Chapter 85

Quentin and the other two felt genuinely distressed for Callie. Though Callie never explicitly stated the reasons for marrying Silas, they all sensed it was out of sheer necessity and compromise. At the heart of it all, it was Gideon’s fault. On the day of the wedding, he had the nerve to run off with another woman, leaving Callie to face the humiliation alone.

At the Cloud Villa, Gideon stared at the breakfast, feeling utterly devoid of appetite. The sight of the food brought memories of Calliope. She was an exceptional cook, always preparing mouth-watering meals for him, never repeating a dish. Her culinary skills were unmatched by anything you could find at a restaurant. He’d grown accustomed to her bringing him meals, although he sometimes complained about it, thinking it was beneath her, as preparing meals was supposed to be the servant’s job, and her doing so only made her no different from a servant. And yet, in her absence, he found himself longing for her cooking. The housekeeper’s meals were good, but they lacked the personal touch Calliope added.

He still couldn’t shake the words his uncle had said, leaving him feeling unsettled. Had she really slept with his uncle? Despite all the years they spent together, she never allowed Gideon to get close. But now, after marrying his uncle, was she sharing his bed? Gideon’s face darkened at the thought. He didn’t fully believe his uncle’s claim, yet he had no reason to doubt him either. The mere idea of Calliope lying down on the same bed with his uncle left him inexplicably irritated. He pushed aside his annoyance and took a long, hard gulp of coffee.

“Beatty, clear the table, I’m done,” Gideon addressed the housekeeper.

“But you’ve barely touched your food,” Beatty remarked, surprised.

“I’m just not hungry,” Gideon replied, his voice tinged with frustration. He tugged at his tie, his gaze brooding.

Beatty gave Gideon a quick glance, opting to remain silent. As Quentin and the other two entered, Gideon was momentarily taken aback. “Who are you, and how did you get in here?”

“Sorry to intrude,” Quentin said, stepping forward and landing a punch squarely on Gideon’s face.

“Are you out of your mind?” Gideon nearly collapsed from the blow, his eyes wide with disbelief at Quentin.

“Mr. Baker, allow me to introduce ourselves. We’re Callie’s three brothers,” Norton said, with a hint of a rogue smirk. “We heard you ditched our sister on your wedding night for another woman?”

Julius chimed in, “Mr. Baker, we are quite upset about it.” The three of them exuded an intense presence, their demeanor commanding. Although Gideon didn’t know them personally, Calliope had mentioned her brothers to him before. He’d always dismissed them, assuming they were just simple country folk. Whenever Calliope brought them up, he’d brush her off, uninterested in meeting her so-called brothers. But now, seeing them in person, Gideon was stunned. Their aura was overwhelming, and their appearance was anything but ordinary.

“I didn’t abandon her. She turned around and married my uncle!” Gideon protested, frustration seeping into his words.

“Didn’t abandon her? Yet you spent your wedding night with another woman?”