Clearing the Air Chapter 31 Analise's POV It was almost laughable that Tiffany and Gretchen were able to get my father so angry . " Dad , didn't you realize that Roger and his family would try to come after me ? I'm a powerless orphan , as far as they're concerned . So why wouldn't they ? They don't know who I am yet . Of course , they would try to control the narrative . Mr. Griggs is already on it . I have copyrighted each and every design , including the newest ones that Sasha claims are hers . I'm not going to have Rodney rush . I want the facts to be undeniable . It's my work , and they stole it . Sasha and Roger will be the ones humiliated by this . My arrest ? Allows me to sue them , and Joyce , for several things . No one knows I'm a Caldwell . If and when it comes out , I won't be the one in the wrong . I'm just playing along until it's time to destroy them ," I announced to the room .. " I thought you loved that villa ? " my mother said sadly . " I did , until he let her move in over two months ago so they could play house together . I no longer want it . It's been violated , and I don't want anything more to do with it . It's already sold , and I'm moving on . I bought a new home , and it's being prepared for me to move in , " I replied . " Where are you going to live ? " Seth asked . He was trying to sound nonchalant , but she wasn't fooled . " I will let you know when I'm ready , " I replied . " We're your family , Analise . We haven't seen you , and didn't even know if you were okay . You're treating us like outsiders , and it's unacceptable . You even dare to have two strangers sitting at the table with us . We have our own security outside , out of respect for the room and the nature of our discussion . Yet you sit there between them , keeping us away from you , like they belong . They're not family , " my father shot back at me . I knew he wasn't going to be happy that they were here . " Gretchen's not family either , yet she sits there like she belongs . She also keeps touching Holden every chance she gets . Holden , my alleged fiancé , sits there , allowing it yet again . I'm fine with my bodyguards leaving , but I'll be leaving with them . I won't stay here where I don't feel safe . So , you go ahead and say whatever you want to say . But I won't be bullied into complying for much longer , " I shot back . Charlie and Drew had quietly slid their chairs back a few minutes ago when Tiffany started up . They knew what she was doing . It was obvious to all of us , yet her parents didn't intervene . It was just like back in high school . Mr. Vaughn worked a lot , and Mrs. Vaugh fell for her daughter's little Ms. Innocent act . It was one of the many reasons why clearing the air between our families was pointless . My bodyguards were both prepared to stand and defend me , physically if necessary . They were willing to protect me , even when my family wouldn't . " Are you trying to threaten me , Analise ? " my father asked . " Didn't you threaten me in order to get me here tonight ? So , how could you be so shocked that I'm unhappy about being forced to come ? All I said was that if you make them leave , I'm leaving too . That wasn't really a threat now , was it ? It was a promise . Just say what you want to say , Dad . I know it's probably going to be another threat , so go ahead and let me have it . I know what the real issue is : you're trying to keep your 16 MONDO 1/3 ။ O < < Clearing the Air + B Points > reputation as a benevolent and loving father intact . But you don't have to worry about Charlie and Drew . They won't be the ones letting anything slip . If you truly wanted to keep things private , then Tiffany and Gretchen wouldn't be here , " I replied . I stared back at my father as he struggled to maintain his anger . I needed him angry because I wasn't going to sit here all night . Not going to happen . I have had a long and frustrating day . I've had to hold my tongue as I needed to do this step by step . I won't warn Roger of what's to come . It killed me not to throw his precious Sasha under the bus today . It was so hard not to tell him that the baby he's so happy about isn't his . But I need to do this the right way . I don't want to give him any way to try to wiggle out of this . My father finally looked away and said , " I didn't threaten you . But you have become increasingly hard to deal with lately . I helped you make the outline . Don't you know that I love you ? I would do anything to protect you . But you are digging in and can't even see what's best for you right now . You need to understand what's at stake . People talk , even if you're not at fault ; there's a stigma attached . You may never get past it . I know how the real world works , Ana . Please listen to me . Yes , I forced you to come , but what else could I do ? You tell me , Ana . How else could I have got you to come here if I hadn't ? " my father asked . I feel a little bad , as I could hear the pain in his voice . I saw the tears on his face . He honestly felt that he was looking out for my best interests . I got up and walked over to hug him , and then my mother . I returned to my seat , but I didn't pull my chair back up to the table . I was drained and done with the day . It had only been seven hours , but my strength was sapped . I needed to go back to the company and rest . " I've had a hard day , and I just want to get some rest . Just tell me why I'm here ," I asked as nicely as I could . " We want to announce the change in your groom , Ana . We want to do it as soon as possible , so it looks like you realized you made a mistake in choosing Roger . Holden cares for you , and I know with time , you'll come to love him again . We also wanted to clear the air . We have been friends with the Vaughn family for decades . We want things to go back to how they were before . What do we need to do to make that happen ? " my father asked . I was frozen in shock ; those were two really big - ticket items , and my father just acted like they were nothing . My eyes shot right towards Tiffany , who was just as stunned as I was . Her eyes narrow at me , and the message was clear . I needed to keep my mouth shut , but I'm no longer a frightened teen . I hadn't had them for a while now , and the last thing I needed was for them to come back . I looked at Holden , but he was looking at Tiffany . I could see that he was starting to put together that she had done something , but it was far too late to fix it . I can't trust Holden , and Tiffany is the last person I want to be related to . If they honestly wanted to find out , it should have just been Seth and my parents . I didn't want to discuss this in front of the Vaughns . I already knew things would go very badly . I couldn't afford for that to happen . Not right now , and especially not tonight . " I need time to think about this , I just can't discuss it tonight . I am exhausted , and I lack the emotional stamina to handle this . I'm willing to talk about it . But right now , with everyone here , I just don't want to get into it . Please don't try to force me to do this , " I finally managed to say . I was so overwhelmed that I just couldn't handle anything else tonight . I was about to burst into tears if I were pushed any further tonight . " Okay , " my father said slowly , drawing it out . He has been a leader in the business industry for a number of years . I think he was suddenly realizing something , and although he usually doesn't concede to anyone , he 16 M 2/3 O < < Clearing the Air was doing it for me . +6 Points > " If not tonight , how about lunch tomorrow ? Or dinner tomorrow , just us , " Seth offered . He saw my eyebrow raise and knew exactly what I was asking . " Just our family , you , me , and our parents . Is that acceptable ? " " It is if Charlie and Drew are included . They will be with me every time I leave my home . I can come to the house to meet with you , " I replied . " Ana , I would like to be there , too . I've wanted to speak with you privately since I returned . I want to marry you , and not because our marriage was arranged . I want you to know that . No one would be able to make me marry them if I didn't want to ," Holden said as he glanced at Gretchen . " Look , I've had a lot of time to think about it , and I really miss you . I miss how we used to be together . How you used to love me , I want us to get back to that . " He was trying really hard to stay calm , but I could tell that he was anxious about how I would respond to his request . " I think that it would be best for me to speak to my family first , Holden . If you want to come over after we've talked , that is acceptable . It really just depends on my state of mind . I'm not sure if I'll be able to go over it twice . I guess if you can stay quiet and let me get through it , you can come , Holden . I will unblock you and Seth ; just let me know when you'd like me to come for lunch or dinner . I'm leaving now . I will see you tomorrow . Mrs. Vaughn , it was lovely to get to see you and Mr. Vaughn again . I hope to meet up with you soon ," I said before getting up and walking over to exit the room . " I'm going to head to the restroom . I shouldn't have had two drinks tonight , " I told them as I headed to the restroom . They both started to follow me , but I felt safe here in the restaurant . Even Tiffany wasn't dumb enough to come after me here . " We will wait here for you . It isn't safe for you to cross the parking lot on your own ," Charlie told me . They both stood across from the hostess desk to wait for me . I wasn't going to argue with them . This was their area of expertise . I did my business and was washing my hands when the door opened . I stepped over to the towel rack to dry my hands when Tiffany's voice filled the room . " Aren't you still supposed to be leaving , Ana ? You know what , let me congratulate you on forcing Roger to marry you . How desperate do you have to be to do something like that ? You know , when you have to push someone into accepting you , it never works out . I can't believe you're still willing to show your face in public . You're going to humiliate your family in front of the whole city . You need to make sure that my family doesn't get humiliated right alongside you . You're about to look like the pathetic loser you've always been . "