Chapter 20 - Feeling inferior

Greg the loser, good for nothing but spending his father's money and sleeping around with girls was blackmailing them? With which power? What could he have against them? Was it possible he had evidence of their illegal activities and was using it against them? But how could Greg dare to when his family wasn't saint.

She crossed her hand below her cheat, "What is going ?" she asked but only received silence.

"I'm waiting," she said growing impatient. Her eyes shifted from one to the other but no one spoke.

"Nothing much," Andy said shrugging his shoulder.

"Nothing? Just tell me already," they couldn't fool her into believing what she witnessed was nothing.

He glanced at Liam before looking at the car waiting from them by the road, he sighed and said scratching his head.

"Well, as you sure noticed, we are being blackmail by him, nothing much," he said as if it wasn't a big deal. As if it was a common occurrence.

Ivy eyes remained in him, her impatient look still on,

"With what," it was what she wanted to know. With what could he corner them? What could he have against them, making them obligate to his words?

"His father disappear a week ago," Liam began. Had no courage to meet her gaze as he recounted what happened.

"Despite using all his resources, he couldn't get a clue about him. He came to us and asked for help, of course we refused but then he blackmailed us with tell the truth about us to Bella and Shirley," Liam explained, his hand shoved in his pocket. His eyes looking everywhere but her.

"The truth about you?" Ivy looked at them confused, what did he meant by the truth about them? She pondered.

"That you are part of the underworld?" she asked perplexed. He nodded. It wasn't what she was ready to hear. She thought it was be something serious but it was just that? She wanted to laugh, what was there for them to take it so seriously.

"And what is they problem? It's not like they don't know already," she said with confidence but it shattered when she saw their reaction. They turned their head away,

"What? They don't know? You didn't tell them? They are about to became your wife's and they don't know in what they are heading too?" She was flabbergasted. She thought they already told them and where only letting Greg lost his time but it turned out they weren't informed.

"Are you guys seriously telling me that those girls don't know the part you play in the underworld?" marrying into a big family like theirs wasn't easy but one involved with the underworld was worse.

It was signing for blood, something not easy to accept by people. Herself went through a great deal choosing her life path and they were going to let they girl they say to love in that kind of lifestyle without warning them in prior? It was a vicious move, even for her. She couldn't accept it.

Marrying them was signing for a life full of dangers, being the target of people. Their families would be at risk. Their children would be at risk and would undoubtedly be forced to have the same lifestyle. It wasn't a decision one should make for you. It wasn't decision feelings should answer but logic because love alone won't make you support such a life. No, love couldn't.

Plus a family like the Anderson who were rooted in the underworld and held the more influence won't want a daughter in law clueless and incapable to defend herself and sustain the pressure that comes with it.

"You," she called out Andy. Unlike Liam, he wasn't shying in front of her.

"What are you even worried about? Yours is a public secret,"

Every person influent in the country knew about the Anderson status in the underworld. Bella is without doubt not an exception. It shouldn't be a big deal for him.

She turned to Liam. His case was a little bit special. Not many knew about their involvement and Shirley was a soft and innocent girl. Would she be able to accept the dark side of her prince charming? There were a possibility she turned him down if she found out.

It was exactly what was holding Andy from sending Greg to hell. Liam. Ivy well said, his involvement in the underworld was a public secret. Despite never had discussed the topic with Bella, he was sure she knew about it. The first time Greg came to them, he took the resolution to talk to Bella but was stopped by a terrified Liam. He feared Shirley reaction.

The thought of them separating because of that made Ivy excited before she remembered her decision to not get involve any more. She should move on.

She sighed before looking at Liam,

"Listen," she started. Waited for Liam to look at her before continuing.

"I know what you are worried about but she would find it any way and it's better now than after you get married," she clenched her fist. Advising the couple was the last thing she wanted. Their separation would be her delight but she decided against it.

Plus, she was genuine. Her getting married to him without knowing was cruel. Herself didn't want that for her.

"If she rejects you after finding out, it would means you weren't meant to be," like I told you since the beginning. They were too different, no one could say the contrary.

Andy, deep in thought pondered about her advice. Was it simply her looking out for the girls or was she having others ideas in mind?

'If you break up, I won't give up on you and chase after you still you love me but if you don't, it would give me more reason to step back,' she thought to herself.

Deep down, something were telling her they won't break up. If Liam could accept the scandal behind her father because he loved her, she could do just the same thing. Her love for Liam must be more powerful than her prejudice if she had one.

Liam clenched his fist inside his pocket, terrified at the idea of losing her. He was ready to give up on all if that if it meant not losing her. It was why he never told her anything, the fear in him was too big but he also understood what she meant. He shouldn't hide such a big aspects of himself. If she loved him, she would accept him, at least, he hoped.

His two friends looked at full of compassion. It wasn't an easy battle he had ahead of him. One who would sign his fate.

"Eh! If you are done keeping secrets from us, let leave. I have a day schedule," Bella said out of the blue. Making the trio look her way. She was walking to them.

She grew tired of waiting in the car, while they had their private conversation, excluding her. She hated it. Why was she chased out but Ivy was left? Was her worth so little in their eyes?

She wondered how Shirley could accept so easily the fact they had more trust in Ivy than in them. When the strange guy came, they were immediately chased out but Ivy wasn't. She even knew the guy. A pure sign of how little they knew about them in compare to her.

As the thought ran wild in her mind. Her assumptions was rebuked when Shirley followed her steps and got out of the car. She wasn't indifferent to their actions. Being left out, worst while letting Ivy remain. It was a cut to her heart.

Ivy was always present. Whispering with them, yet no words was said when she joined them. She wanted to be part of his life in all aspect not only the personal part even professional. His lack of communication, his secrecy made her felt inferior.

"Nothing, we were talking about work," Liam said. Shirley frowned. As always, it was nothing when she was around.

"Who was the guy?" she asked.

"No one, just an acquaintance," he answered simply. If she didn't know him well enough, she would have buy it.

Shirley clenched her fist. He didn't want her to know but had no trouble with Ivy knowing. Was she so incompetent in his eyes, incapable of doing something?

Ivy silently watched the fun scene in front of her. The men, completely oblivious to their partners anger and the women having no courage to clearly says what was wrong.

"I'm leaving you guys, I have a date to attend," As fun as it was, she had no desire to see the scene that would happen.

She was the source of their jealousy, she could see that much. It felt good to know Shirley felt insecure about her though didn't know the reason behind it.

She had everything for her, well almost everything because Ivy was confident in the fact she was superior to Shirley in theme of brain.

With a last smirk to the girls, she left them with their couple problems. She went to her car, under the look of the others. Each carrying separate thoughts.