Chapter 129: The Best Mother

Ashton's POV

"I couldn't believe you, dad; how could you do that to your grandson? He is only a kid, for heaven's sake, besides Axel is not a liar; he told me he didn't throw that ball." I said the moment I got inside my father's study, and he stood up with anger on his face.

"You believe him more than me?" He asked angrily.

"Dad, if you want us to leave this house, we will go; just don't make my son feel that way," I said, trying to control my voice as I wanted my dad to understand.

"All I ask from you is to spend a little time with my son, and I am sure you will love him," I added.

"I don't have a problem with your son; I don't like your wife, Ashton, you could have married Claire, and none of this should happen." He answered, and my face fell.

"Dad, is it that hard to understand that I love Megan? I don't like anyone else but her, so please, give her a chance to prove her worth," I begged, and he smiled at me.

"I can't, but I can give your son one week to spend time with me, then I will try to be civil to Megan within that one week; that would be enough." My father replied, and his words shocked me. I had been looking at him for a long time, and I was speechless since I couldn't believe he would talk to me with calmness.

"Are you telling me you are giving my son and wife one week?" I asked in disbelief.

"Yes, one week; in fact, I planned to give you a welcome party this Saturday night; you can invite whomever you want." He said, and I became more surprised.

"Are you sure about that, dad?" I inquired, and my father laughed.

"I am always sure about myself, Ashton, you can tell Megan to invite her family, and I am giving all your siblings freedom to invite their own guests; I guess it is all about the time I should allow you to decide your visitors." My father responded, and I was astounded by his reply.

I looked at him for a long time, unable to believe what he had said. I wondered if I was talking with my father and not someone else.

"Are you sure about that, dad?" I asked.

"Yes, I am; you have a good son, Ashton," he responded, and I creased my forehead since I didn't understand why he was acting weird.

I know I should be happy that he was talking this way, but it was not him, or shall I say it is not my father's usual way of talking to me, and he never gives us the freedom to invite our own guests and I wondered if he was being real.

"You mean Axel?" I asked in disbelief.

"Who else? I would be happy to know if you have another son other than him," he responded, and I grimaced at my father.

"I don't have any other children. I know my son is a good lad, dad, and I was wondering why you acted that way, and I came here to beg you to give him a break," I replied.

"It was a test, and he passed." He replied.

"A test? Why do you have to put him on a test?" I asked.

"Because I wanted to know if he was worth being called my grandson," he replied, and I shook my head as I looked at him.

"You are unbelievable, dad," I said in more than a whisper.

"I like to spend more time with Axel; your wife could stay, but don't expect me to treat her with tenderness because I already told you your wife is not welcome here Ashton," he said, and I clenched my fists on my sides.

"Why are you so angry with her? She didn't do anything to you, to any of us; in fact, our family was the one who had wronged them when you asked Dexter to stay away from Isabelle by offering him the money he can't refuse." I declared, and I could see the anger on my father's face as he stood up from his seat.

"Don't tell anyone about that, Ashton; you have no right to remind me about Megan's brother. I only did what was right for both of them!" He yelled.

"Oh, really?" I asked.

"I couldn't believe that bastard would tell you about it; we had an agreement, and he signed an NDA concerning that matter," he stated.

"Dexter didn't tell me anything, dad; if he told me about it, Belle must be angry with you by now, he can beg my sister if that was the case, but Dexter didn't; Megan's brother did everything he can to stay away from Isabelle, and did you know the impact of what you had done?" I asked.

"You take away Isabelle's happiness, dad. Can't you see she is like a living dead?" I added.

"Don't ever talk to me like that, Ashton, besides I made sure she got everything," he answered.

"Everything, but you had forgotten the most important thing that could make a person find his ultimate happiness, and that is love. That is the only thing she needed, dad, and you take that away from Isabelle." I insisted.

"Shut up, Ashton; after I appointed you as the CEO of my company, this is what I got from you?" He asked.

"I can always take away everything you have, son," he said.

"Not everything, Dad, I have my own money from my football career and being one of the top product endorsers in the country, and I have savings from the salaries I earned as the CEO of your company," I replied, and he shook his head.

"You are not getting any younger, Ashton; if you want your son to be the company's heir, you should adhere to my command; after all, I am still the company's chairman, Ashton." He replied, and I fell silent.

"I know, now, that you have a son; you can't make a decision base on your impulse, Ashton," he said.

"Now, if you don't have anything good to say, you better leave; you only ruin my day, Ashton." He dismissed me like I was one of his employees.

"No matter how you beg me, I will never accept that woman, Ashton; you can file a divorce any time. Claire is still single, and I know she was still waiting for you." My dad said, and it was my cue to leave.

I walked out of my dad's office feeling more pissed, and I closed the door with a loud bang, I didn't care if he got angry with me, and I didn't expect my si lings, including my wife and son, to be all waiting for me on top of the stairs.

I tried to hide my anger when I saw my son staring at me, and I smiled at him.

"Is grandpa still angry with me, dad? Did he reprimand you too?" Axel asked as he looked up at me when I came closer to him.

"No, son, your grandpa was not angry with you, he was only upset that he lost those antiques, but you don't have to be scared of your grandpa," I replied, and his face lit up.

When I turned my head, I could see the worried look on my wife's face, and I knew she didn't want me to lie to our son. I gave her a reassuring smile before I returned my gaze to our son.

"Really? Can I still play football?" Axel asked, and I nodded my head.

"Yes, of course," I responded.

"We can go shopping later, Axel; I will buy you as many football balls as you like," Lennon said, and I could see the excitement on my little boy's face as he came to his uncle while I took Megan's hand.

I brought her to our room while Axel said he wanted to come with his uncles.

"Your son is intelligent, Ashton; you don't need to lie to him," Megan said right away after we got inside my room.

"I know, but dad said he wanted to give Axel a chance," I blurted out, and I could see the happiness and excitement on my wife's face.

"Did he tell you that, or you begged him to give Axel a chance?" Megan asked.

"No, it was his words; he said what happened in the living room a while ago was only a test, and Axel passed," I said, and I could see how her face saddened.

"He didn't need to test our son, Ashton; I couldn't believe your dad," she responded.

"Me too; I am sorry that this is happening, my love," I stated.

"Hey, it was okay, I expected worse, and I am sure I needed to be strong since the worst is yet to come." She replied, and I wanted to tell her to be patient with my father and give him another chance, but I couldn't tell her what my father had said.

It hurts me that my lovely and kind-hearted wife is being judged by my own father, the one who should give us full support in our married life, and I don't want to lie to Megan, but I don't want her to get hurt.

"Ashton, I know your dad will never like me, and I will never be welcome here in his house, but it would be enough for me that he will recognize my son as his grandson," Megan said as if she could read my mind.

"You don't need to worry about me; I knew how much Axel wanted to know his grandpa, and I wished to give him that; I always wanted to give our son what his heart desired, and I know I needed to support him especially now that he is growing up." She added.

I didn't answer my wife, but instead, I captured her mouth, and I kissed her passionately to let her know how much I love her, and I felt so grateful that I have her in my life; Megan is the best wife I could ever have and the best mother in the world.