The forgotten groom

Chapter 37

Nik's POV

As soon as I arrived at the office, I hurried to my office for a final brief and run down with my lawyer as we looked at the final details as we prepared to face the rest of the shareholders.

If we got out of this, hell has no fury like a man betrayed! Sneakily selling off your shares to the highest bidder ! Time will tell.

I quickly checked my watch and still no sign of Max!

"Where was he? He said he'd be here before we had to go into the meeting !" I wonder

I grab a coffee and sit back in my chair and the door bursts open which slightly startles me but it's just Max. He was finally here!

I smile at him and get up to hug him but the look in his eyes stops me. It looks like he's been crying and angry?

"Hey love, what's the matter ?" I ask concerned

"Nik, tell me the truth! Is my grandfather involved?" He asks point blank

"Max, look...." I try to stall

"Tell me the truth , I won't ask again" he says now very upset

"Fine ! We suspect he might be the one backing them up. He's the only one with that much power to go against the Nik Starlinksy "I reply

"Why didn't you tell me earlier?" He asks

"Because I love you and I don't wanna see you hurt because the only family you have left is fighting your husband. I didn't want to put you in a position where you have to choose" I say pleadingly begging him with my eyes to understand

" Despite my grandfather trying to royally screw you over the second time you still tried to cover for him? For me?" He asks

" I love you Maximillian Starlinksy, that is nothing compared to your happiness. I let you down once and I promised to never ever do it again. I got you my love " I say looking into his eyes

"Gosh! I love you too, so much ! But you don't know who you tried to defend. Do you know what he did today" he asks

"Harold? What did he do to you? I swear if he hurt you I'm going to kill him! I don't care!" I say very agitated

" I know you told me not to get involved but I couldn't stand the thought of you losing everything you've worked for and my family being responsible for your loss again.
The first time grandfather forced you to marry me to save your company.
The second time was him trying to sell off my house and then you had to sell some of your property which sent the sharks sniffing around your companies". He says tearfully

"Max, look at me, don't cry, I will handle this okay" I say to him trying to console him

"That's not all, when i went to confront him, he already knew everything and said if we wanted his help I have to leave you! Leave my husband and go back home!" He says

"What the hell?" I shout pulling Max harder against me

Suddenly the door is burst open and my secretary is apologizing profusely as none other than the devil himself Harold walks in!

"What are you doing here?" I ask with barely concealed anger?

"Max knows the score" he says looking at both of us unbothered

"Look Harold , I have put up with enough of your bull shit..." I start to say but Max stops me

"Nik don't , it's high time I set some things straight around here " he say going to face his grandfather

Oh shit! I think

"I'll say this once and for all and after this, I want you to walk out of here and know that I am dead to you !
You're the only family I have left but you know what ? It's better to have been a total orphan than have a conceited, arrogant and unfeeling person like you for a relative "! Max says looking his grandfather straight in the eyes

"Go baby" I silently scream in my head

"Maximillian!" Harold says shocked and appalled

" I'm not finished!" He says eyes flashing back

Ohhhhh oh there's that Greek fire coming out!

"Ever since I was young , it was always your way or no way! Everything had to be done according to your stupid whims and controlling ways!
I'm not ungrateful for the fact that you raised me or paid for my mother's rehab but i can't help but remind you that it was your arrogance that got all of us here!
Had you accepted your son and not tried to impose your will on him! I'd still have my father the beloved son you claimed to love and wanted me to be like!" Max says

"Don't you dare bring your father into this!" Harold says back in anger

"My father must be rolling in his grave now if he could see what you've done! Failed to properly love and protect his only son! Married him off young, blackmailed him into staying away from his mother, trying to sell his house and trying to screw over my husband!
You have single handedly destroyed your own family!
Had you accepted your son,his wife and child, we wouldn't be here! Disinheriting your own son! Who do you think you are Harold to play God! Who are you to mess with my life, my parents or Nik's family?" Max asks pointing at him

"I thought I was doing the right thing" Harold says

"Well you did so right that your son is dead, my mother is gone and I have finally given up on you! You are not worth saving if you can't lighten that evil heart of yours and realize that money is not always everything and that love wins!
I am telling you to your face right now that I'm choosing love just as my father did and I know my father would be so proud of me right now!
Keep your money that you treasure so much over relationships or family and I hope it will comfort you when you wake up and you're all alone!
Go out there and screw my husband over and I promise you we don't care! We will keep our heads up and we will always survive like the Starlinsky's we are!
Thank you for my husband and I choose him over your money!" Max says and I've never been so proud of him.

Who is this man! Finally standing up to his grandfather !

"Max wait...." Harold says in shock

"Go to hell Harold Demakide! Your show is over ! Pack it up!" Max replies

Never have I ever seen this man not 100% confident and so arrogant! He's practicing cowed and he looks shaken up

Yeah my baby did that ! I smile, my eyes mist a little ! My man chose me and he trusts me to hold us down.

"I'm proud of you and I love you, I will always be here for you as your man and family "

"Let's go baby, let's get this over and done with and let's go home " he says squaring his shoulders, bending down so I can softly kiss his lips and then looking straight ahead as my lawyer peaks his head and signals us that it's time

We walk hand in hand into the boardroom ready to face it all.

Hey everyone...2/3 chapters left and we say goodbye to these two 🥹🥹🥹