As the second son’s family settled down, Cristina entered the dining hall wearing a designer high-collared, full-sleeved olive green dress.
As soon as Alice saw her, her body shivered in anger.
She was wearing a similar dress, but sleeveless and backless.
“This woman.” Alice smiled while gritting her teeth.
“Oh, sister in law.
How pleasant!
It’s been a long time since I have seen you.
I heard about your role switching with a young co-star.
Must be upsetting.
Shall I talk to Kevin to invest more?
Maybe then you might keep a role in the film.” Cristina gave a poisonous smile.
Alice chuckled and said, “Oh, Cristina.
Lovely seeing you as well.
And as for the filming process?
Thanks for worrying, but gossip magazines and netizens love creating unnecessary drama.
The producer didn’t replace me.
I switched willingly.
I mean, how can a young girl like her act as my older sister?
Isn’t it a bit unfair for the young girl?”
“Also, how is your husband selection going on?
Still looking into old rich men worthy of your precious baby?” Alice added snarkily.
Cristina’s face flushed crimson red.
Last time she had brought a match for her baby girl, she hadn’t checked that the man had already married abroad and had kids.
That embrassement burnt deep in her bones, and she always felt humiliated even at the mention of her matchmaking, let alone a snarky comment like Alice’s.
“Alice!” Cristina roared.
“What’s with this commotion?” Arnold belowed.
Everyone stood up from their chairs.
The servants stood close to the wallpapers, making themselves invisible.
“Sorry, father-in-law.
I didn’t mean to do that.” Cristina bowed her head down in fear.
She couldn’t afford any mishaps or errors before the announcement.
Who knew when Arnold would change his mind in split seconds because of her action and give what’s rightfully theirs to the second son’s family?
“Where are Kevin and that child?” Arnold asked sternly.
“They are on the way, father in law.
Juliette had rehearsals, so she went to the academy.
Kevin went to pick her up.
“Cristina said.
“Hmm.
The performance on the 14th better be worth going to then,” Arnold said as he sat on his designated chair.
Everyone sat on their chairs.
Alice looked triumphant at her victory.
Iris and Kiera looked at each other, passing knowing looks.
Benjamin looked at the arriving appetising dishes.
Aiden was playing with the cutlery knife out of boredom.
Bulter Nolan knocked on the door and said, “1st Master Kevin and Young Miss Juliette are arriving.”
“Let them in, Nolan,” Arnold said.
Kevin and Juliette entered holding hands and said, “Sorry.
We are late.
It was raining near Juliette’s academy.
I didn’t want to make Juliette motion sick, so I drove slowly.”
They quickly searched for their assigned seats and sat down.
“Our princess Juliette sure has it tough now.
Motion sickness in wet roads,” Aiden sneered.
“Aiden.” Alice reproached her son with little effort.
“Brother Aiden.
Why do you hate me so much?” Tears ran down from Juliette’s face.
“I really was sick while daddy was driving.
Daddy was forced to drive slowly so that I don’t feel nauseous.
Please believe me.”
Juliette started sobbing hard.
Cristina instinctively hugged her daughter and looked sharply at Aiden.
“Aiden, why do you hate your cousin so much?
What has she even done to you to deserve such malice?” Cristina glared.
“Calling her father ‘daddy’ in the age of 23 is a bit…” Kiera whispered into Iris’s ears.
“Well, that’s why she is our ‘precious princess’.” Iris gagged at the phrase.
Aiden, who was sitting beside Iris and heard the conversation, said, “Sorry for upsetting the family princess, but the dinner will turn cold because of her tears.”
“Yes, we all are busy people.
Let’s quickly finish the lavish dinner Father-in-Law has prepared for us and listen to the announcement,” Alice added, supporting her children.
Arnold, who saw the entire scene unfold, looked at Juliette with great interest.
He knew what kind of kids his second son’s wife raised.
She was a strong woman who never backed down from a challenge, even if she was scared for her life.
And her children had inherited her stubbornness and will power.
They had the unity of a bunch of sticks.
Then he looked at his first son’s family.
Especially at Kevin and Cristina.
He could feel something was going wrong but couldn’t pinpoint what.
He cleared his voice loudly.
Everyone stopped their actions and looked at Arnold.
He just took his cutlery and said, “Aren’t you going to eat?
The food will turn cold, and I don’t like food getting wasted.”
Alice’s lips curled up and took a bite of the food on her plate.
*****
As the dessert was being served, Arnold finally announced what he wanted to say to the entire family.
“I have arranged a marriage between us and the Lawrence family’s eldest son,” Arnold said.
Kiera held her fiancée Iris’s hand, for she was about to launch herself onto Arnold’s face.
Aiden hugged himself, looking at Arnold with widened eyes.
‘I am not gay.’ His eyes screamed.
And Cristina’s face fell.
She immediately knew what was going to happen.
It was gnawing her internally.
‘It’s her daughter.
It’s her precious daughter.’ She thought.
“I have decided that Juliette would be marrying Adrian Lawrence.” Arnold dropped the bomb that what Cristina was begging for was not true.
Alice feigned looking shocked.
Iris calmed down and held Kiera’s hand with happiness.
Aiden was relieved that Arnold wouldn’t sell his only grandson.
Benjamin held his wife’s shoulders to support her.
As for Juliette, she was so flabbergasted that her mouth remained hanging open.
And Cristina?
She fainted into Kevin’s arms.
“Cristina.
Cristina.
Cristina!
Help!
Someone call the doctor.
Or the ambulance.
Cristina has fainted,” Kevin shouted.
Servants scrambled around, looking for the residency’s landline.
They immediately called for the ambulance and informed the doctor present in the hospital of the situation.
Juliette could do nothing but cry, “Mumma.
Mumma.
Please wake up.
Please wake up.
You are scaring me.
Mumma.
Please wake up.
Butler Nolan, where is the doctor?”
God, I think I prefer the second son’s family more than the first son’s family.