Chapter 4: Fake Smiles and Laughter

- Noah’s Pov-

Family. They come as they are; one can only be patient and love them the way they come. However, there is a saying that goes...-you cannot die for the ones that do not care about you-

I decided to go take a shower and prepare for the sudden dinner invitation from my Father. He was such a coward not to have delivered the message himself.

I headed to the bathroom with so much reluctance, I hated the fact that would have to bear five hours of nagging, pain, and an exchange of power and pride between both families.

As much as I do not like Maria, as I did when we were kids, I could lie to myself; she was a victim of her father's need for power, he would do anything to get power, including selling his daughter to the highest bidder to get more fame, and in this case, my dad was the highest bidder.

A few minutes went by with me rounding up my time in the bathroom and heading out to get dressed. I got out my black tuxedo suit, a pair of white designed shirts, and black Brooks shoes.

I got into them and left the room with my wristwatch, two silver rings, and more importantly my Samsung Tablet.

The ride to my father's house ran smoothly, I was pissed, but I had no choice but to respect the old man to avoid chaos.

“It going to be a long day, sir,” Ishmael, my driver, voiced out, which had me nodding my head

He was my trusted friend out of all my staff I knew he would die for me any day any time. I had known him all my life. He worked for my father and when I got my first million from my company. I bought his freedom, and I set him free, and he decided to come back to work for me.

Upon my dad heard the news, he was furious and sent for him, but I declined. I told my father straight to his face that Ishmael worked for me now, and his decision was not questionable to anyone.

You can say that also triggered his hate toward me. However, I do not care about his feeling.

I smiled immediately upon seeing my father’s castle, I could still remember the last time I came to care, I mean, such an incident never leaves you, he had hurt my mom and stained her courage to live.

I sighed. “What a great mansion,” I sarcastically said, which was followed by a smirk that got Ishmael laughing to which I joined shortly.

The gateman identified us and allowed us into the compound. Getting into the compound, I could see my brother standing at the entrance to the garden to welcome me.

He was so mischievous and arrogant; I would have to take him out of my company by all mean. He was the only link my company shared with my dad, and I could not let that happen; I had to do something real quick.

Getting down from the car, my brother smiled at me, which made me throw a glare at him.

“Brother! Do not be like that. You know you are the one about getting married to the Mayor's daughter.”

Of course, my father decided to drag me into the mess he had created.

“Behave yourself, Benjamin,” I sternly said to him before walking past him.

He laughed coldly, and I knew he never meant me well.

He rushed toward me, placing his arm on my shoulder. “You know, I ought to be the one to tell you to behave yourself, Noah my dearest brother," he smirked, taking off his arms away from my shoulder.

“Ah, Noah! Welcome,” came the voice of the woman I love dearly to my heart. A woman I would go to the ends of the world for. She was clothed in just blue jeans and a black shirt She welcomed me in a warm embrace, which got me smiling.

She was my weakness.

My first love.

“Mother,” I greeted. I shut my eyes as I enjoyed the moment in her embrace, only to open them and see my father.

“Noah,” he spoke out, which had me throwing him a stern look his way, declaring to behave himself tonight.

I highly doubted he knew what body language means

“Come!”

My mother ushered me to the dinner table, which was held in the garden.

Arriving at the dinner table, I was welcomed with greetings from Maria's parents and a kiss from Maria herself. I threw a fake smile, which for now was welcoming and sat close to Maria. She was the safest person I could trust on this table.

“They never told me you were coming,” Maria whispered to me, which had us laughing gently.

“Well, there is going to be chaos this night,” I whispered to her. She took her glass of wine as she swallowed the whole contents of it.

“Girl! You are tasty," I taunted her. She threw a glare toward me as she often did. I smirked at her knowing I was getting under her skin successfully.

“Son, how are you?” my dad asked with so many fake concerns. I despised him, but we could not get rid of family members.

“I am doing okay, Father. Why did you ask?” I hope this irritates him.

“Hahaha, can I not ask my son how he is faring?” He sent me a fake smile which shifted all the attention to me.

“Father, why would you want to create a drama this night? I mean, do you not think it is too early for this?” Maria stepped on my shoe, ordering me to give it a rest. I sent a fake smile to the table, which for some reason, got my dear brother's attention... He was about to speak when Mr. Mateo interrupted him.

“Tell us, Noah, how are you and Maria working things out...” He saw my hesitation, so he decided to rephrase his question.

“I mean to say, when is the wedding, you two have known each other since the day you took your first steps, am I right, Mrs. Oliver?”

Why direct the question to my mom and not my Father? He chuckled.

Son of a b*tch, he knows my weakness.

“Well, Mr. Mateo, I'm sure my son is capable of reasoning and thinking for himself. He is no weakling,” my mother spoke, so proud of me.

Satisfied with her response, I raised my glass to her and drank the contents that were in it.

Smiling, she took a bite off her plate.

It was going to be an interesting night.