Chapter 123: Cruel

Ashton's POV

"Wow! Is that your house, dad?" Our son asked after we passed the electronic gate of my parents' mansion. My brother chuckled while I turned my head and looked at my son in the back seat. I couldn't stop my heart from feeling happy as I found him looking at our enormous house with awe.

"Yes, we grew up in that house, Axel," I responded as I pointed to our old house.

"Wow! It is a fancy house, and I love it!" He exclaimed, and I found Megan looking at me with a broad smile on her beautiful face. I winked at my wife, and she giggled while I could see her face blushing.

I smiled when I saw my mom and Isabelle with my two brothers waiting for us on the front porch, and Axel quickly got out of the car and ran towards his grandma, who was waiting for him with her arms wide open, and I could see the happiness on my mom's face as he took Axel on her arms.

"Welcome home, Meg," I whispered in Megan's ear after I hastily got out of the vehicle and offered my hand to my lovely wife. Her hands felt cold, and I could see the anxiousness she was trying to hide.

"I already told you, Meg, everything will be fine," I said as I squeezed her hand.

"Yeah, I know, it just felt weird that I am here back in your estate, and I couldn't stop myself from remembering what happened here years ago.

"I am sorry, my love; I knew I was a jerk for hurting you that day," I mumbled.

"Hey, I am not telling you this to remind you how insensitive and stupid you were back then," she replied.

"Ouch," I replied, and she laughed.

"I knew you have your fair share of pain and agony," Megan said as she smiled at me.

"It was enough to know that you were hurt too, and now, I need to face another test; I hope I will pass," I said.

"You can always count on me, and I will be here to help you, Meg," I replied, and she laughed.

"I don't think I need your help, and I would love to take this as a challenge." She responded with confidence, and before I could answer my wife, my mother came to us, and she kissed Megan's cheeks and brought my wife in her arms.

"Thank you so much for coming, Megan, this means a lot to all of us, and I just want to remind you that you are now part of us; you are my daughter now, and it is lovely to see you here with my son." Mom said after she released her from her embrace and she looked at my wife for a long time, and I could see the affection on her face.

"Thank you, mom, for your warm welcome," Megan responded as she looked at my mother with a beautiful smile on her face.

"I felt so happy that all my children are together with my new baby, Axel, he is so excited to spend time with his uncles, and he already asked Lennon if he can play football with them." My mom added, and I felt so proud of my son, but I felt worried simultaneously, knowing it would piss my father off.

My mother turned her attention to me; then, she gave me her motherly hug.

"Ashton, I will show Megan to your room, son." Mom said as she looked at me, and I could tell she felt tense as I looked at her.

"It would be OK, mom; I could take my wife to our room," I said as I smiled at my mother, and I saw her shake her head, and I knew right away that she had more to say.

"The thing is, your father wanted to have a word with you in his study," my mom responded, and I could see the worries on her face as she waited for my reply.

"Oh! dad is home, and he could have met us upon our arrival, yet instead of meeting us with you and my siblings, he wanted to talk to me in private; he is still the same, mom." I said, feeling disappointed, and I felt my wife's hand squeeze my palm as she looked at me.

"I am here with my wife," I added.

"Hey, it would be okay; you better speak with him, Ashton," Megan said, and I sighed.

"I am sorry, my love," I said since I felt guilty that my dad was ignoring my wife and son.

"Okay, I will join you after I talk with my father," I replied.

"Good luck, my love," she said in more than a whisper, and I kissed Megan's forehead before I walked towards my dad's study.

I didn't knock; I opened the door and found him standing near the wide-opened window of his study; I realized he had seen us coming into his house since he could see the driveway where he was standing.

When he turned around and faced me, I immediately saw his anger.

"How could you get married to that woman, Ashton?" He asked with a stern voice.

"That woman has a name, dad, and you can't do anything about it since you know he is my son's mother, and she is the only woman I love, and there is no one else," I said as I tried to control my emotions.

We just arrived, and now he is showing me his wrong side; I knew he was strict and all, but I still believed he had a good side; as I looked at my father, I could feel my hopes and expectations were gone.

"I don't know if you are stupid or crazy, Ashton, no matter how you love her, she will never belong with us, and I can't promise you to treat her nicely, even your son." He responded, and I could no longer stop myself from releasing my anger.

"I couldn't believe you are my father; how could you say that to me? I came here and brought my entire family with me so that I could properly introduce Megan and Axel to you, and now you are telling me that before you can even say hi to them." I declared, and I could feel my face feel so hot with my anger.

"I am not excited to meet them, and I only invited you to come because I wanted to see Axel, and your wife is not included, but since she is now your wife, I don't have a choice, but you must understand, I can never accept Megan to be a member of my family!" He replied with anger in his voice.

"Then, you must consider me an outcast because I will never leave Megan, dad, if that is what you want!" I responded in the same manner.

"I don't think this is a good idea that we came here, you are still the same man, and I felt bad for you; you are a successful man, yet you are cruel to your children," I added.

"Cruel? I was only looking out for all of you; how could you say that to your dad? Have you forgotten I have given you everything? Money and the luxury you had since you were a child was because of me." He declared, and I half laughed.

"Of course, it was your responsibility to raise us because you are our father, but we didn't ask for more, dad; all we ever wanted was to have little time with you while we were growing up." I countered.

"In fairness, you did your part, but the sad thing is you controlled us all, even our personal affairs, and it was sad that you must be the first person who should understand our choices in life, but it was the opposite," I added.

"All I ever wanted is to have a loving father and not a billionaire dad who has a heart of a stone," I said, and I could see how his face fell, and I turned around and stormed out of his study before he could recover from his shock.

"Hey, are you alright?" Isabelle asked as I went to the backyard to release my frustrations with our dad before I saw my wife. I didn't know my sister was in her favorite spot.

"No, I am not fine, Belle. I talked with our father, and I am so pissed with him," I replied, and she asked me to sit beside her on the chaise

lounge while I looked at the garden hoping the scenery would take my anger away.

"I am sorry, brother; I don't know how to make you feel better. I knew the feeling after talking to our dad." She responded as she caressed my back.

"I felt delighted I hadn't invited him to my wedding, or else it would be a disaster," I replied, and I told her what my father had said, and I could see the sadness on her face.

"I think I should take Megan and Axel out of here," I mumbled.

"Please, don't; he hasn't seen Axel yet; maybe some miracle will happen when he sees his grandson," Isabelle replied.

"That man has no heart, Belle," I said, and he sighed heavily.

"I could say the same, but he is our father, Ashton, and you can never resign from being his son, and that was the sad fact, but you should consider mom's feelings; she looked so happy to see you and your family, don't break her heart." My sister declared, and I covered my face with my hands as I grunted.

"I don't want dad to hurt my wife, Isabelle," I responded, feeling defeated.

"Don't worry, we are all here to make her stay happy; dad is only one person, and many of us can make Megan and Axel's stay a memorable one. Give dad another chance, Ashton." My sister begged, and I smiled at her as I mumbled my thanks, and I was hoping things would get better after my father saw our son.