006

Finn's POV

Seeing father, Elijah and Liam at the front of the mansion was the least I expected.

A warm welcome?

No way!

If it had been only Elijah, it would suffice but father and then Liam that hated me with everything he had inside of him, I doubt.

Rolling my eyes, I slowly approached the trio with North by my side.

North never went below my expectations. Her acting skills were now on a whole different level making one think we are level headed when it was the direct opposite.

It was supposed to end there but father decided to take it further, “Are you guys really married?"

His question didn't come as a surprise to me. I was expecting him to toss it at us the moment we appeared before him but he delayed it.

North tried to speak but I held my hand. She might be good but not when my father was involved. He wasn't someone she would be able to go against.

“You watched the marriage on TV." I shot at him.

“The media presents whatever it's handed to it. It doesn't separate fake from real and to the best of my knowledge, there are a lot more fake things aired than real.”

That was my father.

Plain.

Sugarcoating words to make his audience feel good was a skill he lacked.

"I agree with you.” Liam mouthed, crossing his hands on his chest.

Nodding at North, he said, "No sane pretty girl will get involved with a psychopath like him.”

"He is not.” North said but before she could start running her mouth, I grabbed her hand more firmly this time.

"Would you like to see the certificate, or should we kiss for proof?" I smirked, alternating my gaze between father who was unfazed and Liam.

Elijah let out a low laugh only to earn a glare from Liam. He was pissed with my response and that was the exact reaction I wanted to get out of him.

“If indeed this marriage is not a sham, give me five minutes with your wife." Liam huffed.

“Why? You want to buy her off with money?"

“Finn." North yelled from behind me.

“Is this why you called me for a family dinner? To embarrass me and make yourself feel good, huh?" I am getting really angry now.

“Come on Finn, it's enough now." North chided.

Pushing me aside, she tried to speak to my father but I wasn't going to let that happen.

“Take her away." I snapped. I didn't have to say it twice before Elijah interlocked her arms with hers, leading her into the house.

“Disrespecting your father in the presence of your wife…”

"You started it.” I cut in. Locking eyes with my father as my chest rose and fell in rhythm.

Liam stepped forward, narrowing his eyes at me with his hands folded on his chest, “You coerced her. She didn’t marry you willingly.”

“Got proof?” I huffed, matching his intimidating gaze.

“Listen to me Finn," Father said. Shifting my attention to him, I let out a low sigh, my hand stuck in my hair.

“If this is a sham, make it real, otherwise you will have yourself to blame if anything happens to the company I had struggled to build for twenty years." He didn't wait for my response before he walked off, leaving me with Liam.

“You heard what father said." He smacked his lips, crossing his hands on his chest.

“Are you scared?" I muttered watching the way his face got drained of its colors.

“If anything happens to the family business, you are going to be at the receiving end so you better don’t provoke me.”

"Are you threatening me now?” He let out a bitter laugh.

"It's not a threat, I'm just asking you to stay away from me and North, stick your nose to the ground and act like we do not exist.” My voice was stern and dripping with venom now.

I should have known Liam wasn't one to give up easily even when he was going to end up being beaten by me.

“You separated from her three years ago and out of the blue you two are back together." He said after me, causing me to halt.

Laughing, I tilted my head to the side.

"I had no idea that Liam Timber was interested in me.” I muttered, a little laugh rippling from my throat.

“Why should I be interested in you? You are just one of those random issues that pops up once in a while, don't think highly of yourself." He howled.

"I can only stop being an issue if you own up to the fact that I’m better than you and no matter what you do, you won't be able to beat me.”

The way his eyes darkened made my heart do a backflip. I knew the right words to say to him and they always work like magic each time.

Instead of slamming back at me, Liam lunged at forward but Elijah who had just rejoined us, caught him by the arm.

“Stop it,” Elijah said. “Both of you.”

“You two always do this, you couldn't pretend in front of her.” She huffed, the main door banging shut slightly.

North was back.

I looked away with a clenched jaw while Liam on the other hand was still fuming.

“I’m done,” I said, brushing past them.

“Finn,” a voice said behind me.

North.

I turned slowly, my face void of any emotion.

Now standing next to me, she interlocked her fingers with mine and without saying a word to me, she led me in the opposite direction.

I didn't resist her.

I wanted this too. I wanted to leave father and Liam, I wanted fresh air to clear my head.

Just a few meters from the water fountain, she halted right in front of me with her hands folded on her chest.

The calm expression on her face had changed into something else and I knew exactly what was going to follow.