“Honey, what do you think we should do?” Rosaline asked her husband anxiously.

“How should I know?!” Lewis’ voice was irritated. “I never imagined that Abel was dating a man!”

“Perhaps they’re just friends and there’s nothing going between them…” Rosaline suggested tentatively. “I’m sure the media blew it out of proportion like they always do. If I find out who leaked the news to the paparazzi, I’ll be sure to tear them a new one!”

Evelyn felt the goosebumps on her skin when she heard Rosaline’s angry declaration. She knew the usually polite and poised woman could turn venomous if she wanted to.

“There’s no point for all this now…” Lewis muttered. “You’ve seen the photos yourself. I don’t blame anyone for thinking he’s gay! The only person to blame here is Abel himself for not listening to us when we told him to stop hanging out with that twat!”

“I still think there was a malicious sabotage attempt at play here,” Rosaline added suspiciously. “I bet that good for nothing Adam Ryker had something to do with it!”

“Well, if our son behaved himself in the first place, Adam wouldn’t even have the opportunity to attempt anything!” Lewis boomed.

“It’s not Abel’s fault,” Evelyn said softly. “It’s Emmett who’s always hanging around him. Abel’s just too nice to get rid of him.”

“Yes, I knew it! It must be Emmett!” Lewis’ face was beet red. “I might still be alright with him if he were a woman, but they’re two grown a*s men hugging and touching each other, for god’s sake! It’s no wonder the media is lapping it all up!”

“That’s true. If Emmett wasn’t in the picture, none of this would have happened,” Evelyn quipped.

“This is absolutely unacceptable! I will run that sissy out of this household if that’s the last thing I do!!” Lewis’ eyes burned with fiery determination.

“Let’s see what Oscar has to say first,” Rosaline tried to calm her husband down. “The old man might just threaten to take Ryker Group away from Abel!”

“That’s already expected!” Lewis fumed. “Abel needs to get rid of that man and apologize to his grandfather for all this to come to an end! There’s no one else more qualified to head the company than Abel!”

“Call Abel right away and warn him,” Rosaline urged. “Make sure he doesn’t do or say anything to make Oscar even more upset than he already is.”

“Good thinking!” Lewis quickly dialed Abel’s cellphone.

Abel himself had just ended the call from Ryker Mansion informing him of the family meeting when his cellphone rang again. It was his father calling.

Abel swallowed his anger before he accepted the call. “Father,” Abel greeted.

“Has Granddad contacted you?” Lewis was straight to the point.

“Yes, I just ended the call,” Abel confirmed.

“Your granddad called for an emergency family meeting. What do you make of it?” Lewis tested the waters.

“Ha! Some people will go to great lengths just to slander my name!” Abel’s tone was sharp.

“What do you mean? Does that mean you and Emmett are not…” Lewis could not even finish his own sentence.

“Your son is not gay!” Abel almost yelled. “I treat Emmett like a lovable little child. What is this nonsense going around about us being gay lovers?!”

“But… there are leaked photos of the both of you…” Lewis countered. “… all taken at angles that say otherwise!”

“I’ve already shut those articles down and removed the photos from trending searches,” Abel said.

“It’s too late. I’m sure everyone in Struyria has seen those photos at least once by now. They’ll see you differently, Abel,” Lewis trembled with worry.

“Well, what else can I do?” Abel retorted. “Their eyes and mouths belong to them.”

“The only thing that would help you now is if Emmett became a woman, or this will be a permanent stain on your pristine track record, son!” Lewis told Abel.

“If Emmett became a woman…?” Abel said the words out loud to himself. He turned to look at Emmett who was lounging on the sofa. “I too wished he could, but that’s wishful thinking…”

Wishful thinking? Emmeline jumped to her feet. She was a woman from the very beginning! She perked up and strained to catch more of the conversation going on between the father and son.