Chapter Thirteen

Ivy looked up and saw the people who were walking towards them. The woman seems to be in her late thirties but, Ivy knew how old she is. She is already in her fifties but took great care of herself. The man beside her looked too good as well. She has seen them both in various newspapers and magazines but seeing them in real life felt different. She felt pressured and started to get nervous again but the man beside her held onto her palm and the warmth from his hand relaxed her a little. She saw Shayla rush to the woman with a bright smile on her face and call out. "Mom!! It's good that you have arrived. Come this way." She said and led her to the table. More chairs had been added to the table which originally had just four seats.

The newcomers took their seats and the woman looked at Ivy with disgust before speaking. "Chris! What have I been hearing?"

"What did you hear?" Chris asked without looking at her. He was only looking at his father who had walked in with his mother.

"You sacked Shayla? Why? I..."

"You want me to marry her?" Chris cut her off. "Just go straight to the point and stop beating around the bush"

"Is this how you talk to your mother because of a woman you just met a few days ago? Do you even know anything about her?" Mrs Evans asked angrily.

"Dad... Will you caution your wife or do you want me to do it for you? I made you come here with her for a reason." Chris spoke to his father and acted like he didn't hear a word his mother had said.

"Let's all calm down. The..."

"Calm down?? I want you to remind your wife about things she seems to have forgotten." Chris cut him off. "First off, you are making my woman uncomfortable. Secondly, who does your wife think she is to start dipping her nose into my business?"

"Chris!!"

"Keep quiet when I speak." He shunned his mother off. Ivy was surprised at his actions. Why would he speak to his mother like that? "I allowed you do whatever you want all these years on the premise that you never get involved in my business. Did you forget?" He glared at his mother.

Things became too quiet at the table. Aside from the sound of their breaths, nothing else could be heard. Ivy could feel that Chris was getting angrier by the minute. 'What the hell was happening?' she asked herself. She looked from Chris to his parents and felt that things were not right.

"Chris... This won't happen again. She won't interfere in your business again but, you just can't pick up any girl on the street and expect us to be happy about it." His father spoke after a few minutes of silence.

"Then, we can cut off our ties. How about that?" Chris leaned back in his chair and spoke.

"Chris!!" His mother called out.

"What!? You don't like that? Then, how about you get your real son to take over?" He cracked a smile before speaking.

"What is going on?" Shayla finally couldn't take it anymore and spoke out. It's like the family of three was speaking in parables. Everything they had been saying felt strange. That wasn't what she was expecting. And what did Chris mean by her real son? Is there something she didn't know?

Shayla's thoughts mirrored Ivy's thoughts. They were both thinking the same thing.

"Don't start please..." Mr. Evans spoke in resignation. "You can do whatever you like. Don't mind your mother. She is just being paranoid." He added.

"Me? Paranoid? Do you hear yourself? You can't even decide without asking your son for permission." Mrs. Evans spoke in anger.

"Watch your tongue. You don't want to start." Her husband hushed her. "We have an audience."

"And so?... Do I look like I care? I just wanted to make sure he marries a good woman. Did I do something wrong? Take a look at the girl your son chose. She is only after his money and nothing else." She spoke and pointed her finger at Ivy who was sitting as quietly as she could. She was even too scared to relax in her seat.

"Do you think everyone is like you?" Chris asked her. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully and added. "Even if she wants all my money, I will gladly give it to her rather than watch you reap where you didn't sow. You think you can you this thing," he gestured at Shayla. "To get to me? You must think I am as foolish as that son of yours. If you try this again? I'll make sure you regret it. It better be the last time you try this." He continued.

"That's enough. You are embarrassing us all." His father said with a frown. They had managed to keep this secret for so long so why is it all going wrong now?

"You don't even have to say anything. You are the weakest man I have ever met. You do whatever this boy says and forget that you have another son." Mrs. Evans said angrily. "In fact! I am tired. I am tired of pretending to be who I am not. What have I not done? I gave my best years to you and your son. Is this how you both repay me?"

"Finally, she shows her claws." Chris mocked.

"What is going on?" Ivy whispered to Chris.

"Kitten, you want to know?" He asked Ivy with a grin and she nodded her head. "Fine. I'll tell you."

"Chris! You can't! You promised me that you wouldn't tell anyone. Remember?" His father shouted at him to get him to stop talking.

"I did. But under the condition that she doesn't interfere in my life or the family. She only gets to live as your wife and not expect anything. Is that not what we agreed on?" Chris asked his father.

"This is her first mistake. Must you take things this far? You just want to ruin this family." Mr. Evens sighed.

"That's where you are wrong. This woman has been trying to get her hands on my company shares. Did you know?" Chris pointed at his father. "Since she had aimed for what she couldn't have, I will make her lose the little she has." He added.

"Is this true? Did you try to get shares in the company?" Mrs. Evans asked his wife who had gone quiet. "Why? We were fine with the way things are? Why did you have to provoke him?" He asked again after seeing that she couldn't respond.

"Mr. Leo, I advise that you take your daughter out of here and do what we discussed earlier. If you don't, then prepare to lose all that you have now." Chris leaned forward slightly and said to Mr. Leo who was still sitting.

"Let's go..." He quickly stood up and pulled Shayla up as well. "Don't worry. We won't appear in front of you again." He added and dragged Shayla away.