Not my Fault

Fred POV

The front door slammed shut behind Elias with a deafening bang, the sound echoing like a final insult.

I stood there, chest still rising and falling heavily, trying to keep my expression neutral even as adrenaline pumped through my veins.

The silence that followed was thick and uncomfortable. I could feel everyone’s eyes staring deep into my soul — Father’s angry and suspicious gaze, Mother’s curious one, and Aunt Jane’s wide, terrified stare.

Father turned to me slowly, his face dark with fury and confusion. “Fred. What the hell just happened? What rape is Elias talking about? Explain yourself right this moment.”

I shrugged, adjusting my shirt collar casually as if the entire confrontation had been nothing more than a minor inconvenience. “Nothing important, Father. Elias is just being dramatic again. You know how he is — always playing the victim, always looking for attention.”

Father’s eyes narrowed in doubt. He took a step closer, voice dim and threatening. “Don’t you dare play games with me, boy. He grabbed me by the shirt and accused you of paying someone to rape him. He said you wanted him pregnant. What kind of madness is this? Answer me properly!”

I let out a short, dismissive laugh and shook my head. “He’s lost his mind, that’s what. You saw how hysterical he was. Probably caught a bad fever and started hallucinating all kinds of nonsense. There’s no need to take anything that bastard says seriously.”

Mother stepped closer, placing a hand on Father’s arm soothingly. “Darling, Fred is right. Elias has always been unstable. Maybe all that hard work and rejection finally broke his weak little mind.”

Father shrugged her hand off impatiently, still staring directly at me. “I want the truth, Fred. How did you know about Elias having ‘woman’ features? How did you know he could get pregnant? Explain that part right now.”

I paused for a second, my mind racing. I couldn’t tell him the full truth — not yet. Not when the plan with the hitman was already moving forward and Elias’s death was only a matter of days away.

“I went through our home library one day,” I said smoothly, keeping my voice confident. “I was looking for some important research materials and stumbled upon some… hidden medical records. Turns out our dear brother isn’t exactly normal. Some kind of rare condition or twisted experiment from when he was born. His bitchy mother did something unnatural to him. That’s why he’s always been so strange and weak from childhood.”

“Watch your tone when you speak about her!” Father’s expression hardened instantly, a flash of genuine anger crossing his face. “And you never thought to tell me this? You kept something this big from me?”

I shrugged again, acting unbothered. “What was there to tell, Father? It’s disgusting. I didn’t want to burden you with it. I thought if I could just push him out of the company quietly, we wouldn’t have to deal with this embarrassment anymore. But Elias… he keeps clinging on like a damn parasite, refusing to disappear.”

Aunt Jane looked absolutely horrified, taking another fearful step back toward the wall. Mother, however, had a small, satisfied smile playing on her lips as she watched the exchange with clear approval.

Father rubbed his temples, clearly frustrated and exhausted. “This family is falling apart at the seams. First Elias blabbers about disowns us in a fit of madness, now this insanity about pregnancy and rape. Fred, if you know something more, you had better tell me right now. I don't want any hidden secrets again.”

Could he have found out the truth? No he can't know, all I have to do is pretend and I will easily breeze through this.

I met his eyes without flinching, keeping my expression neutral and clear of suspicion. “Father, trust me. Elias won’t be a problem for much longer. He’s currently unstable. He’ll either destroy himself with his own stupidity or… simply disappear. Either way, the company will be much safer without him dragging us down. You’ve always known he was a mistake. His mother’s mistake.”

Mother nodded eagerly, squeezing Father’s arm again. “Exactly, darling. Fred is only trying to protect this family. Elias has always been a threat to Fred’s future — to our future. He needs to be removed before he causes any more damage.”

Father stared at me for a long, heavy moment, searching my face for any sign of deceit. I held his gaze steadily, refusing to look away.

Finally, he let out a deep, tired sigh. “Clean this mess up, Fred. I don’t want any more scandals attached to the Carter name. And if Elias really has lost his mind, make sure it doesn’t affect the company in any way.”

I smiled inwardly, a dark satisfaction blooming in my chest. “Of course, Father. I’ll handle everything. You don’t have to worry about him anymore.”

As Father turned and walked back toward his office with Mother still clinging possessively to his arm, I remained standing in the hallway. Aunt Jane gave me one last terrified look before hurrying away, practically running from my presence.

I pulled out my phone, staring at the screen with cold satisfaction.

Elias had heard too much tonight. But it didn’t matter anymore.

Soon, he would be gone for good and no one — not even Father — would ever suspect a thing.