Maria was already seated in the living room, waiting patiently as Senator Gregory was escorted in by the butler. Her gaze was expressionless, and her rigid posture could be compared to that of a judge about to give a negative verdict.
Although Maria wasn't a part of the ongoing eting in her son's study, she had foreknowledge of the matter being discussed.
She was aware of the strange calls Alia received from Marcus and Dr Vanessa before an urgent eting was scheduled in the mansion.
However, Maria was slightly uncomfortable with Alia's father's visit. She didn't trust him any longer after he decided to forgive and accept back the sa people who tried to kill his daughter.
Maria knew how much Alia loved her father. But she wasn't about to let the senator take undue advantage of his daughter's affection for him.
"Good evening, Maria." Senator Gregory approached the seat pointed out to him cautiously while observing his hostess's deadpan gaze, narrowing at him.
"What exactly is good about the evening, Senator?" Maria's sharp and livid tone sliced through the tension in the air like a bolt of lightning.
Senator Gregory paused midway between standing and sitting.
"I co in peace, Maria. Please, I just want to see my daughter and rub minds with her. I don't want to fight or quarrel with you. I promise, I am not here to upset her but to seek her advice. She ans the whole world to ." He spoke in a subtle voice.
Maria exhaled slightly, feeling weakened by the senator's humility. She gestured for him to sit, relaxing her rigidity around him a bit.
"Thank you."
Senator Gregory smiled feverishly, easing himself slowly into the seat, unbuttoning his suit jacket and releasing the tie around his neck, taking in the peaceful environnt around him.
Maria silently observed the distressed look in the senator's saddened eyes, which resembled soone who was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
"You know what, Senator, sotis I don't just get you. You look like soone who knows what he's doing, but then your actions completely put off. What exactly do you want? Peace or chaos."
Senator Gregory sighed out loud.
"Which sane-minded man wouldn't go for peace? I would choose peace a thousand tis over chaos. But then, no man is ever at rest when he's roof is on fire. You don't just quit and run when faced with mountainous obstacles. You stand and fight for what you believe in. You fight for a chance to change the ugly narrative. You do not give up until there is nothing left worth fighting for."
"So you'd rather lose your selfless and compassionate daughter like Alia over so rotten bunch you call family?" Maria demanded angrily, her slightly raised voice filled with incredulity and resentnt.
Alia quietly walked into the living room unnoticed, watching the exchange between her formidable mother-in-law and father.
"No, Maria. Alia is my lifeline. I'd rather give up myself as a sacrifice than watch any form of harm befall my daughter a second ti. I know you might not believe this based on my recent decisions, but Alia ans the world to . Losing her mother shattered my heart into a million pieces, and she is the only glue holding my heart together."
"If you love your daughter this much, then why can't you see the truth in her eyes?" Maria pushed further, hoping the senator would see reasons with her.
"Why can't you see that this family you are fighting for are only planning to destroy you? Why can't you see that everything Alia is doing is to protect you from getting hurt? Believe when I say this, your daughter loves you so much, and it will break her heart to see anything bad happen to you."
Senator Gregory lowered his head, tears pulling at the corners of his eyes as he nodded his head slowly. "I know."
"Dad..."
Both parents looked backwards, surprised to see Alia walking towards them.
"Sweetheart..." Senator Gregory stood up to embrace his daughter as she hurried into his awaiting arms.
Maria smiled bitterly, her heart aching for her daughter-in-law and the unstable senator. She sighed and turned to excuse them when the senator said softly.
"Please stay, Maria."
Maria raised her brow, stunned by the senator's request.
"You are as much a parent to Alia as I am. Like you rightly said to the last ti, you are her mother and should be involved in our discussions."
Alia bead at her father's words while staring at Maria in anticipation of her reply.
"Senator, I do not want to..."
"Just call Greg. There is no need for the formality. We are a family, right?" Senator Gregory smiled hopefully at the slightly alard and speechless beautiful woman.
"Mum," Alia called softly, snapping Maria out of her shock.
"Of course. We are a family."
"Aweso!" Alia chid, pulling her father to a seat closer to Maria. "Now, let's discuss like a family."
Maria wasn't comfortable with the senator sitting this close to her. But for Alia's sake, she was ready to tolerate him as long as he didn't cough out any more rubbish.
Both won listened to all the senator had to say about his latest discoveries concerning Gwen, including her plans to destroy everything he had ever laboured for.
'So now he sees the light.'
Maria chuckled to herself as the senator corroborated Marcus's story about this red-haired pregnant woman working with Gwen to hurt Alia. She was impressed that the senator was beginning to see Gwen for the devil that she was.
Although Alia was slightly mad at her father for giving Gwen the ten million dollars, she was greatly impressed by the turn of events. The money, though huge, might have definitely yielded the desired result.
After the Senator was done sharing his heartbreaking tale about Gwen, including the ongoing paternity test, Alia cautiously advised him on what to do next.
Alia was careful about the information she confided in her dad, not trusting him a hundred percent.
Concerning her uncle and Regina, she decided it would be best for her father to catch them in their misdeed rather than showing him their past cri.
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