Page 152 of Empire of Hate (Empire 3)

I would restart if I could. Every day. Until the day I fucking die.

Kyle joined me some time later, offering a hand, but I refused, so he just hung around to watch.

He told me he’ll keep him on a leash with the help of his friends here. I didn’t ask who his friends are and I couldn’t give a fuck as long as Christopher never sat right, peed standing, or breathed clean air.

I would pay them the billions in my name if I had to. Every single last dime.

As long as Chris’s life turns miserable.

This brings me to the reason behind the emptiness.

Despite what I previously thought, this doesn’t fix it. Doesn’t bring back what Nicole already lost.

Doesn’t erase the fact that I’m part of the reason she was traumatized.

Not anyone else.

Me.

I take a sip of the cheap whiskey bottle I kept in my rental car for this purpose.

Two hours. That’s the amount of time I spent in my car on the opposite side of the street, unable to go inside the house.

Maybe I should leave now, sign over the mansion in Nicole’s name, and threaten Zach to provide her and Jayden with rich oil princes’ lives.

That would be the right thing to do.

But that would involve actually talking to my brother and me pushing her to another man.

Fucking again.

I retrieve my phone, all three hazy versions of it, and type out the ant-like letters.

Daniel:Asleep?

The reply is immediate.

Astrid:Currently painting for a fussy Glyndon. She’s nothing like Lan and Bran.

Those are her spawn. Landon, Brandon, and Glyndon. The reason they have preppy names is the fact that they’re Kings and will lead royal-like lives better than their father.

Daniel:I think I fucked up big time.

Astrid:Concerning?

Daniel:Someone. I hurt them. Badly. What should I do?

Astrid:Apologize.

Daniel:I don’t think ‘sorry I screwed up your life’ would pay the bill.

Astrid:You’d be surprised at the power of a genuine apology, Bug.

Astrid:Is this about Aunt Nora and Zach? Will you finally talk to them?

Daniel:No.

I throw the phone away before she starts nagging and acting like my surrogate mother.

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