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Chapter 3

A Family & Discord.

"Leila"

" You'll get married to Ian Donahue. I've met his family, and we have agreed on the match" I froze at the bottom of the stairs, glanced at my mother, who looked pained as she gazed between me and my father.

When I had been called downstairs was not what I'd expected.

To be told off for my escapades the night before, yes, I'd definitely expected that, but the fact that they'd glossed over it with minimal fuss almost two days after the fact told me exactly what they were doing.

In exchange for not bringing up my outing, they expected my complete obedience.

" And just who is Ian Donahue" I asked as I walked closer to him, and crossed my arms over my chest.

" He's the son of a businessman in Berkeley. His father and I went to school together", I huffed.

" And that makes him my qualified match" I asked in qualification.

" It makes him far better than the idiot you want to marry" he replied, sitting and sipping at his coffee.

" Richard" my mother whispered, exasperated.

" And the most annoying thing is that you've gotten your mother involved in this. "

" For that I'm really sorry" I murmured.

" Get ready, the wedding should be in a week from now" he uttered, and unable to help it, I laughed,

" A week. And you say I'm crazy"

" Leila", mother said softly. I pulled away and swallowed

" I'm sorry, but dad, I can't see why it's so wrong to marry someone I like instead of a stranger I haven't met " I muttered snidely, he said nothing, just sat there like he wasn't listening.

We were having breakfast. It was a light meal with my father at the head of the table and my mother next to him.

It was something we did everyday, my mother insisted on it and my father loved her too much to complain. Today was different though he was in a mood. I could tell by the wrinkle in his brow and the way his gray eyes turned stormy sometimes. I loved my father. He was the best and I knew he loved me, just not enough to let me marry someone I wanted– someone who he saw as his enemy. He sighed, then looked at me.

" I believe you had a good night" he asked. I nodded, taking another bite of my meal.

" I did " I replied, and he grunted,

" Then I guess you have thrown out all the useless thoughts," he gritted, and I started.

" Dad–" my mother's blunt look cut me off. I huffed in annoyance. He nodded and rose, pressed a kiss on my mother's cheek.

" I'll see you at dinner" he whispered, and then stalked away.

" I don't understand how he can be so loving in one moment and then annoying in the same breath" I complained, and garnered an unimpressed glare.

" I don't understand how you can be so smart in one moment and dumb in the same breath" my mother replied.

We ate in silence for a while before my mom abandoned her fork with a huff.

" Are you dense or do you just like antagonizing your father" she asked sincerely. Catherine Castor was a sincere woman and not one to mince words either. She believed in giving people a chance to prove themselves and could become very cold when they failed to live up to her standards. She also worried about those she considered family a lot.

" I don't get why he should be so angry, it's a marriage, one would say a beneficial one " I replied, leaning away from the table.

" Darling, my sweet idiot child. You're proposing marriage to one of your father's biggest enemies, your grandma would throw a fit if she heard this."

I grinned, because my mother was absolutely right, granny, or Trisha Castor was a dragon, and she hated the Maloney's with a passion that should have been reserved for lovers.

" I'm sure she'd be yelling the moment I mentioned Ben's name."

" You foolish chit, a thousand idiots and you chose to saddle yourself with that idiot" my mother mimicked, unable to help it. I laughed because that was just like granny. It was unbelievable but extremely true.

Mother laughed too, then she sobered, took a sip of her juice before she dropped her glass.

" This really isn't good " her mother said.

" I know, and I'm sorry that this puts everyone in a spot, but this could be a chance. To get everyone to at least stop hating each other", I muttered.

" Leila, this is– have you really thought about this" she asked, and I nodded my head. Yes.

" I'm sure mom, I love him. I want to marry Ben"

" And this boy Ben, are you sure he loves you" she asked again, her brows bunched in a frown.

" Yes mom, Ben loves me" I replied.

"Who is this, Ben person " my aunt Mat stumbled into the, dining room with a sly grin and an evil glint that she reserved just for her.

" Hello aunt" I whispered softly. My mother smiled at her sister and only living relative.

" Matty, you're back" she asked, and my aunt nodded.

" Yes love, had a wonderful shoot in some hilly countryside if that can be believed," she muttered as she poured herself a glass of juice.

" There was this handsome hunk of a man. I think he's the only thing I'll miss in that place" she muttered.

My aunt, Mathye White, was an actress. Of course, White was not her family name but one she'd adopted like the many people she played in her TV shows. The most important thing, however, was the fact that she hated me. I was the only one who saw it and, frankly, I was glad my mother didn't because it would hurt her. I didn't understand why, but I'd stopped letting it bother me.

" So who's this, Ben person" she asked again, taking a bite of her toast.

" Well, my darling daughter says she's in love" her mother replied, aunt Mat hummed.

" That sounds nice, love doesn't seem to be easy to find these days."

" Well, it would be nice if he was from any family but the Montgomery's" my mother sighed, her brow wrinkled with worry.

" Really, you just had to go there" aunt Mat muttered, glaring at her like she was the spawn of the devil.

" Ben is a nice person. I don't know why we're all stuck up with a feud we're unable to trace back " I mutter and she huffs.

" So do I, but it's the way of life. "

" Well, I don't plan to live by those standards " I grit out thoroughly annoyed at this point.

" Let's not argue" my mother cut in.

" I will go see how I can make your father accept this " she huffed, rising from her seat.

" Thank you mom" I whispered and she huffed.

" I'm likely to get a heart attack but, you're my daughter and I love you" she said softly before walking away.

I take the last sip of my juice, ready to stand when my aunt mutters not so underneath her breath

" Ungrateful brat"

" And just what is your complaint this time, aunt Mat," I asked, looking at her.

" You're well aware that helping you puts her in a tough spot, and yet you still try to drag her into your nonsense" she gritted and I sighed.

" I don't need my mother to fight my battles for me, I'm capable of doing it myself" I replied, and she replied, rising from the table.

" Then do so, although much like your father, I imagine you won't be able to get even the simplest of tasks done " she replied.

" I don't understand why you're always mean to me" I said softly, standing as well. Aunt Mat drew closer to me, her face pulled into a scowl.

" You're not worth her sacrifice. None of you damn Castor's are," she whispered.

Against her cheek, then pulled away and strode away.a

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