Chapter 108

Jason's pov :
"Kristen told me that you are a good chef, are you? I mean, boys like you shouldn't waste time learning cooking. You are the heir of the Casano Empire and you must have better things to learn." Ian commented and stuffed his mouth.
Instead of appreciating my efforts for keeping his daughter happy, he was criticizing me. I couldn't believe this man, he must have done something really good to have a daughter like Lia. According to me, he didn't deserve to be her dad.
Our Christmas could be better if he wouldn't have invited us for dinner at his mansion. I was feeling pity for my girl who lived in that mansion alone and tolerated her parents. At least, my mom wasn't that bad. Whatever the mess it was between us, she never made me regret having Lia in my house and she never embarrassed me in front of Lia.
She didn't even look up, her head was lowered and she was eating so silently that was showing how embarrassed she was feeling because of her stupid dad!
I couldn't hold her hand as she was sitting beside her dad this time. Something very vicious was running in Ian's head, that was sure because the way he insisted Lia sit beside him and tried his hardest not to let us talk proved me right.
"You kind of ruined my Christmas plan, Mr. Watson. I was planning to make her favourite food at my home and invite your daughter to our place to celebrate together happily." I smirked and sipped the champagne.
Lia also supported me by her remark, "I would have loved it. I really had a great time at your home last time and your parents treat me just like Barbie. I'm so envious of you to have the coolest parents in the world."
"Well, congratulations, Jay! Your girlfriend now owns 50% of her dad's properties." Kristen showed her bitterness and everyone stopped eating as we didn't expect that she would talk about their private matters like that among us.
"Kristen!" Ian shot her death glare but Kristen didn't feel regretful, she just shrugged and smirked. "Well, Barbie, I hope you are not engaged yet."
Barbie almost choked on her food, no one of us expected that Ian would ask her that thing so casually. I offered her a glass of water and she took a small sip from it. "Um not yet! But I have-"
"Perfect!" Ian cut her off and smiled before refilling his glass. "Cheers to the new couple- Bennet Watson and Barbie Casano! I'll arrange your engagement at the best venue this New Year."
"That's not gonna happen, Mr. Ian Watson! Our daughter loves someone else, and it's not a business deal. It's about their future, their lives. No one has the right to interfere with her choices," My dad uttered in a firm voice and stood up from the chair.
Lia also got up from her seat and obstructed, "I can't believe that my dad just said this and hurt my feelings. It's not your damn business, dad. Ben loves a girl who might not be as rich as you but at least, she is supporting herself and I'm with Ben. I won't let you do this with him."
"It's all bullshit, Lia. What do you think, they would have accepted if you would be just a waitress like that girl? Don't forget that your Last name is your value, and that's why they don't have any objection with your relationship." Ian raised his voice and I would have punched his face if he wouldn't be Lia's father.
Before I could say something, my mother came forward and announced, "I would have accepted Lia even if she wouldn't be the daughter of one of the richest families in the town. We care about our children's feelings and happiness."
Ian chuckled and waved her off. "You are saying this because your words won't change the truth that she is certainly rich. Let me tell you one thing very clearly that if Barbie doesn't get engaged with Ben this New Year, I will announce the engagement of Lia and Alex!. I'm sure that you know Alex very well."
Ian and John were two similar money-minded people who had a deal of their kid's engagement but I was sure that after meeting us, Ian would have called it off as we were richer than John Jonas.
They both were so cruel and getting information about our private affairs was just a piece of cake for them. He must have known that Alex was our friend and now he was using this against us to threaten us.
But he didn't know that I would never be selfish and sacrifice Barbie's happiness. Ian was playing with our lives, he knew very well that I was so into his daughter and his son was in love with a girl who didn't match his status so he was just trying to control our lives and do what he wanted.
"There are two people in a relationship and you forgot that you were talking about me and you also forgot that you had to take my permission before fixing my engagement with your son. I love my brother but that doesn't mean I'll get engaged with your son and forget about my love and prove my love for my brother. I'm a strong woman who makes her own decisions, I'm too smart to fall for manipulative traps." Barbie used each word so perfectly that everyone was stunned.
That was my sister! She knew how to shut people's mouths with wise words, she handled the situation sufficiently.
Lia's dad smiled mischievously. "You're the perfect candidate for being my daughter-in-law. That attitude suits you and you are the right girl for my son. Start shopping for your engagement, this is your credit card, use as much as you want!" He extended his hand to give her the card.
I came between Barbie and Ian and took that card, locking my gaze at him. I threw the card at the dining table angrily. "My sister doesn't need your credit card."
"Fine! Let me talk directly then!" He bounced his shoulders. "Either your sister is getting engaged with my son next week or your girlfriend will get engaged with your best friend next week. Well, if Barbie agrees with the deal, you also can get engaged with Lia the same day."
"What made you think that I'll get engaged with Alex, dad?" Lia instantly raised a question and stood beside me. "I love Jay and you can't make me do anything against my wish."
Luckily, she showed the courage to go against her dad and stand by me. I was smiling even in that critical situation because my Love was with me.
"I'll deal with you later. Don't interrupt us! Just go into your room." Her dad barked and she shivered a little, she didn't expect that rude behaviour from her father.
I held her hand and shoved her behind me so I was facing her dad now and she was hidden behind me.
"If you wouldn't be her father, I would have punched you for raising your voice at my girl," I warned him and shot him a disgusting look.
"That teenage sweet and first love, huh? It seems good in the movies only. Today, you'll do what people do in real life. You'll make a choice, either you'll choose your sister over your girlfriend and let her marry her boyfriend or you'll choose your girl whom you love the most over your dear sister." Ian started his appalling manipulation and I knew that Lia was feeling scared now.
Until before this moment, she was strong and confident but after his announcement, she must have lost her senses and was feeling afraid of losing me because she knew that Barbie was the first woman whom I loved even before she came into my life.
I was feeling like being mad at her for feeling insecure about me. She should have known that she wasn't someone whom I ever wanted to lose or she wasn't my second priority.
"Yes, I love these two women the most! But that doesn't mean I love one less, and one more. Love is not something that can be gauged, I love them equally and fortunately, they both are strong enough to make their own decisions." Manifesting my decision, I left Lia's hand and folded my hands.
With the corner of my eyes, I peered at both of them one by one and they were smiling. I sighed in relief as I didn't hurt anyone and they understood me just how I expected!
If Ian was a powerful and cruel man who could manipulate my girls, I had to prove that I was a wise man who could protect my relationships from his manipulations.
Barbie stood beside me and held my arm with dignity. "Yes, we can take our stands ourselves!" And she glimpsed at Lia who was still standing behind me.
Lia slowly walked and stood just beside me and held my arm like Barbie before nodding her head and holding her head high in confidence. That's what suited her the most!
"Is this your last decision, Jay? Because Lia will do anything for Ben. She'll choose Ben over you. If you won't ask your sister to get engaged with Ben, I'll find another girl who can match my status and my sweet daughter loves Ben more than you. If she won't get engaged with Alex, I won't give a single penny to Ben and force him to marry the girl I choose so for the sake of Ben's happiness, she'll do anything." Ian finally threw his last weapon and my heart started pounding against my chest when I heard how he would use Ben against me!.
I could already feel Lia's hand loosening the grip on my arm and a victorious smirk playing on his lips. "So you're doing what I was scared of? You're choosing Ben over me?" I forgot everything and shook Lia while asking my fucking question.
In the world, no one could make me feel insecure about Lia except Ben. I knew that she could do anything for him, Ian wasn't wrong either but I had some faith in our relationship that she wouldn't leave me for anyone, not even for Ben.
Lia didn't meet my gaze, she stood there with a blank face like a statue and rage filled in my nerves seeing that.
There was nothing left to be spoken but I wanted to hear that from her mouth. I didn't want to believe what her silence was saying, I wanted to look into her eyes to see the truth, to read the truth. Lia knew that I would get the truth by just one look in her eyes and that's why she was avoiding meeting my eyes.
An indefinable pain was arising in my heart and tears were forming in my eyes. My clasp on her arms was tightening as I was unable to stand with that pain and weight in my chest.
She closed her eyes as my fingers probably were hurting her soft skin but I couldn't care less about her pain. I needed to know her decision, her choice, the person whom she loved the most.
"Lia had made her choice, she'll get engaged with Alex this New Year. I'll send you an invitation to the grand engagement of my only daughter. I hope you'll come and enjoy the party." Ian emitted his plan and I didn't bother to see his filthy expressions as I was busy staring at my girl's face.
As if I still needed his advice, he again opened his fucking mouth, "Well, my deal is still not off. Both of you can be happy, you both just need to persuade your siblings and I'm sure that they love you so much that they will offer a little sacrifice for you. Let's be practical! Barbie and Ben are two young good looking people who will eventually fall in love with each other. After all, love is not something that hard to find."
I was still looking at Lia in hope that she would again hold my hand and say that she would fight for me but her intentions were different, I discerned it when she finally looked at me with her teary beautiful blue eyes.
"I can't be selfish. I can't ask Barbie to accept my brother when I know that she loves Theo and I can't ask Ben to marry someone whom he doesn't love either." As soon as she finished her words, I left her arms and inhaled a long breath.
"It's not about being selfish, Liliana Watson! It's about fighting for your love. Since you have chosen Ben over me, I'm choosing Barbie over you and from this moment, I'm stopping fighting for you."
I didn't wait for her response or give a second glance at her beautiful yet painful face. I held Barbie's hand and we marched to the door of that hell of a mansion.
The moment Ian came to our house and invited us for Christmas at his place, I knew that something cruel was running into his mind because he was as arrogant as fuck. Why would he personally come to invite us even when he didn't care about his daughter that much?
But little did I know that he was plotting an enormous plan to make us do what he wanted!. He was trying to decide our fates and Lia didn't even fight for us.
"Jay, we can't let Lia be alone in her hard time. We must help her, she must have said that because of Ian. She loves you and you love her." Barbie stopped me midway through reaching my car.
I opened the door and sat in the driver seat. "We could do anything to help her but she doesn't want to fight for me. She chose Ben over me, that's it!."