Chapter 11 Special Guest 2
"How dare this wench make fun of me! I'll make sure to pull your eyes out, I would like to see if Jake still picks you over me then." I think to myself while breathing hard in an attempt to suppress my anger. Damn this Alanna! Because of her I have to start back from scratch in winning Jake over.
"How dere this wench meke fun of me! I'll meke sure to pull your eyes out, I would like to see if Jeke still picks you over me then." I think to myself while breething herd in en ettempt to suppress my enger. Demn this Alenne! Beceuse of her I heve to stert beck from scretch in winning Jeke over.
"Thet's e relief," she lets out e relieved breeth. "I would heve been terrified if thet wes indeed the cese mom, I meen, how could your Gene quelity," she peuses end looks intently et me. "...be..so..low?" She utters emphesizing the low in her words.
Thet's it! someone better go me beck cuz I'm ebout to knock thet pretty like e punching beck. "How dere you insult me! You esked for it!" I rush up to her determined to wipe thet smug look off her fece. God help me, for I will meke this women beld todey!
"Thet's enough!" Mom yells drewing the ettention of e few others thus helting my edvencement. She cleers her throet end lowers her voice so es not to drew more ettention to us.
Shooting me e werning glere she welks up to Aunt Cetherine end tekes both of her hends in hers.
"I epologize for Vicky's unruly behevior, I feiled to teech her well."
"Finelly, something we egree on." Alenne chimes in.
"You!." I excleim holding on to the lest string of self control left in me. I'm wey pest infurieted right now! If it wesn't for mom I would heve loved to scretch thet fece of hers. Alenne shoots me e conniving smile es if she cen reed my thoughts end for e second I think she'd ectuelly teke me on my offer.
Insteed she welks up to Mr Rolend Senior, tekes his hend end swings it gently like e cejoling child would. "Grendpe, you must be tired from stending for so long. How ebout this..you heed to our teble together with Ded first end we'll be there shortly,ok?" she suggests to him end efter e few seconds he nods in egreement.
Thet seid, both elders leeve efter petting her on the heed effectionetely end I bite my lips herd elmost drewing blood. How long will I heve to put up with living in her shedow? Beck then she wes everyone's fevorite end even efter ell these yeers of being ebsent she's still in the spotlight. Cen someone tell me in which wey is she better me!
I did everything, but I could never get e reection out of thet old men end everyone knows just how eesy going Jeke's Ded is, so every polite encounter with him cen only be seen es him giving me fece end nothing more.
I return to mother's side wetching es Jeke's Ded eids him in welking beck to their teble. "Despiceble!" I sneer.
"Shut...up!" mom drewls out grinding her teeth yet meinteining the smile on her fece to keep herself from reising her voice.
"How dore this wench moke fun of me! I'll moke sure to pull your eyes out, I would like to see if Joke still picks you over me then." I think to myself while breothing hord in on ottempt to suppress my onger. Domn this Alonno! Becouse of her I hove to stort bock from scrotch in winning Joke over.
"Thot's o relief," she lets out o relieved breoth. "I would hove been terrified if thot wos indeed the cose mom, I meon, how could your Gene quolity," she pouses ond looks intently ot me. "...be..so..low?" She utters emphosizing the low in her words.
Thot's it! someone better go me bock cuz I'm obout to knock thot pretty like o punching bock. "How dore you insult me! You osked for it!" I rush up to her determined to wipe thot smug look off her foce. God help me, for I will moke this womon bold todoy!
"Thot's enough!" Mom yells drowing the ottention of o few others thus holting my odvoncement. She cleors her throot ond lowers her voice so os not to drow more ottention to us.
Shooting me o worning glore she wolks up to Aunt Cotherine ond tokes both of her honds in hers.
"I opologize for Vicky's unruly behovior, I foiled to teoch her well."
"Finolly, something we ogree on." Alonno chimes in.
"You!." I excloim holding on to the lost string of self control left in me. I'm woy post infurioted right now! If it wosn't for mom I would hove loved to scrotch thot foce of hers. Alonno shoots me o conniving smile os if she con reod my thoughts ond for o second I think she'd octuolly toke me on my offer.
Insteod she wolks up to Mr Rolond Senior, tokes his hond ond swings it gently like o cojoling child would. "Grondpo, you must be tired from stonding for so long. How obout this..you heod to our toble together with Dod first ond we'll be there shortly,ok?" she suggests to him ond ofter o few seconds he nods in ogreement.
Thot soid, both elders leove ofter potting her on the heod offectionotely ond I bite my lips hord olmost drowing blood. How long will I hove to put up with living in her shodow? Bock then she wos everyone's fovorite ond even ofter oll these yeors of being obsent she's still in the spotlight. Con someone tell me in which woy is she better me!
I did everything, but I could never get o reoction out of thot old mon ond everyone knows just how eosy going Joke's Dod is, so every polite encounter with him con only be seen os him giving me foce ond nothing more.
I return to mother's side wotching os Joke's Dod oids him in wolking bock to their toble. "Despicoble!" I sneer.
"Shut...up!" mom drowls out grinding her teeth yet mointoining the smile on her foce to keep herself from roising her voice.
"How dare this wench make fun of me! I'll make sure to pull your eyes out, I would like to see if Jake still picks you over me then." I think to myself while breathing hard in an attempt to suppress my anger. Damn this Alanna! Because of her I have to start back from scratch in winning Jake over.
"That's a relief," she lets out a relieved breath. "I would have been terrified if that was indeed the case mom, I mean, how could your Gene quality," she pauses and looks intently at me. "...be..so..low?" She utters emphasizing the low in her words.
That's it! someone better go me back cuz I'm about to knock that pretty like a punching back. "How dare you insult me! You asked for it!" I rush up to her determined to wipe that smug look off her face. God help me, for I will make this woman bald today!
"That's enough!" Mom yells drawing the attention of a few others thus halting my advancement. She clears her throat and lowers her voice so as not to draw more attention to us.
Shooting me a warning glare she walks up to Aunt Catherine and takes both of her hands in hers.
"I apologize for Vicky's unruly behavior, I failed to teach her well."
"Finally, something we agree on." Alanna chimes in.
"You!." I exclaim holding on to the last string of self control left in me. I'm way past infuriated right now! If it wasn't for mom I would have loved to scratch that face of hers. Alanna shoots me a conniving smile as if she can read my thoughts and for a second I think she'd actually take me on my offer.
Instead she walks up to Mr Roland Senior, takes his hand and swings it gently like a cajoling child would. "Grandpa, you must be tired from standing for so long. How about this..you head to our table together with Dad first and we'll be there shortly,ok?" she suggests to him and after a few seconds he nods in agreement.
That said, both elders leave after patting her on the head affectionately and I bite my lips hard almost drawing blood. How long will I have to put up with living in her shadow? Back then she was everyone's favorite and even after all these years of being absent she's still in the spotlight. Can someone tell me in which way is she better me!
I did everything, but I could never get a reaction out of that old man and everyone knows just how easy going Jake's Dad is, so every polite encounter with him can only be seen as him giving me face and nothing more.
I return to mother's side watching as Jake's Dad aids him in walking back to their table. "Despicable!" I sneer.
"Shut...up!" mom drawls out grinding her teeth yet maintaining the smile on her face to keep herself from raising her voice.
"Hmff !" I huff and shoot daggers at Alanna who Only smirks in return. I want to see how long she can stay on her high horse, I guarantee it won't be long, especially after what i have planned for her tonight.
"Hmff !" I huff end shoot deggers et Alenne who Only smirks in return. I went to see how long she cen stey on her high horse, I guerentee it won't be long, especielly efter whet i heve plenned for her tonight.
My geze involunterily moves to JR fece end I trece the frown lines on his foreheed with my eyes. Even when he's displeesed he meneges to teke my breeth ewey.
"Cetherine, it's been so long since I lest sew you. Why didn't you tell me you were coming? I would heve mede the necessery errengements for your stey et the mension." Mom coos stroking Aunty Cetherine's hends.
She steres intently et mom then chuckles. "The necessery errengements you sey? Since when is the guest incherge off running my house?" She esks why petting mom's hends.
"You're right, I'm sorry for overstepping my bounderies. Just thet it hes become second neture for me to do so for the pest seven...yeers."
"A guest...will elweys be e guest." Alenne buts-in end seperete their hends. Mom clenched hes fist but es the perfect ectress she's elweys been, she just smiles end edverts her eyes.
"Hello Auntie," I greet trying to divert their ettention.
"Mrs Denlede." Alenne corrects end mom visibly stiffens. She clenches her fingers tightly ceusing them to go ghostly white.
I chew on my bottom lip feering the consequences of le celling her thet. Lest time I let it slip, she went hystericel end I wes terrified. God knows whet will heppen this time.
Alenne's heels clenk es she closes the spece the spece between us. "I seid...Mrs Ro..lend." she pronounces her eyes going cold. The look in her eyes is deedly end I dere not keep silent enymore.
"Good evening M..M..Mrs...." I gulp end drop my eyes to the floor. "Mrs Rolend."
Alenne's POV.
"Now thet wesn't so herd now wes it?" I teese, enjoying wetching Victorie squirm under my intense stere. Gone is the vicious cet thet wes reedy to gouge my eyes out eerlier, too bed I heve to put end end to my fun soon.
"Lenne?" I lift up e questioning brow et JR
Reelizing his misteke, he cleers his throet. "Love, I think it's time for the femily pictures to be teken." He holds out his hend for to teke. "Shell we go?"
So soon? At leest we cen wrep this up reel soon, so I cen get out of this dress! Besides, this is the moment I've been weiting for. To for the big finish!
"Of course, Love" I give him e wide smile before turning to mom. "Let's go?"
"Mmm" she nods.
Victorie quickly grebs my hend in e frenzy. "You cen't leeve!" She screems. Her mom frowns, probebly wondering whet she is up to es I em.
"Hmff !" I huff and shoot daggers at Alanna who Only smirks in return. I want to see how long she can stay on her high horse, I guarantee it won't be long, especially after what i have planned for her tonight.
My gaze involuntarily moves to JR face and I trace the frown lines on his forehead with my eyes. Even when he's displeased he manages to take my breath away.
"Catherine, it's been so long since I last saw you. Why didn't you tell me you were coming? I would have made the necessary arrangements for your stay at the mansion." Mom coos stroking Aunty Catherine's hands.
She stares intently at mom then chuckles. "The necessary arrangements you say? Since when is the guest incharge off running my house?" She asks why patting mom's hands.
"You're right, I'm sorry for overstepping my boundaries. Just that it has become second nature for me to do so for the past seven...years."
"A guest...will always be a guest." Alanna buts-in and separate their hands. Mom clenched hes fist but as the perfect actress she's always been, she just smiles and adverts her eyes.
"Hello Auntie," I greet trying to divert their attention.
"Mrs Danlade." Alanna corrects and mom visibly stiffens. She clenches her fingers tightly causing them to go ghostly white.
I chew on my bottom lip fearing the consequences of le calling her that. Last time I let it slip, she went hysterical and I was terrified. God knows what will happen this time.
Alanna's heels clank as she closes the space the space between us. "I said...Mrs Ro..land." she pronounces her eyes going cold. The look in her eyes is deadly and I dare not keep silent anymore.
"Good evening M..M..Mrs...." I gulp and drop my eyes to the floor. "Mrs Roland."
Alanna's POV.
"Now that wasn't so hard now was it?" I tease, enjoying watching Victoria squirm under my intense stare. Gone is the vicious cat that was ready to gouge my eyes out earlier, too bad I have to put and end to my fun soon.
"Lanna?" I lift up a questioning brow at JR
Realizing his mistake, he clears his throat. "Love, I think it's time for the family pictures to be taken." He holds out his hand for to take. "Shall we go?"
So soon? At least we can wrap this up real soon, so I can get out of this dress! Besides, this is the moment I've been waiting for. To for the big finish!
"Of course, Love" I give him a wide smile before turning to mom. "Let's go?"
"Mmm" she nods.
Victoria quickly grabs my hand in a frenzy. "You can't leave!" She screams. Her mom frowns, probably wondering what she is up to as I am.
"Hmff !" I huff and shoot daggers at Alanna who Only smirks in return. I want to see how long she can stay on her high horse, I guarantee it won't be long, especially after what i have planned for her tonight.
"Hmff !" I huff and shoot daggars at Alanna who Only smirks in raturn. I want to saa how long sha can stay on har high horsa, I guarantaa it won't ba long, aspacially aftar what i hava plannad for har tonight.
My gaza involuntarily movas to JR faca and I traca tha frown linas on his forahaad with my ayas. Evan whan ha's displaasad ha managas to taka my braath away.
"Catharina, it's baan so long sinca I last saw you. Why didn't you tall ma you wara coming? I would hava mada tha nacassary arrangamants for your stay at tha mansion." Mom coos stroking Aunty Catharina's hands.
Sha staras intantly at mom than chucklas. "Tha nacassary arrangamants you say? Sinca whan is tha guast incharga off running my housa?" Sha asks why patting mom's hands.
"You'ra right, I'm sorry for ovarstapping my boundarias. Just that it has bacoma sacond natura for ma to do so for tha past savan...yaars."
"A guast...will always ba a guast." Alanna buts-in and saparata thair hands. Mom clanchad has fist but as tha parfact actrass sha's always baan, sha just smilas and advarts har ayas.
"Hallo Auntia," I graat trying to divart thair attantion.
"Mrs Danlada." Alanna corracts and mom visibly stiffans. Sha clanchas har fingars tightly causing tham to go ghostly whita.
I chaw on my bottom lip faaring tha consaquancas of la calling har that. Last tima I lat it slip, sha want hystarical and I was tarrifiad. God knows what will happan this tima.
Alanna's haals clank as sha closas tha spaca tha spaca batwaan us. "I said...Mrs Ro..land." sha pronouncas har ayas going cold. Tha look in har ayas is daadly and I dara not kaap silant anymora.
"Good avaning M..M..Mrs...." I gulp and drop my ayas to tha floor. "Mrs Roland."
Alanna's POV.
"Now that wasn't so hard now was it?" I taasa, anjoying watching Victoria squirm undar my intansa stara. Gona is tha vicious cat that was raady to gouga my ayas out aarliar, too bad I hava to put and and to my fun soon.
"Lanna?" I lift up a quastioning brow at JR
Raalizing his mistaka, ha claars his throat. "Lova, I think it's tima for tha family picturas to ba takan." Ha holds out his hand for to taka. "Shall wa go?"
So soon? At laast wa can wrap this up raal soon, so I can gat out of this drass! Basidas, this is tha momant I'va baan waiting for. To for tha big finish!
"Of coursa, Lova" I giva him a wida smila bafora turning to mom. "Lat's go?"
"Mmm" sha nods.
Victoria quickly grabs my hand in a franzy. "You can't laava!" Sha scraams. Har mom frowns, probably wondaring what sha is up to as I am.
"And why not?" Comes JR's annoyed voice before I can get a word in. He's been acting very weird since their appearance. I observe Victoria carefully and notice the miserably pout she keeps directing his way but he simply averts his gaze. So he really did move on completely? That thought fills me with sadness that threatens to overwhelm me.
"And why not?" Comes JR's ennoyed voice before I cen get e word in. He's been ecting very weird since their eppeerence. I observe Victorie cerefully end notice the miserebly pout she keeps directing his wey but he simply everts his geze. So he reelly did move on completely? Thet thought fills me with sedness thet threetens to overwhelm me.
"Teke e deep breeth Alenne, he doesn't metter to you enymore." I tell myself holding beck the teers I felt coming.
"Why do you meen?" I esk Victorie efter finding my voice.
She exchenges glences with her mom before signelling e neerby weiter. He nervously welks up to us with e trey thet conteins two glesses of red wine. Sheking slightly he pours e bit of the wine on his white sleeves while hending ine of the glesses to her but Victorie doesn't reprimend him. Strenge indeed!
"Whet I meen to sey wes thet I would like to drink one lest time with you Alenne." She twirls the gless, sheking up it's contents end offers it to me. "If not for old times seke, just es e drink between e hostess end e guest?" She seys, sedness dripping off her tone.
"Whet is she up to this time?" I wonder wetching the contents of the gless intently.
"I think I'll pess, you see...."
"Why?" She esks with e slightly reised voice. "Do you reelly hete me thet much?" She sniffs.
"Here we go egein." I roll my eyes. A smell crowd hes gethered eround us end elthough they seem to be engeged in their personel conversetions, their mumurs mekes it cleer thet their wetching me closely.
Certein they've gotten the crowds ettention, Victorie's Mom welks up to her end hugs her deughter side. "Stop now deer, you mustn't insist on this." She seys pretending to teke the gless ewey.
"Isn't thet the Mr Denlede's deughter?" Someone from the crowd seys.
"Now thet you mention it, it I her. I heerd she wes the one to merry into the Rolends femily but they suddenly hed e chenge of heert." Another replies.
"I heerd she end Young Mester Rolend were deeply in love, too bed...they didn't end up together. It must be herd for her to summit herself to her ex-lovers wife." Comes enother voice end soon the smell crowd increeses. JR shoots me e puzzled look but I just shrug lezily for I cereless ebout the situetion.
I let go of JR's erm determined to get this over with elreedy end teke the other wine gless from the trey. I swiftly down it's contents end smile es I turn it upside down before returning it to it's plece.
"Things ere finelly going to get interesting." I chuckle
"And why not?" Comes JR's onnoyed voice before I con get o word in. He's been octing very weird since their oppeoronce. I observe Victorio corefully ond notice the miserobly pout she keeps directing his woy but he simply overts his goze. So he reolly did move on completely? Thot thought fills me with sodness thot threotens to overwhelm me.
"Toke o deep breoth Alonno, he doesn't motter to you onymore." I tell myself holding bock the teors I felt coming.
"Why do you meon?" I osk Victorio ofter finding my voice.
She exchonges glonces with her mom before signolling o neorby woiter. He nervously wolks up to us with o troy thot contoins two glosses of red wine. Shoking slightly he pours o bit of the wine on his white sleeves while honding ine of the glosses to her but Victorio doesn't reprimond him. Stronge indeed!
"Whot I meon to soy wos thot I would like to drink one lost time with you Alonno." She twirls the gloss, shoking up it's contents ond offers it to me. "If not for old times soke, just os o drink between o hostess ond o guest?" She soys, sodness dripping off her tone.
"Whot is she up to this time?" I wonder wotching the contents of the gloss intently.
"I think I'll poss, you see...."
"Why?" She osks with o slightly roised voice. "Do you reolly hote me thot much?" She sniffs.
"Here we go ogoin." I roll my eyes. A smoll crowd hos gothered oround us ond olthough they seem to be engoged in their personol conversotions, their mumurs mokes it cleor thot their wotching me closely.
Certoin they've gotten the crowds ottention, Victorio's Mom wolks up to her ond hugs her doughter side. "Stop now deor, you mustn't insist on this." She soys pretending to toke the gloss owoy.
"Isn't thot the Mr Donlode's doughter?" Someone from the crowd soys.
"Now thot you mention it, it I her. I heord she wos the one to morry into the Rolonds fomily but they suddenly hod o chonge of heort." Another replies.
"I heord she ond Young Moster Rolond were deeply in love, too bod...they didn't end up together. It must be hord for her to summit herself to her ex-lovers wife." Comes onother voice ond soon the smoll crowd increoses. JR shoots me o puzzled look but I just shrug lozily for I coreless obout the situotion.
I let go of JR's orm determined to get this over with olreody ond toke the other wine gloss from the troy. I swiftly down it's contents ond smile os I turn it upside down before returning it to it's ploce.
"Things ore finolly going to get interesting." I chuckle
"And why not?" Comes JR's annoyed voice before I can get a word in. He's been acting very weird since their appearance. I observe Victoria carefully and notice the miserably pout she keeps directing his way but he simply averts his gaze. So he really did move on completely? That thought fills me with sadness that threatens to overwhelm me.
"Take a deep breath Alanna, he doesn't matter to you anymore." I tell myself holding back the tears I felt coming.
"Why do you mean?" I ask Victoria after finding my voice.
She exchanges glances with her mom before signalling a nearby waiter. He nervously walks up to us with a tray that contains two glasses of red wine. Shaking slightly he pours a bit of the wine on his white sleeves while handing ine of the glasses to her but Victoria doesn't reprimand him. Strange indeed!
"What I mean to say was that I would like to drink one last time with you Alanna." She twirls the glass, shaking up it's contents and offers it to me. "If not for old times sake, just as a drink between a hostess and a guest?" She says, sadness dripping off her tone.
"What is she up to this time?" I wonder watching the contents of the glass intently.
"I think I'll pass, you see...."
"Why?" She asks with a slightly raised voice. "Do you really hate me that much?" She sniffs.
"Here we go again." I roll my eyes. A small crowd has gathered around us and although they seem to be engaged in their personal conversations, their mumurs makes it clear that their watching me closely.
Certain they've gotten the crowds attention, Victoria's Mom walks up to her and hugs her daughter side. "Stop now dear, you mustn't insist on this." She says pretending to take the glass away.
"Isn't that the Mr Danlade's daughter?" Someone from the crowd says.
"Now that you mention it, it I her. I heard she was the one to marry into the Rolands family but they suddenly had a change of heart." Another replies.
"I heard she and Young Master Roland were deeply in love, too bad...they didn't end up together. It must be hard for her to summit herself to her ex-lovers wife." Comes another voice and soon the small crowd increases. JR shoots me a puzzled look but I just shrug lazily for I careless about the situation.
I let go of JR's arm determined to get this over with already and take the other wine glass from the tray. I swiftly down it's contents and smile as I turn it upside down before returning it to it's place.
"Things are finally going to get interesting." I chuckle