Domestic War

“Hello, mate.

You were under no obligation to leave me. I was simply trying to be nice to you.

I had no idea it would make you so angry." MacLeish shouted from a distance, but it was too late. Antonio had already departed.

"Boys, what is the matter with them?” Agnes, MacLeish's wife, inquired of her twin boys, Mark and Mathew, both 25 years old.

“I do not know.

There is only one method to find out. Let us go to see Dad and ask him what happened.

We cannot keep standing here and making assumptions,” Mark suggested.

“Mum, it is true. Mark is entirely correct.

Let us go find out for ourselves,” Matthew proposed as they all went to confront MacLeish and force him to tell the truth.

“Hey, you have arrived already. Antonio cannot stop inquiring about you.

He sends his greetings.” MacLeish said.

He was surprised to see his family show up. They were the last people he expected to see at the time.

“We just saw how he walked out on you, furious. Have a problem with him? You can talk to us to avoid it. We are family, aren't we?” Agnes inquired.

“There is nothing to worry about.

We were just having a regular conversation.

He had to be somewhere significant. I had to leave quickly,” MacLeish denied.

“Dad? Are you sure?

I do not think I would want to believe you,” Mark interjects.

“Why can't you believe me? Do you believe I would lie to you?

Come on, I am bigger than shit, and you know it.” MacLeish raged.

He used the victim card to make them feel guilty. Unfortunately, it did not work. Everyone seems to be on the same page.

“No one called you a liar, Father. I was only stating the obvious.

We recognized what we saw. What we saw was very disturbing.

Do you wish to discuss it? You do not have to keep it from us.” Mark inquired again as he doubted his father's response.

“Young man, I have just told you what happened. Enough with the questions. Can't you just leave me alone?” MacLeish screamed.

"You do not need to explain any further, Dad. I trust you.

Antonio has been your only companion for decades. Mathew defended his father.

“You cannot possibly be having problems with him, let alone on a day like today.”

Mathew appears to be the only person who supports his father, while others oppose him.

It was not the first time Mark was caught supporting his father without determining whether MacLeish is innocent or guilty as charged.

This single act has earned him the status of MacLeish's favourite son.

“Mathew? There you go again with the scripted act of kindness to your father while portraying your brother and me as the devil here.

Why do you continue to support your father, despite his wrongdoing?

Your father is telling us lies.

Big ups for trying to recreate a new strategy.” Agnes scolded Mathew, accusing him of fraud.

“Stop it, Mum. You know that is not true. Everyone knows Mark as the family's black sheep.

I am Dad's favourite because I deserve it.” Mathew said, lashing out at his mother and mocking Mark's situation.

Mark and Matthew may be identical twins, but their preferences are unique.

While Mark prefers to party and rely on his father's wealth, Mathew is focused on leaving a legacy for himself.

“You dare to talk about your brother in such a way in our presence? What the hell is wrong with you?

Have you abruptly lost respect for your parents? I dare you to make an apology to your brother right now. Let him know you are sorry.” Agnes gave Mathew an order. She remained silent the entire time Mathew was chastising Mark.

“I am not apologizing to anyone, Mum.

Why doesn't Mark defend himself?

Mark understands that I am speaking the truth.” Mathew stood on his ground.

“My silence does not imply that I am stupid.” Mark stepped in to defend himself. He felt that his mother wasn't up to the task.

“Exchanging words with you at a wedding like this seems pointless to me. Of course, you know what I do at home,” he clapped back at his twin brother. He wasn't inclined to lose the battle, especially in a public place like that.

“You are clueless.

You have no idea what you are talking about.

Let us just enjoy the party and forget about this,” Mathew said quietly, ready to let go.

“We now know who the coward is.

Why did you retreat? You should have continued your banter,” Agnes attacked Mathew, igniting the feud between her sons.

“Agnes, please stop now.

Why are you working so hard to rekindle the feud between your sons?

You should act as a mediator rather than an instigator.” MacLeish warned Agnes, transferring aggression onto her.

“Are you saying that I am not a responsible mother?” Agnes wailed.

“I never stated that. Stop speaking for me. Well, you know the answer to your question,” he responded.

“I now know you despise my son and me. You were there the entire time Mathew was talking nonsense about Mark, and you did nothing. If that is not favouritism, I am not sure what is.”

“No one is disparaging your Mark.

Please refrain from calling him My son when he is also mine.” MacLeish clarified.

“If they were not twins, I would swear Mark was not my biological son.

I wish he could be like his brother for once and make his family proud.” MacLeish dropped another surprise on Mark.

"Mathew and I are entirely different people. Do not force me to live his life. I will never be able to be him.' Mark lamented bitterly as he got support from his mother.

“Dad, you do not need to worry. In this case, I agree with you. Ignore what they are saying about you.

It makes no difference to me. In my opinion, you do everything right.” Mathew assured his father.

“Finally, someone is on my side.”

MacLeish breathed a sigh of fresh air.

“I have always known you had my back, even when I was distressed. You are my favourite son, and I am not ashamed to say so.” MacLeish conceded.

“Finally! For once, someone gets to admit.” Agnes muttered concisely.

“Let us walk around and discuss while your mother and brother continue to speculate about spilled milk.

The church service will commence shortly. Let us go celebrate with Antonio and his family,” MacLeish said, ignoring Agnes and embracing Mathew as they walked away and strolled around.