The Kidnapped Bride

568 Jealousy

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At this time, Sierra came downstairs to find everyone already sitting around the dining table. For a while, she kept mum but then her eyes met with Charles who had passed her a questionable look. In response to him, she gave a shake which made him blink his eyes more than once.

Sierra came by everyone’s side and stood until Butler came forward to serve everyone. She sat beside Charles who patted her hands in ensuring that she had done her best but it was his choice. However the absence of Javier wasn’t rescued from young Ariana’s eyes. She found herself looking at Sierra and lifted her eyes, “Is father in his room?”

“He is. Do not worry, he will eat his food on time while we have our dinner first.” Sierra spoke. The butler came and instead tried to serve the dishes to the people sitting on the table.

The left side was occupied by Charles, Sierra and Ariana, on the other side sat Ailey, Noah, William and Emily. Ariana’s eye hovered over to look at the people opposite her and her lips pursed into a straight line. She didn’t say anything and bowed her head to pick the food and chewed it with a bit of sadness.

On the other hand, Emily enthusiastically poured more vegetables on William’s plate with her cheer up tone, “Eat it William. Don’t you want to be stronger like the rest of the people?”

“But mommy, this isn’t good in taste.” the four years old boy answered, pleading with his mother to not feed him with the dishes he wasn’t fond of. He knew his mother was more intending to make someone jealous but that didn’t fit with the young boy. He isn’t interested in the constant nagging of his dear mother to push him in the opposite side of Ariana.

“Don’t complain, William. You don’t want to be the strong baby of moma? C’mon my child, eat it. Say ahhh....” Emily herself picked the spoon and fed William with her own two hands. While none of the members bothered with the display of motherhood from Emily, Ariana was still affected by Emily’s action.

Despite knowing very well that she was in no place to be sad, it always made her small heart miss her mother. ‘This lady is doing this on purpose! She is making me remember Jennifer muma...’ her small lips turned into a pot which no one else was able to view except Sierra as she watched the little girl by her side. As Sierra watched this, she could feel how Ariana must have developed sourness inside her small brain.

.....

Instead of trying to say, Sierra looked at the other dish on the table to ask Noah, “Pass me that plate.” Noah did as instructed and Sierra poured it in front of Ariana, “I asked butler to make it for you. I remember you telling me that you liked it, didn’t you? eat this now.” Ariana raised her head and eyes lit at the appearance of the sudden favorish dish.

However, Emily wasn’t overjoyed with this, “Sierra, you never asked Butler to make William’s favorite food. Yet you are taking special care of Ariana. I’m impressed.”

“At least I’m not being partial unlike someone and forcing anyone to eat those things which aren’t liked by them just for the sake of upsetting someone.” Sierra’s quick and witty reply made Emily shut her mouth.

While Charles was supported by the quarrel, he knew this was much necessary to silence how Emily reacted in front of the kids and try to brew hatred among the cousins.

Ariana, witnessing the rough exchange of words, didn’t hear her voice. But another plan appeared in her mind. Her eyes caught the butler coming in their direction and she finally announced her intention on gaining his attention, “Butler uncle, can you please serve dad’s dinner right now. I will also have my dinner with him today.”

“As per your say, Ms. Ariana.” Butler told and asked one of the maids to keep the food in the stroller. Then, Arians’s eyes switched to look at her other cousin who was older than her by years, “Sister Ailey, will you please help me in bringing up my plate and this dish up to father’s room?”

“Absolutely, Ari. Come, let us go and take maid with us.” Without showing any hesitation, the elder Ailey helped Ariana in bringing her plate. Since Ariana was still clumsy in her actions, she dared not to lift the entire heavy plate by her hand. Instead she held a glass of water and they walked by Javier’s room.

Inside, Ariana opened the knob to find her father standing at the terrace. It didn’t surprise her anymore but she turned around to ask the maid, “Please leave. I will eat. Sister Ailey.” She looked at her sister and slowly took the plate from her hand, “Thank you sister!” Ariana displayed her wide grin mixed with innocence and Ailey patted her head to go out.

At the end, Ariana walked with her a few steps to her father where she tugged his trousers from down and gained his eyes, “I have brought food for you, dad.”

“You brought it on your own?” He narrowed his eyes and then his eyes flew inside to watch her stronger and her half plate. “Manners, Ari. You aren’t supposed to get up from the dining table until you finish your dinner.”

“Umm...but not today.” there was no need to explain herself anymore.

Ariana kept the food table back at its place to walk and asked her father with her glowing eyes, “Can we eat together today?”

As much as Javier wanted to br alone, he couldn’t bear to reject his daughter’s request, especially tonight. It was the disastrous day in his life and maybe keeping Ariana near him would warm his heart from digging in deep darkness which he wanted to avoid at any cost.

Helping her sit on her small chair, he removed her long coat and made her wear a small white colored sweater. Then he turned on the heater in his room to finally sit with Ariana and started eating the food in silence.

But in between, Ariana brought a strange request, which she does sometimes. “Dad, can you tell me more about mommy?” hearing this, the corner of Javier’s lips lifted, “Don’t you already know about her enough?”

“I want to know more!” Ariana raised her hand in air in excitement, an action and temperament reserved only for her father. To the outsiders, she was more mature when her age. Probably because of being raised by a single father and having so much danger around him, she had found courage to be brave.

At last, Javier gave up to her smile and told her, “It is a long story, my child....”