Debate

Livy was back and forth in her room. She just received a call from her aunt half an hour ago, she was confused now. Her aunt said something strange. Her aunt said that she was too bold and soon her true face would be exposed by everyone.

When she asked what deed she was doing, Camile just continued to grumble and finally said she would be done with it.

Done? What's done?

What had she done to make Camile so angry? She even forgot about her intention to ask why Brenda came to her university.

The door to her room was knocked. A maid's voice came from outside the door and Livy let her in.

"Young Lady, are you busy tonight?" asked the maid politely.

"What if I'm busy? Is there a problem?"

"If you're busy, Young Master said not to disturb you. But if you're not busy, I was asked to tell you that he will take you out."

"Out? Where are we going? This is too sudden." Livy was actually surprised, but she was also happy when she heard Arthur wanted to ask her out.

"That's Young Master's orders. The others I don't know."

"Ok. I'll be ready."

The maid withdrew and closed the door behind her. Livy immediately patted her blushing face and couldn't hold back her smile anymore.

"Where is he taking me? Is this a date?"

Livy looked at the clock and it was eight in the evening. She rushed to open the wardrobe and took out the best dress Arthur had ever bought for her. Even though she didn't know where Arthur would take her, but she was very excited.

Fifteen minutes later, she came downstairs and saw Arthur sitting in the living room. His head rested on the couch and his hand on his stomach. The man was closing his eyes.

Arthur was only wearing a cream shirt and ordinary casual pants. His appearance this time looked more relaxed than usual. Livy crept closer, peeking to see if Arthur was really sleeping. After taking a closer look, she saw his tired looking face, she became pity.

'Even when you look tired, you are so handsome, right?'

Arthur suddenly opened his eyes. He blinked a few times before noticing someone nearby, but he could tell it was Livy from the perfume she was wearing. "Are you ready?"

Livy nodded. "Where are we going tonight? You look tired. Would it be alright to go now?"

Arthur straightened his body before replying, "Father asked me to come over for dinner."

"Father-in-law?"

"Mn."

Livy didn't answer anymore, she felt disappointed in her heart. 'So this isn't a date?'

"What's wrong? Are you busy?"

Livy suppressed her disappointment deep down. "I'm not. But I didn't know we were going there. This is too sudden. I should have prepared something to bring."

"There is no need for such formalities." Arthur got up from the chair and reached out his hand. "Let's go."

In a daze, Livy stared at Arthur's outstretched hand. She bit her lip, looked between the hand and his face.

"Your ankle still hurts, right? I'll help you."

"Ah?"

Livy blushed and took Arthur's hand rather slowly. Arthur's other hand immediately grabbed her waist. Livy was unbelievably nervous and she desperately wanted to run away.

"Did something happen? Why did father invite us too suddenly?" asked Livy after the two of them got into the car.

"If there's a problem. I'll take care of it."

"So there really is a problem?" Livy was getting scared now. This seems to be what her aunt meant over the phone. "Am I the cause?"

"Not you."

Arthur looked mysterious and cold as usual. Sometimes the man seemed reluctant to engage in conversation, Livy was afraid that Arthur would think that she was talking too much, so she was silent now. On the way, they barely spoke to each other. Arthur leaned his head back against the seat and he closed his eyes.

An hour later, their car finally entered a large luxurious house that was brightly lit. Arthur immediately opened his eyes. He got down and helped Livy to get down.

"My ankle doesn't hurt anymore. There's no need to help me. I don't want everyone to see this and worry." Livy told him. Arthur agreed.

When the two entered, Livy saw that her aunt and Brenda were also there.

"Auntie?"

A sour-faced Camile stared at her. Said nothing. But her expression changed when she looked at Nancy. "Madam, everyone has come. We can start discussing this now."

Discuss? What will they discuss?

Livy turned to Arthur, and Arthur just kept his usual deadpan expression.

"Hello, Bro, you have come."

From second floor a man descended with enthusiasm. The man looked younger and taller than Arthur, his face was very white, his body slender and there was a mole under his left eye. This new face was so foreign to her. It was just that hearing him address Arthur as 'bro', she seemed to know who he was.

Is this Arthur's half-brother who is overseas?

"Matthew, come downstairs. We're going to eat together."

"Ok, Mom."

"Since you guys have come, we'll have dinner first. Then we'll discuss a few things." It was Luther Finnegan, Arthur's father, who spoke this time, his face not looking friendly.

Just as everyone agreed and turned around, Arthur said coldly, "No need for pleasantries, Father. Just tell me what you have to say. My wife and I don't have much time for this."

Livy gulped.

Everyone stared at each other tensely. Only Luther stared hard at Arthur.

"You use that kind of tone to talk to me. Do you even have manners in this house?"

Arthur didn't answer.

"Okay, if that's what you want. I think you know what we want to discuss today. Everyone also wants to know the truth," said the old man no less coldly.

"Honey, we can all talk in the living room. I'm going to get the maid to bring us something to drink." Nancy intervened.

"Don't go anywhere. You also want to know what happened, don't you?" he said to his wife.

After saying this, Luther looked at Livy who immediately felt nervous for no reason. But that look was only a flash as he glanced at Arthur again.

"I'm not going to mince words. You know that you're married now, is it true that you live separately with your wife? I also heard that your wife was drinking with other men out there, is that true?"

Livy's heart skipped a beat. That's right, about this … why did she forget that her father-in-law must have heard this news?

"How do you know all this, Father? Did you send spies to watch my wife?" Arthur asked calmly.

But that calm tone changed Brenda's mood in an instant, let alone the question Arthur had raised. Brenda subconsciously clenched her fists nervously.

'Do not be afraid. Do not be afraid. You're about to expose that selfless girl, Sweetie. You must be brave!'

Brenda took a deep breath and calmed down.

"Why do I need a spy? Remember, Arthur, you already bear my last name. Son of a famous businessman, Luther Finnegan. Every move you make will be seen by all, especially your current wife." Luther emphasized his words. "Without me doing anything, I can hear what's happening to you out there. And I don't like hearing this one."

Livy's scalp suddenly tingled. She was scared to death and shaking now, she really wanted to run. It turned out that the problem her aunt was referring to was about this.

So, she was causing trouble for Arthur now.

While she was preoccupied with her fear, a hand gripped her fingers tightly. She saw it was Arthur's hand. The hand clasped it as if giving it strength. Livy felt a little relieved. Right. She wasn't wrong, why should she be afraid?

"Then what do you mean to say my wife went out drinking with other men? I always kept an eye on my wife, both at home and away. She is a good person. Does anyone who told you, have any proof that I was wrong, Mr. Finnegan?"

Luther, who was originally firm, hesitated for a moment. He knew Arthur very well, his son was a man of his word and never lied.

"Father, brother never lies. Why do we have to corner him like this? Are we always going to find fault with him?" Matthew added casually.

Too bad Arthur didn't feel relieved because he was defended by his half-brother.

"Matthew!" Nancy warned. Matthew immediately made a gesture of locking his mouth with a finger.

“I-I … I have the proof!” Brenda finally spoke up.

Brenda leaned over to Luther to show him the photo the middle-aged man had actually seen. As she handed over the phone, she caught sight of Arthur, but the man still had a deadpan expression. Nancy took a peek at the contents of the photo which she had actually seen as well.

"Mr. Finnegan, I got these photos during a visit to my cousin's dorm. The guard lady was making fun of her and said she was a bad woman. Then showed me these." Brenda explained nervously.

Livy was finally convinced that Brenda had indeed been to her dorm that day. But for what? Now, Livy had to think about how everyone would believe the man in the photo was Arthur. She wasn't sure that they would believe her and she was genuinely afraid of getting Arthur in trouble.

Luther looked at Arthur. "You must know about these photos."

Without looking at it, Arthur knew, but he didn't answer.

"I-It was indeed my fault." Livy finally worked up the courage to be honest.

Everyone stared at her.

"Father-in-law, sorry for my bad behavior in public, but it's out of my control," she continued shaking. "In the photo ... it is Arthur. We were together at the time. The other incident I don't remember, but I can guarantee that it is Arthur."

"Liar!" Brenda interrupted.

"I'm not lying. Admittedly the photo isn't clear, but rest assured it's Arthur. I'm with him."

Brenda scoffed at her. "If it was Arthur, everyone would know, and they wouldn't dare go find trouble with him."

"But ..."

"Livy, the fact that you were drunk out there has seriously tarnished the Finnegan family name. Why don't you just admit what you did?" Brenda cut her off.

From the way Brenda cornered her, she could tell that Brenda was up to something. She is getting what she wants in various ways. One of them by destroying her relationship with Arthur. Brenda must have come here on purpose to provoke Arthur and his father.

Matthew, who had promised to keep his mouth shut, was really itching to join in the debate. But now he can only see this drama and he felt somewhat attracted to Livy.

"But, I ... I don't—"

"Don't say anything. Let me take care of this." Arthur cut her off and gripped her hand tighter.

"Father, as my wife said, the man in the photo is me."

Luther tried hard to hold back his anger. "It doesn't matter if it's you or not, the problem is your wife is doing something embarrassing out there."

"Embarrassing? What's embarrassing?" Arthur frowned. "My wife has entered adulthood and she is allowed to drink alcohol, there is no problem with that."

Before Luther could interrupt Arthur continued,

"After all, whatever my wife does, as long as she's happy, it doesn't matter. She can do whatever she likes, and avoid anything she hates. I really appreciate that. So, please, Father, don't hurt my wife with your words." Arthur coldly said so, as if he tolerated nothing. "I've already resolved this matter before, I don't think this great family's name has been tarnished by a single scratch."

Luther's jaw tightened, but he had no words to reply.

On the other hand, Matthew was clapping in his heart. Wanting to cheer his stepbrother who can silence his father in an instant.

"You say why I live separately from my wife?" Arthur continued, "She is continuing her education which was delayed for two years. Living in a university setting allows her to concentrate more on studies than at home without friends when I'm busy. Don't worry, like I said before, I'm keeping an eye on her all the time, she's not might escape my eyes."

"Then how do other people view it? You guys are already married and living separately, do you think you can solve all the problems that easily?"

"I don't care what other people say. My wife didn't do anything wrong, she went to study, anyone who is smart will understand the situation." Arthur replied, but the twinkling of his eyes turned cold. "It's just that stupid people will always find fault in every corner. You're being influenced by someone to fight with me, Father. Do you realize that?"

These words instantly made Camile and Brenda flinch. Even Nancy, who had contributed to influencing her husband too, started cursing Camile and her child.

Arthur pretended not to notice the situation around him. He took the phone in his pocket and opened the photo folder. He smiled faintly, without anyone noticing it. In his opinion, this time the delinquent Dave had a use too. Maybe he should forgive him and give him a chance.

After finding the photo he was looking for, Arthur handed his phone to his father.

Luther looked at the photo and frowned. In this photo it is clear that Arthur is with Livy who is drunk and the jacket Arthur is wearing is the same as the man in the previous photo.

"Father, I know you don't like me. If I wanted to make you fall, I could have done it long ago. But, I never did, did I?" Arthur looked at him.

Luther knew that Arthur was threatening him with that sentence.

Then, Luther handed over the photo with a frown. Looking at his wife angrily, he left the crowd to return to his room. Looked very annoyed. It didn't take long for Nancy to join him.

Livy let out a breath she had been holding.

Is it really over? She felt relieved.

Meanwhile, Brenda, who didn't know what Arthur was showing Luther, was getting nervous and sweating. Moreover, after the middle-aged man left the debate, she felt that she had just lost her chance.

Impossible. She was already very sure that the man in the photo was not Arthur. Why did things turn out like this?

"Arthur, son, I know you want to protect Livy. But can you not let her get drunk outside? What will the others say then?" Camile said sweetly after all her daughter's plans failed. She was afraid that this matter would knock her down. "That's not only bad for your reputation, but for Livy's reputation as well. I would be very worried if she were in trouble."

Arthur snorted coldly. "Auntie, you don't need to worry about her anymore. She is already my wife now."

Hearing this, Brenda was furious and envious. "Arthur, I know why you lied to protect her! You even think I influenced your father, don't you? For what? I just didn't want you to be disappointed, that's why I told you, Livy made a mistake."

This time Arthur looked at her. "Didn't you hear? The man in the photo is me. That's the truth."

"You're lying!" said Brenda disapprovingly. "You're doing this because you want to get back at me, right? You liked me and wanted to marry me, but I rejected you. Arthur, I was so reckless back then, I wasn't thinking straight, but I'm starting to like you now."

"Like you?" Arthur was confused. "Auntie, didn't you say anything to your daughter?"

Camile immediately stuttered. “Ah, th-that's …”

Hearing this hot and cold debate again, Livy became curious.

"The truth is that you didn't reject me, but I rejected you. I came to propose to Livy, and your mother offered you in exchange. But ... all I wanted at that moment was to marry Livy."

Livy was surprised.

Brenda was speechless and her tears fell. “M-M-Mom…”

"If there are no other problems, I'll be back. Excuse us."

Arthur looked up briefly to glance at Matthew, but could not clearly see his expression. Then nonchalantly looked away and embraced Livy.

... to be continued ...