What is Love?

Chapter 6

"You couldn't possibly want to date your nephew's ex-girlfriend. I mean for God's sake, Nik!" exclaimed Ben, Ethan's father.

"Father, tell Nik he can't do this!"

There was a long silence while Grandpa Richard, the Montgomery family's patriarch, looked back and forth between myself and Nik.

"I support it, if Nik and Lydia get married, Nik will take the CEO position," Richard stated. Nik smiled, "Thank you father, while I will accept the position, please know I am not deciding to marry Lydia just to get the position. I'm choosing to date her and then marry her, because I have true feelings for her."

"Blasphemy! This is not what you stated the other day, Grandpa! You said I have to marry within six months' time," Ethan said.

"I run this family, I can change the rules whenever I want to. Congratulations Ethan, however, I believe Lydia and Nik have what it takes to move this family forward."

I stood up, and said, "Please, excuse me. I need some fresh air." I hurried outside, ignoring the commotion inside and walked the gardens. Completely shocked by Nik's confession. I sat in the gazebo, gazing at the beautiful flowers in front of me.

"That's cute, seducing Ethan's uncle," Jessica snuck up behind me, startling me. "Look, whatever bulls*t you're about to pull, I'm not interested," I responded. She took her long finger, tracing the wooden panels of the gazebo, "You will do whatever it takes to be a Montgomery, such a shame you can't have Ethan." "I don't want Ethan, I want to be left alone."

I rolled my eyes and stood up to leave, but she blocked my path. "Move," I said coldly. "Make me, and see what happens," "Jessica? Where are you?" Ethan called out, she turned around and threw herself down into the dirt. "Ow! Ethan come help me! Hurry!" She wailed.

'Great, here we go again. Damsel in distress,' I thought to myself while rolling my eyes.

"Jess, what happened to you?" Ethan said. "E, I just came out to congratulate Lydia on her new relationship and applaud her for moving on, but she pushed me down the gazebo's stairs. I think my ankle twisted when I fell," Jessica said while crying.

"I didn't push her, she's doing this for a show to get your attention. Tell the truth, Jessica!" I shouted at her. "Ethan, I'm telling the truth, I swear! I just wanted to congratulate her and Uncle Nik. I meant no harm. She's just jealous that she didn't end up with you," Jessica said.

"How dare you hurt her, Lydia!" Yelled Casey, who came from nowhere. She walked right up and landed a loud slap across my face. I clutched my cheek and caught Jessica's cold, antagonizing smirk. "I didn't touch her! What gives you the right to hit me?" I yelled at Casey.

"She is my future daughter-in-law, something you'll never be! Lydia, I have every ground to protect her! Lay your hands on her again, and you will regret it," Casey screamed.

"Lydia will be your future sister-in-law, you have no right to slap her," Nik said while walking in the shadows.

"Nik, I—I, I was just protecting Jessica. You understand, right?" Casey cried. "No, I don't understand the quarrel over Ethan, which is one-sided. Lydia is very clearly moving on, and Jessica continues to antagonize her. Why is that, Jessica?" Nik asked.

Jessica's jaw dropped, "Uncle Nik, she attacked me first." "Nik, you have no right to indirectly accuse Jessica of such things. It's clear that Lydia pushed her. She's lying on the ground with a twisted ankle for crying out loud!" Ethan yelled. "Ethan, my love, it's okay. Clearly, Uncle Nik doesn't believe us. Let's get me to a hospital to get my ankle checked out. Let's not make a fuss," Jessica said.

He picked Jessica off and stormed away with her with Casey trailing close behind them after shooting me a death glare. Nik turned to me, "are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine. Just tired and ready to go home."

"Let me see you out?" Nik reached his hand out to me, I softly took his hand and walked side by side with him to my car.

"I won't let them hurt you again," Nik said. I looked at him and gave a half-hearted smile. He placed his hand on my cheek and kissed the other one tenderly. "I hope you have a restful night." He walked away while I stood there, standing at my driver's side door. After what felt like forever, I slowly drove home thinking about tonight's events.

I started the day single, and I guess I am now in a relationship with my ex-boyfriend's uncle. Crazy how the world works, and I'm even more surprised by how easily I accepted him. I didn't think I had feelings for him yet, but there's always room for love to blossom.

When I arrived at Crawford Manor, the butler took my car keys and parked my car for me. I entered the kitchen and saw my father standing there. "Care to join me for ice cream?" I joined my father for some ice cream and small talk.

When we were finished, we bid each other goodnight and turned in. My phone started to ring, and it was Nik.

"Hello?"

"Look outside, Lydia."