Chapter 294: Chapter 294

Katie’s question was one of what stood out. It was like a subtle but firm stance: ’Geneva cannot hold her banquet because of the larger family’s event’.

This did not make sense at all! It seemed odd to those listening that Geneva, the matriarch of the Thornston family, seemingly lacked the authority to make that decision. Even stranger was Geneva’s reaction. Instead of beseeching Katie, she seemed flustered.

Shelby looked up at Ian, and he shook his head at her,

’It’s complicated, but I’ll fill you in later.’

Geneva, on the other hand, only came up to herself when she felt Alex’s warm hands on her. That reassuring warmth was all that had kept her floating in her marriage.

’It is Alex that I married, not his family.’

However, she looked up at Katie and an incomprehensible emotion fleeted over her eyes. Geneva had been with Katie for as long as she could remember. Still, there was one thing that Geneva seemed to have forgotten after all those years, and this was the fact that Katie was originally a maid of the Thornston family, and her loyalty was to the family.

Inherently, Katie would always defer to the family’s interests over Geneva’s. This somehow made Geneva sad because, after all the years spent with Katie, Geneva had at least thought that Katie’s loyalty was with her and not with the family.

At the same time, Geneva did not blame Katie for this at all. Katie was a maid trained to remain faithful to the Thornston estate and the blood. This was partly why Geneva had recruited a maid for Shelby instead using from the family reserve. The aim was for Shelby never to have such an experience like she had.

Geneva had no issues with Katie and loved the bond that they shared. Geneva only started questioning herself when the interests of the extended family were at play.

In this instance, Geneva, Katie, and Alex knew what and why the family wanted to take over the birthday celebration and host a banquet.

At the wine soiree, one of Alex’s sisters and the mother of the trio that Ian had referred to as Dumb, Dumber, and Dumbest had approached her on the same.

"Good that Katie brought this up,"

Geneva patted her husband’s hands and then turned to Ian, getting a bit of her old confidence back. She took in a deep breath and then looked Shelby square in the face,

"I’m sorry that you have to hear this on the very first day of coming home after this horrible experience, but you need to hear from us and understand our stance on this before an outsider mars it."

Shelby was still trying to determine what this was about. Geneva did not take it out on Katie, though,

"There has been some dissatisfaction in my choice of bride for Ian so with this event, I can boldly say that they want to find someone else more ’worthy’ for Ian."

Shelby’s eyes opened as wide as saucers, as did Brad and Samantha. Samantha’s anger started bubbling up, but she knew that this was an adult conversation, and she did not have the right to interrupt.

She clenched her hands so tight but deep down, Samantha felt sad. Her new mother had gone through so much, and she had to face this, too. She secretly stole a glance at her father’s indifference. Frankly, Samantha was not sure how to take that reaction.

"For the upcoming days, you might hear of this around as I am sure that the other families would like to take this chance as well..."

"What is the meaning of this?! Can’t you stop those nosy sisters of yours, Dad? What is this?"

Alex sighed and rubbed his temples tiredly, but instead of answering, he turned to look at his older son as if his answers were the deciding factor.

"My wife needs to rest; we’ll leave now."

Ian stood up and bent for Shelby. This action made Samantha relax, and her smile returned. She had no idea what adults thought and why they had to complicate life like that. What was there not to like about her new mother?

Shelby’s beauty was beyond the heavens, and to Samantha, who had initially thought that Shelby’s beauty was witchy, now believed that it was angelic. What more could they want for her father? An angel herself? Because to Samantha, that was the only kind of person that could replace her current mother.

Ian smiled at Samantha’s thoughts and decided to let her attend the festival. Samantha had no clue that her thoughts had just ended her grounding.

As Samantha pondered what the adults were thinking when they made such a decision, she had no idea this was a deep-rooted scheme against both Geneva and Shelby.

However, Ian and the other adults knew. Very few people knew that Geneva’s Achilles heel was Alex’s sisters and other family members. They were the only people who could get Geneva to do something against her will, but most lived far away.

Geneva knew who could have done this. The only person who had sworn to deal with her was Abi Mush.

Geneva smiled wryly and then vowed in her heart that Abi would pay an even dear price for this action of hers. However, Geneva was surprised by Abi’s move. It was like, borrowing a knife to do this.

Geneva also knew that the family would bring in Brianna Mush as one of the possible brides. She relished the fact that the extended family had no hold on Ian, and he knew how to handle them. But for her, she was bound to listen to them, and Geneva detested that weakness in her.

"What?!" Ian almost snapped at his dad,

"Wait, we need to talk."

Geneva frowned slightly because she had some premonition. Call it a woman’s instinct. She had one secret that Katie did not even know. Geneva had wanted only to let Katie be in the known if she trusted the maid fully, but to Geneva’s disappointment, that time never came.

Geneva glanced at Alex, but he only patted her hand.

"Dad, I asked you something!" Brad interjected when he felt himself being ignored. He loved his sister-in-law and did not want their external family’s intervention in there. He had seen first-hand how that part of their family could mess things up.

"You too! I need to speak with you both."

"What’s with the stern tone, Dad?"

Ian stopped and then looked at his Dad. At that point, he refused to use his mind-reading skills on him. Ian had a hunch that he might not like what he sees in there.

"Let me get Shelby back to rest, and I’ll be back."

Alex nodded and then added, "Come to the North Wing after you are done."

Then Alex turned to Shelby,

"Get some rest, Shelby. I am also sorry that you have to go through this...."

Shelby’s shock had just gone down a little after Geneva’s statement. She was confused about a lot of things, but surprisingly, it was not about the wife selection banquet that was being proposed.

This was because Shelby knew of Ian’s love and devotion to her, and she knew that very little could come between the two of them. A random selection of brides was not one of them, though.

Ian stooped low and carried Shelby in his arms,

He replied and started walking off. Samantha followed them until they got to the bedroom, and she hesitated at the doorway. Seeing this, Shelby nudged Ian.

"Since you’re going to be away for a while, let me go to Samantha’s room instead. She can keep me company for a while."

Ian nodded and then changed directions, walking onwards till he came to Samantha’s door.

For the girl, she was ecstatic and run to hold her door open. Ian settled Shelby on the bed and kissed her hair,

"I’ll be right back," He whispered and looked long and hard into Shelby’s eyes. He felt fluttery in his stomach,

"Don’t overthink things! You are my one and only!"

"I know!" Shelby replied in a very think, emotion-filled voice as he landed another kiss on her forehead and then turned and left.

’Reach me via our link if anything happens!’

’I will!’ He used the link when he was out of the room, and Shelby’s face lit up with a fond look at how she was being cared for.

"Are you really okay, Mum?"

Samantha ran up to her and settled by her on the bed,

"Why? Do you think I should be worried?"

Samantha paused for a moment, then shook her head vigorously. Her long, dark hair swirled around her as she shook it.

"I don’t think that anyone can coerce Dad,"

With that Samantha put that out of her mind and waited for the adults to handle it.

"What is it? Don’t feel shy with me, okay?"

"Thank you, for coming that day...."

"Silly girl. Why won’t i? I am sorry for negle-"

Samantha shook her head again, and Shelby stopped her words. She decided to talk about something different instead.

"Now, tell me about how you have been...."

Ian arrived at the North wing, in no time and let himself into his parents’ room. He found the three of them seated in a small receiving outer room.

Ian walked over and made himself at home as Katie served the last snacks and cold juice.

Geneva said. She had a hunch that this conversation was best kept between their family of four. Katie narrowed her eyes subtly, bowed, and left the room, closing the door softly behind her.

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