks she can get a chance with me, and by doing something like this she can push Lucy out and maybe force me into adopting Dawn and marrying her just to protect my grandfather's reputation," Tom said thoughtfully.
"Is she out of her mind or does she think you are stupid?" Harry asked with a frown.
"Must be both," Bryan said with disgust.
"Yeah. I'm glad I've asked Lucy to stay away from her. I hope she listens," Tom said and Harry raised a brow.
"Are they both in contact?"
"Yeah. I only just found out earlier today. Apparently she asked Lucy to help her watch over Dawn. I think she probably did that so she can blackmail Lucy emotionally using the child."
"And Lucy being Lucy felt sorry for her and was trying to be a friend?" Harry asked knowingly and Tom nodded.
"So, what do we do now that we know she is behind this?" Harry asked Tom.
"Start by telling Lucy what Kimberly is up to. I'm sure that would set her straight," Bryan suggested and Tom shook his head.
"That would only make her begin to worry and feel anxious. The person I should talk to is Kimberly and her parents. I don't want any prolonged drama like the case of Anita and her family. I'm going to need to handle this once and for all," Tom said and Harry nodded.
"Yeah. I agree with you," Harry said as Tom picked up his phone to give Kimberly a call.
The moment he dialed her line, Kimberly who was lying on her bed and thinking of what to do about the whole situation sat up immediately she saw the call from Tom, and her heart skipped a beat as she wondered why he was calling.
After taking a deep breath she received the call, "Hey!" She said in a small voice meant to make Tom believe she was sad and having a hard time.
"I have a question for you. Do you think I'm stupid or are you just delusional?" Tom asked and she raised a brow.
"I beg your pardon?"
"I warned you, didn't I? I asked you to stay away from Lucy and not try to mess with her, right? (Chapter 647)"
"When did I ever try to mess with her? Did she say I did something?" Kimberly asked innocently.
"Then I suppose I was the one you were trying to mess with by putting up that false news then and trying to make us believe it was your parents?" Tom asked and Kimberly's heart skipped a beat.
"Thomas, I didn't mean any harm..."
"Really? You didn't? Then you should be ashamed of yourself for using your own daughter that way and exposing her to the world for your selfish reasons. Lucy who isn't even related to her in any way has been trying to protect her from the media and make her feel accepted and loved, while you who happens to be her mother is busy complicating things for everyone. Do you really think either Dawn or Lucy deserves anything you're plotting right now? Do you have a conscience?" Tom asked in annoyance.
"Thomas..."
"I don't want you mentioning my name. I made this call to give you one last warning. This is the last time I'm going to be civil towards you. Stay away from Lucy. You don't deserve to be her friend. I don't know what your plan is and I honestly don't care about it, but do not get Lucy involved in it. I won't forgive you if you try one more nonsense. Ask those who have come before you, I can be ruthless when I have to be, and especially so if it involves Lucy. I've warned you twice now, and this will be my last warning to you," Tom said and without waiting for her to say anything else he hung up the call.
Still fuming he dialed her father's line, and waited for some time before the call finally connected.
"What do you want?" Kimberly's father asked in a gruff voice the moment he received the call.
"I just confirmed your daughter was behind the scandal..."
"Excuse me..."
"I don't know if you are involved in it or if she is doing it alone, but I want you to call her to order. I do not want any problems with your family, but if you insist on causing problems for me, I don't mind playing dirty. This is a friendly warning. The next time something like this happens, there will be nothing friendly about my reaction. It's a promise," Tom said without letting the man interrupt him, and he hung up without letting him put another word in.
"You can be quite scary at times," Bryan said with a shudder as he watched Tom.
Tom took a deep breath to calm himself, "Just to be on the safe side I will have Barry look into the Moore family for anything serious I can use against them if they try one more nonsense with me," Tom said and Harry nodded.
"I'm sure it won't get to that. Unlike Anita and her family, the Moores have a lot more to lose in such an unnecessary fight so I'm sure they will heed your warning," Harry said confidently.
"I'm counting on that too," Tom said as he rose and downed the remaining content of his glass.
"I think it's time to call it a night," Tom said and both Bryan and Harry rose as they did the same to their drinks.
"You both shouldn't forget to keep the engaement business to yourselves. You can't tell Sonia or Lucy about it," Harry warned as they headed inside.
"Won't you be needing their help to know what Jade prefers?" Bryan asked and Harry shook his head.
"I have a really good idea of what she prefers. I don't want anything ruining the surprise," Harry said and Bryan nodded but Tom said nothing.
He was too busy thinking whether or not it was necessary to tell Lucy that Kimberly had been behind the scandal. He really didn't want her to worry. She would probably overthink things as usual, Tom thought with a deep sigh and Harry placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Don't worry too much. And I think you should tell Lucy about it. So she doesn't have to be in the dark," Harry said as though he could read Tom's mind.
"Yeah. I guess I should," Tom said and they called out their good nights to each other as they each headed for their rooms.
As Harry approached Jade's room it occurred to him that as clingy as Jade could be, she had surprisingly not bothered to come find him after he had stayed out so long with the guys.
What was she up to? He mused, and then his thought drifted to the suspicious incident with Sonia earlier and he narrowed his eyes.
Was she perhaps planning a surprise from him? He mused with a grin. Knowing Jade and how mischievous she could be, he was certain that she was up to something naughty, and something told him the red lacy stuff he had seen hanging out of the box Sonia was carrying earlier belonged t Jade, hence the knowing smile which had been on Sonia's face.
He was both excited and curious to find out what she was up to. Not that he had any plans of falling for it anyway.
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