264 Dinner for Sabrina and her date 3

The dinner started in a stiff atmosphere.

Nathan was asking questions related to Jackson and his current situation, and Sabrina told them how Jackson came to her apartment and they had an argument after which he had a seizure. Liz took over the story from there, explaining how Jackson took a drug to fake a seizure and that due to the nature of the drug, he ended up staying at the Franciscan Medical Center as an addict.

"How are you going to deal with him?" Nathan asked while his eyes swept over his three children. In his opinion, Sabrina's story with Jackson will not end here.

"We are watching them with a goal to see who else is involved." Max said.

Nathan was obviously displeased. "That's it? Just watching?" His gaze moved from Max to Sabrina.

Sabrina fidgeted nervously. She didn't plan beyond breaking up with Jackson and staying away from him. "Do you think that we should do more?"

Nathan gave Sabrina a knowing look. "Based on what you told me, Jackson is faking a disease for eight years. No one is going to such lengths without a big goal ahead of him. Do you think that he will give up just because you said that it's over?" Nathan made a dramatic pause and continued: "Jackson is a wounded dog and he will come to bite the person who wounded him. The fact that his family is involved, is only making the situation more serious. If it's just him, maybe he can try to hide his current situation, but the more people know about this, the more he is under pressure to not admit a defeat." 

Max agreed with Nathan. "I will handle them."

"I had no intention of meddling." Nathan said. "All three of you are big enough to take care of yourselves and each other. I am just giving you advice. You want to watch and see who else will be exposed, and I am telling you don't wait for too long, because Jackson is not going to sit idle. The fact that he is in the hospital does not mean that he is harmless."

Sabrina was uncomfortable with the thought that Max needs to clean up her mess. But she does not have a plan at this point. "Max, don't do anything before talking to me first. OK?"

Max nodded and they agreed that they will talk about it later.

"Let's move onto more cheerful topics." Madeline almost pleaded. The current mood is not good for digestion.

Madeline saw that Max, Liz, and Sabrina are talking about Jackson, Hunter and Mia are focused on the food, and that leaves Ashton.

"Ashton, what are you up to lately?" Madeline asked.

Ashton was caught off guard by this and he said the first thing that came to his mind. "On Monday I'm starting my new job. As Rina's employee."

Madeline's eyes darted to Sabrina before returning to Ashton. "Oh… Are you an interior designer?"

"No, ma'am. I will be a physical worker."

"I see." Madeline nodded in understanding. "That does not sound like a very promising career."

"No, ma'am. It's temporary to keep me busy until September." Ashton explained that he will work with a full-time professor at the University as his teaching assistant and a researcher.

Sabrina looked at Ashton with curiosity. He told her about starting Ph.D. studies in mathematics, but he didn't mention working at the University. Does that mean that he will work at her studio for no longer than a month and a half?

Sabrina noticed how Ashton was polite when talking with her parents. His demeanor, choice of words, tone of voice... everything made him appear like a harmless boy next door. She wondered if that is the same Ashton who can't wait to get handsy with her.

"You are a student?" Madeline continued probing Ashton.

"He is applying for a Ph.D. program in math." Sabrina responded instead of Ashton.

Ashton confirmed. "I already got positive feedback, and it's a matter of paperwork. It should not take more than a month before it's official."

"What will you do with that Ph.D.? Will you be a University professor? Or work at some company?"

"My field of interest is developing computer algorithms which are based on chaos theory. There is a number of companies investing in this area, and I might join them or maybe convince them to invest in my independent research."

"Do you think that you will find investors for something so niche? It all sounds... complicated." Madeline admitted that she didn't understand what his studies are about.

Ashton smiled and his eyes lit up, showing how excited he is to talk about the topic. "It's a fascinating area which stirs people's imagination. It can be explained as an attempt to find patterns between seemingly random events. If successful, it's applicable to every area of life. It can even allow us to predict the future."

Madeline was impressed. She understands that predicting the future is a big deal.

Madeline's gaze moved to Sabrina whose chin was propped on her palm and she was dreamily looking at Ashton.

Madeline's sixth sense was tingling. What's with that gaze? Sure… computers, algorithms, future, it all sounds impressive, but it's not THAT impressive. And since when is Sabrina so easily dazed?

Madeline's thoughts were interrupted by Nathan's questions directed at Sabrina: "How did Jackson take the drug without you noticing?"

Madeline did her best to stir the topic of conversation away from Jackson, but Nathan was still thinking about it.

Sabrina peeled her eyes from handsome Ashton and turned to her father. "What?"

"You said that you had an argument and he fell on the floor with a seizure. And Liz confirmed that he took the drug. How did he take it without you noticing, if you were arguing?"

"That… Uhm…" Sabrina exhaled and decided to go onto the second point she wants to reveal to her parents: "We were arguing, and Jackson was getting increasingly unpleasant when Ashton hit him. I was talking to Ashton when we realized that Jackson is having a seizure."

Nathan immediately picked up the important point which was not mentioned so far: "Ashton was there?"

"Not from the beginning." Sabrina explained. "He arrived about halfway."

Nathan was getting irritated that he needs to pull every word out of Sabrina who is obviously hiding something. "Ashton arrived, from where? Were there other people at your place at that time? Did anyone see Jackson take the drug? Did Jack do something despicable? Rina, can you say everything that is important without the need for me to shoot in the dark?"

Sabrina glanced at Ashton and held his hand under the table.

"Dad, mom… Ashton was there because we are living together. As a couple."

Nathan's eyes widened in shock and Madeline was blinking rapidly.

'CLANG!'

Everyone was startled when Hunter dropped the utensils from his hands and they fell into his plate.

"You are living together!?" Hunter's voice was much louder than anyone expected.

Sabrina was apprehensive about the reaction from her parents, but Hunter's exaggerated behavior rubbed her the wrong way. What's with that reaction? Hunter moved in with Mia only days after they met, and she knows Ashton for years! How dares he judge her?

Sabrina glared at Hunter. "Yes. We are in love and we are living together. Ashton was pushing me away and keeping his distance from me because of Jackson, but now that I officially am not involved with him, I can say it for the whole world to know: I am dating Ashton."

Hunter could not believe his ears. "He was keeping his distance from you? That is a load of bullshit! What about the two of you sneaking out during the Fourth of July party?"

Sabrina sneered. "We didn't sneak out if you know that we left. And in case you don't know the details, we went to his apartment and I came on to him!"

Ashton was irked by Hunter's reaction, but Sabrina's response made him happy because she is standing up for them.

"It's OK, Rina. I will explain to Hunter." Ashton spoke to Sabrina in a soft voice, reminding her that she needs to deal with her parents who are non-responsive.

Hunter frowned at Ashton. "What will you explain? How you used me to get close to my sister?"

"Hunter, you know that is not true. How about you calm down, and we talk?"

"To hell with calming down! I want to know now!" Hunter roared.

Madeline stood up. "Hunter! What kind of behavior is this?"

Hunter felt wronged. "Mom, are you defending him?"

Madeline lifted her hands defensively. "I am not defending anyone. But your sister just told us that she broke up a non-existent engagement and that she is dating someone else. We should all take a deep breath and talk like civilized people instead of causing a ruckus."

Hunter took a few deep breaths. "There! I breathed! Now I want to hear what this backstabber has to say!"

"What kind of language is that in my house?" Madeline hissed at Hunter. It's not so much about the words, how much it's about him shouting.

"Fine! We can talk outside!" Hunter glared at Ashton.

Ashton nodded in agreement and stood up.

"Don't…" Sabrina held his hand.

Ashton patted Sabrina's hand gently and assured her: "It's OK. We will just talk."

Ashton planted a light kiss at the top of Sabrina's head before heading after Hunter.

Sabrina watched with concerned gaze Ashton and Hunter walking out and when she heard the main door closing she turned to her parents.

"Explain." Madeline demanded from Sabrina stiffly.

---

If you are not reading this at 'W e b n o v e l . c o m', then the content you're reading is stolen! Please support the author by reading this novel from the original source.