Accident Prone

"Ah, everyone is here." Madeline smiled when she saw Hunter and Mia at the door. "We can move to the dining room…"

Ashton did his best to ignore Hunter's scrutinizing gaze. They know each other for years. Why is he looking at him like he grew a second head?

Ashton was getting irritated by Hunter's unfriendly attitude, but he pushed that aside. He reminded himself that he came with Sabrina to support her and there is a high chance that tonight they will announce to Sabrina's parents that they are together. Getting into an argument with Hunter now is NOT a good idea. Madeline and Nathan have a good impression of Ashton and he does not want to ruin it.

"It's you…" Hunter said stiffly while staring at Ashton.

Sabrina glared at Hunter. "Yes, it's Ashton. Did you expect someone else?"

Madeline was not sure what's with Hunter's exaggerated reaction. Aren't Hunter and Ashton friends? Her eyes darted from Hunter to Ashton. "Did the two of you have a fight?"

Hunter looked at his mother. "You are OK with him being here?"

Madeline was confused. "Why wouldn't I be? Your friends ate at our house so many times, how is today different?" She walked to Hunter and asked in a whisper. "Are you going to cause a scene? What got into you? If you had a fight with Ashton, suck it up for a duration of one dinner. We already have enough problems." She was referring to the fact that Jackson is not present.

"Mom, they are together." Hunter said.

"Of course, they are together. Jackson could not come, and Ashton is here as Sabrina's date." Madeline said matter-of-factly.

Sabrina saw that this is escalating. She took a deep breath and said loudly: "OK. Now that everyone is here, please sit and listen for a minute what I have to say."

Madeline turned to Sabrina. "You can't wait with your announcement until after dinner?"

Sabrina gestured toward Hunter who was so out of it that he ignored Mia's attempts to get his attention.

"No. It needs to happen now." Sabrina said.

"OK." Madeline shrugged and sat next to Nathan.

Max pulled Liz to lean on him and wrapped his arms around her waist. He rested his head on her shoulder and smiled while waiting to see what will happen next.

Sabrina saw that Hunter is not moving, and she decided to ignore him. He has no right to vote anyway, he is here only to get the updates.

Sabrina stood up and faced her parents.

"Mom, dad… I broke up with Jackson."

Madeline and Nathan had matching confused expressions. They were thinking that a wedding is coming and maybe a baby, and instead of that it's a breakup?

"You had an argument because he could not come tonight?" Madeline guessed. "Don't be hasty, Rina. I'm sure that tomorrow he will apologize and everything will be fine."

"No, mom. It will not be fine. The breakup is final and there is no chance of reconciliation."

"It's a long story and I don't know how much you want to know…"

"We want to know all of it." Madeline interrupted Sabrina.

"OK. Fair enough…" Sabrina glanced at Hunter and Mia. "Maybe you will want to sit for this one…"

Mia tugged Hunter who finally moved, and they took their seats.

Sabrina started from the skiing accident, and Jackson's epilepsy, and how whenever she didn't like something, he would mention his condition and how that dragged for eight years. She skipped the parts of how she benefited because her relationship with Jackson prevented her parents from bringing up never-ending topics of settling down with a family, but the rest was there. Sabrina also told them that Jackson is a cheater and showed them photos and hotel logs which she brought in her purse.

"I am sorry for deceiving you. I really thought that it's best for everyone just to go with it and to pretend that we are happily engaged. No harm was done, and days turned into weeks and weeks into months and I have no idea how I allowed it to go on for so long."

The more Sabrina spoke, the more Nathan's frown deepened. "No harm was done? For eight years we are treating that boy as our son, while he was blackmailing you. We thought that the two of you are in love, and that he is cherishing you... and it turns out that he was taking advantage of you and of our kindness."

"I can't blame Jackson. It is my fault for allowing it to happen. He never asked for money, or any favors related to business, so I let it be." Sabrina responded.

Nathan shook his head in disapproval. "Do you honestly believe that because Jack didn't ask for business favors, that he didn't get any? Do you know how many people agreed to work with Jack only because of your relationship with him? If you think that we are the only ones being deceived, you are wrong."

Sabrina lowered her head guiltily. She can't argue against the fact that Jackson and she deceived her parents and friends, and everyone else. 

Max saw that Nathan is angry and that Sabrina is shrinking, and his brotherly protection-mode kicked in. He cleared his throat to get everyone's attention.

"What you said is correct." Max said to Nathan. "However, if they worked with Jack only so that they score points with us, they deserve what they got. The Alpha group never made a deal just because someone is sucking up to us, we look at the overall value, not the superficial shiny stuff."

Nathan scrutinized Max when he realized: "You knew about this."

Max didn't deny it. "I found out about it recently. I also found out that Jackson's parents are in this as well. The whole family is putting up a façade of Jackson being sick due to Rina's fault so that they can use that against her, and we are investigating to see who else has a part in this scheme."

Madeline looked at Sabrina and her chin shook.

"Oh, my baby girl…" Madeline bolted to her feet and pulled Sabrina into a hug. "I am sorry you had to go through it. For eight years… it must have been horrible…"

Sabrina wanted to say that it was not horrible. After all, Jackson never touched her and he never went over the line of asking for something unreasonable, but she kept that to herself. Her mother comforting her despite Sabrina lying for eight years… Sabrina will take it.

"My dear girl… I made your favorite scotch eggs and paella. That should improve your mood…" Madeline said in a comforting voice while guiding Sabrina toward the dining room.

Sabrina looked toward Ashton, signaling him to come, but he waved her to go first. He knows where the dining room is, and now it's important that Madeline and Nathan digest the news of Sabrina's breakup. It went rather well.

Nathan followed after Madeline and Sabrina and his expression showed that he is deep in thoughts.

Liz gave Max a smacking kiss on the lips. "You did great!"

Max smiled smugly. "My services are worth more than a kiss…"

"I remember the time when you would do anything for a kiss."

"Inflation." Max responded flatly.

Liz giggled and half-whispered. "Kiss now, and the rest you will get after dinner, when we get home…"

Max hummed in approval and stood up. He wants to finish with dinner and go home to collect the rest of the payment Liz just promised. 

They were about to exit the living room when Liz remembered… "Ashton? Come with us." He should not be left with Hunter without Sabrina's protection. Hunter still looks hostile.

Liz gave Mia a knowing glance and Mia nodded that she understood. Her mission is to pacify Hunter who didn't recuperate from his shock. Sabrina yet has to reveal to her parents that she is dating Ashton, and they don't need Hunter to make it worse.

"Hunter, love…" Mia said in a sweet voice. "Are you going to snap out of it, or are we going to skip dinner today?"

Hunter released a breath he was not aware he was holding. "It's Ashton. He used me to get to Sabrina…"

Mia disagreed. "You don't know that. How much I know, she is the one who made a move on him."

Hunter didn't believe it. Why would his perfect sister make a move on… Ashton? "From where did you get that information?"

"How about we go and eat, and instead of judging them, you keep an open mind? Just look at Sabrina and you will see that she is happy. She loves him. Isn't that enough?" Mia stood up and offered her hand to Hunter, indicating to him to move.

Hunter stood up, but his expression was still not good.

Mia looked up at Hunter while irritation bubbled inside her. Why is he so stubborn?

"Hunter, I remember when you brought me here for dinner, your parents were not accepting. They were questioning my background and if I am a gold-digger or if I have some other motive for being with you. But Rina was on our side. She defended me. She defended us. At that time, Rina didn't know who I am, or where I'm coming from, but she believed in YOUR judgment. She believed that you know how to pick your partner and she stood by our side. Are you going to go against her because she fell in love with Ashton? Ashton is a good guy, and I know that because if he is not, you would not be friends with him for such a long time. Don't tell me that years of your friendship with Ashton are going down the drain just because he is dating your sister. You are better than this…"

"Fine, fine!" Hunter interrupted Mia. "I know. And I remember. It's just… I didn't see it coming. Sabrina is my big sister, someone I always looked up to, and I thought that the man by her side will be… not Ashton."

Mia stifled a laugh. "That's fine. Let's go and eat and observe the situation. I am not asking you to accept Ashton as your bother-in-law, but I hope that you can respect Sabrina's choice. She has enough to worry about. If you don't support her, that is fine, but don't add to the troubles. Whatever you want to clear up with Ashton or with Rina, you can do it later when your parents are not around."

Hunter nodded in agreement and went with Mia to the dining room. Madeline said that there are scotch eggs and paella, and Hunter likes them also. Good food always improves his mood. And his mother makes the best scotch eggs and paella. 

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