Free Web NovelChapter 208: What family looks like (1)
"Well, this is a wonderful surprise. A family dinner is always delightful," Samara said as she entered the room everyone had gathered in before it was time to go to the dining room. "For this special occasion, I brought us two drinks. One for those who enjoy a bit of alcohol and one for those who do not."
"So, it’s just Ryan and I for the second bottle," said Rue.
"Yes. I should have brought more of the ones with alcohol to get them out of our storage. Leonard has been having two glasses at dinner these days."
Leonard saw his wife as a traitor for bringing this up now when his mother was present.
Rue shook her head at Leonard and his terrible habit. "You can’t get them to have fewer drinks but I prefer that he has two glasses over smoking at all. Have you heard the coughs of those who smoke regularly? It sounds like they will cough themselves to death. They must stop. It has become an addiction."
"If I see any of you smoking, and that includes Ian, I shall be very disappointed in you," Rue warned. She could let them have their fun with a few drinks but not when it came to smoking. Smoking was so awful because there was smoke blown around for people who did not like to inhale it.
Ryan found a good way to put Ian in the hot seat. "Ian, don’t your business concern selling drinks and having private rooms for your customers to smoke? I hear that it is quite popular these days."
"Ryan," Scarlet warned as that didn’t need to be brought up now. "It is not too late for me to shoot you. I have a small gun hidden in almost every room. Would you like to play a game of run and shoot with me?"
"That is your business?" Rue asked Ian, surprised that it was. "Well, it is not like you are sitting around there drinking right?"
"Right. I am there to help my employees when needed or I tend to fall asleep in my office. I drink if there is a special occasion or if it goes well with dinner. I am not much of a smoker," Ian answered.
"Wonderful. Then there isn’t a problem. While I am not fond of those two things, many enjoy them so it is smart to go into that business. Ryan, don’t try to start trouble or I will start questioning you about why you have failed to meet with the women your mother picked out for you. I know about that," Rue said, ready to question him. freёwebnovel.com
Ryan had the freedom of marrying someone he loved but he couldn’t wait long as they needed to decide who would be the next leader of the border.
Ryan cleared his throat and tried to make his way to the door but Scarlet blocked him.
"An eye for an eye," Scarlet said, getting payback for bringing up Ian’s business. "Isn’t it time a serious conversation be had about who Ryan will marry? Will it not be the young woman who is also a knight? I have my little birdies who sing to me too."
Ryan folded his lips as he couldn’t say what was on his mind. He thought of lifting Scarlet and taking her out of the room to throw her somewhere else. He was going to get back at her for this even though he had started it. freёwebnovel.com
"My oh my. I must have a conversation with your mother when I go to the border. All of the children are growing up fast, Eli. I must be looking old now," Rue said, touching her face. Once she started to have someone calling her great-grandmother there wouldn’t be any more trying to argue that she was still quite young.
"You are still beautiful," Elijah kissed her hand.
Ryan and Scarlet found that the sight before them wasn’t one that they both enjoyed.
"That sounds like someone at the door. Ian, join me as it has to be your brother," Scarlet said, welcoming a reason to leave the room.
Ian followed Scarlet out of the room. "I like your grandmother. So far, she is the best out of all your relatives though there isn’t anything wrong with the others."
"She’d be happy to know that. Victor will be happy as well to know there is someone who can help him. Do you know when he plans to tell his mother that he knows what she did?" Scarlet asked.
It must have been hard for Victor to look at his mother and hold back questioning her about the poison all because he didn’t want to ruin Ian’s plans.
"I am starting to think that he doesn’t want to confront her about it. All she does from what I have seen is try to flip it on him for not listening to her or blaming Hank. Layla isn’t the type to take responsibility for her actions so I don’t think I want him to try speaking to her again," Ian replied.
Ian could already hear Layla blaming him for leaving out the food that he didn’t want or blaming Hank for not sending him far away so she wouldn’t attempt to poison him. Layla will never see that it was her actions that messed up everything so why should Victor speak to her?
"Overnight you managed to become a good older brother. Looking after Victor instead of pushing him away because you plan to kill his mother. It is good that you have a relative from that side you can start anew with. It is fun to see the two of you together and you caring for him," said Scarlet, enjoying the growing bond between the brothers.
Ian disagreed. "I am not caring for him. I am putting up with him until he can take care of himself."
Scarlet laughed as that was far from the truth. "You can be honest with me that you want to play the role of a good older brother now that you have seen how Victor is treated. I happen to like this new caring side of you to forget about pushing him away and being close now that he needs someone."
"Victor! We were just speaking about you. It seems you were already enjoying a party," Scarlet said, looking at the almost empty bottle in his hand.
Ian frowned as he recognised the bottle he told them not to drink. He left Scarlet’s side to go take the bottle from Victor. "I told you not to have more than a glass. Do you want me to hit you with the same bottle?"
Victor smiled, holding out the bottle to Ian for him to enjoy the rest. "I left a cup and a half for you."
