Chapter 90

"And how did your meeting with the family go?" Susan asked Emily who sighed, "it went well. His brother was…"

Susan waited for Emily to finish the sentence but she couldn't find the right words to describe him. "...different!"

"Okay, I have heard many descriptions about people but never someone was tagged as 'different'," Susan said with the rise of her brows.

"I can't describe him in any other way, first he lives in a place which is far away from the city, In the forest. There he had this big palace kind of home and not to mention the huge dogs which look like werewolves and not to mention the old housekeeper.

"Does he have horns on his head?"

Emily didn't understand the reference, "what are you talking about?"

"You described his place as a beastly palace. So I was just confirming if he was the beast itself. The oy thing missing in your description was horns and furs on his body."

Emily left a tired breath. "I think he is a beast. We attended a funeral there and the weirdest thing was instead of consoling the family he told them to be grateful they were alive. I mean who said that to anyone. Not to mention there, people bowed to him as if he was some kind of King. I told Xandrio that I want to leave as soon as possible but he assured me his brother was a good man."

"He didn't treat you well?"

"Oh, he treated me well, too well I say but it felt as if he was forcing himself to do it. He looked more fake than genuine."

"Weird!"

"You bet, It was more than weird, but leave it, I want to think about my wedding, I will be Mrs Kyschove next week. I am a nervous wreck goddamnit," Emily said dramatically.

Susan chuckled but hissed when she moved. The bastard has bruised her b*ttockes, last night.

"Where is Aurora?'' I told her to meet me in the morning and it's close to noon now."

Susan shrugged her shoulders, "she has been staying with Liam for the last week, she no longer shares anything with me."

Emily rubbed her hand on her back to comfort her. "You know she couldn't be angry with you for long. Give it a little time, everything will be like before."

Susan nodded. "You know one good thing came out of this, we are having a civilised conversation."

"Civilised, but till when?" Emily countered and they both burst out laughing.

Aurora hugged Emily wholeheartedly, "how is our bride doing?" She asked air kissing her.

"The bride is doing good but she is angry with you, we have been waiting for you for two hours Aurora."

Aurora's cheeks turned crimson recalling the late-night seduction and early morning teasing she had with Liam. Susan could notice how happy she was in her new relationship.

At least she found someone who genuinely loves her.

Susan was happy for her soul sister. She didn't regret a thing she did with Gabriel. Aurora's eyes met hers for a brief moment but she turned her gaze back to Emily almost immediately. "I have some news to share with you."

Emily nodded while Susan acted not to pay attention. " Liam wanted me to meet his family and I am kind of nervous after what I did, geez I am so embarrassed for how I treated his father. I called Liam ugly!" She shrieks with a hand on her head.

Emily hid her laugh with a cough and Susan tossed her lips inward. "What are you wearing?"

She shrugged, "I couldn't even decide anything."

"Hm! Let's solve the issue, shall we?" Emily asked Aurora to stand up, she nodded at Susan and the three searched for a suitable dress for the family dinner. "

Susan found the dress, it was a beautiful wine coloured, long skirt with a white shirt. "It's perfect," Aurora squealed and was about to hug Susan but stopped herself and nodded with a thank you.

"Any tips?"

Emily and Susan looked at one another before Emily turned back to Aurora. "Just be yourself and don't insult his father today," she laughed while Aurora gave her a finger.

"F**k you!"

Liam was gently holding Aurora by her waist, she looked at Liam with apprehension. "You will be fine, little one." He said, using a little force for Aurora to move inside as the maid opened the door for them.

Aurora herself lived in a beautiful home but Ryan took luxury to another level. "It's grand!"

"It is!"

"Come let me introduce you to my father, as my girlfriend," they walked towards the living room but Liam halted in his steps when he saw Ethan King, sitting there.

"Dad!" Aurora smiled confidently and ran over to her father. Ethan engulfed her daughter in his arms standing up.

"How are you doing, love?"

Liam sharpened his eyes at his father, questioning him with his gaze. Ryan only sighed in answer. Liam gritted his jaws in anger. He didn't like Ethan showing power over him like this.

He might rule over Churchill but Vancouver was Liam's kingdom and no other king can show his power in his city. Not even his would-be father in law.

He eyes the father-daughter duo, the smile on Aurora's face sparkled her whole face. Till now, she was scared of meeting Ryan but with her father beside her, she was glittering in happiness. Aurora Kings didn't care about anyone when her father was with her.

"Is Liam treating you well, Love?" Ethan asked loud enough for everyone to listen. He didn't care about anyone hearing him.

Before Aurora could reply, Liam spoke up: "Yes Little one, tell your father how badly I am treating you."

Ethan's eyes shone with fury at the mocking tone. Aurora rolled her eyes hearing the anger in Liam's voice. "He is treating me like a queen dad. I am happy with him."

Liam took a step closer and pulled Aurora away from Ethan, rested his hand on her shoulder and placed a soft kiss on her neck. "Thank you, little one."

Ethan felt as if Liam had slapped her. Ethan understood what Liam was trying to tell him by pulling Aurora away from him. She belongs to him now. A sense of longing bloomed in his heart when his daughter has ripped away from his arms. He wanted to snatch her back but he couldn't do it. At this moment, Ethan Kings was not a big mafia don or a billionaire businessman. No, he was just an old father whose daughter was leaving him for her husband.

Aurora smiled when Liam kissed her neck but when she saw her father's face she understood he felt bad about the way Liam snatched her from his arms. She created a distance between Liam and herself and went back to her father, kissed his cheek. "I am always your daughter first, Daddy. Everyone else comes after you."

Liam's body went rigid hearing Aurora's words. He was enraged, the girl mocked him in his city in front of Ethan. How dare she!

Ryan could see the anger building in Liam's eyes, he very cleverly broke the ice between his son and friend. "If the father-daughter meeting has finished, may I meet my son's girlfriend?"

Aurora met Ethan's eyes who blinked his eyes, telling her that everything will be fine. Liam forced a smile on his face, "not that you needed but still, please meet my girlfriend, Aurora, dad," He officially Introduced them. "...and Aurora, he is my father Ryan Knight."

"Please to meet you, Mr Knight," she said, offering her hand to Ryan.

"Oh don't be formal with me, Aurora. Call me Ryan," he said kissing her hand like they used to do in the Victorian era

"I hope you didn't find my son too ugly to look at?"

If only the earth could swallow her. She looked down in shame. Ryan laughed when her lips turned pink. "I was kidding, Aurora. It's very nice meeting you when you are not asking me to get out of your house."

"Let bygones be bygones, Ryan, you are making her uncomfortable," Ethan said a little sharply. The tone didn't sit well with Ryan.

"I am known for making people uncomfortable, Ethan. It's my hobby but today I am only joking with my son's girlfriend. She is in Vancouver now." The last line drew the line of friendship and limits for Ethan Kings. The limits should be respected by everyone.

Aurora felt odd with these kinds of talks but she knew the blunder was created by her in the first place. She looked at Liam for help but looking at his stiff face she lost hope and looked down again.

Liam's gaze went to Aurora's pleading eyes. He sighed, "may I take my girl back, dad?" He said changing the direction of their talk. Aurora raised her head and met his eyes, he smiled to comfort her and Aurora relaxed.

Ethan noticed this silent interaction between them and hope arose in his mind for her daughter's future. Maybe Liam's feelings change for Aurora in future.

"Oh yes, why not? Let me call Marta to set the dinner table."

He rang the bell for his housekeeper, Marta. Aurora thought she would be some middle-aged woman like her housekeeper Mrs Dolan but her eyes popped out of the sockets when a stunning woman around thirty walked out with a smile pasted on her lips. Ryan ordered her to set the dinner and she left.

She went near Liam who had his hand resting on Aurora's shoulder, "is she the housekeeper?"

Liam looked at her with an arched brow. "My dad loves female company, you will get used to it."

Disgusting! And my dad never even looked at any other woman after mom.

Aurora felt deep sympathy for Liam. My poor baby, how he must be feeling seeing his father whoring around.

She placed a kiss on his cheek to ease his pain and rested her head on his shoulder while the three men were talking to each other about some business-related thing. Aurora was getting bored with them. She wanted to shout, hello, I am here too! But couldn't because she didn't want to get involved in any chit chat with Ryan.

"I am sorry for…" Liam glanced at his brother who raised his brows when his eyes settled on Ethan Kings. "I didn't know you were coming, Mr Knight."

Ethan nodded. "It was a surprise for my daughter."

Ralph turned his gaze to Aurora. "He is my brother, Ralph," Liam introduced them to each other. They didn't wait any longer for dinner and settled around the table. Slowly, with the great efforts from Ralph and Ryan, the ice broke between Liam and Ethan and they all managed to have a civilised dinner.

Aurora smiled and laughed with Liam at the dinner table and seeing his daughter like this Ethan felt at ease. Even though it all was fake his daughter was happy. He could live with that. After dinner, Ethan decided to leave. He couldn't leave his city for long as there was war between him and the Mexicans.

Ethan took Aurora outside to talk to her privately. "Be happy, love," he said, taking Aurora's face between his hands softly. "I want you to smile every day," He whispered, kissing her head softly.

Aurora's heart flipped painfully. She didn't know why but it felt wrong. Sadness gripped her heart into a painful fist. "Dad…" a sob left her throat without any reason. She didn't know why she was crying but she hugged her father tightly into her arms.

"Love? Are you hiding something? Tell me, Aurora?" He made her look into his eyes, breaking the hug.

Aurora shook her head. "I don't want you to leave me, dad. Please stay for a few days, please."

Ethan smiled. "I can't stay, love. You know I can't ignore my work."

Aurora hugged him once again. "I am scared dad, I don't know why, but suddenly I am feeling scared as if something bad is about to happen.

Ethan stiffened. He didn't want Aurora to feel anything wrong. He wanted to protect Aurora even from the negative thoughts. " It's all in your mind, love. You want to know something?"

Tears perked in her eyes looking at her father's face. She nodded, words couldn't get out of her mouth as her throat was thick with tears. "Your mother would have been so proud of you. Liam is the perfect man for you, Aurora. I am so proud of your choice."

Aurora chuckled. "Mom guided me in accepting Liam dad," she said, touching her necklace. Ethan eyed the necklace which once used to be worn by his wife. "I miss her dad." She said through the veil of tears.

Ethan hugged his daughter. "Me too, Aurora but your dad is here for you, I am here for you, my love."

She nodded in his chest and stood there, feeling the comfort of being had by him. There was nothing more comforting than her father's scent. There was no place where she felt safer than her father's arms.

"Shall we walk back inside, your boyfriend must be getting jealous over you spending time with your old man."

Aurora chuckled as Ethan wiped her tears. "Let him be, I love my dad more than anyone else." The father and daughter laughed together.

Meanwhile, Liam's hands were twitching in anger. "What the hell are they doing outside for this long."

Before Ralph or Ryan could speak Ethan returned with Aurora. He glanced at Ryan, "old friend, I am leaving my daughter in your protection. Take care of her as your own."

Aurora stiffened at Ethan's words. "Dad, you are talking about it as if we wouldn't be meeting again."

"She is like a daughter to me, Ethan."

Ethan nodded at Ryan in respect. Then turned his eyes to Liam. "I am trusting you with my daughter. Don't disappoint me," to another person his words might sound soft but Liam could hear the warning in them. The message was clear, don't mess this up or I will mess with your life. Only if that was that easy, Liam thought.

Liam smiled. "She is mine to keep now."

Ethan nodded and kissed Aurora one last time before leaving the place. Tears rolled down Aurora's eyes watching her father leave, there was something she couldn't point out. A disastrous feeling was crawling over her body but she tried to ignore it and prayed that it was just that, a feeling!