Chapter 120: Chapter 120

"Did you have fun with your brother?"

Shelby turned to look at Ian, thinking, ’Why does the statement sound bitter more than just a casual question?’

She smiled and got up from her position on his bed, walking up to him by the window. They were in his room and getting ready for that dinner that had been talked about the whole day. It was surprising for her in that it was still the same day that Ian had decided to walk out of his room that morning.

So many things had happened to the tune that Shelby thought maybe a few weeks had probably passed instead of just a few hours. From James’ visit to his near-death experience, tattle-telling to the police about the death of that employee, which Shelby was not even sure had happened or she had dreamed it.

Then to James’ arrest.... Or did Brad’s issue happen this same morning too?’ She asked herself, shaking her head. Then the children, to Rocky and then Ava....

She leaned against Ian and tried to look at what had caught his interest outside the window.

"Yes, I had fun with Rocky .... are you jealous?"

"Why would I be?" He asked dismissively and turned away from her, but a slight smile tugged at his lips at the way she had relaxed against him. Ian doubted that she was even aware of her subtle changes when it came to her interactions with him.

He could sense the teasing in her voice; grabbing her small hand in his larger one, he pulled her and exited his room.

She had barely finished when Ian opened the door to her room.

"Let’s find you something more decent to wear for this occasion...."

"Oh? Good luck with that."

Shelby settled on her bed and wondered if her room had always been that small. With Ian’s towering frame in there, the place appeared smaller than she was used to. Ian tore through the whole wardrobe, getting angrier by the second.

The man appeared in the middle of the room, startling Shelby.

’I have to get used to this!’

Currey took one look at the flimsy garments on the ground, and he blushed deep to his hair roots. This made him look so funny; a blushing face against copper hair was a ridiculous combination.

However, Currey understood why he had been called,

"I’ll get right to it!" He disappeared before his words had been completed. It was not every day that he would see such skimpy clothes. The thing was that, he had to stop his mind from placing the clothes on its owner, but with such powerful minds, some things were just impossible to control!

A Shelby in a sackcloth was enough to bring the bravest and sturdiest of men to their knees without even butting her eyelids but with those clothes, Currey knew that havoc will rain. From these clothes, he then understood and sympathized with Brad but also commended some of the men in the estate who had been able to function despite these.... Shelby was a lethal weapon, and she was unaware of it.

Currey had made it a point to avoid looking at her directly so that he would not slip and make any mistake that his boss would be forced to consider killing him on.

Later that evening, the preparations for Ian’s welcome dinner were all set up. True to their words, Ian had allowed multiple tables to be set up for all the workers as well. The underlying excitement in the air was palpable.

Shelby gasped as they walked to the side garden where her wedding reception had been held. A slight tremor ran through her as she looked to have been transported to the night of the wedding. It was as if years had passed since that fateful day that had brought her to this home.

’It’s like a wedding reception all over .... Just this time, my husband is here....’ She thought and then looked up at Ian with a smile.

Ian’s heart skipped a beat.

’Damn! She’s too much! Her beauty is really unrivalled.’

He squeezed her hand as if he could guess what her thoughts were. Ian leaned over and kissed her square on the lips.

Shelby’s eyes widened, "Ian!"

Ian chuckled just as an irritated mumbling sounded from behind them. Shelby did not have to turn to know that the voice belonged to no one other than Samantha.

Shelby tuned her out just as Gabriel slipped his hand through her other hand. She was now sandwiched between the two men in her immediate family.

She let her eyes wander over all the neatly arranged settings like they were throwing a garden party. They had hung up lights all over to throw more illumination in the growing dark. One word: Brilliant! It was so beautiful, it made her want to tear up.

However, the one thing that made Shelby very happy was that she was in comfortable clothes for once. She was in a long shaper dress with spaghetti straps that fell to her knees. Shelby would have preferred it longer, but it was way more decent than what she had been ’forced’ to wear for the past few weeks.

"You look beautiful, mama Shelby,"

Gabriel’s small voice sounded out as Shelby smiled down at him.

"Thank you, Gabriel,"

Ian frowned, and Currey stayed away.

"What are you doing standing there?" Geneva called out to them. She was already seated with Alex and was waiting for them.

For Alex and Geneva, they had spent the better part of the day studying the workers. Especially when Ian made his presence, they noticed that everyone almost stood straighter and did their work more meticulously but that fear from the morning had long since disappeared.

Growing up, they knew that Ian commanded a lot of respect without asking or demanding it in any way. They had also seen a few peculiar things around him but nothing like they had witnessed earlier that day.

Alex and Geneva said at the same time and then smiled at one other. It was like their thoughts were in sync.

Shelby tugged on their arms, and they moved towards their places. Ian pulled out a seat for Shelby to sit and then sat down beside her. However, when he turned, he saw that Gabriel had climbed onto her lap.

He frowned heavily, "Get to your seat, young man!"

Gabriel shrunk more into Shelby’s arms, refusing to get off, making her smile.

"No! He is a grown man and -"

"It’s okay; I’ll get him off soon, but just let him be for now."

Ian’s dissatisfaction was just ridiculous. However, he did not have to be that way for long. Just as Ingrid and Samantha slid into their seat, Gabriel perked up at the new face.

He slid off of Shelby and ran up to Ava.

Ava went down on her knees and hugged his little frame.

Ava let him talk, and she sent a small wave at Ingrid, who was looking on at them not far away. ’Hello, Bestie’, Ava mouthed.

On one hand, Ian was happy that his wife was free, but it was not long-lived.

Samantha’s anger kept rising to ridiculous levels. ’So, this is the Auntie Ava person whom they had been talking about earlier? Why am I the only person who does not know her?’

She was very bitter at this thought. But Samantha had chosen to distance herself from her new stepmother, so how did she expect to know her friend?

"I’m sorry to interrupt, but the gate just phoned in that we have a visitor there for Miss Shelby..."

The whole place quieted down as if they all could remember such an event that morning, but it was like a sense of déjà vu, and they really did not remember any such.

"Is today a visiting day of a sort?" Geneva snapped!

"Are you expecting anyone, Shelby?"

"No, Mum!" Shelby hurriedly said, shaking her head.

"Miss Brianna Mush...."

This made Geneva frown, for she remembered a conversation with the Mush parents.

Ian’s quiet voice sounded. It booked no room for arguments, so the person bowed and left.

Geneva nodded, "I don’t know what is going on, but you did the right thing by sending her away. Why do people think that they can just come in unannounced and think that we’ll be ready to receive them? And why are they all coming in today....?"

What none of them knew was that, Ian had sent Brianna away for a different reason only known to him. His eyes turned cold as the name brought back what he had found out about the girl. He pushed Shelby’s short blond hair back and kissed her cheeks, gauging her reaction to his command, but Shelby’s eyes were on Ava. More than one other pair of eyes were on Ava, too, making her squirm.

Just then, Geneva suddenly said, "Contact your friend later and let her know to let you know in advance if she wants to visit... that is basic courtesy!"

Even though, Brianna had done nothing directly, the mood had been soured. Geneva looked around and sighed, remembering the wedding reception; she said,

"Shelby, dance for us! You are a good dancer an-"

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