Chapter Four

LIAM. "Stop staring at me like that!" I hiss at Corey, who hasn't stopped looking at me like I suddenly grew an extra head. "Why shouldn't I? Can't you see what's happening here? Mom called a family meeting, something she hasn't done in years just because of you. You really should be proud of yourself bro," he said, obviously trying to mock me. Mom had suddenly called yesterday and she asked that she wanted to meet with all five of us and it honestly had to be the most surprising thing ever because the last time she did something like this was the week dad died and for her to call this sort of gathering out of the blue means she's about to go off on someone and I have a feeling it's gonna be me. "Corey, Liam, not today," Tyler warned strictly. "Tell that to that idiot, not me," I hissed under my breath, earning a displeased look from Tyler. "Does anyone have any idea why mom called us here? I honestly have better things to do than to hear her rant so whoever has a problem with her had better go deal with her on their own. Don't involve us in your mess," Jessie chimed in boredly and we all stared back at her unimpressed, before looking away and ignoring her. "Can someone get our mother already!" Cassie yells in frustration, obviously not a big fan of being with all of us at the same time. "Stop yelling you brat!" Mom's familiar voice hisses and we all turn to look at her. She was dressed in her usual casual manner and she surprisingly had a calm look on her face, which we all weren't expecting since we all know she's about to go on a really long ranting session. "I wouldn't have yelled if you had shown up quickly," Cassie muttered, earning a disgusted look from mom. "I see you still have no manners Cassidy. How embarrassing," Mom scoffed and I could not help but shake my head. Today was definitely gonna be a long ass day. "Why are we here mom? What is it now?" Jessie asked. "Jessica dear, don't try to rush me. I know you all have places to be but this conversation is something I believe we all need to have and that is why I want all five of you here so if any of you is in a hurry, well, cancel your plans because I don't care," she snaps, Jessie scoffs. "Let's hear it mom," Tyler chimed in before mom and Jessie got into their usual fight. "Well, the first thing I want to talk about is Liam's crazy relationship with a suspect in an attempted murder case. What the hell is going through that head of yours Liam?" she asks in a snappy manner and judging from how we all looked, we weren't actually surprised with her question. "Like you just said mom, she's only a suspect and until she's declared guilty in court, she's still innocent," I replied to her and she scoffed. "Innocent Liam, really son? Do you really think she's not capable of killing someone or trying to kill someone? How long have you known her? How can you be so sure she's not a murderer? What gives you the confidence that she will not be charged as guilty and then end up affecting our own reputation? Are you even thinking at all?" she snapped furiously and I mentally rolled my eyes. "Listen mum I get why you're worried and I completely understand but I'm not leaving Gabriella until she is proven guilty and even after that, I doubt I will because I strongly believe that she's not capable of killing anyone much less Martin, her best friend who she has always cared about," I defended immediately and judging by the look on mum's face, she wasn't going to let this go at all. "What is wrong with you Liam? Tyler, don't just sit there, say something! Your brother is losing his mind defending a criminal that could possibly ruin everything we've worked so hard for all these years!" she yelled so loudly, almost damaging my poor eardrums. "What do you expect me to say mum?" Tyler asked, visibly uninterested in whatever drama mom was trying to portray. "What do I expect you to say son? I expect you to act like the first child that you are and tell your brother that he is about to ruin us all by defending and standing by a criminal who tried to murder her own best friend. He is being so selfish and so inconsiderate all because of a stupid girl! Does that make any sense to you at all? Are you all really going to keep quiet about this and just watch him ruin us?" she questions, staring and each and every one of us in disbelief. "Listen mum, I've met Gabriella and I also don't think she's capable of killing or trying to kill Martin. I met them on the same day and from what I saw, they seemed perfectly fine to me. I don't even see a reason why she would try to kill someone like Martin and as we all know, no one is guilty until the court says otherwise, so mum, let Liam do whatever he chooses to do for the woman he cares about and let's just hope he chose right," Tyler replied her and I nod a little to show my gratitude for defending me. "Well,I disagree with you big brother," Corey chimed in and I could not help the feeling of disgust that overwhelmed me. "Shut the fuck up Corey. No one asked for your opinion," I hissed at him and he smirked at me. "Just in case you all forgot, she works directly under me and I've seen her get a little bit too aggressive sometimes and I must say, she doesn't seem like she isn't capable of killing someone for reasons best known to her. I agree with mum and I don't think we should put our reputation on the line for someone that we don't even know much about," he added and I could feel my blood boiling instantly. "Really Corey? Seriously? Are you really trying to mess with me right now? Listen mom, Gabriella is innocent until the court says otherwise and if you can't deal with that then that's your business. I'm not going to stop supporting her when she needs me the most just because you're trying to get me away from her so I can marry Hannah!" I raised my tone slightly, getting a little too irritated. "Hannah? Marriage? What the hell are you talking about?" Jessie asks. "Stay out of it Jessica!" Mum yelled back at her immediately but knowing Jessie, she wasn't backing down. "Mum, explain things to us! What the hell is Liam talking about and why hasn't anyone mention anything about marriage and more importantly, who the fuck is Hannah?" Cassie questioned. "It's not Hannah Garrison, is it?" Jessie asked in a low tone and I could tell how badly she was hoping it wasn't. "Sorry to disappoint you sis but it's the one and only. According to mom, I need to marry her so Garrison doesn't sell our company stocks to another fashion company," I explained to her and her confused expression immediately switched. "Are you serious mom? You want Liam to marry the same crazy bitch who almost killed me? What the fuck is wrong with you!" Jessie yells, surprising every one of us in the room. "Don't you dare raise your voice at me young lady! Like I said earlier, don't get involved in this. I'll do anything to save my company from getting sold out and my dear, in this business, sentiments should never exist," Mom defends confidently, trying her best to mask her emotions. "Don't be ridiculous, mother. Who the fuck cares about business here? Hannah is crazy, we all know the bitch has loose screws and she already strangled your own daughter once and tried to make her kill herself. What makes you think she won't try to kill Liam if he actually marries her? Why the fuck do you always have to be so selfish mother?" Cassie questioned, trying to reason with mom but that is something I've come to realise is impossible. Once mom gets an idea in her head, nothing can ever change her mind. "Who cares about business? Well, I do and frankly, I am disappointed in all of you. This same business raised you guys in the luxury you've lived in all your lives, this same business is the reason we're all here today and to think none of you is willing to understand that it actually takes sacrifices to keep it going makes me feel like I've failed as a parent," "I already told Liam that he doesn't have to marry her. All he has to do is go out with her for a while till I'm able to get Garrison off our back for good. Why do you kids make it such a big deal?" she justified herself and I sighed tiredly. "Mother, they're some levels that I believe we should never stoop to in the name of making sacrifices for business. Garrison is no fool mom, he knows Liam will never marry his daughter and I'm pretty sure he has something else planned. You know, for someone with your experience, I would not expect you to actually fall for his cheap game out of desperation," Tyler said and I'm just so thankful for the kind of elder brother I have. He barely ever talks but when he does, he has a point. "So what do you suggest Tyler? Should I just ignore his threats and act like I'm not about to lose more than twenty years of my hard work? Should I?" she asks. "I told you earlier mom that you should be patient. We'll find a solution to this and you won't have to go as far as accepting Garrison's unreasonable condition," I reply, she sighs. "You know what mom, I hate you. I actually really do. At first, I used to think that our constant fights were just perfectly normal and that I never really meant the things I said to you but to think you even agreed to let Hannah walk back into our lives without even considering how I'd feel makes me realise that you really are a horrible human being and yes, I really do hate you. So if we're done here, I want to leave cause I don't think I can stand being in the same space with this monster," Jessie said out of nowhere, completely catching me off guard. Mom stands still for a few long seconds, staring back at Jessie in absolute shock. We all knew they weren't exactly best of friends and their relationship has always been quite messy but to think Jessie would say something like this and actually sound like she meant was really unexpected and scary. "You hate me Jessica? Fine! Go ahead and hate me, I don't care you stupid brat. You've never done anything good for me anyways. You've always been an obstacle and a disgrace for me and I don't want to keep a useless child like you around. So here's what you'll do for me, get your bags and get out of my house immediately. I'm cutting you off permanently from everything that belongs to me and you are officially no longer my daughter. So leave," Mom replied and if I thought Jessie caught me off guard, mom definitely took me out. "Mom, you don't have to do that," Cassie says, attempting to interfere. "Don't tell me what to do Cassidy! Your sister made a choice and told me to my face that she wants to leave and I'm not gonna stop her but I will not cater for a child who detests me," she hissed in a shaky tone, immediately turning her back and walking out of the living room, towards her bedroom. I had a feeling mom didn't mean anything she just said and I was almost a hundred percent sure that Jessie's words really hurt her. "You shouldn't have said that Jessica," Tyler scolded in an unimpressed tone, earning a cold glare from Jessie, who immediately turns and leaves as well. "Well, this was eventful, as usual," Corey says, almost like he was expecting something dramatic to happen and although I'm surprised that the meeting ended up with Jessie getting disowned, I can't say I wasn't expecting something overly dramatic to happen. At this point, nothing about my family's messiness should actually surprise me.