Chapter 377: Chapter 377

Shelby sighed and snuggled closer to him. At that moment, all the distress and uncomfortable emotions that she had felt melted away.

’So this is what all those fantasy mating stuff does to people? I hate it!’ Shelby thought as she pushed even closer to Ian. He kissed her hair and run his hands soothingly through them.

Neither of them said a word, content in the embrace and the warmth that the bond brought them. It felt right to keep the silence. Shelby did not ask nor question, and Ian chose not to say anything relating to the events of the evening... just in that moment. Ian of all people that he had a lot to answer in regards to his actions that evening.

Currey and even Murray had told him of a lot and he had disregarded those well-intentions because the person in question, Aliya was not with them and there had never been any possibility that she would come back from the dead.

A phrase popped into Ian’s head then: ’Never say never!’

It was almost like when someone asked, ’what could possibly go wrong at this time?’

That jinx of a phrase had done him well in this time. He was the only person who knew his state of mind. Ian’s heart hurt at the rare, disappointed looks that Shelby had thrown his way throughout all that had happed.

Shelby pushed slightly away from him and then asked,

"What of Aliya? Are you done with -"

"She’s in good hands!"

Ian added. For a moment, Shelby was confused and her mind flashed back to the cold look she thought that she had seen on Aliya’s face back in the hospital room.

"I- I don’t want you to neglect her because of me..." Shelby’s voice dropped and Ian leaned and kissed her softly on her forehead. Her mannerisms reminded him so much of Gabriel that he struggled not to chuckle.

"No one will ever come between the two of us." He whispered.

"Have you forgotten the bond we share? You feel it, too, right? My Elvin?"

Ian probed, his eyes digging into Shelby’s as if he were seeking an earnest acknowledgement from her.

Shelby examined him, noting the seriousness that he exhibited. Shelby did not want to give him the feedback that he sought but she knew more than anyone as she was the one that shared that bond with him.

She looked away from Ian, not wanting him to share in what she was experiencing. However, she decided to open that the shared bond that she had with him. It was nagging at the back of her mind so Shelby let go and then gasped loud, eyes wideneig in surprise!

".... So that is what happened."

Geneva mused to herself. In the vast hall they had used for the banquet, only Brad, his parents, Suzie, and Ava remained while all others had retreated.

It had been an exhaustible night, to say the least.

"Dear, I hope that all this means that you will have a peaceful rest of your life. On such an auspicious day , we have experienced enough drama and negativity to last us a lifetime."

Geneva said as her gaze fleeted to her husband, seeing the tired lines that lined his eyes. Alex had had his share of drama and company politics throughout his life and could be said to be steadfast in all decisions that came his way, but even he found this evening to be particularly tiring!

So, despite the fact that Geneva seemed to be repeating the same words that evening, he could understand her irritation.

"Mum, Dad.... Do you think.... ?" Brad, who had interjected himself into the conversation, stopped talking mid-sentence, but they all knew what or particularly, whom his inquiry had been about.

"I’m also worried. I know Shelby enough to understand that she might be keeping it all on the inside. She was so much bothered about this woman before, but now.... What if she makes an attempt on Ian ... I mean, like try to steal him... or even... if Ian...."

Ava added, also training off as no one wanted to utter the abominable words. They had all made their due known to Ian but at the same time, they knew that Ian’s actions could not be questioned nor directed by any of them! Maybe this was why the atmosphere had been that solemn since Aliya’s news had been known.

Suzie, who was the only one standing at the back, also nodded, biting her lips.

Geneva briefly closed her eyes and leaned back in her chair, a sly smile playing on her lips as she waved off their hushed concerns.

In fact, Alex seemed to relax a notch when he saw Geneva that way... and he was right because Geneva’s next words had them stunned.

"Steal my son?" Geneva said with an almost melodic laugh, her voice laced with just the right amount of smugness.

She stopped and then asked,

"Have you seen my daughter-in-law?"

The words made whatever any of them was about to say hung in limbo. Yes, how could they forget that simple fact. Aliya’s contender was Shelby! It was true that beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder but none of the people in that grand hall believed it for a second that it applied to Shelby! That girl was just perfect in any way... in fact, she was more than perfect!

Geneva continued, gushing as if Shelby was right in front of her,

" My daughter-in-law is one who can command an army with just a glance, let alone my boy. You think some nobody could waltz in and break the hold she has on him? Please."

Geneva scoffed and reached for a cup of tea in front of her, a flicker of amusement dancing in her eyes as she took a slow sip, clearly relishing the stunned silence around her.

The words were also more for herself too and she had almost forgotten this from the shock that had permeated her body from Aliya’s news.

"I have seen Ian with that nobody and then with Shelby, and now, my confidence grows."

With a perfectly arched brow, she added in an almost coy tone,

"Frankly, I almost feel sorry for anyone foolish enough to try."

Geneva’s words hung in the air like a challenge, sharp and biting despite the sugary veneer, leaving everyone around her exchanging uneasy glances, unsure whether to laugh along or simply marvel at her audacious confidence, which was not unfounded. It was just that matters of the heart were different.

"I’ll leave all that will happen to the couple to solve it themselves!"

Suddenly, she slapped the table, bringing everyone’s attention to her,

"Let’s not talk about that again. The inevitable will happen.... But I know my Shelby, so, there is no need for me to grow more grey hair than I have at the moment just because of some nobody

With that statement, the conversation of Ian, Shelby and Aliya was closed. They had all also noted the changes and the kid’s reactions but as Geneva had said, that was a conversation for another day.

"Did you find the person?" Geneva asked again.

Suzie whispered something into her sleeve and in no time, footsteps sounded outside the door.

Two men shoved a miserable-looking maid into the room and then on her knees in front of them.

"Ah!" She screamed in pain when her knees hit the floor with a loud thump!

Geneva’s cold gaze swept over the quivering girl, who trembled like a leaf in the wind. Her tear-streaked face and blotchy cheeks bore the evidence of her punishment, but it was the terror in her wide eyes that betrayed her complete defeat. The room was silent except for the girl’s choked sobs and broken apologies. Geneva rubbed her temple that was starting to throb.

"So ,this is the person who drugged Rockwell?"

The question needed no answers, so no one did. All eyes in the room were trained on the girl, making her shiver even more.

"I’m sorry, Madam! I-t wasn’t me...." Her words were just plain ridiculous!

Just then, the girl raise her eyes and met Ava’s, making her freeze mid-sentence. A terrified shudder run through her and she cowered, then changed her statement,

"I I - don’t know what came over me!"

"Is that so? You don’t know what came over you? How convenient."

Ava stood, arms crossed, glowering from the corner. She wanted to beat the daylights out of the girl following this but held herself in check. The girl flinched at the sound, clutching the front of her dress as if it could shield her from the weight of the room’s judgment.

Even though Geneva sat far from the shivering girl, it was as if she was bearing down on her,

"Tell me, then," Ava chipped in softly, interrupting whatever Geneva or Suzie might have said at that moment, her voice suddenly gentle yet unbearably heavy with menace. It felt so natural to her that Ava had not noticed that her actions were not conforming to her status in the Thornston estate.

It was okay when she had questioned Ian about Shelby a little earlier, but to the rest of the family, it was out of bounds for her to be that stern with a maid when she had no jurisdiction over that. The thing was that Ava was fuming so much, and she looked to be struggling to contain herself, and that was what made the situation odd.

Ava, oblivious to the anger she was portraying herself, continued,

"What would come over you, hmm? Or perhaps..."—Ava straightened, letting the question linger in the air— then she took slow steps towards the girl,

"...you’re simply confessing to being careless and untrustworthy?"

"I know that this is not the right time or anything, but what has this got to do with you, Ava?" Brad asked, looking very confused.

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