Chapter 221: Chapter 221

Alex called for the nth time that morning after everyone had left. However, he got no response from her—his sweet wife.

She had her back to him, which was never a good sign. The two had spent decades in marriage and could read each other like a book. Geneva was staring outside their garden through their large glass windows, seemingly lost in thoughts. However, the other two in the room, Katie and Alex, knew that she was just purposively ignoring her husband.

Katie stood with her hands clasped in a respectful stance a few feet away from and between the couple.

Katie wished she could leave, but she had missed her timing of trying to leave undetected; now, she would only rely on one of them to ask her to go, but this did not seem that likely given the atmosphere.

Katie had been with the couple long enough to understand both sides of the story, even without any words. She knew enough but was still on the fence about this. However, if she were asked, she would forever respond that she serves her mistress and that anything Geneva said would hold true.

At this time, Katie turned her mind off and examined the fluffy throw rug underneath her feet as if it were the most interesting thing in the room. She did not like it when she was in the main room with the couple. She peeked discreetly at Alex, who was on the opposite side of the bed and on a comfortable one-person sofa.

Alex put down his newspaper just as Katie took a small step back.

The couple’s room was very large and was not cramped with the three of them. The big king-sized bed did not even cover a third of the room. To one side was Alex’s favourite sofa, and on the opposite side, just adjacent to the large windows, was another similar one that Geneva loved to use. The only difference was the colours.

When Alex was still ignored after this, he knew it would take him a lot more effort to get Geneva to relent.

Geneva, who had been with him for years, had only two things that could affect her that much in their life, and one of them had made itself present that morning without announcement. The other was something that Alex never wanted to manifest! Ever!

Alex knew that he was going to have a hard time explaining himself out of this one. It was not necessarily Avril’s presence that had been the problem but the fact that Geneva had not been told beforehand. It was a dicey case between the two.

Alex had supposed that Geneva would let some things go after so many years, but it did not look like that... and that was so like Geneva!

"Geneva, dear, please look at me,"

Alex said helplessly, but she did not give him the time of the day. She turned and picked up her phone, scrolling through it like there was something so interesting that demanded her attention. Alex signalled Katie to leave them alone despite Geneva’s insistence that she stay. Katie sighed, and then, with a small bow, she left the room.

’Finally!’ She thought. She also knew the story all too well and cast a glance at the older couple before closing the door firmly behind her. Geneva mind veered off as past events surfaced.

Twenty years prior ...

"Alex, who is this?" Geneva asked her husband when he had returned from work that evening, late. Alex turned to look at the two who followed him; a woman and her daughter- He then signalled Katie,

"Get these two to the South Wing so that they settle down."

Geneva narrowed her eyes, but the mention of the South Wing told her that these were visitors because that wing was solely reserved for such. Her two sons occupied the West and East wings, respectively. She and her husband used the North Wing as theirs.

The Wings were more like a whole set of rooms on their own. They could house as few as ten distinct rooms serving different purposes and as many as twenty-plus rooms. None of the Thornstons were expected to leave the estate after marriage, hence the dedication of the Wings.

She waited patiently as Katie ushered the two off, and then a younger-looking Geneva asked the same question again.

Her husband walked close to her and hugged her tight. "Remember my childhood friend who saved my life?"

"How could I forget? You’ve talked about this a lot that even our two sons can narrate the story!"

"Hahhhahahaaaaa...." Alex laughed, embarrassed, and then he turned serious.

"Those two are his wife and daughter. You know that he already passed away, right? She is having a hard time and cannot support her daughter. Monica, his wife, called today and explained their hardships to me, so I didn’t have a choice in this one."

Alex paused a bit, "I have already-"

"Yeah, you promised him that you would care for his family on his death bed.... Because of that favour, you owe him, right? I understand." Geneva interrupted and added that she was not okay with the fact that her husband had never given her prior notice to this.

Geneva knew that a debt of life was not one that could be easily repaid, but the fact was that this so-called life and death-debt was suspicious. It was when the two were teenagers, but the friend in question ended up badly injured and needing constant medical help.

Geneva was not a heartless person and had encouraged her husband to give him the best medical care until he had passed away years prior when his daughter was only five years.

Geneva frowned, and Alex knew why his wife was like that. They had settled the family and given them a big monetary package, so how was that money that could have settled them for life got depleted in a few mere years?

"Please?" Alex added, but Geneva smiled at him strangely,

"Why are you pleading when the decision has already been taken?"

Alex gaped at Geneva, but she had already left.

Geneva welcomed Monica and Avril and treated them like family. After all, their sole breadwinner had, in essence, given his life for her husband.

Geneva allowed Monica to live a carefree life. Her daughter, Avril, was also cared for like any Thornston child until the day Geneva heard those words from the girl’s lips.

"Mama, when are you going to do that? You said that we’ll become real Thornstons. Are you going to marry Uncle Alex? That would be so nice! I want him to be my father too, but I also want to become the Thornston bride as well ... I am confused, Mama. If you become uncle’s wife, can I also become the bride?" The little girl had sounded distressed at that time as if the issue was a big problem for her.

Avril was only ten years old then, and Geneva could not believe her ears. She silently left there as the mother and daughter continued their conversation. From how the conversation had taken that turn, Geneva knew it was not the first time they had had such a talk.

Geneva sighed and wondered why that particular thought had surfaced in her mind. Geneva knew that she had never been able to take Avril as her real daughter because of those seemingly harmless words that the girl had said to her mother that day decades ago. Also, Geneva was not a petty person.

Even though this conversation seemed harmless, it was not the only reason she could not bring herself to like that girl that she, Geneva, had raised. However, Geneva wanted her husband to experience and see things on his own.

This was the best! Sometimes, people would not believe any information handed to them until they experienced it themselves. Geneva was a smart woman who knew when to let nature take its course.

’Sister?’ Avril had never seen herself as Ian nor Brad’s sister in any way, so why should she take her as her daughter?

Geneva had never said anything to her husband about this conversation because she knew she was in no place to question him, but that did not mean she had to like the girl!

"Why is she here?" Geneva asked,

Alex looked at her helplessly.

"This is her home, Geneva."

Geneva smiled again. A smile that was not like one in any way,

"Silly me, how could I not remember this trivial fact?"

Alex could not understand Geneva’s underhanded words, but he only said,

"Avril is overreaching. I will speak to her so that she watches how she carries herself around Shelby. I did not like her conduct this morning at all..."

’Oh, just this morning?’ Geneva wanted to say, but she did not want to be sarcastic, so she nodded.

"Just know this Alex, I took her in because of that favour but I will not tolerate any insults to my new daughter. Shelby is a sweet girl who has had it very hard in life with her own family. I want her to be at peace here and will never tolerate otherwise.

I know you turn a blind eye to many things because of the past, but my patience only goes as far as to this. If MY Shelby is brought into this, I will not stand down! Favour or not! I believe you have already paid for that over and beyond!"

Alex stood up from his seat, stunned. This was the most he had ever had his wife talk about Avril. Alex did not know when this had started. Geneva had been civil to them when the mother and child had come into the estate, but that had just changed one day, and he had never had the chance to know why.

"Thank you for telling me your thoughts, my dear. I understand all that you have said. Does this mean that you will no longer keep me at arm’s length?"

Geneva glared at him for just a moment more before a genuine smile spread across her, making Alex let go and relax as well.

’It’s all over!’ he thought, but was it?

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