Chapter 29: Meeting The Family 1

Lila’s POV: Meeting The Family 1

“Father, I see no reason why you are involved in my life. She’s my woman. Nicholas was sent to Shanghai to look after her in order to return the favor he owed me.”

“That’s right Grandfather. Sister tell him there’s nothing going on between us. Tell him”

“That is up to me to decide. Keep quiet young man”

Nicholas quickly stopped talking and he didn’t look at me again. I didn’t need a soothsayer to tell me that old man Cole was an authoritative type that made even Adrian cower. Not in fear but not in obedience either.

“Come here this instance” he barked out to no one in particular. I felt Adrian’s hold tighten for a few seconds before he let go and it made me know I was the one Old Man Cole was asking for.

“Good evening Grandfather.”

“Do I look like your grandfather?” He raised the walking stick in his hand as he struck me on the leg making me fall due to the pain.

“Father!!!”

“Sister!!!”

Adrian rushed to my side irrespective of his mother holding him back. I could see the anger and fury in his eyes as he helped me up.

“Let me take you away from here. Please”

The heartache in his voice was fcking clear but I couldn’t make him fight his father for my sake. Ethan watch me now, you were scared of him introducing me to anyone. Now I understood why.

“I’m fine. Don’t worry”

He looked at my face. I knew he was more than ready to whisk me away from here if I mentioned it. But I was up for the challenge.

He sighed as he glanced at my resolved face. He seemed to know I wouldn’t budge as he slowly moved to the side as I faced his father once more.

“Good evening Sir”

“What’s so good about the evening? My grandson got into his very first scandal because of you and now my cold son acts as if I am his enemy because of mine stroke. Answer me, did you land the female lead role cause of my son or your hardwork?”

“It was a result of my heardwork Sir”

“Bullshit!! Lies!! Do I look like a freaking baby with no developed frontal lobe to believe the shit coming out of your useless mouth?”

“Father!!!” Adrian yelled as his anger seemered.

“Am I lying? Your nieces already investigated everything. You met that director and threatened him a few hours before she walked into the building.

You even moved her audition number so it wouldn’t look suspicious and she wouldn’t stay out too long.

Now why would you stay with a scheming bitch like her?”

I turned to Adrian as I hoped everything was a lie. I knew he was going to pull some strings, but this was a low even for me.

I gazed at him with tear filled eyes, hoping it was all false. I was picked because of my talent. Not because a director was threatened.

But the look on Adrian’s face told me it was true. All true. This wasn’t the time or place to create the drama.

I looked away from Adrian and turned towards his grandfather who looked at me and sneered.

“So after all your years of staying single, this was what you managed to end up with it. How pathetic”

Tears threatened to spill as the condescending words struck me.

“Grandfather, she also made him shift the location of an important meeting of his from London to Shanghai simply because she missed him. She’s being such a clingy bitch around him.”

“Clara!!!” Adrian yelled as he raised his hand to slap his niece but was stopped by one of his aunts.

“See grandfather, he would actually raise his hands on me for her sake.”

His nieces said one thing after the other as each statement made a direct jab to my heart.

“She managed to seduce both uncle and Nicholas. Who knows whose going to be her next target, maybe it’s going to be one of our parents next.”

“Don’t you have no filter. I already told you she’s a friend. A sister. She has been more of a sister than you have ever been since we were kids. You don’t understand how serious this is. Why are you shaming her for dating uncle? Are you questioning uncle’s choice now?

At least she knows how to work for a living. You only know how to sit, squander money on irrelevant stuff”

“I would never be courageous enough to question Uncle’s choice. But with dating an actress, I would gladly question it. Especially an actress who seemed to have bewitched him”

“Melody, stop this”

Nicholas raised his voice at his cousins but I could care less about it. Infact I seemed to be oblivious of their words as I stood there, in front of their grandfather, head lowered in shame.

But in a second thought…

“Yes. He did change the location of his meeting because I asked for it. He TALKED to the director, not threatened. For my sake. Isn’t that something normal every other boyfriend does for their girlfriend. Every girl craves her man’s attention. Why should I be deemed a gold digger because I want my man’s attention and love?

And being called a gold digger? Please. I might not be as rich as your family is but I am pretty much well enough on my own. My brother single handedly built M Enterprises. So don’t think for a second that everything I have and own is because of your son.

And with all due respect, Old Man Cole, no one hits a lady with a freaking walking stick based of useless accusations spat out of others mouth.”

“Did you just call me an old man?!!!”

“I don’t see anyone else here who’s as old as you. So the insinuation is pretty clear”

Why should I take their shit because I knew Adrian?

“Your grandson is my friend. We are not the only actors who have ever had a dating scandal so I see no reason why he should be punished. Act like a freaking grown up and patriarch and not like a child seeking attention”