Chapter 206: Chapter 206

Shelby looked on seemingly calmly, but many questions were dancing in her head. It was right that she was like that. She had so many questions that she wanted to ask but Shelby also knew that it was neither the time nor the place to do so. Ian reached out his hand under the table again and tightened his fingers over hers. Ian had heard Gabriel’s whisper of his dislike of Avril to Shelby and he couldn’t have agreed more, at least at that moment.

What was truly puzzling for Shelby was that this new woman, Avril, could command Katie. What was even more surprising was that Katie obeyed promptly. This raised a lot of flags for the people around, at least the newer workers who did not know who Avril was.

Shelby turned and raised an eyebrow as Avril settled herself by Ian, but the last comments the woman made had almost everyone pausing in what they were doing.

Avril pursed her lips, her eye taking on a cold glint as she looked at the lady whom she had assumed was a maid because she had helped serve some of the delicacies before taking a seat herself.

Avril looked long and hard at Ava on the other side of the table from her.

"... and when has it been a norm for you to question who sits at this table to eat?"

Ava kept her mouth shut because she was very uncomfortable being put on the spot like that, but a subtle smile lit up her face at Geneva’s counterstatement. Geneva glared sideways at Avril and then looked strangely at her husband as if expecting a retort from him.

Alex cleared his throat and picked up his steaming cup of coffee, gulping half of it down.

"Ahooo, ahoo, ahooo!" He coughed so hard as the scalding liquid made its way down his throat, his eyes watering as a result of that.

"Be careful! Why would you drink such a hot liquid without cooling it down a little? Are you a child? Geneva chided Alex lightly," She reached out and poured a glass of cool water for him and patted his back as well.

"Mum? Why would you say that? The Thornston values will go down the drain if you-"

"AVRIL!" Alex spoke with a warning in his voice.

"You know, Avril, I love you all, but I wouldn’t touch Ava if I were you. She is a killer gastronomist. She is mum’s new favourite now, as well as sister-in-law’s only sane friend, so even though you are blunt in your words, you better learn to see Ava as one of the family...."

Avril glared at Brad just as he added with a shrug, "...just saying!"

Avril wanted to say something else but with almost all the family members going against her in front of this supposed friend, it made her bite her lips and even sneak a look at Ian on her side.

’Brother Ian is usually more welcoming, but what’s with this today?’ Avril thought as a sinking feeling rose up in her mind.

Up until this point, no one had introduced this new person to Shelby, and she was getting more confused by the second.

Geneva noticed this reaction of Shelby’s and then said,

"Oh my! How could I have forgotten? Shelby?"

"That is Avril .... Avril Pound. She is considered to be some sort of family friend, but she grew up here and considers Ian and Brad to be her brothers. So, she is basically their little sister."

"Oh...." Shelby turned back to the woman who had made herself at home. The words Ian had said to her as well as the woman’s actions then, made a lot of sense to Shelby. She wondered why Geneva had a hint of dissatisfaction in her tone when she talked of this person.

"She is a bit blunt in words, so do not take it to heart...."

"Yes, mum!" Shelby couldn’t help but let a smile blossom on her face at just the fact that Geneva had thought of her feelings and made that effort for her.

".... and you, Avril! You are just returning home after a long stay abroad. Shelby manages this home now, and what she says is the rule of thumb. Ava is her friend and my adopted daughter. She also works in the estate as the co-chef. I do not want to hear this nonsense from you again!"

Alex glared at Avril, and that shut her up.

"Avril also works at the company as a winemaker...." Alex cleared his throat and added. One could hear a little pride in his voice when he said this.

Shelby blinked in surprise at this information, but she nodded at Avril, not bothering to say anything to her. She still took in everything, especially the part where Geneva said she was in charge of everything in the estate. Since Shelby had married into the Thornston estate, all estate affairs had been handled solely by Geneva and Katie. When had this task fallen into her lap? She was unsure, but she had an idea of what may be happening.

Shelby smiled at Geneva’s last remark about her role and continued her meal.

’Looks like I have been upgraded.’ She thought, making Ian chuckle at that.

Ava, who was the subject of the conversation, also lowered her head and helped herself to some of the grapes after getting a generous portion of the pastries and other meal bits for Gabriel and Ingrid.

On the side, Brad also frowned a bit at Avril’s demeanour.

"What’s going on with you, Avril? You were never in the past. Did something happen?"

"Not at all, Brad. Why do you say that?" She asked innocently as if she was unaware of whatever was going on. She was not too happy though, because Avril could see that both her parents were sucking up to the new wife.

Ian was almost invisible in this conversation. He picked up small bites of food and placed them on Shelby’s plate. It was as if he was oblivious to Avril by him, who had been put on the spot so much that she then turned as if trying to make small talk with him, but he never gave her the light of the day.

Anyone who knew Avril would know that everything she had said was no joke at all. She said the things from her heart. She was also a little uncomfortable that Ava sat at the same table as her. This was because, in her mind, Ava, as a worker, was definitely beneath them.

As time went on, Shelby could deduce why Gabriel had told her that he did not like Avril. It was just strange that Avril had said all those silly statements within just a few minutes after she had arrived.

Shelby lowered her head and took a sip of her tea, as well as shove a bite-sized pastry in her mouth. She did not have that issue of being unable to taste food anymore. This was something she had come to appreciate.

Shelby sneaked a peek at Ava, but knowing her friend, she knew that she did not have to fret about that at all.

Ava winked at Shelby, and the two smiled. This exchange made Shelby relax as she knew that her friend was not offended in any way. Who was Ava? This was nothing to get her worked up.

’I am happy that she’s been put in her place in a nice way!’ Ava smirked.

Ava only fleetingly glanced at the new person and turned her attention to the kids by her. Gabriel was unusually quiet which caught the attention of most of them. They were unsure if it was because of his accident a little earlier of the new person but Gabriel shrugged and moved close to Shelby, almost leaning against her. Shelby rubbed his hair fondly as they all ate almost in silence.

"Move those bags to the room in the East Wing...." Avril instructed the worker who entered with her bags.

"Send them to the West Wing!"

Those were the first words that Ian had spoken out since Avril had arrived that morning.

"Brother Ian! Why would you say that?" She pouted.

The West Wing was reserved for Brad’s sole use, and the East Wing that Avril wanted to go to was reserved for Ian’s sole use.

Ian’s indication was very obvious from that. He wanted nothing to do with her in his living quarters at all.

Ian did not bother with her again and leaned towards Shelby, "You okay? Eat a little more...." He whispered and pecked her cheek.

"It makes me sad that you don’t want to live in your old room. Why do you want to move and change rooms, Avril?" Brad asked.

Avril glared at him again.

"Hey, I’m just asking, don’t look at me like that!" Brad said, throwing his arms up. Avril already had her room in Brad’s wing. Even though she had been abroad for years, it was a little strange that she wanted to change the wing to the East.

Shelby raised her eye to meet Avril’s and the woman’s heart skipped a beat.

’What the hell? What kind of witchery is this?’ she shuddered but kept a smile on her face.

"Why? This is because I have a new sister-in-law and I want to bond with her. Why would I want to live with an old bachelor?"

"Ouch, that hurt! Why would you call me an old bachelor?"

Avril rolled her eyes and then said, "Right, sister? Since Ian is your husband, you’ll be my new younger sister. I can see that you are way younger than even me, who is younger than Ian. I never had a younger sister, so I am excited to have one!"

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