Chapter 15: THE BREAKFAST FIGHT

I can't believe I'm doing this. I just hope I don't regret it. I took a deep breath and rang the doorbell.

“Wow, look who we have here. Mum! Xender is here!” Emily said immediately that she had opened the door.

“Emily, I can't believe you are back to cause more trouble, then flew to another country.”

“How could you say that to me? Aren't you happy to see me?”

"You, my sister, are a lot of trouble,” I said, walking past her. I know she was expecting me to come with Charles.

“Stop peeping out; he didn't come with me.”

“But why?”

“Because of someone who turned out to be torn in his fresh.”

“But I already pleaded with him to forgive me. I was young, naive, and selfish, and I regret everything.”

“Well, not all wounded hearts can heal easily. You left that guy with a very tribbled memory. Please don't appear in front of him until he is ready to see you.”

“But I want to see him.” 

"Emily, please, just leave Charles alone, okay? And you better not go looking for him; he is not yet ready to see you.”

“But he was the reason why I left the country; I thought giving him some space would help him heal, so I left.”

“Well, he was doing a lot better until he heard that you came back yesterday.”

“Does he hate me that badly?”

"Emily, please, I am not going to have this conversation with you.”

"Emily, stop bugging your brother, would you?” On hearing my mum’s voice, a smile appeared on my face as I went to greet her.

“Mrs. Armstrong, you are always as beautiful as ever,” I said, kissing her hand.

"Oh, Xender, you always have a way of making me blush.”

“Who is stealing my compliments away from me?” My dad asked as he joined us in the sitting room.

“It's Xender; it has always been Xender.” Emily replied and rolled her eyes at me. I can't believe that four years in England didn't change anything about her.

“I don't understand; why can't I compliment my mum?” I asked both the father and daughter.

"Okay, that's enough. Everyone, go to the table; let's all have breakfast before we all leave for our various destinations.” Mum said, and we all did as she said.

"So, Xender, how long do I have to wait before I meet my sister-in-law?” Emily asked. I knew she was trying to put me in a tight position in front of my parents, especially my mum.

“What about you? When are you showing us the lucky guy?” I refuse to have my name dragged across the table. If I'm going to get dragged, then she is definitely coming with me.

“The both of you should shut up and eat your food, especially you, Emily.” Mum said, and that brought the silence I was waiting for among us.

“Why didn't Charles come with you?” My dad asked. So he did notice that I was here alone; I thought he wasn't going to ask.

“He had things he needed to settle at the company, so he couldn't make it." I said, glaring at Emily, because we both know she is the real reason why Charles didn't show up today.

“I really missed him; it's too bad he couldn't join us for breakfast. I even save a large portion of my food for him. He is the only one that tells me how good my cooking is while my family is being ungrateful,” mum said with a sad expression on her face.

“I will see if he can tag along tomorrow for the family dinner.”

“You better come with him, or there will be no food for you.” My mum said it with a threatening voice.

“If someone didn't put him in a tight position, I wouldn't have my dinner threatened.” I muttered to myself.

“Did you say something?” Emily asked with a glare in her eyes.

“You bet I do. If you give Charles a hard time, I will tell mum and dad what happened and how stupid you were.” 

Only that got her to shut up and face her food. I hate dealing with her. She is so annoying; I wonder how Charles managed to fall for her.

“You two better not be fighting within yourselves or you will be kicked out of my house, understand?” Mum said, and we both chorused,

“We understand”

“So, Xender, why don't you come with your girlfriend to dinner tomorrow?” My dad said as he shoved a spoon full of his food into his mouth before saying,

“Hmmmm, honey, your cooking always has a way of making me want more.” I sighed. Emily giggled and stuck her tongue out for me.

She always has a way of working with my father, like they are some evil team. 

“I thought you said it's a family dinner, so why drag someone outside this family in on it?”

“But Charles isn't part of our family as well,” Emily said, and that got me pissed.

“He is a family friend, which makes him more of a family, so leave him out of your fucking mouth.”

“Xender! Do not curse at your sister and Emily; I told you to shut your mouth and eat. That is no way to talk to your senior brother.”

"But, mum, it was just a simple statement, and I didn't mean any harm. Why do you hate me so much?” She asked, facing me.

“You and I know the reason, and you don't want me to say it out here.” Only the look in my eyes would tell her that I am not messing around.

"Xender, sit down, continue with your food, and stop descending your anger at your sister. I asked the question, so if you have any problems with it, then say it out to me.

I don't understand why you have to get so angry just because I simply asked you to bring your girlfriend to a family dinner, or is it that you don't have one?”

Is he kidding me right now? I knew immediately that him helping me wasn't because he wanted to. All along, he was trying to pair me up with someone.

“I will really appreciate it if everyone will leave my love life alone,” I said, and I sat back on my seat, picking up my spoon.

“It is because you are single or because no lady will go out with someone who can't control his temper?” My spoon was on its way to my mouth when my dad said this. I dropped the food back on the table and decided to leave.

“Thank you, mum, for the breakfast, but I think I should get going.”

“But you barely touched your food.”

“Mum, I don't want to have an indigestion because of some certain people.”

“Until when will you continue to run away from your responsibility!? You practically left the family business to start yours, and now you won't even date someone.” My dad rarched out.

"Matthew, that's enough!” My mum said, but I wasn't really ready to talk to my father because I didn't want to say what I would regret in anger.

“Well, talk to your son. Do you really think I love the fact that you rejected the family business that we, the Armstrongs, have carried on for years? Now you don't even want to get a girlfriend left alone; get married so I can have a grandson who is ready to carry on what you left behind!”

I was angry and pissed. Until when will he continue to tell me how to live my life? Until when will he leave me alone to make my own decisions?

I walked up to him and stared at him deep in the eyes. 

“I offered to take the family company just as you wanted, but you wanted me to close down my businesses and carry on with yours. How selfish can you be?

Don't ever tell me how to leave my life, and if you seriously need someone, your daughter is available.” I said that and glared down at him. I was waiting for him to bicker like he used to, but instead he laughed out loud and slightly hit my shoulder.

"Relax, son; I was just messing up with you. How can you be taking things so seriously? I just wanted to have more than one conversation with you, but you weren't letting me, so I decided to fight out with you.”

“You have got to be kidding me?”

"No, I'm not, and your sister has already been in the company since she returned to New York.” I turned towards Emily, only to have her smile at me.

"Relax, Xender; we were only messing with you, but you need to do something about that temper of yours,” she said, and that got me feeling sorry for all the harsh words I said to her. 

“But I wasn't joking about the grandchildren; I really need one so I can force them on them once I retire from my job,” Dad said before he started eating his food.

“You are retiring?” I asked.

“After training your sister, of course.”

“I'm sorry, but I need a time out. I will be right back.” I said that and excused myself. I need some breathing space.