Between Us

Chapter 51

Alianna

"It's been a while since Abuela called us all together like that so urgently," Mackenzie says as we walk toward the main house together, "The last time she did that it was to announce your upcoming wedding."

"Do you have any idea what it might be about?"

Mackenzie shakes her head, "No clue. I asked my brothers and sister as well, and they have no idea."

My phone starts to ring and groan as I stare at my caller ID. I have no doubt my mother is calling about something related to Crystal, and I don't want to hear it.

"Who is that?" Mackenzie asks, glancing at my phone. She rolls her eyes when she sees my mother's name and declines the call for me, but my mother calls me straight back. She's so relentless. If I don't pick up, she'll just keep calling, until she wears me down.

"Mom?"

"Alianna, sweetheart. I've been trying to reach you for hours," Normally I'd have made excuses, but I don't have it in me today.

"What is it, Mom?" It doesn't sit well with me that she's calling me sweetheart when every conversation we've had since I got married was hostile.

She hesitates for a moment, "I heard Crystal and you had an argument? She's been incredibly upset and told me that you and Max... that you're together?"

I grit my teeth for a moment and take a calming breath, "Is that so? I assume you told her to accept the fact that she chose to walk away from her? Did you remind her that I'm married to Max? What exactly is so surprising about me being with my own wife? Surely she isn't thinking anything immoral. You raised her better than that, didn't you?"

Mackenzie's lips fall open, and then she grins wickedly, nodding to herself. I roll my eyes at her and continue to walk.

Mom falls silent for a moment before clearing her throat, "Max and you are coming home for your father's 60th birthday, aren't you? Will you be spending the weekend with us?"

I hesitate. When Max and I agreed to go to my father's birthday together, we'd only just gotten married. Things weren't so complicated yet, so messy. I'm not sure either of us should be around Crystal for an entire weekend. I don't want to put a downer on Dad's birthday, and we're bound to get into an argument.

"Yes," I tell her, resigned. I can't keep running away from my family. At some point, we'll have to learn to co-exist.

"Please be on your best behavior. Try not to aggravate your sister, okay? She's been having a hard time lately, and it's taken a toll on her health. I'm worried."

Anger takes root deep within me, and I tighten my grip on my phone, "Sure," I promise, "I hope you told her the same thing, Mom. I won't provoke her, but don't expect me to tolerate her toxic behavior for even a single second, because I won't."

"Toxic?" Mom repeats, outraged.

"Don't even bother denying it," I warned her, "I neither have the time nor the patience to deal with any of the excuses you'll make for her. I'll be there this weekend, and I'll bring my wife."

"Alianna!"

"I need to go, Mom. I'll speak to you later."

I end the call and put my phone away, ignoring Mackenzie's gleeful stares, "Damn, girl," she says, grinning, "It's about damn time."

I shrug, "I've tried being sweet, Kenzie. I've been kind and patient, taking into account everyone's feelings but my own. Enough is enough."

She grabs my hand and entwines our fingers, a proud smile on her face, "You're made of steel, yet you were always so malleable around your family. They got too used to you bending backwards to keep the peace, but it's time you put yourself first. You're not alone anymore, Ali. You never were, but you're officially a Lim now. We're your family now."

I smile at her, "I hear you, babe."

She grins, "I know you do, but I'll repeat myself until you take it to heart."

I squeeze her hand in thanks as we round the corner and walk into Abuela's living room, where the rest is already waiting for us.

Max's gaze drops to our joined hands, and she narrows her eyes, "Let go of my wife," she warns, her tone unyielding.

Mackenzie stares her down, "She was mine before she was ever yours. You wanna fight me, bro? Who do you think she'll back?"

I pull my hand out of hers and shake my head as I walk over to Max, who instantly grabs both of my hands, holding them in her as she smirks at her sister.

"You're both so childish," I mutter as I glance around the room. We're still missing Sapphire, and, of course, Enzo, who's in London.

Max wraps her hand around my waist and leans in, "You know it's your fault, right? You turn me into a childish, petty fool."

I look up into her eyes and grin, "And it's my greatest accomplishment."

"Ugh, you two are so disgustingly cute together," Atlas says, groaning.

Jarvis grins when Sapphire walks in with Jacen, her secretary, and waves them over as we head into the dining room. Jacen smiles at me and rushes toward me.

"Ali!"

I hug her tightly and then step back to assess her outfit, "I love this dress on you."

She smirks at me, "I only wear the best of the best, and this designer? She tops them all."

I chuckle as she twirls around in the dress I designed for her, a deep sense of pride settling in my chest.

"Kids," Abuela calls, her eyes moving over all of us, "As you may have guessed, I have an announcement to make."

We all tense, knowing that whatever it is, it'll affect all of us.

Abuela smiles, her gaze pausing on Jacen and Sapphire for a moment.

"Sapphire," she says. Her spine straightens, and she nods, "Your engagement has been decided."

Both Jacen and Sapphire tense, and I watch them curiously. Their relationship has always intrigued me. She was assigned to her by Abuela, and she's always hated her for it, yet she's the only one she relies on. For years, I was certain love would bloom between them, but it never did.

"Who is it?" she asks, resigned.

"Camilla Tan, daughter of William Tan and heiress to an oil empire. Oil is an industry we have yet to enter, and this will be our in."

"Camilla Tan?" she repeats, "The socialite? She's a spoiled materialistic airhead."

Abuela narrows her eyes at her, "She's your soon-to-be fiancee. She's a sweet girl, Sapphire. You'll see."

She grits her teeth and turns around without another word, her steps loud on the marble floor as she walks away, slamming the door behind her. Jacen stares at her retreating back, hesitating for a single moment before she goes after her.

Abuela watches them and smiles to herself. Something about that smile doesn't sit well with me. Is she... is she playing some kind of game? Surely not?

"Well," she says, sighing, "That went about as well as I could've hoped for."

"Tan?" Jarvis asks, "Really, Abuela? She's right, you know. That girl is always throwing a tantrum in public, causing unnecessary drama. She's in no way fit to become a Lim."

Atlas nods, "She's a terrible fit for Sapphire," he agrees, "She doesn't have the patience for her kind of behavior."

"Yeah, Abuela," Mackenzie says, "This is... this is not a good idea."

Abuela merely smiles and holds her hand up, "I took the liberty of having dinner served," she tells us, "Let's speak of this no more. Let's eat, instead."

We all exchange looks, none of sure what to do or say, "Aren't you worried?" I ask Max.

She smiles at me and shakes her head, "No," she murmurs, "Abuela truly does know best."

The way she looks at me makes the butterflies in my stomach go wild, and I can't help but blush as I smile back at her.

Yeah, she certainly was right about the two of us. Let's hope Sapphire is just as lucky.

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