Chapter 338: The illegal family unit.
Sienna rolled her eyes. "Of course he must praise me, I am the matriarch of the fox clan now. If he says something bad, I could end his....ow!" She paused and cried out in pain because her mother flicked her forehead.
"Don’t assume to know what everyone is thinking." Her mother cut her off. "If he was interested in pleasing you, he would have spent the date asking about you. I have met a few noble or rich men since you hosted the summit. The ones with bad intentions always care about you and nothing else. Not Chase. The only question he personally asked about you was how heavy your pan truly weighed. The man made me smile, Sienna. Not the polite smile you give when someone compliments your cooking. A real smile. The kind that makes you forget the years of loneliness, the kind that makes you feel like a girl again."
Sienna stared at her mother, torn between exasperation and reluctant amusement. "Mother, it seems you are hopeless."
"Hopelessly happy," her mother corrected. "And I won’t apologize for it. You may not approve, but I am not asking for your approval. When I was raising you and your brother, I met some men that were interested in me. But they wanted me to abandon my children and I refused to do so. Now that my children have their own lives, I should also have mine. I am asking for your understanding. Whether I date Chase or another man, I need you to be open. I deserve a chance at happiness, even if it comes from a man with some questionable relatives."
Sienna rubbed her temples. "You are going to make my life complicated."
Her mother patted her hand. "Your life was complicated the moment you slipped into bed with Elias Veythar. Those complications doubled when you married into the fox tribe. One more knot won’t kill you."
Sienna groaned, but her mother’s laughter rang out, light and defiant.
"What about aunt Owena’s date, how did it go?" Sienna asked curiously.
Her mother groaned. "Your aunt is frustrating. She went home with him ten minutes into the date and returned early in the morning. She did not do the walk of shame, she strutted like a hussy, packed her bags and left to move in with him. A stranger! I tried to talk her out of it but she would not listen. I don’t think we will be seeing her for a while. I hope she doesn’t get herself murdered."
Sienna also groaned. "I should have sent you two to a nunnery when I had the chance," she muttered. She finally stood to leave for work.
Her mother called after her, "Remember, not every man is your father. Some men actually notice when you’re tired. Some men actually slow down. And some men, Sienna, are worth a second date."
Sienna didn’t answer. She simply walked down the path, wondering what Soren would think of this. She was still thinking of taking her brother out for dinner to talk about their mother’s love life when she arrived at her office.
Inside, Mija was waiting with Mika. Captain George Aoki, the leader of the investigation department of her office was also there, flanked by two lawyers. Their expressions were grave, their posture rigid.
"Wow, something serious must have happened," Sienna said, placing her bag on the table. "Out with it."
Captain George rose. "Lady Sienna, good morning. My apologies for bothering you so early but this could not wait. We have come across a case that requires your immediate review. It may involve marriage fraud and....technically, incest."
Sienna’s brows shot up. "Incest?"
"Incest." Mija squealed.
Captain George nodded. "A family of four, the Shades. The father and mother married last year, which put their children under one household legally. Their children are step siblings who are both nineteen years old. Those children were on holiday in St.Vitts city last week and happened to get married."
Sienna blinked, stunned. "Step-siblings got married? In St. Vitts! Were they drunk? It could have been a happy accident. It happens all the time in St. Vitts, tourists get drunk and marry because there are no preexisting conditions to getting a marriage certificate in a city run by drunk raccoons." It was practically Las Vegas for Beast men, but worse because the parties never ended. It was a good time, 24/7.
Mija looked at the court clerk and said sternly. "Strike the drunk raccoon comment off the records."
The clerk muttered, "I strike a lot of things off the record around here." In her opinion, it would be simpler if Sienna did not say her honest feeling about beast men all the time.
"It was no accident," Captain George confirmed, as a lawyer presented pictures and evidence to Sienna. "According to our investigation and records we have acquired over three days, Mr and Mrs. Shade began dating two years ago and married last year. The children, Willow and Noah have known each other longer than the parents.
They went to the same schools, were best friends, they were practically childhood sweethearts separated at fifteen when Noah’s family moved away from the city because Mrs. Shade got a job in the capital. He returned after his wife’s death two years ago, and the children were reunited. The adults fell in love and married after the reunion.
Now, by law, they are all family despite not sharing blood. The situation is complicated. One of these marriages must be broken up. The children broke the law, they could be arrested. If the parents were aware, they must suffer consequences too for their actions. Even if no arrest is made, they have to pay a fine."
Sienna leaned back, fingers tapping on the table. "Let me guess, you expect me to decide which pair must give up their relationship?"
The lawyers exchanged uneasy glances before one spoke. "Yes. The law demands clarity. A family unit like theirs is illegal. Either the parents’ marriage is annulled or the children’s union is dissolved. Both cannot stand."
"I say let the kids break up." Mija said loudly. "They can still fool around if they wish, but they can never marry."
Sienna pinched her friend. "Shut up. They are siblings for crying out loud!" She looked at Captain George and sighed. "Summon the Shades. Better yet, bring them here before their abnormal relationship becomes front page news."