The Unexpected Son-in-law

2

Her mother’s eyes widen before she glances at Liam.

‘’Listen, I might not be the rich son-in-law you were looking for, but I love Nova.’’

Venus scoffs. ‘’Love can only get you thus far, and as far as I can see. My sister is the one to be sponsoring your lifestyle.’’

‘’No, guys, it is nothing like that. I never marry Nova for money.’’ Liam now says, becoming angry.

Mrs Greyson laughs at him.

‘’Right, and you expect us to believe that? If you want to be a son-in-law to us, you can’t be poor, but have to come from a rich background.’’

Liam glances over at his wife. She is quiet now instead of trying to defend him.

‘’This is nothing but bullshit. All you people care about is money. How can you say that love doesn’t matter?’’ Liam raises his voice.

‘’Because it doesn't. What should happen if we both were poor and I fall ill? Could we afford medical?’’ Nova speaks up.

‘’You know, I never took you for a bitch, Nova. But I see you are just that and maybe I shouldn’t have married you if money is all you and your greedy family care about.’’

He then looks at the rest of the family. ‘’And you people are disgusting. This is like selling your daughter, but continue to be her pimp.’’

Nova's face goes red at Liam’s words and her hand shoots out and slaps Liam across the face.

‘’How dare you speak to me and my family in this way?’’

‘’How dare you and your family act as if I am a man with the plague because I have no money?’’

‘’You might as well have, and Nova has some nerve bringing you here.’’ Venus steps up.

‘’You are right, if I had known that this family was like this, you wouldn’t have come. You people are vipers, and your greed will lead you to hell.’’

Mrs Grayson laughs. ‘’You say that because you are poor, but if you had money, you wouldn’t be so upset.’’

She then addresses Nova. ‘’Your father and I taught you better than this and I thought you would at least have common sense since you are the CEO of the Yorkville branch. But I now see how foolish you are.’’

Her nose flares before she speaks again. ‘’Now you have this poor man trying to insult us.’’

Nova looks at her mother. ‘’Mom, I’m sorry to disappoint you and the family, but I see now that you are right. I have made a mistake in marrying such a poor man as Liam.’’

‘’What? Nova, no. We fell in love, we are happy together.’’

‘’Hush up,’’ Mrs Greyson tells him.

‘’With all due respect-’’

‘’When my wife tells you to shut up, you shut up.’’ Mr Greyson’s voice thunders.

Liam turns to look at him, but he is looking at Nova.

‘’I just hope that you had enough sense to sign a prenup, Nova. A man like this shouldn’t and will never be allowed or accepted in the Greyson family.’’

‘’Great-grandfather must be turning in his grave at this foolishness, to see the empire he has worked so hard to build just handed to some low life,’’ Venus adds.

’’He must have married her for fast money. I never knew men could truly be gold diggers too,’’ Andrea said.

‘’Nova. Cameron was the perfect match for you. He has money and comes from a wonderful background, but yet you turned him down for this poor trash.’’ Mrs Greyson huffs.

Liam clenches his fists at their insults. He knew he shouldn’t have come, but Nova convinced him that her family wouldn’t mind or that they weren’t judgemental. But there he stands, being their prime target.

‘’Nova, please don’t let them do this to us. We have spent so many years together. I love you, Nova, please.’’

Someone scoffs. ‘’You love her or the money and lifestyle she is paying for?’’

‘’Her, I didn’t know she was rich until seven months of dating when she told me.’’

‘’You should just leave, young man,’’ Mr Greyson tells him.

Mr Greyson turns to her daughter. ‘’And I suggest you divorce this man by morning if you know what is good for you.’’

‘’Yes, you go marry Cameron to save yourself from any more embarrassment.’’ Mrs Grayson puts in.

 When Nova nods. ‘’Yes, I will divorce this poor man and marry Cameron.’’

 Liam could feel his world crashing down.

Again, Liam clenches his fists to keep his anger in check and remembers the words his father had told him.

Just then, the said man who Mrs Greyson really wanted her daughter to marry comes out to the backyard.

He wears brown pants and a white pinstripe shirt with a few buttons open.

‘’Good evening,’’ he greets with a bright smile.

Without another word, Liam turns away to leave, but Kyle stopped him.

‘’Here, poor man, you’ll need this. I’m sure you can’t survive a night out on the streets.’’ He places a crumble dollar bill in his hand.

‘’It was nice meeting you, brother-in-law, or should I say, ex-brother-in-law,’’ Venus calls after Liam.

Liam drops the dollar and walks back into the house, where he bumps into someone he hasn’t seen in so long.

‘’Shannon?’’ he asks.

She looks up at him. “I- Liam?’’

‘’How are you been? I haven’t seen you in so long.’’ Liam asks.

She hesitates before answering.

‘’I came to show my support to Venus and Thomas on their engagement.’’

‘’Oh, well, enjoy.’’ Liam nods at her.

‘’I heard what they said.’’

Liam tries to hold back his tears because he doesn’t want the family to see him as weaker.

‘’I have no one to blame but myself. I should have never come here.’’

Liam blames himself because he has seen how Kyle treats people at the hospital and shouldn’t have expected any better from the family.

‘’I just never expected Nova to be the same,’’ he adds.

‘’I’m sorry for all they have said.’’

‘’No, don’t be. It was all them, not you.’’

When Liam looks out to the backyard, he can see Mr Greyson giving him a dirty look.

‘’And don’t let me ruin your chance at having a good time.’’

Shannon laughs. ‘’You won’t.’’

The sound of her laugh brings Liam back to his childhood, and he realizes that he still has a crush on Shannon.

Even though it had been years, she still looks as beautiful as he can remember. 

‘’I should get out of these superficial people's house,’’ Liam says and walks off because he doesn’t want to waste her time and he knew she would never go for a poor man like him either.

‘’Ok.’’ Shannon nods.

Liam nods, remembering the reason why her parents had packed up and left so suddenly.

They didn’t want their child to get involved with the poorer kids on the block because they thought they would be a bad influence.

And that was the last time he had seen her until now.

‘’Liam, Liam Tate. It was nice seeing you again.’’ Shannon grabs a hold of his hand but as she does this, her mother comes to pull her away.

‘’Shannon, we don’t talk to people like him,’’ she tries to say in a hushed voice, but Liam still hears her loud and clear.

“It’s nice seeing you again, Mrs Porter. Tell the gardener I said hello.’’

Liam walks over to the door, trying to hold on to what is left of his dignity.

‘’Your bags are outside,’’ the butler states when Liam gets close.

‘’Yes, thank you.’’ Liam nods at him.

As he walks through the gate, a single tear falls down his cheek.