Heiress' Househusband is a Secret Billionaire - Chapter 129

Chapter 129: The Past Chained Him No Longer
Ruediger’s piercing gaze and the frostiness of his voice took Vincent aback. He unconsciously leaned his body backward, feeling pressured by his elder brother’s unyielding aura.

The two brothers remained standing outside the apartment building’s gate. The indistinct noises from their surroundings seemed to disappear into a void as the air between them thickened with tension.

The morning sun backlit Ruediger’s figure, casting faint shadows on his face. Trying to suppress his fury, he took two steps back from Vincent. He loosened his grip on the bouquet, afraid of holding it too tightly.

Exhaling a sigh, Ruediger tried letting go of his fuming wrath. Allowing his anger to mess with his emotions into turbulent waves wouldn’t do him any good.

Ruediger kept his sharp gaze locked on Vincent’s eyes. When he spoke, the iciness of his voice seemed to lower the temperature around them.

“Don’t waste your time coming to see me. Have you forgotten? I’m already dead.”

Gripping his hands into fists, Vincent narrowed his eyes. Ruediger’s last remark struck a chord in his heart. The particular word jolted his mind to a memory when he was still very young.

Dead.

That was what their father, Matthew, declared before exiling Ruediger to another country close to two decades ago.

“He’s dead to me. Anyone else who dares challenge me, beware of the consequences.”

Driven by his fresh grief and massive rage, Matthew announced Ruediger was no longer the heir of the Alvord nor his eldest son.

Ruediger’s surname was still Alvord but, he forcibly ceased to exist on that day.

Matthew couldn’t stop high society from talking yet, his high authority in the Alvord family ensured no one had the guts to go against him.

Vincent swallowed, racking his brain for replies. He straightened his back, trying not to falter under Ruediger’s chilly gaze.

Despite being stripped of his rightful title as the Alvord family heir, Vincent couldn’t deny that Ruediger still possessed the necessary qualities.

Unyielding presence and an air of quiet authority even when not raising his voice, also highly analytical.

Deep in Vincent’s heart, he knew he lagged behind Ruediger a lot even though he went through the same training his elder brother used to before.

Ruediger inwardly sighed. Tearing his eyes away from the quiet Vincent, his gaze fell on the fresh bouquet in his arm. The floral scent of the roses infused the air around him, helping him to feel better.

“We’re more like strangers already,” Ruediger began, his voice heavy, “Don’t bother with my life.”

Indeed, Ruediger told Lariette he planned to cause a mess within the Alvord family with their marriage but, that was never his intention.

Ruediger only took advantage of his own background to persuade Lariette to have him as her partner in this contract marriage.

Vincent felt his nails dug deep into his palms as he tightened his fists. His rationality battled with the doubts that tried to take his mind.

Was he truly speaking the truth?

Vincent believed Rueediger had two things he could use if he indeed wanted to mess with their father.

One, his sudden marriage to the Elsher family’s heiress.

Two, his friendship with the CEO of Faulkner Investment.

Words about Ruediger and Nathaniel Faulkner being close friends reached Vincent through his friends who attended Stephanie-Matthias’ wedding[01].

Nathaniel Faulkner was renowned for being reclusive. He very rarely attended any social functions, always sending his right-hand man Fabian Mendez.

To hear the CEO of Faulkner Investment greeting Ruediger warmly, also saying they were friends, was enough to tell Vincent that their friendship wasn’t a superficial one.

Frowning, Vincent reminded himself the more important subject was Ruediger’s marriage to Lariette Elsher. He could dig into Nathaniel later.

“Why did you get married to her then?” Vincent spat, unable to let this matter go easily, “You two barely knew each other.”

“I’m not obliged to answer you,” replied Ruediger, evidently uninterested in talking to Vincent, “Stop this stupid chase. You’re the heir now. Focus on the company.”

Vincent should know better than not doing this comically stupid hunt. Even though Matthew pressured him, he didn’t have to follow that man’s every order.

Matthew Alvord might be unforgiving but, he wouldn’t ever want to see his legacy go to another person aside from his own son.

Without waiting for Vincent to reply, Ruediger spun on his heels, walking inside the compound of the apartment. His steps were steady as if he was not in a hurry to run away from Vincent.

‘I’d rather not see him again.’

Carrying the vibrant bouquet, Ruediger’s countenance loomed with dark shadows. He quietly walked out of the elevator once he reached the tenth floor.

When Matthew first exiled him before, Ruediger was filled with both fury and sorrow. He was beyond angry and upset because of how unfair his father’s judgment was.

But, Ruediger was no longer the same infuriated and miserable young boy from his past. He had come to terms with everything.

The most important thing was that he had seen clearly how misplaced the blame over his mother’s death was, something his father failed to do even after decades.

The past chained him no longer, unlike his father who still let it shackle him.

If there was one thing that brought him happiness from what happened in the past, it was meeting her.

‘I should put this here and… there.’

Once Ruediger walked inside the apartment, he quickly divided the bouquet into two bundles. He placed one inside a vase sitting on the coffee table in the living room while the other was for the entryway.

Seeing the fresh blooms cast a smile on his lips. He hoped he would get to see her smile brightly upon seeing the flowers.

Ruediger traced the delicate petals with his index finger. Tearing his eyes away from the blossoms, he looked at the wall clock.

Lariette wouldn’t return home until a few hours later. Ruediger had already decided on lunch, which all ingredients had been prepared by him.

Spicy honey-glazed chicken, a simple yet delicious and fulfilling dish.

‘I better start working now.’

The apartment was spotless, so, there was no need to tidy it up.

Walking away from the living room, Ruediger disappeared inside his home office. He had been slacking off more than usual recently. He had to make it up for his poor assistant.

The brief meeting with Vincent had left Ruediger’s mind. He was stuck at his work desk, trying to clear the backlog of his job.

The rest of the morning went peacefully for him, leaving no unpleasant traces of his younger brother’s sudden appearance.

———-

Reference:

1 – Chapter 80