The Best Mistake

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Mason's POV continued.
 
It was hard to enjoy the rest of the beach party. Between Ava's news and my little epiphany, I could barely focus. I tried to distract myself by playing with the girls or having simple conversations with everyone, but it wasn't working. Every so often, my eyes followed Ava like a moth to a flame. I wanted to see what she was doing, if she was having fun. Every moment she spent with the girls warmed me from head to toe. She was such a good and attentive mother, never allowing them to stray too far and constantly asking if they needed anything. It made me love her even more. I tried not to dwell on my feelings for her as it only made it worse seeing her and Royce so affectionate towards each other. I now knew that the familiar twinge in my chest was jealousy. The anguish I felt in seeing her with Royce manifested into physical pain. How can I go on like this? What should I do? I can't exactly spring this on her. I don't want to ruin what she has with Royce as much as I feel compel to. If she is truly happy with him, I wouldn't beguile her out of her happiness. I thought about the quick moment we shared together and caught her staring at me every so often, hope flared in my chest. Maybe she does feel more than she was willing to admit.
 
We all packed up our things as the day slowly came to an end. Luckily, our workers weren't too far away and were able to help us pack everything up with ease. Taking down the tents and chairs was done a lot faster than setting it up. I had just secured the girls in the back of Royce's truck, giving them each a kiss and promises to see them very soon. I straightened from the truck and came face to face with a wary Ava.
 
"Are you okay?"
 
"Of course."
 
"Mason, everyone could clearly see the change in you and Caleb."
 
"Are you expecting us to be okay after that bomb you dropped?"
 
"Well no, but I'm worried about you guys."
 
"Don't worry about us. We'll handle it."
 
"What will you do?"
 
"Something I should've done a long time ago." I murmured. I glanced over to Caleb who was assisting Catherine with her bags. His eyes locked with mine as he felt my gaze and he tilted his head once, gesturing for me to come over. "You guys drive safe, I'll talk to you a little later." I said nodding to Royce who was already behind the wheel and went over to Caleb.
 
"So, are we meeting up at the house?" He asked. I knew he wanted to approach our dad about what all he did and if I'm being honest, I wanted to also. I know that after I do this, he'd probably wash his hands of me completely and for once, that thought did not left me petrified. I am more than established within my company and the business world. My credibility is golden even without my father at my side. Caleb frowned at my silence assuming I was having second thoughts. "Man don't chicken out over this. He won't stop until you put your foot down. We have to do this Mase, enough is enough."
 
I nodded, "I know, and I agree with you, but there is something I have to take care of first if he is to take me seriously. We'll meet at the house by 8:30." I promised. Caleb stared at me for a moment probably measuring how serious I was. He nodded seemingly satisfied by what he saw and headed back to his car.
 
I double checked the beach to make sure that the evidence of us being there was completely gone before heading to my car. My mom was leaning casually against her jeep which was parked beside my car. Her arms were folded as I approached her slowly.
 
"The beach is cleared?" She asked. I nodded. "What's going on Mason? Don't lie to me."
 
"Let me know when father is home, I need to talk to you both." I said seriously. She frowned in concern before moving close to bring her hand up to my face and I turned away from her touch. She looked hurt by the gesture, but I couldn't bring myself to care.
 
Swallowing slowly, she nodded, "I'll make sure your father is aware." She whispered.
 
"Thank you." I quickly jumped in my car and sent Chasity a text to be at my house as soon as possible. Making sure my mom was already leaving the parking lot, I left the beach and today's events behind me.
 
I headed straight to my house as the sun finally set in the sky. Chasity hasn't responded to my text and she wasn't by my house when I pulled up. I headed inside quickly and went straight into the shower to rid myself of the sand and salty ocean water. I dressed comfortably in my black jogger pants and black t-shirt. I was pacing my living room, mentally preparing myself for tonight. It wasn't long before I heard my doorbell. I moved to the front door quickly and took a deep breath before opening the door.
 
"How could you not be there Mason?" She asked, shoving her way into the house in anger.
 
"Chase.."
 
"You know how important this deal was to my dad and yours. The least you could've done was be there for the meeting."
 
"I spent the day at the beach with the girls and a few friends."
 
"The beach?! The biggest meeting of your career and you blew it off to go to the beach?! Why couldn't you postpone it? I'm sure they'd understand."
 
"I hardly call partnering with a law firm the biggest meeting in my career. "
 
"Are you kidding me?!"
 
"Chasity, I've been rescheduling with people I care about for years. I won't do it with my children, I gave them my word."
 
YoUr wOrD?!" She mocked. "Mason, how many times have you blew me off because of your work. I respected your job and understood that it came first. You were so determined to be at the top and I stood by your side! What changed?!"
 
"What changed? I became a father and that means my children come first." I said annoyed.
 
"Bullshit Mason. The one time I needed you there, ONE time and you blew me off again!"
 
"I know and I'm so sorry for placing you in that position constantly and I appreciate you for being at my side for those dark moments, you know that I do."
 
"Is that all you have to say Mason, after everything?"
 
"What do you want me to say Chasity?"
 
"I want you to show me actions instead of spewing words, I want you to go to my father and show him that this is what you want too! I want you to stop filling me with empty promises and horrid excuses Mason! I want you to choose me damn it!" She yelled out. My heart grew heavy. These last few months, I surely saw the ugly side to Chasity. Suddenly, she yelled and screamed, she whined and complained about everything that I did and is never fully satisfied. How can I continue this relationship knowing I am not what she needs and vice versa?
 
"I don't." I whispered.
 
"What?"
 
"I said I don't. My actions towards you are inexcusable. You called me out on a lot of my indiscretions, and I won't waste my time giving you horrid excuses, as you put it." I said calmly. "You want me to choose you and I can't, I won't knowing how I feel and how I made you feel these last few months."
 
Chasity gasped in shock and I watched tears sprang to her eyes. Agony. It was never my intention to hurt her this way because I do care about her. I approached her slowly and took her hands gently only to have her yank them away from me. "Don't touch me, don't you dare touch me." She seethed.
 
I stepped away instantly, giving her space. "This is about HER isn't it?" She took my silence as a confirmation and let out a bitter laugh, a stray tear slid down her cheeks. "I knew it. I just knew it, after all we've been through together how you can just throw it all away for that whore?!"
 
My anger flared, "I've told you on countless occasions NOT to speak ill words about her. I won't tell you that again."
 
"You're standing here high and mighty and you're dumping me for her Mason! You expect me to be nice?!"
 
"I expect you to be honest with yourself. You couldn't possibly think that you and I would work."
 
"Mason we were perfect together!"
 
"We were a business arrangement Chasity." She whimpered softly and I worked to control my voice. "I care about you and I appreciate everything you did for my family and I, but let's be honest. You and I only became a thing because of our fathers."
 
"I'm in love with you! That has nothing to do with my father but obviously your affections towards me were fraudulent."
 
"No, they're not Chasity. Maybe at first but I would be lying if I said I don't feel something for you."
 
"Do you love her?"
 
"This isn't about her."
 
"I said do you love her!" She screamed causing her voice to echo around the room. Both of her hands were gripping onto her coat so hard, her knuckles were turning white. "Don't lie to me."
 
"Yes, I do." She sobbed quietly and looked away. As much as I wanted to comfort her, to tell her it wasn't true, I couldn't. "It's not about her. I would've found a way to end our arrangement eventually. I couldn't commit." I whispered.
 
"Is that what I am to you? An arrangement? After two years?" She sobbed out.
 
"You're my friend. I wish I could give you more of myself, but the truth is I was already hers."
 
Chasity turned away from me completely. She buried her head into her hands as her shoulders shook with silent sobs. I forced myself to remain still and not offer her comfort. "Chasity please. I still want to be friends."
 
She straightened and spun around quickly. "Screw your friendship!" She yelled out. "You claimed you loved me yet this is how you treat me? And you expect me to be your friend?!"
 
"I'm so sorry."
 
"Your father was right about you, you know. Always driven by your emotions, allowing that woman to come between what we had. We would've been great."
 
Her words angered me more than they should. She knew that my father was a sore spot for me so I shouldn't be surprised that she'd use his words to get a rise out of me. "Well now, we won't ever know."
 
She panted through her teeth as she spat her next words. "I am done allowing you to take me out of character, hurt me and disregard me as if I am nothing. I am a Queen damn it!"
 
I nodded, "Yes. Yes, you are. But I was never your king."
 
We stared at each other for a long moment, allowing everything to sink in. I watched her lips quiver as tears continued to descend on her cheeks, her eyes red. It wasn't my intentions to cause her so much pain. I always assumed that we were the same people. Our fathers wanted us to be with one another. I never thought she saw a future between us. I love her but I was never in love with her. She shook her head in disgust as if she heard my thoughts, before storming to the front door.
 
Like I expected, she tilted her head towards me one final time. "Your father will be so disappointed in you, disgusted even." I almost laughed in that moment, she always wanted to have the last words, not this time.
 
"If you are so concerned about what my father will think and how he'll react, maybe you should've been screwing him instead of me."
 
She gasped, shocked at my words. I won't allow her to bait me anymore. She whipped her head forward and marched out the door. I didn't bother to stop her for we both knew it was over. My phone chimed and it was my mother telling me that both her and my father were home. I ran my hand over my face realizing that one stray tear had slid down to my chin. I grabbed my jacket a moment later and headed out of my house. I stopped at the front gate to inform the security that Chasity was no longer welcomed to enter the community. She's not acquainted with anyone else who lives in this area, so she has no reason to enter.
 
On my way to my parents’ house, Caleb texted me to let me know that he had already arrived. It wasn't long until I pulled up right next to his car and we both marched up the stairs. We had a silent conversation before heading inside the house. As we got closer to his office my mind kept replaying every dismissive word, all the neglect we felt as kids and every blood, sweat and tear I wasted to be just like him. We were almost to his office when I felt a hand wrapped around my arm and tugged me back. My head whipped around confused until I saw it was my mother.
 
"Mason you boys can't go in there right now."
 
"What? Why?"
 
"He's in an important meeting with the lawyer, he asked not to be interrupted."
 
"Screw the meeting mom, we need to talk to him." Caleb said angrily.
 
"Please boys just give him a few moments, you know how he gets when someone disrupts him." She pleaded. "Whatever you have to say can wait a few more moments."
 
Caleb looked pissed, I knew he was ready to barge into our father's office and so did I. He looked towards me in question, wondering what our next move should be. I hesitated for a moment, thinking about the times we were punished for disturbing him as children and adults. I took a step back and Caleb frowned. I thought about the vein that pulsed out of his head when he screamed, the way his skin turned into a deep shade of red as he spewed words of disgust and disappointment. Suddenly those thoughts were bombarded by one thought or rather three, and in that moment my mind was made up. My father disrespected me my whole life, but I won't allow him to do that to my family, enough was enough. I noticed the look of approval on Caleb's face when I marched towards the door with him close on my heel. I ignored my mother's alarmed warnings as I shoved open the dark mahogany doors. My father sat at his desk with his lawyer seated in front of him. Both of their heads snapped up at my sudden entrance, Caleb and mom were close behind me.
 
My father's mouth turned into a deep frown. "What is the meaning of this? Marie, why are they in here?"
 
"We have to talk." I answered simply.
 
"Have you lost your mind? It's obvious that I'm in the middle of something and you dare to disrupt me? Leave." He glared.
 
"No."
 
His brows shot up at my defiance. "I said to leave now. I won't tell you again."
 
I crossed my arms firmly across my chest, "I said no. I am not going anywhere until we talk."
 
"Mason!" He spat out.
 
"Levi, can you excuse us for a moment?" Levi looked between us torn on what to do.
 
"Levi, you are not going anywhere. I'm done with this foolish boy."
 
"I'm foolish?! Levi leave now or I promise you, you will get in the middle of this!" I said fuming. Levi snapped out of his indecisiveness and grabbed his things quickly. He headed out the door without another word and my father got up to stop him. Caleb moved to block his exit instantly.
 
"Have you all lost your minds?!" He yelled out furiously.
 
"Have you?!" Caleb retorted.
 
"Move out of my way or I will have security remove you because you're no longer welcomed here."
 
"I am not going anywhere until we get some answers."
 
"Boys please, what's going on?" Mom pleaded.
 
"Did you hire Loren Williams to upload that picture of the girls and I?" I asked.
 
Dad spun around quickly "What?"
 
"Did. You. Hire. Loren Williams?"
 
"Are you absurd? I don't even know who that is."
 
"Sure, you don't Dad. I have constantly went out of my way to make you happy, put my own happiness on the line so you can be proud of me and this is how you repay me?!"
 
"I don't know what you mean." He said calmly, too calmly. I know him all too well, he's lying.
 
"Bullshit!"
 
"Watch your tongue!"
 
"What about Libby?" Caleb asked. Dad turned to Caleb unimpressed.
 
"You shouldn't even be speaking to me right now because you're not welcomed here anymore."
 
"Why dad? Because I stopped clinging on to your every word? I stopped being your lap dog and grew some balls?!"
 
"That's it!" Dad marched over to his desk to the phone and I knew he was calling security. I moved faster than he could and disconnected the phone before tossing it onto the couch. "You're crossing a line!"
 
"You are not listening! You never listen and will listen tonight!" I yelled out.
 
"We are tired of you pretending to be the best family man, the best boss, and husband. You're nothing but a phony who left his kids home for other people to raise and control us like your puppets!" Caleb screamed.
 
"I did everything to provide for you selfish brats! Everything good that you have is because of me!"
 
"No, you're everything that is bad! You treated all of us like your lap dog straight down to your own wife!"
 
Dad's nose flared and he marched over to Caleb. I jumped in front of him quickly and shoved him away slightly.
 
"Mason stop!" My mother cried out.
 
"Get the hell out of my office! Both of you!" He yelled out.
 
"Be honest for once dad! Tell mom how you hired Libby to expose secret intel for my company, tell her how you used another one of my workers to expose Mason. Tell her how you paid for Libby to abort MY CHILD!" Caleb shouted.
 
"What?" She gasped.
 
"Liar! Get out of my house spreading your filthy lies!"