Chapter 48: 48| A FIGHT FOR LOVE

"Marry daddy, mommy." Drake's small voice called her attention from where he peeked through a slightly ajar door. She blankly stared at him for some seconds, before turning to look at Eron, who at that moment, looked like the most upright man she had ever come across. She knew better, though.

She loved him, that was a given. She loved him with all her heart. But was love truly enough? Wasn't he the same man who made sure that everything her family owned crashed to the ground, thereby reducing her to nothing? Was he not the same man who left her all by herself before? Was there any proof that he could not easily leave her again? And the fact that he had another family.. another daughter, made her aware that she would be signing up to be a stepmom as well. Was love worth all the hassle?

"Fremantle?" He asked in a more tender voice than he had first proposed and she felt her knees go weak at the sound of it. She knew she had to answer now. So she took a deep breath, her eyes transfixed on his perfect face as she gave her reply,

"You should stand up now, Eron." She asked him and he shook his head no, defiantly.

"Not until you give me an answer, Fremantle. I belong here until you give me an answer." Eron spoke firmly. She sighed at the man's stubbornness.

"It's a yes, then." She finally answered. "Yes, I'll be your wife."

He stood up then and pulled her into his arms, his smile baring all his expensive, artificial white teeth. Clapping had ensued after her reply and it was then that Frema noticed that they had an audience all the while. Almost every single staff that Eron had was gathered at the living room, their faces bright with smiles as they gave their loudest ovation. She pulled away from his hug, overcome with a mix up of emotions as she stared into his endless green orbs.

It was one thing to accept to marry him and it was another for her parents to approve of it. It had been five years, she had given birth to children for him and forgiven him for all he had done, after all, he was a changed man. It was impossible for her parents to still hold a grudge against him, right?

"You look forced. Am I forcing you to say yes to me?" He whispered against her ear, sounding disappointed.

She shook her head, indicating no. "Of course, not. I'm just a bit tired. I want to be your wife, Eron." She assured him, placing her right palm on the growing stubble across his jawline.

"Good. You're officially mine now." Eron promised and she nodded, butterflies erupting in her stomach. Well, maybe they could overcome the obstacles together. She was ready to throw some punches to finally walk down the aisle with the man she'd been in love with for eight long years.

Soon, they were almost pushed down by Drake and Josh who crashed into them, gathering their hips and legs in a heartfelt hug. Eron picked both boys up on either sides of his body and Josh hit his arm, playfully pressing down on the muscled flesh in amazement of how strong his father actually was.

"Are you going to tell all my friends that I have a daddy now? We'll all live in the same house this time, right?" Drake enquired. Eron looked down at Fremantle with the proudest expression he had ever put on.

"Yes and yes. We're going to be a family." He declared.

_______________

"Why aren't you saying anything, Riley?" Frema questioned, uneasy. Riley shrugged, stuffing more sweets into her mouth. Frema groaned, getting off her friend's bed and pacing about the spacious room.

"That day at the church.. they liked him, right? They would definitely not have any objections if he asks to marry me. Right?" I questioned and Riley sighed, looking up at me finally.

"Okay, let's put this in a way that even the dumbest person would understand. Let's see. What would you do, Frema, if the man your daughter wants to spend her life with, is the same man who destroyed everything you suffered years to build. The same man who got your daughter pregnant and ran off for five whole years without leaving any single thing for her to start up a life with, are you out of your god-damn mind, Fremantle Michelson?" Riley barked, her eyes clouded with anger and judgement. Frema plopped back down to the bed.

"I'm sorry.. I'm so sorry if I disappointed you all, but I still love him. My love for Eron stronger now than it was back then. I'm willing to forgive him and give him a chance to start on a clean slate." She reasoned but Riley scoffed.

"Yeah? Well, if he had let your parents start on a clean slate just like you're offering on a sliver platter, they would not be so broke." She accused and Frema wanted to be mad at her for implying that her parents were broke but then she remembered that it was nothing but the truth. Her parents had not been able to get back on their feet, thanks to Eron. It seemed like all roads were blocked for them, even. They did not say it but Frema knew that they were more than disappointed at her for getting pregnant for such a man, how much more now that she was planning on marrying him?

"I already said yes, Riley. I can't take it back." She argued and Riley rolled her eyes.

"Of course, you can. Here, an example. I'm sorry, insert his hideous name, I cannot get married to you anymore because my parents don't want anything to do with a monster like you. And everyone goes back to their normal lives." She replied solemnly. Frema rolled her eyes now.

"It's not that easy, Riles. Would you do that to Arsen?" She questioned.

"No and that's because Arsen is a good man. Can't say the same for your boyfriend who's also in the mafia. Who's watching your kids?" Riley asked, riling her up.

"Okay, stop right there. Eron might have done some bad stuff, but he loves our kids and would never do anything to harm them so please, watch your mouth. And what's with the sudden brutal hate towards him? You didn't have a problem with us hooking up." Frema asked, genuinely curious.

"Hooking up. Just casual sex. Then boyfriend and girlfriend is okay, too.. because maybe the sex has to be exclusive, right? But marriage? That's a life commitment. Forgive me if I'm not ready to see my best friend go off with a heartless mob boss forever in the guise of love. Forgive me if I care too much about you." Riley stated, the sweets were now long forgotten. Fremantle sighed. At this point, she was sure her parents were going to disown her if she considered going on with the marriage. Love sucked balls, she thought, drained.

"Okay so, I came here to watch a movie with you. Now, bring that laptop over so we can binge-watch something, would you?" Frema spoke, changing the topic as she snuggled under the covers, taking the sweets up again. Riley pulled the laptop between them with no argument and soon began to source for movies on the device.

And Frema knew that she would never say no to Eron, which left her praying earnestly for her parents' validation. Love had to win...