Chapter 179: Chapter 179

Gabriel was on his knees on Shelby’s lap as he scrutinized her face, his little hands cupping her cheeks. The adults in the room wondered what that comment was about. They had not seen anything different about Shelby, but it figures that none of them had looked directly into her face from habit.

Well, all of them wondered this, with the exception of Ian, because he knew what Gabriel was referring to. He had noticed that himself. After he had fully become one with Shelby, he also noticed that she was different.

Shelby herself was not entirely in the blind either. After realizing that she could see ’things’ that she previously did not, like the glowing ring on their fingers, she realized something might have changed in her, even though she was not entirely sure what it was. There was also the phenomenon of her getting totally healed so rapidly that it was still disturbing when she thought of it!

However, at that time, she was unsure of what Gabriel was referring to.

She felt Ian tense up as soon as Gabriel had climbed up on her and she chuckled.

"I hope it’s not in a bad way, Gabriel?"

Gabriel shook his head rapidly.

"You look more beautiful, mama Shelby!"

"Well, thank you my angel. I am truly honoured that the only angel in this room feels that way about me."

Gabriel giggled at how she addressed him. All past grievances from the past few days were already long forgotten when he had lain eyes on his mama. He relaxed and wound his arms around her neck, and Shelby comfortably gave him a warm hug with one arm as Ian still had the other clasped directly, unwilling to let her go even for a moment.

Gabriel had grown on her, and she found that she had started to think of him as her son.

’Is that bad for me to think that way?’ She bit her bottom lips and her forehead creased at that thought.

"Huh?" She turned to Ian yet again, knowing perfectly well that she had not spoken out loud, neither had he.

She shook her head slightly and then whispered something to Gabriel.

He immediately got off her lap and then circled around her to Ian.

"Good morning, Daddy!"

Without waiting for a reply, he rounded the table to Alex and Geneva and repeated the same.

"Good morning, Grandpa! Good morning, Grandma!"

Geneva sighed. ’What’s the use in getting angry at the kid? The sins and actions of the mother could not be held against him; besides, he was still barely out of his toddler years.... And most importantly, he was cute!’

Geneva nodded at him, and Alex only paused and continued battering another toast for his wife. He looked so pensive as if he had not seen the boy, but he was quite marvelled because he knew that his daughter- was the one that had influenced that action. Shelby was not a mother but she had assumed the role of one almost from the first day she had stepped foot into their estate even when her husband had been locked up and refused to see her.

With a heart that big, how could she not have conquered the man she had been married to? Forget about her brilliant and blinding looks, her heart was as pure as her looks and that was enough to hook anyone in, notwithstanding gender or race!

Gabriel did not stop there, and then went to the final person, "Good morning, Uncle Brad!"

"Pfttt!" Brad spat out the mouthful of coffee he had just taken.

"Brad! Watch your manners! There are children around!"

Shelby’s eyes widened at Geneva’s words, for it only signified one thing! The older woman had unconsciously accepted the children. At first, she had been indifferent to them, but it seemed like she was opening up.

"Muuuummmmm! How can they call me uncle? That makes me sound so old! OMG!"

"What should they call you them? Don’t over-dramatize things!"

Katie had entered the dining room just at that time.

With a nod of her head, one maid quickly went over to clean the floor just as Gabriel happily skipped and went back to Shelby. However, before he could climb back onto her lap, Ian grabbed him and placed Gabriel on the chair adjacent to him.

Gabriel pouted, but he stayed still just as Shelby chuckled.

Katie walked around and inspected as a long line of maids started serving the main breakfast. Platters of fruits, grapes, plums, cut papaya and kiwi were placed in the middle, then heap of perfectly looking yummy pancakes were placed right between them. Dried and smoked thin strips of meat were added, and then.... The list went on and on. Shelby gaped and averted her eyes.

"Hey, Ingrid, sweetheart, come here...."

She said as she spotted Ingrid lurking around Suzie. Ingrid hurried to Shelby and allowed herself to be given a side hug.

"Did you sleep well?"

She nodded shyly as Shelby pulled up the chair next to her to sit on.

"H-ello...." She said in her small, shy voice. Geneva nodded as did her husband.

As if they all knew, the adults did not bother nor directly address Ingrid.

Brad was still reeling from being called ’uncle’; however, he was not as tense around the kids anymore.

The third child, Samantha, was the last to come in. She dragged her feet and then stomped in as if she was pursuing an activity that she did not like.

"What a show-off!" Samantha muttered under their breath when she passed by Shelby and then took the seat next to Ingrid.

The maids stopped their actions, and Geneva narrowed her eyes.

"What did you just say, young lady?"

Samantha may be rude to Shelby and the rest, but Geneva scared her shitless. She lowered her head as if she had not heard the statement.

"What kind of behaviour is that? Is this how she relates to you, Shelby dear."

"It’s nothing, mum, sh-"

"What do you mean it’s nothing!" Geneva slammed her hands on the table and then looked over directly on the opposite side.

Ian was at one end of the table and his father was on the direct opposite end. Their wives sat just on their immediate right. To Ian’s left was Gabriel, and to Alex’s left was Bradley. Therefore, the two girls were to Shelby’s right. Shelby knew that Samantha had a lot of issues that would take a while to unearth and understand.

She herself had no idea why the girl was that hostile to her. Initially, Shelby had thought that it might have been because she had married their father when their mother passed but that scenario was not feasible as Ian and Aliya were never married and the children were not Ian’s. Despite this, she tried her best to try and understand Samantha despite all the negative connotations.

Ian played with Shelby’s fingers under the table as if he had not heard Samantha’s retort. Geneva had it covered so he did no need to step in.

"Young girl! You are the oldest of these three and should better understand your situation in this house! You better watch your attitude or else, you will be sent back to where you came from!"

Geneva heaved up and down in anger. For her, it was not really about Samantha’s words but also her body language and how she had rolled her eyes at Shelby!

"....even orphans who are being helped think that they can have an attitude ! Ungrateful brat! ..."

Alex rubbed Geneva’s back fondly. Surprisingly, even Brad was upset at the attitude demonstrated.

".... And what is with that mess on her face?"

The maids had commenced their work and were about to finish the setup when Geneva added, "Katie?"

Katie stepped up with a wipe in her hand. Katie had been with Geneva long enough to understand instructions without being told.

’Where did that even come from?’ Shelby thought as she looked not really understanding, but then,

The understanding dawned as she saw Katie step up to Samantha and pull her chair back suddenly. It was more like she yanked it back!

"Hey!" Samantha never got her next words out before Katie stepped in front of her and started cleaning up the heavy but perfectly made makeup that Samantha had on.

Katie signalled, and two maids held Samantha’s arms as she went ahead and cleaned off all the makeup from the young girl’s face.

"That’s better!" Geneva nodded and then went back to her breakfast.

Samantha trembled as she pushed her chair back in. Her face felt so raw from the strength used by Katie to clean off the makeup. Samantha dared not look at anyone.

She felt humiliated beyond reason, but Geneva was right. Samantha had almost forgotten what would have happened if they had not been taken in. This made her bite her lips so hard that it drew blood.

Shelby, on the other hand, observed Samantha’s bare face, noting how pretty the girl looked.

’What was the use of all this?’ She wondered but did not comment because Shelby knew that she was not on Samantha’s favorite list then.

Just then, a slight shuffle of footsteps announced the arrival of guests, breaking the awkward mood, at least from Shelby’s perspective.

Currey walked in with another man that Shelby had never seen. This was the only activity that drew Ian’s attention, but he did not let go of Shelby’s hand.

Immediately, the new man opened his mouth to talk, the mug in Brad’s hands dropped and shattered.

At the same time, Gabriel shouted: "Murray!"

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