Chapter 128: Priceless Antiques

Ashton's POV

"A what?" I asked my brother as I furrowed my forehead. We were on the road having our early morning run with my brothers, and we were slowing down as we neared our gate.

I missed the neighborhood, and I couldn't stop remembering the crazy things I had done with my brothers and best friend just to have fun; it was outrageous primarily, but none of those things could hurt us.

We made sure to do fun; we won't get into trouble; it was primarily bets and dares.

"You heard me, brother; I said I overheard mom and dad talking about a party," Cole responded as he looked at me with an edgy look.

"Why does he need to throw a party?" I asked, and my brothers halted in their tracks as they both looked at me.

"In my opinion, maybe he wanted to welcome you and your family home," Cole responded.

"Ha! That is hilarious; we all know that is not possible. Our father hated my wife, and he didn't even like my adorable son. Do you think he will throw a party for us?" I asked as I shook my head.

"I think something is fishy, and I felt so worried about this party you are talking about, Cole," I added.

"Something is wrong, and I think we should all get ready; I am sure our father was planning something that would lead your wife and son to walk away from our house," Lennon said, and I let out a heavy sigh.

"I guess that is the reason why Isabelle wanted to speak with us about something, and she asked all of us to come to our favorite spot after our run," I replied.

"It could be," our youngest brother responded, and I could see the worried look on his face.

"Why does it look like you are the one who is so stressed about this party, Cole?" I asked him, and his face saddened as he looked at me.

"You know what it means, brother," he said, and my mouth hung open, and it took me a long time to process why he felt more worried about this party than I was.

"It means he couldn't invite and bring his boyfriend to this party, and I am sure it would blow father's mind if he found out his youngest was gay," Lennon said, and I felt stupid fo forgetting about the boyfriend Cole brought during my wedding and honeymoon with my wife.

"And not only that, I am tired of bringing fake girlfriends every time there was an occasion; he called me a playboy without knowing I only love girls as friends, and I am into hot guys," Cole responded, and I realized I am not the only one who didn't like this party.

We didn't get inside the gate, but we made our way to the shortcut only my siblings knew; it was a beautiful morning as we walked through the back part of our property.

Our favorite stop is the clearing and the big tree on top of the hill where we usually hung out when we were kids until we became teenagers.

At night it will look magical as we can see the beauty of Astikoz city with the lights shimmering under the night sky, and we can see the thousands of stars most nights. It was always a lovely sight.

I wanted to take my wife with me, but she looked so lovely sleeping in my bed while she hugged our son, and I didn't have the heart to wake her up.

"Wow, it seemed our sister got company," Lennon mumbled, and I couldn't stop my heart from racing as I realized Megan had come with my sister, and even if her back was on me, I could tell she was smiling, watching the city below.

I knew my wife very well, she loved the serenity of this hill, and I wanted to bring her back to the retreat facility where we rekindled our love for each other.

"Hey, did you have a nice run?" Megan asked as she handed me bottled water, and then she wiped my sweat with a face towel as my brothers were teasing us.

"Wow, if all girls out there are like Megan, then it would not be hard for me to look for a wife," Lennon said as he looked at us.

"Me too; maybe I will stick to girls," Cole added, which made my sister crack up, and we all laughed as I caressed my wife's face.

"I did, but nothing compared to the feeling I feel right now that I am sitting beside you," I whispered, and Megan's face blushed, which I love so much.

"Come on, lovebirds, don't make us all feel out of place," Lennon teased.

"You better shut up, bro, and find a girl for your liking," I yelled, but instead of walking away from me, my brother sat beside me.

"Not happening as for now; maybe after dad would accept Megan and Axel, maybe that is when I will date the girl I have in mind as of the moment." He said, and I cocked my head at my brother.

I could see the seriousness on his face, and I remembered the woman he told me about, and I was sure he was crazy about her but too afraid to ask her out since she was an ordinary employee, his secretary. I am sure that our father would disapprove of her.

"I couldn't believe that all of us would break our father's heart by simply choosing the one we love," I mumbled, and I didn't intend to say our aloud, but my siblings said in unison.

"If he would not interfere with our love life, I guess it would be fun to bring the person we love and introduce them to our parents, holidays would be more fun and parties would be more appealing, unlike now, I am sure none of us would love to attend this party." Isabelle declared, and I could see the sadness on her face, and I am sure she was thinking about Megan's brother at the moment.

"Yep, but we don't have a choice but to be there since we don't want those people to think we don't care about our parents, it would be tiring, but I think as long as we are not divided, we can make that party enjoyable." Lennon declared, and we all agreed with him.

"So, did father ask you to discuss this matter with us?" I asked Belle, and she nodded her head.

"Yeah, dad told me he wanted to hold a welcome party for all of us since it had been a long time since mom hosted a party for her socialites' friends." My sister replied.

"Mom tasked me to contact the city's best caterer, and our mother said she and dad would handle the guest list," Belle added. We both looked at each other with disappointed looks on our faces since we knew they would only invite their friends into our society, and I felt terrible that I couldn't invite Megan's family.

"Can we break some rules?" I asked, and my siblings stared at me as if I was saying something terrible.

"I think it depends," my brother Cole said.

"Maybe it is time to invite some of our friends that don't belong to the elite," I replied.

"I don't think that would be a good idea, Ashton; you know our father," Belle replied.

"I just want to invite Megan's family; they are now my family, too," I stated, and my wife took my hand and looked at me.

"Ashton, that is very sweet of you, but I don't think I would allow my family to attend this glamorous party and be humiliated; thank you, but it would be a no to me. I don't want my parents to know my son, and I are not welcome here." Megan said, and I felt so guilty.

"But, Meg, I should introduce them to my father," I insisted.

"Ashton, I love your family, especially your siblings, they all accepted me with warmth, and I am grateful, but dealing with your dad was hard enough, maybe during holidays, but not when it is the biggest party in the city." My wife answered with tenderness.

"We love you too, Meg," Isabelle and my brothers said in unison; I couldn't stop grinning at them. I felt so happy that they liked Megan and my son so much that there were moments I could feel they wanted them more than they wanted me.

"Thank you, guys, and It would be alright if your dad would humiliate me in front of his guests, but not my family." My wife said firmly, and I knew I needed to obey her request.

"Okay, my love, if that is what you want," I answered as I took her hand and brought it to my lips.

We all returned to the house, and we were on our way to get inside the living room when we heard my father's angry voice echoing throughout the whole place.

"This is not a place where you should throw that football ball, boy; you must remember that. Do you know how expensive these collections are?" My father said sternly at my son.

"Oh, no!" Megan said, and we both ran towards the living room, and I saw my father standing at the center while he was looking at the broken pieces of the antique collections of my mother scattered on the floor.

"I am sorry, grandpa, I won't do it again," Axel said while I could see my son's body was trembling in fear.

"Of course, it won't happen again since this ball should go to the trash bin," my dad replied angrily.

"Dad, I would know how much those things cost," I said as I tried to stay calm.

"You can never pay them, Ashton; they are priceless," he said as he stormed out of the living room while my wife and I hugged our son.

"Mom, Dad, promised, I didn't do anything," our son said, and I Axel was telling the truth.

"I believed you, buddy," I said as I ruffled his hair.

"I need to talk with my father, Meg," I said.

"I think it is not a good idea, Ashton; the best thing to do is never to leave our son alone in your father's house." My wife said after he kissed Axel's head.

"Don't worry, my love, I will control myself," I replied and left the living room without a second glance, and I couldn't believe my father would do something like that; I clenched my teeth and made my way to my parent's room.