||31||Confrontations

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A/N: Long chapter incoming...
Sorry for making you all wait so long.

Thank you if you've stayed this far, dear readers. I swear, see and appreciate each and everyone of you!
Remember to leave your comments I love laughing to them!
***********

It wasn't easy getting everyone down here, oh no. It was bloody hell.

Over the last months, so much tensions has built up between the Manors and it's been stretching our affection for one another.

There's dad, he's fucking pissed.

There's Micheal, as usual, shutting the world out of his life, though that's normal for him I guess. We still haven't sorted out our sibling issues.

There's Liam, running companies, arranging an arranged marriage -sorry, his arranged marriage- and also trying to be the brother I can lean on. Fortunately for him, he has an engagement party tonight after this fiasco.

Then there's our mum, Amber Chloette. At this point, everything just feels weird.

Liam cleared his schedule to be here, Micheal got out of whatever it is that he was doing to be here, dad...let me not even go there.

Mum sits at the end of the dining table, nothing but a simple expression plastered accross her face. Dad sits at the other end with his face resting between his palms. Micheal keeps checking his phone and Liam sits accross from me with his arms crossed.

It's been like this for exactly twenty minutes and twenty-two seconds.

I start to tap my fingers against the glass table and Liam shoots me a death glare. Dad raises his head and looks me in the eye while mother and Micheal do nothing.

I start to see he really is her son.

"Were you praying?" I ask dad.

"Madeline." Liam calls my middle name and I sense the seriousness in his voice.

"She better hope I was praying." Dad chuckles and I look at mum who still hasn't said a thing.

Out of nowhere, our dad looks his wife in the eye across the table and a single word which we've all been waiting for leaves his mouth. "Why?"

She looks at him for a second then picks at her nails before venturing to answer him.

"I-

"I love you, Am." Father says, his voice breaking in the process and my heart dares to shatter. He fondly calls our mother Am- short for Amber. He says it was the first nickname he ever gave her and here he is now, using it for probably the last time.

"Why?" He asks again. "What was the first thing you told me after she came home three years ago, Amber?" Dad asked, making us curious.

Three years ago. That was when I-

"Look at me, Amber!" Dad lashes out and Liam stands up to calm him down, telling him to watch his tone with our mother.

This is one of the reasons why I love my brother so much, his respect for women can never outweigh his anger at any given time.

"You said we'd take him down." Dad wipes his hand across his face and I see the agony in her eyes.

"What's he talking about?" I ask, looking at my mum. When she doesn't answer, I ask again more urgently.

"We said we'd take him down, didn't we?" Dad chuckles, as if this a all a joke. "Does our marriage really mean that little to you, Mrs. Manor?"

At this moment, mum looks at dad in the eyes for the first time this evening and I feel my hearbeat quicken.

"Mum?" Liam calls her name in a more warning manner but she barely hears him, she's too focused on my father as if begging him telepathically for this not to happen infront of us. Unfortunately, that's wasn't going to happen because we've sacrificed a lot to be here. I partially sacrificed my relationship, friends and other important things to be here and so had everyone else so that definitely wasn't going to happen.

"I'm really, really really trying to keep my cool here, Amber - dad is on his feet now- "but going behind my back after over twenty years of marriage just to fuck with the man who nearly killed our daughter?! Really!" He lashes out and I gasp.

"It's not like that!" Mum shouts back at him, standing up to his level across the table. "He's not like that."

"So you're not even going to deny it?" Liam asks, his confusion set on mum. "You've been with this guy? Yeez, mum!" Liam exclaims, banging his fist on the table.

"Three years ago - dad signs three with his hands- our baby girl made a mistake, Amber. She fucked up and we promised to be with her. We promised to take him down for what he did to Lilac, Amber! He fucking beat her. She wasn't ready but she still lost her baby at just sixteen. Didn't you feel that? "

Dads eyes turn glossy and I start to tear up. Was what he was saying true? They planned to take Blakes dad down?

"Look at me, Chloette!" He shouts and we all jump a bit at his reaction but then he sits back down, after realising how he just raised his voice at his wife.

"Like I said, it's not like that, Gab. We're just partners working on a project." Mum defends herself, still keeping her composure.

"So what do these have to do with anything?" Dad asks, sliding a few pictures of them together. Liam picks one up and frowns. "Are these like..for real? Are you kidding me?" He asks in disgust.

Micheal picks one up and shakes his head. "Define kidding you." He says to Liam and the rage in his younger brothers eyes in enough to shut him up.

I'm the last to pick a picture and when I do, I drop it back onto the table and push my chair back. I begin to feel tears wheal up in my eyes and as they begin to fall, I use my thumb to wipe my cheek.

It's the same photo Blake showed me; with his dad cornering my mum with his hand trailing the slit of her dress.

"Excuse me." I say to them, as I push my chair out and walk out the dining room.

This was bullshit.

Absolute bullshit.

I don't know why, but I took my phone out after I got to my room and slumped onto the floor dailing the first contact number which came into my mind.

It rang for a bit and when the receiver picked up, my voice broke. My tears spilled and my lungs were practically begging to breathe.

"Turtle?"

My heart was in so much pain and even though I thought I was strong enough, it was obvious I wasn't.

Did mum actually betray her family like that? Betray me?

"Baby girl?"

When I hear his voice, I life my top to my face to muffle his cries. He waits for me.

"I failed again. I failed."

"What are you talking about?" Kai asks, and I hear the panic in his voice.

"I just couldn't. I couldn't stay there. She literally stuck up for Martinez, Kai. Dad is a mess, my brother may as well blow up soon enough and I can't even breathe."

I feel my ribs constrict and it becomes more difficult to breathe. I drop the phone and put a hand to my chest. The air seems thick and my vision is blurred but I still hear when Malachi pleads with me over the phone to breathe in.

I comply and his words are followed by a "Breathe out."

We keep doing this for a few seconds and when I calm myself down, I pick my phone back up and put it to my ear.

"I'm so sorry."

"You have nothing to be sorry for, Lilac. You dropped everything because you believed you could do this and even if it didn't go right look on the bright side...at least you tried, right?"

He did have a point.

After all the pain I've caused him, he's still there for me. He cares and he promised a long time ago to always be on my side.

I lean against the wall and say three words into the speaker as tears continue to run down my cheeks.

"I love you."

For a while there's a pause and then a light chuckle.

"Me too."

I laugh comes out of me and I tell him to not say it like that because it sounds as if he's agreeing on something.

"I love you too, Turtle. So so much."

𓆉︎𓆉︎𓆉︎𓆉︎𓆉︎

In regards to whatever happened downstairs, I don't know and to be honest, I don't really want to. I've been through enough so cutting myself some slack is actually a very good thing.

It's evening now and I'm sprawled accross Liam's bed with my head resting in my palm as I watch him put on a black tie.

Like I said, it's his engagement party tonight.

For the first time, I'll be meeting his fianceé, Hailey, but for some reason, I'm okay with that. I just hope he takes this seriously and this means something more to him than a business arrangement.

"I'm proud of you Liam." I speak with so much honesty in my voice. "-I'm glad you're my favourite brother."

"Favourite huh?" Another voice cuts through the atmosphere and I instantly sit up on the bed, seeing a bit embarrassed about the truth I just spoke.

"I didn't mea-

"It's fine." Micheal says, walking over to Liam's bedroom mirror and hitting his back in a brotherly manner. "Guess someone's gotta be the fav." He shrugs, and meets my gaze.

"I should- Liam says, pointing to the bathroom door. "-you know? Take a piss?" And with that he leaves Micheal and I in his bedroom with nothing but the echo of how the door banged its post.

"I didn't mean those stuff." Micheal says, leaning against the mirror. "I was just in a bad place."

"Yep, lovely excuse." I give him a fake smile and begin to walk towards the bedroom exit.

"Lilac, wait." His voice stops me I my tracks and I breathe out a sigh as I feel his presence behind me.

"I'm sorry."

Was he? He'd never in his life seemed remorseful. When we were kids, things were so much easier. Simplicity was our hallmark and that kept us ever growing. I could bond with my brothers as if no one was watching and I wouldn't give a shit, though over the years, we drew apart and Micheal proved that love doesn't always conquer all but here he is now, apologising for his mistakes.

"How's your daughter?" I ask, still with my back towards him.

"Lilac." He says my name and I'm at the verge of breaking.

"-I know the things I said to you were unrecognised and I know I've let you down countless times-

Tell me about it.

"I've hurt you and our family in different ways. I know. If I can come back from that is undecided but I'm not asking you to forget my mistakes, I'm just asking you to forgive me. You'll always be my sister, Li, I just hope you'll see me as the big brother you once knew."

"Micheal." I say his name and that's it, I break.

Slowly, I turn around and wrap my arms around his neck, causing him to nearly fall in such an awkward position but in no time, he wraps me into a warm hug as well and it's like the memories of us as kids come flooding back to me. I dare to cry but I just close my eyes and feel the tears behind my eyelids instead.

Our embrace seems so filial it makes me sob and just as I begin to, Micheal rubs my back in circular motions and keeps repeating the words..."I'm so sorry, I'm so so sorry, I'm so sorry."

It feels like minutes as we remain in this position and it seems like we're lost in the love which we used to have for each other but when the toilet flushes and the door opens, I step back and watch his infamous cocky smirk form on his lips.

"Great, family reunion. I'm right on time." He says, walking over to us and crushing us in a hug. "-ya'll smell so good." He admits and I push out of the huddle.

That was weird so I start laughing and tell them I'm going to get ready right before the party begins.

𓆉︎𓆉︎𓆉︎𓆉︎𓆉︎

Its night time now, and I'm currently dressed in a simple but elegant white dress which sparkles with sequins as I wait for the event to begin. My brothers have been welcoming guests ever since members of our extended family started arriving but who cares? Majority of them are just here to see how many more millions my father is making and how hopefully, we've done something extravagant.

As I perch on a chair in our backyard watching the waiters arrange tables and organisers getting the gazebo ready, I wonder what it's like to have someone tell you they want to spend the rest of your life with you even though it's all supposed to be a lie.

Chewing on a pack of cheetos, I admire the simple things in life, the way the birds sing, the obedience of the trees to the wind and most of all-

"Fucking pieces of shit!"

I turn to my side and look at the woman who just let out a string of such colourful words. With a cheeto midway to my mouth, she turns to look at me with those tinted sunglasses and extraordinarily large summer hat, despite the fact I think she's trying to cover her hair, strands of blonde poke out.

A fan remains in her hand and she slowly turns to face me.

"Well don't you look miserable?"

"Excuse me?" I say, putting my cheeto back in its pack.

"I said you look miserable, love." She repeats, vigorously fanning herself, not even taking a moment to look at me.

"Wait, who do you think-

"Bitch- she looks at me, then takes off her hat and glasses and I scream. I absolutely scream my fucking head off because the excitement rippling through me is more than I can contain.

"PALOMA KERVENSKY!"

"What the fuck do you think you're doing here? I nearly forgot you're alive." I tease, it's been so long."

Paloma chuckles and at last learns back in the seat to relax.

"I have two answers, which one do you want."

Did I even care at this point? Damn, I'd listen to six if I had to.

"Hit me."

"So one, I'm here to see if your older brother; big Mike is still on the market." She winks.

"Gross, and?"

"I'd say I'm here to support Liam but he unknowingly broke my heart after his engagement to Hails was announced. Still hurts as hell." She clutches her chest.

"But when Haileys parents called my assistant telling them they needed a designer for their daughters wedding events and put a million dollars on the line, who was I to refuse?" She smiles at me and we end up bursting into laughter.

"So you're here for Hailey?"

"Did you hear anything I just said?" She laughs, but I ignore her and fall victim to my own laughter until she stops and for a moment, I think I'm going mad because the look on her face is frightening and her gaze goes behind me.

"Pal?"

"Is it my mum?" I mouth. "Or my Auntie Liv?" I mouth again but she shakes her head with this wicked smile on her face and when I feel arms around my neck, I scream and instantly go into defense mode, nearly falling off my seat.

Not exactly what I planned.

"I always thought you were immune to touch."

I look up from the ground to find my boyfriend hovering right over me with an arm stretched out.

"You are immune to touch...right?" He asks again and all sorts or emotions run through me. Does he know what he does to me? Does he?

"Maybe other, but not yours." Pal responds for me, innocently lighting a cigarette.

I take his hand and stand up, making sure to shoot Pal a very special finger right before he brings her cigarette to her lips.

"You look beautiful." Kai says, his hand finding the small of my back and his lips near my neck.

"Cuddle?" He moans, and I give in, hugging probably tighter than I ever have before.

"I have no idea why you're here." I whisper, "but I'll let it slide." I say.

"Paloma Kervensky." my friend introduces herself, sticking an arm out to greet him. "I've heard much about you."

We brake our embrace as he takes her hand in his. "Pleasures all mine." He smiles and thankfully, Paloma returns it.

"Sit."

"Now you've got to tell me about the first time y'all did it." Pal smirks, and I mentally face palm myself, knowing this is going to be a long night.

Without hesitation, Kai admits that we haven't but instead offers to tell her how badly I snore in my sleep.

Indeed, a very long night ahead.

******LIAM'S POV******

To say how many aunts have kissed my cheek tonight would be very difficult. To admit how many men here have pulled me aside to offer business proposals and lecture me on how to be a good husband would be even more difficult and honestly, I'm getting tired of this whole fake attitude these people are putting up.

Hailey's side of the family arrived a while ago and I'm yet to officially meet her parents, particularly her father- the one who set us up but I'm more interested about how he thinks his daughter feels about all of this.

Despite the fact that this agreement is beneficial to me, I can't help but wonder if she's honestly okay with this or it's because she's a daddy's girl. Her younger sister- Avery died when Hailey was only ten and I'm yet to see what effect that has had on her.

My mother and father have decided to get a divorce but that's the least of my worries. I'm about to get fucking married.

I take the stairs in two's to reach the guest bedroom where Hailey is getting ready. I slowly lean against the door and catch my breath.

"Get this deal."

"Don't screw this up."

"Treat her good."

"Buy her gifts."

"Keep her running, get the bag."

All these pieces of input by the people waiting downstairs keep running through my mind and if it could be easy to follow them but now that she's almost a Manor, I keep thinking if it's actually the right thing to do.

I knock on the door and wait for a response but I hear none. I knock again and wait but still...nothing so I twist the knob and gently slither in.

The bed remains untouched apart from a slight wrinkle at the foot, her engagement dress is sprawled across the floor and the heels I assume she's supposed to be wearing have been abandoned by the night stand.

I look around some more and notice the serenity of this room and appreciate the soft vanilla scent that lingers in it.

Just like Hailey.

I walk to the bathroom door which has been left adjar only to find the lights off and Hailey curled up in a ball on the floor.

"Shit." I seethe, and move to turn the lights on.

She hugs herself tighter and I see that she's in nothing but her undergarments.

"Go away." She says, and I swear, I could just leave and not look back but something urges me to stay.

"Like he'll I'm going away." I say, moving to be on the floor with her.

"Talk to me."

She ignores me.

"Hailey you can talk to me." I say again, slightly touching her arm.

"Don't touch me!" She shouts at me, her voice breaking with every word. "Who do you want me to talk to?-" she looks at me for the first time "-the man I'm supposed to call my husband in a few weeks? Or the ruthless, selfish, cold-hearted Manor?"

That's actually Mike, but who cares?

"Hailey-

"Go away, Liam!" She screams at me, but I'm not going anywhere. I'm not leaving a woman on the floor like this so instead, I just lean against the wall and look at the ceiling, hoping she'll be ready to talk."

After a while, a get bored and begin to shuffle my feet.

"Ice- cream or Pizza?" I ask. I doubt she'll respond but when she does, I'm taken aback.

"What are you talking about?" She asks, sniffling her nose.

"Do you like ice - cream or pizza?

"Ice-cream." She says, and I feel like I'm making progress.

"Flavours?"

"Vanilla."

"Figures." I smile, and for a second, I think she chuckles.

"You?" She inquires.

I think for a moment, then say the first thing that comes to my mind. "Bubblegum and Walnut."

"That such a bad combination." She laughs, and I feel embarrassed. "Who taught you that?" She says, and I feel a smile form on my face.

"Would you want to get

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