Chapter 153: WEDDINGS AND SCANDALS

Madison’s POV

My parents and I had just stepped out of the garden after our little inspection when we spotted Ferdinand headed toward us. We stopped.

It’s two days to my big day and excitement is just the word. Even though it’s going to be a modest event, I can’t wait to stand before my loved ones and declare my undying love to Michael. Nothing makes me happier than the thought of being with him forever.

Ferdinand came forward with a newspaper in hand. My father loves reading the paper and Ferdinand has been delivering it daily since he got here.

“Good morning, Lord and Lady Worthington,” Ferdinand greeted and presented the paper to my father then he turned to me. “I hope you’re doing well, Madison,” then he cleared his throat loudly. “I mean Eleanor,”

We laughed.

“I’ll go run some errands for my young master so if you people would please excuse me,” he bowed and left.

My father began to fiddle with the pages of the newspaper with a smile on his face. He doesn’t seem interested in the political stories or the entertainment corner. He prefers to spend his time on the business page.

“Perhaps we should head inside so that you can relax and go through the paper while Eleanor and I check on Georgia’s arrangements,” my mother supplied.

“Sounds good,” I agreed with a nod.

My father didn’t utter a word. He was transfixed to his spot and when I looked closely at him, I noticed that his hands were trembling. My mother and I exchanged glances.

“Edmund, is there a problem?”

He lifted his head and our eyes met then he darted his gaze back to the newspaper. “I must speak with Michael,” he sighed heavily, dumped the paper on the ground, and started marching toward the house.

My mother ran after him. I picked up the paper, skimmed through the pages, and ended on the business page.

There was a headline, one that I’m sure caught my father’s attention because Michael’s picture was on the page.

‘The Rake is out for a new adventure; Frazier spills’

Who is Frazier and why were they addressing Michael in such an insulting manner?

I began to read through the story and my hands began to tremble. Someone called Frazier, a retired businessman granted an exclusive interview to the city newspaper.

I quickly read through the article and stopped when I got to a quote made by the man. –“After misusing his surrogate, Michael has no choice but to marry her because she is a Worthington. If she were a commoner like my ex-wife, he would have used and dumped her,”

I sighed and marched toward the living room.

I walked into Michael, standing before my father, his whole body trembling.

“The marriage can not hold. I’m a man of honor and I shall not give my daughter to a man who misuses women. What scandal is this? Tell me, are you going to marry Eleanor because you love her or because you took her honor while she was here and now you feel compelled,”

I gasped.

“I swear on my parents’ lives. Madison means the world to me. I love her more than I’ve ever loved anyone or anything and I’m sorry my past is..

“Cut the crap!” My father interjected.

I’ve never seen my father this mad. I blinked back tears.

“Nothing is going to change the fact that you’ve been living a wayward lifestyle and those allegations in that paper. Don’t tell me it’s true, Michael. You slept with that man’s wife?” My father thundered.

Michael lowered his head. “I’m sorry,” was all he could say.

My father sighed. “You’ll call off the wedding. You’ll apologize to my daughter and will never see her again. We will leave here this minute,”

“No!”

They all turned to me.

Michael started walking toward me but my father stretched a hand toward him. “Don’t take another step toward my daughter,”

My father turned to me and eyed the newspaper in my hand. “Good. I guess you figured it out. The wedding is cancelled,”

I walked up to him with tears streaming down my cheeks. “I know, Papa. I know about his past,”

My mother’s eyes widened.

“Michael might not be perfect. He had a rough childhood and had to grow up on his own but that doesn’t mean he’s not a good man. Right from the onset, he made it clear to me. He wanted nothing from me even when I was drawn to him. He never hid anything from me,”

“So you’re making excuses for him now?” My father raised an eyebrow.

I shook my head. “I’m not making excuses, Papa. I’m standing up for what I love and deserve,” then I moved closer to my father and grabbed his hands. “You told me that everyone deserves a second chance and would you have preferred that I find out about this now?”

My father sighed.

“Michael never lied to me. He’s been honest from the onset. It’s such a pity that some people have decided to come up with this because of past hostility or just to ruin the wedding,”

My father turned away.

I walked up to my mother. “You’ve been here for days. You’ve seen him. Everything that happened was in the past,”

She sighed.

“Mama, you told me to warm up to you and tell you everything and this is me, spilling my heart to you. Michael is a changed person and I don’t care what society thinks. I’ll marry him because life without him is unimaginable,” I broke down in tears.

My mother hugged me.

“She’s right,” Georgia spat.

I moved away from my mother and saw her standing beside Michael.

Georgia walked up to my parents. “Your daughter is right. Michael is a changed person and his past does not define him. If you two would give me your time, I’d like to provide all the answers you need about his personality and honor,” then she joined her palms together. “Please, just give me a few minutes,”

My mother turned to my father. He gave an approving nod. Georgia turned around and they followed her out.

Michael ran toward me and took me in an embrace. “I’m so sorry about this. Frazier didn’t tell the truth,” he croaked.

I cupped his face with my hands. “Hey, I don’t care,”

Tears spilled from Michael’s eyes. “I didn’t sleep with his wife. She was the one who tried…

I hugged him more tightly, soaking up his words. “I don’t care and I don’t need an explanation. It’s all in the past,”