NOVEL WEB Chapter 325: Objections
The tap again. This time, on both sides of his thighs. More insistent. Nathaniel and Kathleen.
Ewan inhaled gently. Surely he must have said something wrong, he concluded, darting a sharp glance at Kathleen, who had a nervous look on her face, and then at Nathaniel, who had a disapproving one.
But what did he say? Was he wrong to make that sort of joke? Was the fact that his children were now adopted kids of Old Mr. Thorne supposed to be a secret?
Ewan bit his lower lip, his mind's wheels running faster and faster as he began to see a particular train of thought, one he wasn't entirely happy with, especially with Athena looking at him like that.
She hadn't looked at him in that way… since forever… she looked at him as if he were a devil's pawn. And he could understand why.
The Thorne family, no matter the united front they presented to the general public, was anything but that, at least that's what he thought.
He didn't think the death of his godparents was a mistake. They had been murdered just like his own parents. And Ewan could understand why Athena didn't want this piece of information out in the open.
If he hadn't been so consumed with the food he was eating, he would have probably made the connection before speaking, seeing as Cedric was right opposite him with his fiancée.
Yet, he hadn't.
However, he would be damned if he should let anyone get near his children, if he would let any harm come to them.
No. He would rather die. He would rather make bargains with hell than lose his children to family politics. He wasn't losing another family member again.
So, he grasped Nathaniel's and Kathleen's hands, which were still on his thighs, and pressed them, conveying reassurance to the twins, who for some reason, now let their angst go.
Mom, Father will take care of it. Kathleen seemed to communicate with Athena as she met her mother's gaze. Trust him, her unwavering eyes spoke, calming Athena's flaming fury to an extent.
She didn't know why her children, along with other discussions, had told Ewan about the adoption. Actually, she did. They were beginning to trust him.
See Kathleen standing firm for him. She thought, a bit afraid.
Yes, she had promised Florence to give the father of her children a chance with the kids, but seeing how close they were getting gave her a pause. What if he hurt them again?
Athena didn't think she could handle it; she actually believed she might kill Ewan this time! Her children were where she drew the line, and seeing them cozying up to Ewan… she wasn't sure what to feel anymore.
She was torn between happiness that they were getting along—that the kids had a father figure whom they believed could save them from even a disturbing family politics—and a feeling of anxiety. What if things went south?
Athena, calm down. She mused.
Stay in the present. Assess the situation. She instructed next, her eyes leaving Ewan's to face the other Thorne at the table, Cedric Thorne.
His countenance was blank now, but she had been lucky to see it in the first glance when Ewan had first dropped the news: Confusion. Shock. Anger. Then Neutral.
Athena wasn't deceived, of course, by his latest facial expression.
Unfortunately for Cedric, however, his fiancée wasn't exactly wise enough to keep her emotions under wraps.
"Mr. Ewan…" She started, her face contorted in a frown. "What are you talking about? Grandfather never made mention to the family about an adoption procedure or ceremony. So I think you must be mistaken; the kids might have been blabbing, as kids these days usually do… you shouldn't have taken that personally."
Ewan didn't bother with a response for the bimbo. He rather pressed the kids' hands again and turned to Old Mr. Thorne.
His eyes seemed to apologize for the slip of the tongue but were also asking the old man to do the needful since the matter was already out.
Old Mr. Thorne sighed and slowly kept his fork on the plate. Beside him, his wife placed a reassuring hand on his thigh, giving him strength and agreement for whatever he planned to say or do.
"The kids weren't blabbing, Victoria. They never do." An answer and a rebuke in one sentence.
Cedric swiveled to meet his grand-uncle's gaze. "Grandfather…"
"Grand-uncle, rather…" Chelsea muttered, loud enough for everyone at the table to hear. Noticing the attention drawn to her, she chuckled, shrugging her shoulders. "It's confusing to me. I was just trying for clarity."
Cedric's hands fisted on his thighs while he struggled to maintain a blank expression. "Grandfather…" He insisted stubbornly, needing to play the part. "I've taken you as such since my birth. What is happening? Why didn't you inform the family of the new additions to the family…"
"I had planned to make the announcement on a certain date," Old Mr. Thorne replied, picking up the fork again, refusing to be anything but calm at his table, in his own house.
"But since it's out anyway…" He forked vegetables into his mouth and chewed on them naturally. "Cedric, meet Kathleen and Nathaniel, the newest additions to the Thorne household. I've been trying to convince their mother, Athena, to make the trip too. I would love to have such an astounding woman as a daughter, but she's stubborn-headed. Cedric, would you help me convince her?"
Victoria's eyes almost bulged out of her sockets. Athena being a Thorne? Next thing, the scoundrel would be sharing Cedric's inheritance with him! She would never let it happen! She would rather die!
Fueled by anger, she slammed the table, all common sense finally eroding away. She even ignored Cedric's sharp glare and the pinch on her thigh thereafter.
"What the hell is going on here?!" She screamed, eyes flashing with rage. "You…" She pointed at Athena. "You bitch… you are the one trying to break this family, trying to sow discord…"
"The last woman that called my mother a bitch is cooling her heels in the black cells. Do you want that for yourself?"
Victoria's next words died on her lips, her mouth hung open as she turned to see who had interrupted her speech.
She scoffed in disbelief when she saw it was just the little boy. "I see that your mother didn't teach you enough manners to stay quiet when the adults are talking… you scoundrel, one more word from you, and I will…"
"You will do what?" Athena broke in, her voice attaining a chilling quality that caused Victoria to swallow before she could help it.
Even Cedric, who had been battling his own emotions, stopped to appraise this woman who might become his rival should he not play his cards right.
He remembered the first time he had met her at the end-of-year party, the woman who had been falsely accused—that was when she had grasped his grand-uncle's attention. No, it was earlier. She had been his doctor first.
Cedric bit down on his lips so hard that he drew blood. If he had known that the overambitious doctor would be a problem, he would have dealt with her accordingly. However, it was not too late.
He opened his mouth to apologize to her for his irate fiancée, but she only spared a mild glance, as if he meant nothing, right before she started speaking with his grand-uncle.
"Handle your guests properly, old man. I don't take insults to my kids lightly."
"Seconded," Ewan chimed in, to the chagrin of Antonio, who wished he hadn't brought up that question about the Thorne's company.
Yet, how could he have known that the old man had already made some plays?
Still… a soft smile touched his lips. His children were richer, and that was a plus for him and Athena.
"Cedric, take your fiancée out of here. And don't return until I tell you. You can use the time and enroll her in a school where manners are taught," Old Mr. Thorne spoke without mincing words.
Cedric knew better than to plead. He knew his grand-uncle and he knew that tone. With a mild bow, he pushed back his chair and got to his feet, not bothering to wipe his mouth.
"Let's go," He said to his fiancée, but the bimbo was busy glaring at Athena instead.
"I know the games you're playing, woman, but…"
"Get out, or I will drag you out myself," Chelsea spoke again, disgust written all over her face.
"Man, you should get a better woman; this one will wreak your business before it's even left the ground. See her talking about inheritance as if she's already part of the family," Chelsea continued, sparing an embarrassed Cedric a glance. "Take my advice, man, dump the bitch."
"You are the bitch!" Victoria screamed, not minding that Chelsea Statham was one of the women she had fantasized about being friends with.
This time around though, Cedric dragged her out of the dining table by grasping her arm and pulling her with him as he walked away from the dining table, not minding her shrieks.