Married On Paper To The Billionaire
Chapter 20: Redemption

"We will not be threatened into silence," Joyce Banks said to the interviewer. "My daughter must get justice. The Beaumonts must pay for causing her death. She didn't deserve that." "What do you want them to do for you?" The interviewer asked calmly.

"I want compensation. Kendra was the breadwinner of our family. Her father has been terminally ill for years, her brother has been in and out of rehab and she was the one paying for that." "Ok..."

"I can't work as much as I used to do because of my frail health," Joyce continued. "Kendra provided for all of us and we never lacked whatever we wanted. Now, she's gone. The least Kane Beaumont can do is to compensate us accordingly for our loss!"

"Please, turn that thing off," Elsie said distastefully.

Lillian picked up the TV remote and switched off the 75-inch HD screen. She too was tired of listening to Joyce's endless ranting.

"They're not going to stop, are they?" Emilia asked wearily. "They'll continue to be a thorn in our flesh."

"This madness is affecting our businesses too," Kane said bitterly. "Two companies have pulled out of what looked like a done deal in the last three weeks."

"So, that cute press conference y'all did outside didn't work?" Jack asked with a grin.

"This is not something to laugh about," Elsie snapped at him. "And please, speak properly English or be quiet!"

"I'm not a child!" He retorted.

"You act and talk like one."

"That's enough, Mother. Stop picking on me. You already have your perfect son here with his perfect little wife, and now they're going to have a bunch of perfect babies. So, leave me the fuck alone!" "Don't speak to her like that," Kane chastised him.

"See? This is why I always avoid these little family get-togethers. They always end up becoming a piss-on-Jack show. What the fuck do y'all want from me?"

"Oh, God..." Elsie groaned.

"Stop it, Jack, seriously," said Lillian.

"I don't have to be here anyway," he replied and stood up.

"Sit down!" Kane ordered him. "This is a family problem and we will brainstorm and fix it together as a family."

"I'm not a part of this family. Y'all don't treat me like I belong here."

"If you say y'all one more time..." Elsie threatened him.

"Let's all be calm, please," Emilia said, trying to diffuse the tension in the room.

Jack sat down and Samuel chuckled softly in the corner where he was sitting. He gave his brother-in-law a stony look but said nothing.

Samuel cleared his throat. "Am I permitted to speak?"

"Don't be ridiculous, Samuel. Of course, you are," said Elsie.

"Ok. If you ask me, I think it's time to stick it to Kendra's family as they've done with us. We all know they're just trying to shake us down for more money, so let's flip the script on them." "How?" Kane asked.

"Issue another press statement but this time with actual receipts." "Such as?"

"The medical records from Emilia's admission to the hospital after the shooting incident, the police report on the day of the shooting and Kendra's written statement in which she confessed to the crime." "Hmm... I like that," said Lillian.

"But that will make Kane look like a liar," said Emilia. "He'd gone on national TV to exonerate Kendra and labeled the shooting as an accident. We can't just let him go out there and make a fool of himself." "I think Samuel is right," Elsie said, surprising everyone. It was the first time she had ever agreed with her son-in-law about anything.

"All Kane has to do is to reveal the NDA Kendra signed on the day she came to blackmail him. That will explain why he went on record to lie to the world because he was simply trying to protect his family."

"And then everyone will want to know what he's trying to hide," said Jack sardonically. "And that's the moment when Kendra's family will finally spill all of our secrets to the world and beat us at our own game. Checkmate!" "Why do you always have to be so negative?" Lillian asked him.

Jack shrugged. "I'm just trying to bring you all back to earth because you guys seem to have your heads stuck in the clouds."

"You can make your point without being rude," said Elsie coldly.

"Can I speak for myself now?" Kane asked.

"Please, go ahead," said his mother.

"We will call their bluff and do as Samuel has suggested," he continued. "They don't have any concrete evidence for whatever Kendra has told them about us. They wouldn't even know where to start if they wanted to dig up the truth." "I like that," said Elsie proudly. "It's settled then. And don't forget to add that this unwelcome scrutiny into our family affairs is stressing Emilia out in her delicate condition."

"Another sympathy goal scored by the family. And the crowd cheered loudly, Beaumont! Beaumont! Beaumont!" Jack said while imitating football spectators jubilating in a stadium. Elsie gave him a frosty look.

"Just ignore him, Mother," said Lillian. She too had had enough of Jack's childishness.

"I don't think Kane should be the one to issue the statement this time," said Emilia. "Let's hire a good PR team to do it. We can't keep using Kane as the family mascot. He's much more than that."

As you reach the final pages, remember that 000005s.com is your destination for the complete story. Share the joy of reading with others and spread the word. The next chapter is just a visit away! Kane smiled lovingly at her. He was impressed by how she was defending him and looking out for his best interest even when he hadn't done that for her in the past.

"If I never said it before, I'm saying it now. You have my undying love and loyalty forever, Emilia," he said softly.

"You have mine too," she said and kissed him.

"Ew, get a room!" Jack complained.

"This is what true love looks like. But you wouldn't know that, would you?" Elsie asked him.

Jack sprung to his feet like a jack-in-the-box. "Damn you, Elsie Beaumont!"

He stomped out of the room before anyone could stop him.

Elsie sighed wearily. "Nothing is more agonizing than birthing a child that hates you."

"Take it easy with him, Mother," said Kane. "He's not like the rest of us and that's ok. Stop trying to mould him into another Kane. It won't work."

"I agree," said Lillian.

"Oh, well. You know what they say, every family has a black sheep," said Elsie.

"I thought that was me," Lillian laughed.

Samuel didn't find that funny because it reminded him of Lillian's part in the Beaumont family secrets. He stood up and straightened his jacket. "I'm going to spend some time with Crystabel before I go to the clinic," he said.

"I still don't understand why you work on Sundays," Elsie complained. "You should always spend the weekend with your family instead of your clients." "Well, at least I know where I stand with my clients, unlike my family," he said with air quotes and walked away.

"Gosh, he's such a crybaby!" Lillian said and rolled her eyes.

"You don't sound remorseful for what you've done," Elsie noted.

"I've apologized to him multiple times, Mother. What else am I supposed to do?"

"Put his mind at rest instead of giving him more reasons to doubt you."

"What?"

"I'm talking about that girl that keeps sniffing around you. The redhead."

"For heaven's sake, Serena is just my PA. There's nothing going on between us. Aren't I allowed to be around other women anymore?"

As you reach the final pages, remember that 000005s.com is your destination for the complete story. Share the joy of reading with others and spread the word. The next chapter is just a visit away!

"That's not what I said. Just don't give Samuel another reason to want to leave again."

"Fine! I'll just go and massage his fragile male ego some more," she said tersely and left.

Elsie shook her head slowly. "You two seem to be the only sane people in this household. Please, keep it that way."

She stood up and dusted imaginary lint from her expensive tweed suit. Elsie always dressed formally even when she wasn't going anywhere.

"I'll just go and relax in my room until dinner time," she said.

"Won't you join us for lunch?” Emilia asked.

"No. This dramatic family meeting has been rather filling. All I need now is a nap not food."

She kissed Kane and Emilia on the cheek and left.

"I'm not the type to comment on people's weight but I think Mother needs more nutrition than she's getting," Emilia said softly. "Her personal shopper came a few days ago with new clothes for her and they were smaller sizes. Chloe can't even fit into them and she's a size 4."

"Don't worry, I'll talk to her," Kane assured her.

"Thank you."

"You're so selfless, Emilia. You're an angel."

She smiled warmly. "I've been called many names but 'angel' wasn't one of them. I like it though."

He kissed her again and she jumped suddenly. "Are you ok?" He asked her.

She giggled. "The baby just kicked me now."

"Really?"

"Yes. Ow!"

"Another one?"

"Yes," she laughed. She took his hand and placed it on her belly. "Here, I'm sure you can feel it too."

And he did. They laughed happily and tried to get another round of kicks by tapping gently on her belly.

They couldn't wait to share the exciting news with the rest of the family but only Lillian and Samuel showed up at the dinner table that night.

As planned, they hired a reputable PR company to tell their side of the story with several pages of evidence to back it up. The press statement was worded in such a way that it conveyed the family's remorse for lying to the public initially. It ended with a plea to the public and media to grant the family privacy as the newly married Beaumonts earnestly await the birth of their twins.