Chapter Fourteen

In the CEO's office, you could find Mae, Michael, Kate, Liam, Emily, and Mr. Wilson all standing around. Emily and Mr. Wilson were giving Kate and Liam serious looks.

"What are you doing here?" Mr. Wilson asked.

"Mae invited us," Liam replied.

"Not talking to you, Liam," Mr. Wilson shot back.

"Just respect that it's Mae's wedding today," Liam said.

"Don't tell me how to deal with my daughter," Mr. Wilson warned.

"Caleb, we're not here to stir up trouble. We came because we love Mae, and she wanted us here," Kate said.

"Please, Kate, don't make me laugh. You claim to love Mae while ruining her life," Mr. Wilson said.

"You ruined Mae's life. If you had listened to me when I warned you about everything, she wouldn't have had such a tough childhood," Kate challenged.

"I want you all out of here, or I'll get security to throw you out," Mr. Wilson said.

"If they leave, you have to go too," Mae interjected.

"Excuse me?" Mr. Wilson asked, surprised.

"I want both my parents at my wedding. If that can't happen, then I want neither of you," Mae replied.

"What's wrong with you, Mae?" Emily asked.

"Stay out of our family business, Emily," Mae retorted.

"Mae, don't ever talk to her like that again," Mr. Wilson said angrily.

"Well, don't talk about my mom and stepdad like they're con artists," Mae countered.

"I see they've turned you against me," Mr. Wilson said with disdain.

"Kate, stop being stubborn. You're not part of this family, so just get lost," Emily ordered.

"That's pretty rich coming from someone who hasn't been accepted by everyone in the family," Kate shot back.

"Mae, you promised we wouldn't let our different families get in the way of us being siblings," Michael said.

"I love you, Michael, but I can't pretend any longer," Mae said.

"You never really loved my son. You used him like your mother did with my husband," Emily accused, prompting Mae to slap her.

"Don't you dare say that about my mother again! I appreciate that you're my father's wife, but that doesn't make you my mom. One more word from you and I will forget you're Michael's mom and give you what you deserve," Mae said, her eyes blazing.

"Mae, you've gone too far," Mr. Wilson snapped.

"How could you hit my mom?" Michael asked in disbelief.

"I want nothing to do with this messed-up family. I am no longer a Wilson, and I don't want to see any of you near me or Ethan," Mae declared.

"Do you really think Ethan can give you the life you had?" Emily asked.

"I'd rather live any other life than the one I have now," Mae replied.

"Please don't do this, Mae!" Mr. Wilson pleaded.

"I hate you," Mae said, beginning to feel dizzy.

"Don't ever say that to your father!" Kate reprimanded.

"He deserves it, Mom!" Mae said, swaying slightly.

"Are you okay?" Kate asked as the door opened and Ethan walked in.

"Hi," Ethan said, catching everyone's attention.

"What are you doing here?" Mae asked, feeling unsteady.

"Camilla said you were here, so I came to get you," Ethan replied.

"I'm feeling dizzy and weak," Mae admitted as Ethan wrapped his arm around her waist.

"Can you hold on for a bit?" Ethan asked.

"I'll try," Mae said.

"Let's go," Ethan said, guiding her toward the door.

"Where are you taking my daughter?" Mr. Wilson demanded.

"I'm taking her away from here," Ethan replied firmly.

"We're in the middle of a family discussion," Mr. Wilson insisted.

"I don't mean to be rude, but you're just her father. I'm her husband, and I'm taking her away," Ethan stressed.

"Can we go now?" Mae asked again.

"You should all be ashamed of yourselves. You've caused Mae enough trauma for a lifetime, and you can't even let her be happy on her wedding day. You all claim to love her, but this isn't love; it's madness," Ethan said sharply.

"Mae, what is it?" she asked.

"I hope this doesn't keep happening or I'll have to take action none of us want. Goodbye," Ethan said as he walked out with Mae.

"Are you happy now?" Emily asked.

"Why didn't you tell me about Mae's anxiety coming back?" Kate shot back.

"How much do you want to stay out of her life for good?" Mr. Wilson asked her.

"Twenty million," Kate replied casually.

"I knew there was a catch. You didn't come just to support Mae," Mr. Wilson said, pulling out his checkbook.

"You're just greedy, Kate," Emily said as Mr. Wilson tore out a check.

"That's twenty million. I don't want to see you near Mae again," he said, handing it over.

"Thanks for the generosity, but only Mae can tell me to stay away, and don't forget I can take her anytime I want. I love my daughter, and no amount of cash will change that," Kate said with a smile.

"You tricked me, didn't you?" Mr. Wilson asked.

"I never agreed to your terms. You need to stop trying to control Mae. Keep this up, and she'll never want anything to do with you," Kate replied.

"Let's go, Liam," she said.

"Bye, Caleb," she called as they walked out.

"I told you not to push Mae! Why can't you just tolerate them for her?" Michael asked, clearly upset.

"Shut up! You don't know what happened years ago, so don't judge your father!" Emily yelled.

"Emily, don't talk to him like that!" Mr. Wilson chimed in, sinking into a chair.

"It's good that Mae left. At least we got rid of Kate and her husband," Emily said with a smirk.

"Mom, what's wrong with you? You're happy Mae is gone?" Michael questioned, his voice filled with disbelief.

"That kid has been nothing but trouble for me. I'm your mother, you need to stick by me, not that brat who chose her mother over me!" Emily raged.

"You can't break the bond between a mother and her child. Get that through your head," Michael replied, storming out and slamming the door behind him.

"I'm fed up with Kate disrupting our lives!" Emily complained.

"All I care about right now is getting my daughter back," Mr. Wilson stated emphatically.

"She's the only thing you care about," Emily shot back.

"Remember your place, Emily. I only married you because Mae needed a mother," Mr. Wilson replied coolly.

"I gave you a son and you still care more about Kate's child," Emily retorted.

"I love Mae because she reminds me so much of Kate. Don't think having a son changes that," Mr. Wilson said, rising to his feet.

"You really are a fool, Caleb," Emily shouted.

"Mae is everything to me. Don't forget that," Mr. Wilson said as he left.

Emily began tossing items off the table in frustration. "I hate you, Mae!" she screamed.

Meanwhile, at the private grand hall, Kelly was deep in conversation with Rodríguez when a well-dressed lady and man approached. The lady wore a fitted wine-colored dress, and her beauty was striking with smooth skin, sparkling blue eyes, and gorgeous sandy blonde hair. The man was sharply dressed in black and carried himself with an air of confidence.

"Is it okay if we join you?" the lady asked.

"Nikki, what are you doing here?" Rodríguez responded, surprised.

"Did you really think I'd miss my son's wedding?" she replied.

"Aunt Nicole!" Kelly exclaimed, running over to give her a hug.

"You know you can just call me Nicole," she said warmly.

"Uncle Alex will kill me if I do," Kelly giggled.

"You finally brought her back," Rodríguez observed, turning to the man.

"We couldn't miss Ethan's big day," he replied.

"Uncle Alex, what about me?" Kelly asked, crossing her arms playfully.

"Come here," the man said, pulling her into a hug.

"I missed you a lot!" Kelly exclaimed.

"How's your cousin doing?" Alex asked.

"Shaun is still being his usual stupid self," Kelly replied.

"You looked up to him as a kid," Alex said.

"Yeah, well, I was naive back then," Kelly shot back.

"Just give him time to get better," Alex advised.

"I'll try," Kelly said.

"Nick, do you know anything about Ethan's new wife?" Nicole asked.

"Mae seems like a nice girl, but I had no idea Ethan was interested in her," Rodríguez replied.

"What made him change his mind about marriage?" Nicole inquired.

"Let's just be glad he finally found someone, right?" Alex said.

"Alex is right. We don't want anything to derail him," Rodríguez chimed in.

"Kelly, what do you know about Mae?" Nicole pressed.

"We were friends in college. She's seriously talented—perfect for Ethan!" Kelly said enthusiastically.

"How long have they known each other?" Nicole wondered.

"Three weeks," Kelly answered, shrugging a bit.

"Three weeks and they're getting married?! What's going on?" Nicole exclaimed.

"Love's weird like that," Kelly said casually.

"Something about this Mae girl seems off to me," Nicole remarked.

"Maybe talk to Ethan before jumping to conclusions," Alex suggested.

"Fine, I want to hear why he married someone he just met," Nicole agreed.

"I wouldn't want to be in Ethan's shoes right now," Kelly joked.

"He's got some explaining to do," Rodríguez said.

"For his sake, let's hope he's got good reasons," Alex said, shaking his head.