The Marvelous Elijah’s Return

With someone powerful

The dining hall was eerily quiet as everybody slowly digested what Madam Jewel had revealed. “A man like Bryan Checks is getting involved with our family?” Mathew, second to Dean, questioned, frowning slightly.

“Why? How can a man like that possibly be interested in helping Peach and Grace though?!” Eli exclaimed angrily, clenching and unclenching his fists, feeling angered and confused.

Looking at Madam Jewel, Cora frowned slightly at the stress she saw in her mother‘s eyes and mumbled, “He is someone that never just gets involved with people without ulterior motives, Eli! He loves money and power… nothing else matters to him.” “Money, power, and women,” Amelia said, meeting her sister‘s eyes.

“What?”

“We are all missing the bigger picture here. Peach is a woman. Bryan is a man. Men usually get protective over the one they are interested in and would do whatever it takes to keep them protected no matter what, right mom?”

t‘s like a light bulb switched on in Madam Jewel‘s mind and the realization hit her hard, causing the color to drain from her face, as she stuttered out, “Oh my..”

As soon as those words left her mouth, the whole family turned their heads to stare at her with curious eyes.

“Peach can not be with a man as powerful as Bryan Checks… she can‘t be with anyone with that kind of power or prestige,” Madam Jewel stated quietly, her voice wavering slightly. A couple of silent minutes passed and nobody uttered a word. The tension in the air grew thicker, making everyone feel uneasy.

A nervous laugh filled with uncertainty erupted from Melina‘s lips as a sense of raw panic rose inside of her chest.

is so… SO stupid and so unbelievable.” Melina blurted as her eyes darted from person to person as

his fork on the plate, locking eyes with her. “Peach is out there getting involved with a man like Checks, and you choose that no–good, worthless ass to marry!! How could you be so stupid! You‘re supposed to be smart, smart

into her chair and lowered her

her brother‘s harsh words, Melina pouted and whispered, “We don‘t even know for sure if Peach is in a relationship with Checks! After all, she

plate and pushed the remains of his dinner away, mumbling, “You guys shouldn‘t have allowed her to marry

of hers. If he wasn‘t so useless and dumb, my sister‘s reputation wouldn‘t have taken such a beating!” Josh growled, glaring at his sister. Frowning, Madam Jewel reached for her glass of wine and took a small sip before turning her eyes on Josh and saying, “You four can have your separate meeting as a family to scold Melina for marrying a loser. But not tonight, and not at the meeting I arranged!” The raise in her voice caused everyone to turn and look at her, a look of seriousness on each of their

Peach and Bryan Checks… I

takes pride in his privacy and doesn‘t reveal much about himself to people,” Dean commented with a frown, placing a hand on his forehead

and resting both hands heavily on it, staring at each member of her family in turn. “And if Peach has him

replied, nodding his head and rubbing his chin. Looking at her son with a smile on her lips and an understanding sparkle in her eyes, Madam Jewel nodded her head and said, “That is a good plan. Dean can use such means, and I will talk with Peach and see if she will open up to me.” “Be careful, mother. That brat has gotten way too disrespectful and cocky recently,” Tommy grumbled, his arms crossed across his chest as he rolled his eyes. “And Melina‘s so–called Ex–husband seemed to be pretty close to her and has been helping her act like the spoiled brat that she is,” Patricia remarked, raising an eyebrow slightly as she gave Melina a sideways

off of anyone‘s money, and treats them with so much care that

anger.

in his eyes, Josh looked over at his grandmother and said, “I will take you to see Peach… It‘s best if you have someone to protect you while you visit her..” Nodding her head,

mumbling, “Let me get this straight when you were

shook his head lightly at her words, not knowing how their little game got to such

she didn‘t seem to care about anything. In fact, she appeared to be enjoying herself. When Peach noticed Elijah‘s intense stare, she furrowed her brows and asked, “What is it?” “Nothing… you just look different right now,” Elijah stated calmly,

«How?”