"If you were me, would you still want Natalie?" Desmond added with a grin as he gave Natalie a side glance.

Natalie frowned slightly in confusion. Was he serious? If he had really accepted an offer from a tycoon to marry their daughter, what would happen to Zaria? If he was telling the truth, she would give him a piece of her mind later.

Desmond didn't comprehend why Natalie looked upset out of the blue. If she was acting devastated, then she was such a good actress. He cleared his throat to get Ava's and Owen's attention. "If there is nothing else…"

"What do you want? We can give you any benefits you would like." Ava emotionally promised.

"Ava." Owen scolded her for begging the bastard.

"Desmond, you and Natalie have known each other for ages. You know better than everyone that she is the perfect match for you. You are wasting your precious time by playing around and…" Ava slapped her forehead in disbelief. Did she even need to say any of these things? Her husband was right. Desmond already knew everything. Once he made his decision, it was impossible to sway him.

"You would never beat what this tycoon is offering me." He gave his reason.

"Who is it? The mayor's rumored girlfriend?" Alyssa asked in a low voice, which was not low enough to keep the discussion between her and her son. Ava overheard her question and was speechless at how ungrateful Alyssa could be.

"Her daughter is married." Desmond answered his mother's question without bothering to whisper.

"Then who is it?" Owen asked. He wanted to know just who was wealthy enough to steal his son-in-law.

"Lucy Roatta." Desmond dropped a name with a straight face, shocking the hell out of everyone.

"Lucy Roatta has a daughter?" Ava asked then cursed.

"Damn it!"

On the other hand, Alyssa looked down and swallowed a bitter gulp. Even if Lucy had another daughter, it wouldn't be any better than Desmond ending up with Zaria. The problem right now was not the daughter but the mother, who was a harbinger of trouble. Just what was her son getting himself into?

"Since I no longer have anything to do here, I'll be on my way." Desmond stood to leave and the Sparks no longer had anything to say to him.

"Ava…" Alyssa started when Desmond left the room. Everyone held their breath as Natalie ran out to follow him.

"I thought it was only a coincidence that she would land in the same line of business as us. I even thought there was a way to make her our partner instead of our competitor but…" Ava was devastated. "It seems like she has something against us, Alyssa. It's almost as though it's personal. Did we do something to upset her?" She didn't think there was any reason for there to be trouble between them and Lucy unless it was business-related. Maybe the latter was trying to eliminate her competitors? Was she targeting Natalie to get rid of one of the pillars of the Sparks business so she would send the entire business crumbling down?

Alyssa patted her friend's back. "There is, in fact, something she holds against you."

"What?" Ava didn't think it was possible.

"Her daughter is in love with my son but Natalie was in the way so…" She paused when she realized that she was revealing too much. She would never forget the stern warning from Lucy, who had held a gun against her head to make her promise that she would not spill her relationship with Zaria. It had happened a few hours ago and she still felt the chills from it. That psycho.

"I'm just guessing." She explained to Ava. "It always turns out to be that kind of thing."

"You don't seem happy about it?" Ava asked about her friend's reaction after learning who the tycoon was.

Alyssa shook her head and when Owen left the women to speak on their own, she continued, "She has something against my family too. I'm afraid she is using Desmond to execute her vengeance."

Ava let out a sigh. "I'll go speak to Owen." She was done with this Fort Family drama and hoped she would get a man with less trouble around him for her daughter.

…

Natalie ran out after Desmond and caught up to him as he reached his car.

"Desmond!" She ran up to him and hugged him when he turned.

"How could you ditch me?" She asked jokingly, feigning heartbreak.

"Because I never loved you, Natalie. You are such a kind woman. I'm sorry but my heart belongs to someone else." He played along, earning a smack on his chest.

"Don't say it like mine is not taken. I'm late for my date, you know." She complained.

"You and Devonte can now fall in love. He can comfort you after this heartbreak, and your relationship will blossom normally." He said teasingly, as though giving her permission to move on with his life. He was giving her the perfect tale to feign, which made her eyes droop sadly.

"You ruined your own reputation for me."

"Would I still be your friend if I didn't make a few sacrifices here and there?" He joked, even though it was not entirely a joke. Natalie had helped him out a lot too, and he could pretty much claim that he owed a third of his success to Natalie. "Besides,"

"Mmh?" She probed for whatever he was going to say, hoping he was not going to get into any trouble.

"Wait. What if Zaria misunderstands you? Oh Desmond, I have caused you so much trouble." She was now on the verge of crying.

He chuckled at her helpless worried tone. "If you think so, you know the kind of favor I would want from you." He demanded.

"You got it." She guessed what he might need her help with and was ready to arrange it. "Tell me when you want to arrange your date and I will ensure Zaria falls in love with you all over again."

He knew that she was not exaggerating, but he laughed and pushed her towards his car. "I will drop you off. Otherwise, your boyfriend will kill me the next time he sees me."

The car drove off, and Alyssa's mouth remained gaped as she stepped out from behind the pillar where she had been hiding.

"That bitch!" She cursed. She would not let her son be with that snake.

4/5. Next chapter will be updated soon