The Possessive Lord's Contract Wife

On the way down to the dining chamber, Eloise was surprised to see Quinn walking towards them. He avoided her gaze and moved to the right to get out of their path.

Quinn wasn’t coming to see them. He was likely going to his bedchamber to be alone.

"Good evening," Quinn muttered under his breath. "I will have my dinner in my bedchamber."

Eloise stayed silent, not wanting to stir up drama between the two brothers.

Damien watched Quinn, sensing something was amiss. "Go ahead without me, Eloise. I will join you shortly."

Quinn regretted returning to the estate immediately after hearing what Damien said. All he wanted was to be in the comfort of his home and surrounded by his family. Here, Quinn couldn’t get so drunk that he would make another mistake.

"Not now, Damien," Quinn said, flicking his hand to shoo Damien away.

"I can do as I please. What have you done? You didn’t crawl back here just because you missed us. So, what did you do?" Damien asked, following Quinn.

"Nothing," Quinn replied.

"You still can’t manage to sit with us, yet you want me to believe you returned home all because you missed your bed? You did something, and before I hear of it from someone else, tell me what it is," said Damien.

"Must I remind you that you are not my father? You don’t get to question as if I am your son or some child," Quinn snapped.

"It’s good you remember that I am only your brother. I would appreciate that you didn’t act like a child, so I don’t need to clean up your mess in the future. You are being childish over a woman you have not seen in years. She is my wife. Get over it," Damien advised Quinn.

Quinn turned around to face Damien. "I liked her when we were younger."

"We’re older now. You hadn’t thought about her in years."

"How do you know?" Quinn questioned, approaching Damien.

Damien stood with his arms folded.

"Have you told your wife that before her, there were other women? Have you told her about that woman you used to see often?"Quinn asked, purposely being loud.

"Yes, we spoke about it. I had a past before Elosie. Are you being loud in hopes she hears it? Are you trying to spoil my marriage because you think it would give you a chance?" Damien asked, annoyed by Quinn.

"You are not the man she thinks you are. I know you, Damien. It won’t be long before your true colours show-"

Quinn was unexpectedly silenced by Damien punching him square in the jaw. He touched his jaw where pain started to build. "You," he said, staring at Damien in shock.

Damien rubbed his knuckles. "I’ve tolerated the disrespect long enough. If my marriage with Eloise were to ever fail, you wouldn’t have a chance with her because she doesn’t love you as a man. Trying to spoil my marriage is a good reason for her not to care for you."

Damien stepped towards Quinn, causing Quinn to step back. "You liked her. So what? I liked her as well. If you had been the one to marry her, I would have taken the loss and moved on."

"You can say that because you aren’t in my position," Quinn said.

"I can say it because you are my brother. I wouldn’t have acted as you are now to ruin your happiness. You don’t love Eloise as I do. You’re stuck on the little girl in the past, while I love the woman before me."

"If you cared for her, you wouldn’t be rude to her just because you can’t have her. Quinn!" Damien yelled, grabbing Quinn’s arm, stopping him from moving.

Damien was tired of going around in circles. He expected Kyle and Jane to be difficult, but not Quinn.

"I haven’t been rude to her. I have been honest," Quinn corrected Damien. "You struggle to love others."

"If I didn’t love you, you would have a bloody nose. You’re making a fool of yourself. Dragging yourself around like a pitiful bastard and drinking," Damien said, smelling rum on Quinn. "You couldn’t have loved her that much to become such a mess."

"You didn’t see her for years, and jumped to marry her. Why can’t I have my feelings? Why can’t I be upset that it wasn’t me?" Quinn asked, annoyed that Damien always had his way.

"You can have your feelings. Be hurt and disappointed, but you cannot hold any anger against her because she didn’t marry you. You can’t get upset with me when I didn’t know you cared about her. Even if I did know, why should I stop to think about your feelings from when you were a boy?" Damien asked, shoving Quinn.

"I’m telling you to move on because it is the only option left for you. If you get in her ear and try to spoil my marriage, your nose will be broken the next time I hit you, and you won’t be allowed back inside the estate," Damien said, calming himself.

"You always get your way," Quinn spoke softly. "It must be wonderful to be you."

"This again?" Damien sighed and tilted his head back to look at the ceiling. "I don’t always get my way. I was stuck with three stubborn siblings who aren’t grateful for my efforts. You get to run all over the town, creating a mess when you get jealous, and then crawl back here."

"If you would step up, take some responsibilities, and make proper use of your money, you could get all that you want. You wanted to run your own household, so I gave you the townhouse. Yet you decide to come back here and be annoyed that I am Lord Hawthorne. Fool," Damien insulted Quinn.

Damien shook his head, no longer in the mood to speak to Quinn. "Perhaps I am a fool for being concerned about you."

"When were you ever concerned?" Quinn inquired. He itched to punch Damien to repay him for the pain on the side of his face.

Damien turned his back to Quinn, not fearing an attack. "Just now, when I saw you and knew that you were facing some sort of trouble. Forgive me for being so concerned about you. I won’t do it again."

"It is time you get out of your feelings and see that being Lord Hawthorne isn’t as easy as you imagine it to be. You weren’t faced with stepping up, though you weren’t ready, so your siblings could be protected. Then again, you never cared to think of me," said Damien.

Damien left Quinn before another fight could start.

With all the drama within the estate, Damien only wanted to take Eloise out of the estate and have peace for a few days.