Redeemed Son In-law

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Chapter 12

Lisa's words dripped with sarcasm and a hint of resentment as she fired back at him. "Impressive, that's so impressive," she mocked, her tone filled with disdain. "They must have picked you from the street and told you exactly what to say. Well, congratulations on stating your 'opinion' like a good judge would. It seems you have something in common with your father, or what should I call it? You are as fierce as Maxwell, and I suppose we should all be scared, right?" Her anger was evident, adding fuel to the already tense atmosphere.

"Lisa, please stop right there," he interjected, his voice cutting through the tension with a firmness that commanded attention. "Let me make this clear to all of you. None of you will do anything against him. And if you still doubt, I have the proof. The DNA test confirmed it." The weight of his words hung heavily in the air, dispelling any lingering skepticism. 

"With that being said, none of you should dare accuse me of orchestrating some plan, because I am not as scheming as any of you who manipulated Maxwell, who even went as far as to deceitfully take her away from Cecelia. The truth may be bitter, but I will always have the integrity to speak it," he declared, his anger thundering through his words.

With a stern tone laced with annoyance and resentment, he confronted her. "You forced yourself on Maxwell, you got us drunk and had your way with him. So the rejection you received from him is exactly what you deserve," he let out, his words hanging in the tense atmosphere.

Lisa, clearly taken aback by the accusation, protested vehemently. "What are you talking about? If that was the truth, why did he mate with me to birth Alora? I freaking have two kids for him," she demanded, her voice filled with frustration and disbelief.

Upon hearing Lisa's defense, President Asher couldn't contain himself and burst into a rancorous laughter. The room erupted in a sudden burst of hostility and tension, the conflicting emotions swirling around like a torrential storm.

With a cold and calculated gaze, he peered at her, his eyes filled with a mixture of indifference and superiority. "See this fool," he scoffed, his voice dripping with disdain. "Like you think I don't know everything that's been going on in your guys' life. There's nothing that has happened between Maxwell and you that he never told me about."

In the tense silence that followed, the weight of his words hung heavily in the air. He continued, his voice laced with a hint of satisfaction. "Aren't you the same person who begged him to engage in that act with you? Didn't he refuse?"

A twisted smile tugged at the corner of his lips, revealing a glimpse of malicious intent. "I was the one who convinced him to do it, to let everything slide. But he couldn't, because you denied him of happiness. He wanted to make you feel the same."

Ellen, overwhelmed by the escalating argument, found herself unable to bear the tension any longer. With a desperate plea, she raised her voice, desperately attempting to quell the storm that raged among them. "Can you guys please stop this? Why are you arguing over spilled milk? What truly matters is that she is Maxwell's legal wife, no matter what. If Maxwell truly had feelings for Cecelia as she claims, wouldn't he have informed the family about it earlier?"

Her words thundered through the room, commanding attention, until suddenly, the commanding voice of Grandma Creston rose above the fray, effectively bringing the heated exchange to a halt. All eyes turned to the wise matriarch as she slowly approached, a mix of anger and disappointment visible among the gathered faces.

"He tried to tell us," Grandma Creston spoke with a weighted sigh, "but we allowed our own bias to cloud our judgement. If I had only listened to him on that day when he was about to get married, he could have been a genuinely happy man. I thought he truly loved Lisa and never gave him a chance to explain."

Her words washed over the room, leaving a lingering feeling of regret and guilt in the air, directed towards President Asher and his actions.

Ellen, unable to contain her frustration any longer, approached her mother with a mix of anger and sadness etched across her face. The tension in the room grew palpable as she confronted her, a question heavy on her lips. Without warning, Ellen's open palm connected with her mother's cheek in a resounding slap, leaving everyone speechless, their mouths agape in shock. The room fell into a stunned silence as they processed the unexpected turn of events.

With a voice tinged with both disappointment and anger, Ellen's voice pierced the air. "That should reset your brain," she spoke, her words biting with remorseless truth. "You took away your own son's happiness, disregarding his deepest desires, all for the sake of supporting an outsider. You conspired with Lisa simply because you two are friends, without giving a single thought to your own son's happiness. And yet, you dare to challenge me?"

As her voice carried the weight of their shattered family bonds, Ellen's gaze hardened, fixing her mother with a firm, almost maniacal stare. The room remained suspended in time, the air heavy with tension, as the repercussions of their fractured relationships hung heavily in the air.

With tears welling up in her eyes, she stood her ground and faced her mother. Her voice quivered with a mix of frustration and desperation as she tried to convey her point. "I am not challenging you, mother," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper, "I am just trying to make you see that you are on the wrong side. You should be there for your grandchildren."

As she spoke, she reached up and gently touched her cheek, a silent reminder of the emotional pain she was feeling. Her mother's resistance only fueled her determination to make her understand. "The grandchildren who have turned against me because I dared to speak the truth," she pointed out, her voice tinged with a hint of bitterness. "The grandchildren whose mother doesn't want me around. Which grandchildren are you talking about?" she demanded, her voice growing stronger, challenging her mother to answer.

There was a brief moment of silence as her mother searched for a response but found herself unable to provide one. It only further strengthened her argument. Taking a deep breath, she raised her voice, the frustration pouring out. "I am simply saying that you should have supported them," she shouted, her voice echoing with a mix of anger and desperation. "You don't even know if this accusation was planted by Asher. You should have stood up for them!"

With her words hanging in the air, the tension between mother and daughter intensified, leaving an unspoken plea for understanding and support. The room filled with an atmosphere thick with emotions, a battle of wills and loyalties that seemed impossible to resolve.

In a tense and emotionally charged moment, the words that spilled from her mother's lips were filled with a combination of anger and disappointment. Her voice dripped with sarcasm as she belittled her daughter. "You are so foolish," she sneered, a hint of incredulity lacing her words. "I trust Asher more than I trust you."

She dug deep, reminding her daughter of her absence during a challenging time. The accusation hung heavily in the air as she questioned her daughter's loyalty. "Have you ever come to see me since I was in the rehabs, hmmmm?" Her voice carried a mix of accusation and pain. "Asher always comes with her daughter to visit me," she continued, her voice softening slightly. "They come each day to give me updates about searching for him."

The weight of her mother's words hung heavily upon her, crushing her spirit. She tried to defend herself, to make her mother see reason, but her pleas fell on deaf ears. Her mother's anger swelled, and her voice cut through the air like a knife. "But you, who claim to be my daughter, never stepped into the rehabs. Not even for a visit," she spat, her voice filled with raw disappointment. A wave of frustration washed over her mother as she asserted her role as the head of the family, dismissing her daughter's attempts to intrude.

With a swift and forceful gesture, her mother seized her by the wrist, dragging her out of the house. The strength emanating from her grandmother stunned Bryan, his eyes widening in disbelief. The door slammed shut, severing the tie between mother and daughter, leaving a lingering sense of bitterness in the air.

Silence settled in the room as her mother returned inside, confronting the remaining family members with a stern expression. 

Grandma Creston's voice reverberated through the room, a mixture of triumph and challenge lacing her words. "Who else has something to say?" she demanded, her tone cutting through the lingering tension like a sharp blade. The force of her presence unsettled Sam and Alora, their anger palpable as they stormed out of the room, unable to bear the weight of their grandmother's strength.

Lisa, still seething with her own frustration, tried to navigate a delicate balance of respect and assertiveness. "Mother, you're taking this to the extreme," she replied, her voice tinged with a touch of defiance. Anger flashed in her eyes as she turned and stormed off, the sound of her footsteps echoing on the stairs.

As the chaos unfolded, Grandma Creston's gaze shifted towards Bryan, her eyes filled with warmth and genuine pleasure. A faint smile adorned her aged face as she walked closer to him, her steps slow and deliberate. She reached out, her weathered hand coming to rest on his cheek, her touch both gentle and firm. Bryan felt a rush of emotion surge within him, a mixture of relief and a deep sense of connection to his long-lost family.

"You are my grandson," she murmured softly, her words carrying a weight of gratitude and acceptance. Her hand lingered on his cheek, exploring the texture of his skin as she made this long-awaited connection. The room seemed to hold its breath, each person present touched by the profound moment unfolding between Bryan and his grandmother.

"Yes, this is my sister, Elena," Bryan replied, his voice filled with a mix of pride and affection as he acknowledged his sibling. He glanced over at Elena, who stood nearby, her features resembling his own. There was a certain undeniable familial resemblance between them, a shared bond that had endured despite their physical separation.

Grandma Creston turned her gaze towards Elena, her eyes filled with curiosity and a touch of longing. She observed Elena intently, taking in her features with a keen eye. It was as if she was searching for a reflection of the past, seeing traces of the family she had missed all these years.

Bryan watched as his grandmother's eyes lingered on Elena, awaiting her response with bated breath. Elena, too, felt the weight of the moment, the significance of their reunion now expanding to include their grandmother's presence. Emotions swirled within Elena as she took a step closer, ready to embrace this unexpected connection.

"Yes, we look alike," Elena responded, her voice soft and filled with a mix of happiness and longing. "We're siblings," she added, a note of fondness evident as she spoke those words. The room seemed to hold its breath as Grandma Creston soaked in the sight of her grandchildren together, marveling at the physical resemblance that connected them.

"Sure, they can go," Grandma Creston responded calmly, acknowledging President Asher's offer to show Bryan and Elena to their villa. However, she quickly declined, sensing the need for Betty to establish a bond with her long-lost siblings. 

"No, Betty should do that," Grandma Creston insisted, her tone firm yet gentle. "They are young blood, and they need time together. Let them go. I really need to speak with you."

Bryan sensed his grandmother's desire for privacy and her need to have a one-on-one conversation with President Asher. He exchanged a glance with Elena, a shared understanding passing between them. Excitement still bubbled within Bryan, thrilled that his grandmother had already shown them love and acceptance. 

As they made their way towards the door, Bryan felt a sense of anticipation about what their future held. With Betty leading the way and their grandmother's warmth still lingering in the air, they walked together, ready to build the long-awaited connections that had been missing for so long.