Sweet Hatred-Chapter 445: RECKONING

KAEL

I watched Sabrina’s composure shatter in real time.

It was almost beautiful.

"Don’t you think," I murmured, my voice low enough that only she could hear, "it’s time everyone knew the truth?"

She stared at me, confusion and fear warring in her eyes.

"What truth?" she whispered. "What are you talking about?"

I leaned in closer, my smile widening.

"That Andrew isn’t my father’s son."

The words landed like a bomb.

Sabrina went completely still. The blood drained from her face so quickly I thought she might faint.

"You—you can’t—that’s not—"

"Come on now," I said softly. "Don’t make me reveal your secret in front of all these people."

Her legs buckled.

She actually started to sink, her knees giving out.

Before she hit the floor, Andrew was there, catching her arm, pulling her upright.

"What the fuck did you say to her?" he demanded, stepping between us.

I looked at him... really looked at him.

My half-brother who wasn’t my brother at all.

The product of Sabrina’s deception. Her insurance policy. Her attempt to secure a piece of the Roman fortune through fraud.

And he had no idea.

"Get out of my way," I said calmly.

"Fuck you," Andrew snarled. "You think you’ve won? You think because the old man gave you everything, you’re untouchable?"

"I think," I said, "that you’re in my way. And I’m asking you nicely to move."

"Or what?" Andrew stepped closer, trying to intimidate me.

It would have been laughable if it wasn’t so pathetic.

"Andrew," Sabrina’s voice was weak behind him. "Let’s go. Please. Let’s just go."

But Andrew wasn’t listening.

"You’re going to regret this," he said, his voice low and venomous. "You think you’ve got it all figured out, don’t you? Got your little empire, got your little whore—"

My hand shot out, gripping his throat before I even registered moving.

"Finish that sentence," I said quietly. "I fucking dare you."

Andrew’s eyes widened, his hands coming up to claw at my wrist.

"Kael!" Sabrina’s voice was shrill. "Let him go! Please!"

I held him for another second, watching the fear creep into his eyes.

Then I released him, shoving him backward.

He stumbled, gasping.

"Get the fuck out of here," I said. "Both of you."

Sabrina grabbed Andrew’s arm, trying to pull him toward the door.

But Andrew shook her off, straightening his jacket, his eyes still locked on mine.

"You think you’ve won," he repeated, his voice rough. "You think you’re safe now. That you’ve got everything you wanted."

He smiled, and it was ugly.

"But you’re not. This isn’t over, Kael. Not by a long shot. So enjoy your victory while it lasts. Because I’m coming for everything you have. Your company. Your reputation. Your little girlfriend."

The threat hung in the air.

"Watch your back, brother," Andrew said, spitting the last word like poison. "Because I’m going to destroy you."

Then Sabrina finally succeeded in dragging him out, the door slamming behind them.

The room remained silent for a long moment.

I exhaled slowly, rolling my shoulders, releasing the tension that had coiled there.

Andrew was an idiot. A spoiled, entitled idiot.

But he was also dangerous.

Because idiots with resources and grudges did unpredictable things.

I’d have to be careful.

I turned and found Aria standing a few feet behind me, her expression unreadable.

I crossed to her and pulled her into my arms, not caring that every eye in the room was on us.

Then I kissed her.

Hard and possessive and claiming.

When I pulled back, she was breathless, her cheeks flushed.

"Mr. Roman!"

I turned to find several reporters had somehow made their way into the room... probably let in by Whitmore to fulfill my father’s request for publicity.

Cameras flashed. Microphones were thrust forward.

"Mr. Roman, what’s your response to the will?"

"Do you have any comment on your stepmother’s accusations?"

"What are your plans for XE Corporation moving forward?"

I ignored most of them.

But one question caught my attention.

"Mr. Roman, there’s been speculation about your relationship with Miss Thorne. Can you confirm the nature of your involvement?"

I looked at Aria, then back at the reporter.

"Aria Thorne is the woman I love," I said clearly. "We’re together. That’s all you need to know."

More flashes. More questions shouted over each other.

I took Aria’s hand and led her out of the room, security clearing a path through the chaos.

---

The car ride back to the hotel was quiet at first.

My phone rang.

Ash.

I answered, putting it on speaker.

"Holy shit!" Ash’s voice exploded through the car. "Kael, what the fuck! Your father is absolutely insane! I just watched the whole thing live! He actually did all that!"

"Yeah," I said dryly. "He did."

"That was the most savage thing I’ve ever seen. Sabrina looked like she was going to have a stroke."

"She almost did."

"And Andrew! Oh my God, his face when he realized he got nothing—priceless!"

I didn’t respond.

Ash’s tone shifted, becoming more serious.

"But Kael, you know Andrew’s not going to let this go, right? He’s going to come after you. Hard."

My jaw tightened.

She was right. I knew she was right.

"I’ll handle it," I said.

"How?"

"I’ll dig up everything on him. Every dirty deal, every illegal transaction, every skeleton in his closet. And when I have enough, I’ll bury him."

I didn’t say it explicitly... not with Aria sitting right there... but the implication was clear.

I was going to destroy Andrew before he could destroy me.

"Okay," Ash said. "If you need help, call me. You know that’s my favorite thing to do."

"I know."

"Seriously, Kael. Be careful. Say hi to Aria for me."

"I will."

The line went dead.

I set the phone down and glanced at Aria.

She was staring out the window, her expression distant.

I reached over and took her hand.

"Are you alright?" I asked quietly.

She turned to look at me, and I saw the weight of everything in her eyes.

"A bomb just dropped on us," she said. "It feels... unreal."

"It does," I agreed.

Because it wasn’t real.

I was now the sole heir to an empire I’d never wanted. Every company, every property, every cent—mine.

The responsibility I had spent my life fleeing was now a cage of my own.

"You’re the head of this family now," Aria said softly.

"Yeah."

"Which means..." She didn’t finish.

"Which means you’re standing next to the man who owns it all," I finished for her.

The reality of that settled over us, heavy and cold.

She wasn’t just my girlfriend anymore.

She was the partner of the most powerful man in the country. The woman beside a throne made of billions.

Like a queen.

Her fingers tightened around mine.

"We’ll figure it out," she said. "Together."

I pulled her against me, kissing her temple.

"Together," I agreed.

And as the city lights streaked past the window, I made a silent promise.

Whatever happened next... whatever Andrew tried, whatever hell broke loose... I would protect what belonged to me.

My empire.

My woman.

My future.

My child.

All of it.

Whatever the cost.