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.

and so unbelievable.” Melina

she stared at her brother, Josh, and he scowled at her, aggressively dropping 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

her chair and

all, she

away. “Josh….” Dean warned quietly, glaring at him in a warning. A heavy sigh escaped Josh‘s lips as he dropped his gaze back to his plate and pushed the remains of his dinner away, mumbling, “You guys shouldn‘t have allowed her to marry that punk. That‘s all I am saying.” Staring at her son pleadingly, Martha looked

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

took another sip of wine and continued, “My biggest concern now is Peach and Bryan Checks… I need to be sure that

to be difficult because he is someone who takes pride in his privacy and doesn‘t reveal much about himself to

and resting both

you have a few friends in higher places? Maybe you can use them to get a meeting set up between Checks and you to find out the truth.” “Well… I mean yes… I have a few business partners who I trust with something like that… They might be able to pull some strings and get me a meeting with Checks,” Dean replied, nodding his head and rubbing his chin. Looking at her

money, and treats them with so much care that you wouldn’t even feel him sucking you dry–“Melina ranted, her face

anger.

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, Madam Jewel placed her glass down and smiled slightly,

Peach chuckled faintly as she stared at Elijah, mumbling, “Let me get this straight

cheeks flushed and he averted his eyes from her and shook his head lightly at her words, not knowing how their little game

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, trying to keep the awkwardness from

«How?”