Chapter 111: Chapter 111

Gabriel lodged himself very close to her, just like children do when they meet strangers. This action made Shelby very puzzled. Ian was their father, and Gabriel’s reaction to him did not make much sense at all.

She patted Gabriel and pulled him away at arm’s length so that she could see his face.

"You don’t recognize him, Gabriel?"

He shook his head. He hid back into Shelby’s embrace again and peeked up at Ian once again. This got Shelby thinking.

’Ah, it makes sense. If Aliya passed two years ago and Ian has been in his room for a similar length of time, that meant, the last time Gabriel saw Ian was a couple of years back when he was just two years.

To add to it, Gabriel grew up with Aliya and not Ian initially. Looking at the attention span of toddlers, it was not hard to believe that Gabriel did not recognize Ian if they had only met briefly back then.

Also, with how much grief-stricken Ian must have been back then, it would be unsurprising if he had only ordered for them to be brought there and had not necessarily spent time with them. Lastly, there weren’t many pictures of anyone hanging in the Thornston estate’s common areas. It was safe to assume that he had not been given the privilege to see his father’s picture as well.’

Shelby turned to Ingrid, who had returned to her old self. Gone was the slight smile she had usually welcomed Shelby with.

Shelby looked amused but asked her,

"What of you, Ingrid? Do you know his man?"

She nodded and sunk back into the covers.

Shelby chuckled and turned to Ian.

"Gabriel, that’s your dad. The one you’ve been talking to by sitting in front of his room all this while."

Shelby nodded and gave him a little nudge toward Ian. For the first time, she saw a shy Gabriel, which made her laugh aloud.

Ian studied the little boy, who was so adorable and who might also be a Fae.

Gabriel walked up to him and stretched out his neck to look at the giant man. He didn’t know what to do for once.

"Can I call you daddy like my other daddy who left?"

Ian paused and then finally went down on his knees to bring him closer to the boy, but that action didn’t do much.

"You can call me whatever you want."

"Ok, Daddy, you know my name, right?"

Ian erupted in a loud laughter.

"Of course, I know my son’s name. How have you been, Gabriel?"

Gabriel was so happy that he ran back to Shelby and said loudly,

"Mama Shelby, Daddy knows my name even though he has not seen me for a long time. Do you think that he knows my name is the same as the angel?"

"I’m sure he does, Gabriel; why don’t you go and ask him."

Gabriel went back to Ian, and Shelby stood up, headed for Ingrid.

She sat by Ingrid’s side on the bed.

It took a few moments before she said anything.

"You don’t have to talk to him today if you do not want to,"

Ingrid peeked out and adjusted her glasses.

"Of course, he is not going anywhere, so you can take your time to warm up to him. However, know that he has your best interest at heart."

Ingrid nodded and finally sat up on the bed, very close to Shelby, as if seeking the comfort of some familiarity from her.

Ian got up and walked around the room, closely followed by Gabriel and his chatter.

He just kept asking all sorts of ridiculous questions that made the ladies laugh to their heart’s content. Even Ingrid had a smile on her face until another person entered the room, and she shrunk back to her mother once again.

Gabriel ran pitter-patter to Shelby.

"What is it, Gabriel?"

Even Ian turned from his slight exploration of the room to see what the boy was up to.

"Mama Shelby, that is the wired man!"

"That one that just entered. Gabriel tagged on Shelby’s long coat, and she came down to his level. Gabriel whispered in her ear. A whisper that was as loud as if he were talking. He said, ’You did not see anything happen here. This was all a dream..."

Shelby raised her eyebrow, wondering what that meant, but she saw Ian stiffen a bit.

"I don’t understand it, Gabriel. What did he mean by that?"

"He was lying. You said lying was not good, but he lied, and he is a grown man. I saw him do it, and then he said I didn’t see it. He is a weird man!"

Shelby’s smile widened as she vaguely understood what he was referring to.

"He is not a gentleman!"

"Yes, Gabriel, he is not."

Gabriel turned to Currey with a smug look. Currey shook his head.

’The brat really went ahead and told the madam. I have to be careful around him from now on.’

"Even Sam said I was lying. I didn’t lie. Gentlemen don’t lie."

Ian made eye contact with Currey, and a lot was spoken without any of them saying anything.

Ian then turned to Gabriel and said seriously,

"You are right! He is not."

Then, chuckling, he turned to Ingrid. He stopped briefly as his gaze raked over the girl who looked so much like her mother. For a moment, he was lost. Her black shoulder-length hair and everything about her was so similar to Aliya that he sighed. She was so small but wore this huge sweater that almost swallowed her up. Her timidity and large glasses were what set her apart from Aliya.

"Where is your older sister?"

Ingrid flinched at being addressed directly and slowly pointed to the bathroom. She then shrunk back to Shelby. Shelby patted her arm.

Currey had worked with Ian long enough to know when to do things without being told. He walked up to the bathroom and thumped on the door. It was so loud that the door swung open almost immediately.

Samantha had heard the voices in the room and was piecing it together. She had been initially angry that Ian had not come to look for them, but as he had come in too, she was still unhappy, and the betrayal she felt was still present in her heart. Her mind was in shambles, and she hated every minute of it.

With the loud thumping on the door, she got pissed and stormed out to confront the man. However, she had forgotten how well-built he was. His mere presence made her falter, but she stood her ground and gritted her teeth.

’I must make my sentiments known today. Does he think that he can just breeze in today and be the father-figure? Over my dead body!’

From Ian and Currey’s view, a black-haired girl with blond-coloured highlights in it stormed out. Her defiant dark brown eyes glared at the person who disturbed her.

"What’s with that attitude, young lady?" Ian’s cold voice rang out from the back.

Samantha paused a bit, her expression faltering just a moment—her resolve to speak out almost disappearing for the second time that morning before anger clouded her features.

"You finally got tired enough and decided to come out of that room you closed yourself up in?"

The raw hatred in her voice was a little surprising for the ears of all those who listened.

Shelby shot up and was about to reprimand her when she remembered,

’I am just a stepmother and have no say here.’ She sat down again and watched the confrontation roll out.

Ian was quiet for a little while before he answered,

"Yes, I did," Ian replied calmly.

"I do not appreciate that attitude from you, though. You should aim at setting a good example for your younger siblings instead of that bratty attitude."

Samantha folded her arms and turned her head from him.

She was surprised at the answer Ian had given her. She had expected something different that she could ride on to make her anger justified, but Ian had already turned from her, making her grit her teeth. Ian did not bother with her either and then asked Currey,

Ian walked across the length and breadth of the room, surveying the whole place. The three beds were separated by barely six feet, and the layout, wardrobe and just everything brought him immense dissatisfaction. His discontentment mounted with each passing moment.

"What is going on here?"

He asked as soon as Katie entered.

"I don’t understand, Master Ian?"

"He means, why are the three children crumped up in this one room?"

"I do not appreciate the fact that they are in the south wing. Isn’t this reserved for the workers and visitors? They are no visitors, and you should know that."

Katie bowed down even further, daring not to speak out. "Get them all to the East Wing!"

"But, Master Ian, the East Wing is reserved for your sole use and-"

"Who are they to me?"

"Y-our adopted children."

Ian did not answer her and turned to Shelby.

"There are enough rooms in the East Wing, Katie. Did you forget the layout of the estate that you manage?"

"I’m sorry, I’ll get right to it."

Katie bowed again and turned to leave.

"Does he want to be the father of the year just from this one action?" Samantha muttered under her breath.

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