Deceiving My Bully Stepbrother
Chapter 37

(Caspian)

I don't know why the hell we were here right now..and of course, Dad made us turn our f*****g phones off so we can have "bonding time"..whatever the hell that is. So I didn't get the chance to text Johnnie back and it was killing me..

I glanced across the water as the boat drifted to a comfortable speed. Dad bought this boat a few years back, it's a mini yacht and he obviously has no idea how to drive it. But hey, he has enough money to hire people that do.

I glanced to the side, seeing Freddy and his dad laughing about something as I couldn't help but scowl.

Why did they have to come too?

"Hey..relax, you look like you're about to have a stroke." Milo said before slapping me on the back as he took a sip of his soda.

I made sure he wasn't going to touch a drop of alcohol this time..so far he is 0-2 and the alcohol is kicking his a*s.

"I just didn't get a chance to text Johnnie..what if she thinks I'm ghosting her." I grumbled quietly, feeling weird to admit this as my knee bounced up and down anxiously.

"Hey, just try to be in the moment..look where the f**k we are right now. Johnnie will understand after you explain everything." Milo encouraged before smiling.

I just nodded once, returning the best smile I could muster as I still felt sick about it.

Then I heard Alder laughing about something with my dad as I darted my gaze towards them. Ben on the other hand..he looked just as miserable as me. I felt kind of bad actually..but he has been giving my dad the death glare all morning now that he knows what happened.

"I'm going to use the bathroom." Milo stated quickly and that's when Ben came trudging over before plopping on the couch.

"So this is why you were such a d**k the past few years...no offense..but I can't f*****g blame you now..I want to knock the dude out." Ben grumbled quietly before turning his head towards me.

"Yeah..definitely not enjoying this either.." I confessed, my eyes glancing at Alder as he looked so damn happy.

"How are we going to tell him?" Ben asked, speaking my thoughts out loud as I shook my head..feeling just as clueless about this as him.

Alder and I have always been close..he has been more of a dad to me than my own dad since all this s**t happened. And after I graduate college..we are supposed to take over the company together. The King brothers will be starting at King Corporations in a few years..and Ben doesn't know.

My dad said he would give Alder these four years to go out on his own and live his "dream" then he has to get serious and leave that "child's play" behind. Before he and Ben started their business, Alder interned at King's Corporations until I went to college. He says the same about my hockey to me though..but I thought that if he saw how much I loved it, and how good I was... he would let me do this.

I'm already getting f*****g scouted and the guy doesn't seem to care.

But if I don't do this..then Mom suffers..Dave King knows she is my weakness... he knows that if I rebel, he won't punish just me to make an impact..no, he punishes her.

"Hey Caspian, can I have a word with you?" My father suddenly asked before placing his hand on my shoulder, making me jerk away.

"What is it?" I responded coldly, already done with this bonding s**t.

"I just need to talk to you about a few things." He said more sternly this time as I glanced over at Ben who looked like he was about to pounce.

"Sure." I stated, and stood quickly.

My dad held a beer in his hands as he walked towards the lower deck and entered one of the cabins away from everyone. That's when I knew I was about to be chewed out. Dave King never revealed this side to anyone but me..I don't even think Alder has seen it..but maybe that's because I saw the man without his mask..I knew his deepest darkest secrets and he didn't have to pretend around me.

"Sit down." He barked, making me walk to a small sofa as I sat, not even bothering to speak.

"Whatever is going on with you and Johnnie.. it needs to end now." He ordered, making me raise my eyes slowly as I met his cold gaze.

I leaned back before lifting my arm and resting it on the back of the couch leisurely.

"No." I stated firmly, causing my dad to do a double take like he couldn't believe I was saying this.

"No? You are throwing away your future Caspian if you date that girl. It's unacceptable." He explained, making my jaw clench as I prepared myself for the backlash I was about to get.

"Why? You thought her mom was good enough to f**k? So I thought I would follow in your.." I couldn't even finish as I felt the slap across my face. I sat there without moving an inch, the sting from the slap not affecting me as much it used t... was done with this..I'm not that little boy anymore.

My dad towered above me, his blue eyes almost black from the anger that coursed through him.

"So that's what all of this is about? You are trying to get back at me for leaving your mother for Heather. Well, it ends now.." He said before stepping back and running his fingers through his hair.

"I have spoken to Logan Winfield, he has agreed to invest in King Corporation and you will ask Heaven for her hand in marriage. That is what will be best for our family." He dropped this bomb on me, making my mouth drop open as I finally stood, losing that cool persona.

"The f**k I'm not..what is this, the 1800s?! You can't make me do shit." I yelled, causing my dad to look taken aback by the tone I used with him.

"Do you think I was happy when my dad told me about your mother? That I was in love with her when we married? No, but it was what I had to do for my family.." He spat, making me flinch as I knew they were set up when they met in high school..but I didn't know it was a contracted marriage..

"I had another girlfriend at the time..I was ready to run off with her..but, I knew it would destroy my family Caspian. I was being selfish and you need to open your eyes...maybe down the road you two can be together..that you can reconnect like me and Heather." He stated making my eyes widen as I looked at him in bewilderment.

My dad walked over to the couch before sitting down and placing his hands over his face

"Yes..she was the girl..and what made it even worse was that I had to marry her best friend..we stayed away from each other for a long time...and eventually, I couldn't any longer..I loved Heather even on the day of my wedding to another woman." "Did mom know?" I asked breathlessly.

"Of course, she knew..Heather begged Viva not to go through with it..but our families were powerful people."

"Then why are you going to make me do this..why do I have to suffer the same f*****g way you did?!" I shouted, making him sigh before standing up and walking towards me.

"Because we are King's men..we have to do things to better our family and being in love...that is the one thing capable of ruining all of that...why do you think your brother hasn't settled down? Because he knows he will have to marry wisely.." I felt the world spinning around me..my chest started to ache as what he said was killing me..

"Caspian..I know this will be hard..but right now, you need to focus on finishing school, and by the end of the trip, we will announce your engagement..if you don't agree, I will not only cut you and your brother out..but your mother as well." And with that..he left..he left me after shattering my heart and soul into a million f*****g pieces..