Chapter 4: Family reunion

Mabel's POV

I followed the direction of the voice to the door, and there stood three more people: two older people, a man, and a woman. Standing in front of them was a man who looked around my age.

I could tell it was he who owned the voice from the way his nose fled.

It seemed things just got more interesting.

The old man was taken aback. Landon banged his fist on the table and stood abruptly, his jaws clenched in anger and eyes darkened, yet didn't say a word.

It looked like there was a conflict within him.

The trio walked toward us like some kind of heroes here to say the day. Olivia's smark didn't go unnoticed by me.

“What nonsense is this?” The old man questioned. But his tone held amusement rather than rage.

“I told you, I didn’t come to cause trouble, I came because I deserved to be here. Because we deserved to be here.” Olivia chipped in.

The youngest among the trio walked to the table and grabbed a glass, poured himself a drink, and made a sarcastic toast

“To family; where love is optional, but drama is guaranteed.”

He emptied the cup on the table, his eyes locked with Landon's. Emily gasped and quickly stood to her feet as the drink almost slithered to her.

“Aaron! Have you lost your mind?” She exclaimed. “Do you have to show yourself everywhere you go?”

“Oops,” he smirked evilly.

“I think I forgot my manners on the plane.” His smirk widened.

He spared me a glance and moved towards the old man.

“Hello, grandfather; care to explain why we shouldn't be here?”

So he's a grandson, then the two behind him must be his parents.

“What is this madness?” The old man growled.

“Madness? This is not madness, only a tip” he said with a shrug.

Just then AJ rushed in, alert. He approached Landon and asked just a little above a whisper, “President Ferguson, are you okay?”

Landon didn't reply but you could tell he was boiling in anger.

“Should I get the car ready?” AJ asked again as if he was trying to prevent a disaster from happening.

“You have a right to nothing, least of all a seat at my table. If you had any dignity left, you’d walk out before I make you.” Landon’s voice was dangerously low.

Aaron laughed mockingly. “You’ve taken everything from us! The company, the money, the respect! And now you won’t even let us sit at the damn table?”

He turned to the man who had come with him and asked “Dad, did you see that?”

He didn't wait for a response and turned to the old man, “You created all this mess! My parents are constantly disrespected because of how partial you are. I, despite being legitimate; your blood, yet you handed everything to this..”

“Aaron!” Old Mr Ferguson thundered. It looked like Aaran had crossed a line.

“He's not worth your time, do not bicker with him.” AJ tried to reason with Landon.

“This is why you were not invited, I knew fully well that you wouldn't miss any opportunity to embarrass me! Looking for faults where there is none!” The old man held his head in frustration.

“Do you hate to hear the truth? That no matter how hard we try we will always be second place in this family?” Aaron's father interceded.

It looked like this family had much bigger problems than I had anticipated.

“I have stayed silent for years. I have accepted every slight, every exclusion, for the sake of peace. But not tonight. We are Fergusons just as much as he is.” he pointed to Landon, who shot him a hard, cold glare.

“That is not in question. But this dinner was not the time, Noah.” The old man replied to him.

Olivia stepped forward.

“Then when? When will we ever be included? You say you don’t hate us, yet we are never acknowledged.” she demanded.

Sensing that the situation was getting out of control, AJ spoke again “President Ferguson…”

“Get up, we are leaving.” Landon cut him off.

At first, I didn't realize he was talking to me, and when I did I mouth an “Oh”

I couldn't believe I was getting uprooted from all this drama, just when things were starting to get more interesting.

I wanted to object but I knew better than to add to the anger of an already provoked person.

I tried to fix my shoe that I had removed earlier due to boredom. Only for me to raise my head and Landon had already stormed off!

My eyes met AJ’s, and he gave me a look that said, “Don't try anything funny.”

I rolled my eyes, stood from my seat, and horridly followed suit. I didn't like all the stares I got from the people in the room.

AJ was behind me, and I assumed Landon put him to it.

I met Nora just outside the room and she rushed to me. “Are you alright, my lady?”

Me? It's not like I was the one fighting, I was simply the audience, making the best out of my supposed wedding night.

“Why wouldn't I be?” I asked back. She was at a loss for words, my question took her off guard.

“I mean, the… well, everything that has happened tonight.” She explained.

“It doesn't concern me.” I clarified. As I walked past her, I could feel her surprised gaze on my back.

Soon we reached the garage and I tried to open the car door.

“What do you think you're doing?” Landon thundered and I flinched.

Only then did I realize I was trying to open the wrong car.

I wave of embarrassment washed over me, but I quickly masked it.

Did he have to make it a quarrel? Why was he transferring his aggression to me?

“Who even wants to ride with you?!” I spat.