Chapter 112

Liliana's pov :
Asher and Jay stood beside me when they saw my dad. "Don't worry! We'll pass through it, too." Jay whispered and held my hand. I looked at him and smiled to assure him that this time, I won't give up.
My dad couldn't blackmail me anymore because Ben was already married to Sandra, now he couldn't do anything. Jay had an upper hand, he had almost won this battle, we were just waiting for my parents' reaction.
"Ben, honey, how could you do this to your mom when you knew everything I suffered from?!" My mom ran to Ben and started crying.
I went closer to her to console her but Richard appeared from nowhere and pushed me away forcibly. Jay held me at the right time, otherwise, I would have fallen on the sand.
"You asked Ben to get married so you could live happily with your boyfriend and my mom would be hurt," Richard barked and I was too stunned to understand the meaning of his words.
Where was he when she needed him?! He was on a trip with his boyfriend and now when everything was coming to a perfect end, he was accusing me of being selfish.
"She didn't ask me to marry her, she didn't even know anything about this. Don't say anything when you fucking don't know anything!" Ben pushed his hands away from mom's arms and held her hands.
Richard acted like she wasn't my mom, she was only his mom. I knew that he loved mom so much but that didn't mean he had the right to hurt me.
"I didn't betray you, I just did what my son wanted. After all, I couldn't be as ruthless as you. I want my son's happiness, I don't want to force him to be with someone whom he doesn't love." John shouted and Alex smirked as all of us looked at him, John wasn't part of their plan.
John strolled towards us and smiled at us. "So now we are even. You did me a favour so I returned it today."
He turned to face my dad who was just five feet away from us. "You know what Ian, you never loved someone and that's why you can never understand that love is more powerful than money." John patted Jay's shoulder and moved to Ben to congratulate him.
"Yes, I never loved someone because love makes people weak. I'm announcing that Bennett Watson is no one to me from now on. I'll never force you to come back because you have already brought disgrace to our family by marrying this orphan." My dad ruthlessly announced and made his way to his car.
Paparazzi followed him and Asher asked his guards to make sure that the reporters couldn't enter this area again.
"Why are you doing this to yourself, Ben? You can live a happy life but you are choosing hardships. I know your dad, he won't let you have even 1% of his business." My mom cried out, weeping.
It was so difficult to make my parents understand that money wasn't everything. I was so sure that if Ben had taken that big step into his life, he must have prepared his best for him and Sandra.
I was feeling bad for Sandra who got hurt again because of my dad's harsh words. Every girl's wedding dream was to be the happiest girl on that day but Sandra couldn't be as my parents were there to humiliate her.
"Mom, please! I'm going to graduate soon, just four months more and I'll be able to start my own business. Don't worry about me! I wasn't having fun in London, I was doing part-time jobs, internships and many more things to gain knowledge and experience. Trust me and divorce that bastard!" Ben held my mom's hands and tried to assure her but it didn't work out as she slapped him.
"The person whom you are cursing is my husband and your father. Don't forget your manners!" She furiously shouted and tears flowed from her eyes.
Ben gripped her arms and hugged her. Slowly, he rubbed his hand in her hand, a tear escaped from his eyes and I couldn't stop myself from crying, too. Why was my family like this? Why were the people whom I loved in pain?!
"Mom! I want you to accept one thing that Sandra is my wife and she deserves the respect. I didn't choose her over you, but you chose dad over everything and everyone. If you can't give us your blessings, please, don't offend my wife either! I'm a good husband, my mom taught me good manners. I was raised by a great woman who taught me how to respect and love my wife and I'm just doing that so my wife can realize that she has the best husband. She should understand that she has a huge responsibility to pass on this upbringing to the next generation. I can't let anyone point out a finger at my mom for not raising me well." Ben didn't care about the tears that fell from his eyes in front of everyone.
Sandra's eyes were wet after hearing Ben and Jay's grip on me tightened as my lips trembled from the grief I was holding in my heart.
"Thank you for raising Ben so well! I'm sorry for everything, but I can promise you one thing that I'll always be by his side no matter what! I know that I don't fit in your family so I'm not going to ask you to accept me." Sandra came forward and uttered to my mom with teary eyes.
My mom smiled and kissed Ben's forehead. "Thank you for reminding me what real love is!" Smiling at Sandra, she closed her eyes and turned her heels on.
Richard was a silent watcher, he didn't dare to speak between Ben and mom. He just followed mom as she walked away. I would deal with that mean boy later, he needed to learn a lesson. I couldn't let him behave like that with me always.
Selena pulled me in a warm hug and I felt lucky to have Jay in my life. His family was the best, the least I could do for them was to bring Jay and Selena together back.
"Thank you!" I mumbled and wrapped my arms around her, she patted my back like a mom and I smiled at her affection for me.
Fiona and Jay draped their arms around me and everyone else loaded their bodies on us. Soon it turned to a suffocating hug from a warm hug.
"Ey! I need to catch a breath!" I shouted and they chuckled, taking their hands off.
"Finally the drama is over!" Alex sighed and earned a punch from me. "Ouch! Dangerous woman!"
Jay glared at him and he frowned. "I need a boyfriend I guess. I need safety from this couple."
"Are you seriously into guys?" John's eyes widened, he took his words seriously. Poor he didn't know that his son was quite funny who could make anyone laugh in any situation.
"Dad! I'm straight! I was kidding. Don't you remember that I have an ex?" He shrugged as a cool dude.
"Let's cut the cake and continue the party!" Asher called everyone and the party got started.
Ben and Sandra were again happy, they cut the cake and we danced, sipping champagne. The party went well and Sandra was too exhausted to continue with her gown and high heels so she went to relax.
Stuffing our stomachs with delicious lunch, we also gave rest to our anxious minds. In the end, I had to go back to that mansion again but Jay and Ben refused me to go back.
I assured him that I was totally fine with living with them for a few more months until I entered college. Moreover, my dad couldn't blackmail anymore and we hardly talked usually so it wasn't a big deal.
After so much effort, I persuaded Jay to drop me back at the mansion.
"When are you going back to London?" I questioned as I was meeting him before leaving.
He pressed his lips and answered, "from tonight's flight. But don't worry, I'll be back soon after my graduation and I'll move to Los Angeles forever."
Asher and Selena were also waiting for me to say goodbye. As soon as they saw us, they walked to us and patted Ben's shoulder.
"I'm waiting to get a deal with you." Selena excitedly said.
"No! I won't take a favour from you. I'll be a self-made man and you're my inspiration for that." Ben nodded his head and refused the offer.
Asher rolled his eyes just like Jay. "You remember the diamond project that you submitted in our London branch, it was appreciated by our experts and they are excited to collaborate with you. We really loved your ideas, and we were going to send you an official agreement but then we delayed it because you haven't graduated yet so it's kind of a good coincidence that you are Lia's brother." He sighed and took a long breath. "Oh, this boy made me speak too much."
My brother's eyebrows raised in confusion and his jaw hung open that I slowly closed with my hand, giggling. "I can't believe that it got approved. I submitted it a long time ago so it kinda slipped my mind."
"Sorry, it took a long time as we had a long list to go through before selecting a few." Selena grinned.
Our friends had left a few minutes ago so now only Jay's parents and the wedding couple were there and Jay and I were leaving first.
"Come, Lia!" Jay yawned and opened the door of his car for me.
Selena instantly asked, "did you sleep last night?"
Jay didn't answer her question so I narrowed my eyes at him and indicated to him to answer.
"I was driving last night to get here." He was so tired, his face was a bit swollen due to lack of sleep and I noticed it just then.
"You both are coming with us. You can't drive like this." Selena ordered and before Jay could protest, I held his hand and made him stop saying anything.
"Our taxi has arrived so we are leaving, too." Ben had picked up his sleeping bride in his arms who had changed into comfy clothes now.
I took my phone out and clicked their picture. "Sandra will be happy to see this picture. Send me her number!"
He placed Sandra in the seat and came to hug me. "Love you, Lily! I'll be back soon."
Jay also came to share a quick man-to-man side hug. Selena and Asher waved him goodbye.
"Please, take good care of my sister! I'm counting on you," my brother pleaded to my boyfriend and that was the best moment for me. Seeing my two favorite men sharing a good bond made me feel so happy. "And yeah, send me the bills for this wedding. A man should never let anyone pay for his wedding expenditures so, please…"
"He'll surely send you," I grinned all ears to ears and promised him.
Ben chuckled and Jay glared at me as if I had snatched his food from him.
"Let's go, kids!" Asher shouted and we both followed them to his car.
Asher started driving and Jay plopped his head on my shoulder as soon as the car started. We both spent indeed a sleepless night last night.
I ruffled his hair and Selena turned to us only to smile at us and make me feel shy. Romancing in front of his parents made me feel shy so I tried to push his head away from my shoulder.
"No! It's fine! Please, let him sleep!" Selena stopped me and I raised my brows at her words. Sometimes it was absurd to understand Jay and Selena's relationship.
She loved him, cared about him, she wasn't something like Jay had told me before. I wanted to know about what exactly happened but I didn't want to offend her so I never asked.
Soon I drifted off to sleep and we just slept on each other's shoulders during the whole drive in the back seats of the car.
Selena woke me up slowly when we reached my house. "Hey, Lia! Please, get up slowly! I'll sit at your place so he won't wake up." As soon as I opened my eyes, she explained and I just rubbed my eyes before yawning.
I did as she told and stood confused. As if she had deciphered my looks, she said, "if you are free before New Year, I'd like to invite you for coffee at my office."
"Um, we kinda need to tell you something important and as I'm leaving after New Year, I'll really appreciate it if you could give your precious time to us." Asher hesitatingly asked and scratched the back of his neck. No wonder from where Jay got his sweet talk skill!
Seeing those serious expressions on their faces, I kinda got scared so I directly asked, "you aren't planning to reject me for your son, are you?"
Asher chuckled and waved me off. "That's not gonna happen ever! We just need your help with something important, that's it!"
"Alright, then! I'm in!."
"Perfect!"
"Take care of yourself! And you are not alone, okay? Just give any of us one call anytime if you feel something is wrong."
Waving them goodbye, I made my way to hell. This mansion was more of hell to me. I entered the house and found my dad walking back and forth, he was waiting for me.
"Welcome home! You are going to pay for your brother's deeds." He sat on the couch and sipped his drink.
"I'm so ashamed of you. Don't even try to threaten me! I'm not scared of you." I didn't wait for his response and immediately rushed to my room.