The whole family stood staring at Ariana like she was the last witch from East end. They were all waiting for an explanation she didn't know how to give. But Ariana wasn't a weak woman. She knew exactly what game Lily was playing at and she wouldn't let her continue framing her up like this.
Ariana went down on her knees like in a slow motion and joined her hands together in a plea style. "I am truly sorry. This would never happen again," she said with the mildest voice ever. She had long realized that defending herself wasn't going to work when Lily and her boys were bent on making her life miserable. She had to fight their fire with water.
"Oh my God, Ariana! What are you doing?" Aunt Bianca cried out. "Please get up! This is not a murder case is it?" Aunt Bianca asked more to the people gathering around than to Aria herself.
"Oh please is it until she actually murders someone that you all will throw her out of here?" Matt said with disdain dancing in his eyes as he glared at Ariana.
Grandfather who had been quiet during the whole drama. Simply hissed and turned back around. It didn't take long for the rest of the family to do the same. The drama was officially over as the old man simply turned around and left. Deep down he was suspecting Lily had a hand in all of these. Why was she always involved in any drama that had to do with Ariana? If she wasn't involved directly, one of her boys would be involved, why? Grandfather found it too fishie already.
"Ariana, get up and clean this mess," Grandmother said. "Soon, we will understand exactly whats happening here," she breathed and walked out of the kitchen.
Ariana slowly git up and started cleaning the mess the burning had made. The members of the family started walking out one after the other, until she was left with Aunt Bianca.
"I know this wasnt your fault. I was just shocked that things turned out this way! I had so much plans for that sauce. Now what do we do?" Bianca asked. She was worried about the food, but she wasn't indifferent in her tone.
"I am really sorry aunt. I thought she needed my help truly..." Ariana said in a low voice. She really liked Aunt Bianca and she hated how things just kept going south for them. She hadn't even realized that they had gotten really close in the last few days
"But Aria, you know Lily isnt a very nice person. Next time she comes with her ploys, you need to identify it before taking any step," Bianca advised her.
"I thought that maybe if i helped her find her earings, she might start liking me for a change," Ariana said more to herself. Saying it outlook made it sound silly and she knew it was because Lily wasn't the kind of person that like other people other than herself. Even her immediately family, her love for them was selfish. For she only loved her boys when they brought money to the table.
"You need to be careful around her. She is a very tricky woman and at this point, she is out to see you fail my dear," Bianca said as they started arranging and fixing the messed up kitchen.
Ariana nodded slowly as she thought to herself calmly. Lily was truly her number one enemy in the Lawsons house, she had to become very careful around her.
"That reminds me," Aunt Bianca started.
Arians turned her thoughtful eyes away from the pan she was scrubbing and stared at aunt Bianca in surprise.
"You havent told me about you and Calhoun. I know the other day you mentioned it on the table when we all asked but I want full details and you can't say no! This will be your punishment for leaving the kitchen unattended to," she said with a small giggle.
Aunt Bianca was truly a blessing to the Lawson's house. She was so light hearted and kept nothing to heart. It was no shocker that her child turned out to be an angel.
"Well, we sort of—" Aria started to say when Elsie walked into the kitchen.
Elsie Lawson was mostly a loner in the family. A crazy one at that. She should have been married but she was never in one place long enough to get a good man and the few she managed to get, she cut them off on her own. Her father, Mr. Lawson Senior had long cleared his hands on Elsie's marital life.
"Good morning," she mumbled as she walked staggered to the fridge for a bottle of water.
"Morning Elsie," aunt Bianca said. "Where have you been?"
As aunt Bianca asked Elsie about her whereabouts, Ariana couldn't help but notice the strong resemblance between the two sisters.
"Oh, I went out with a few friends... came back last night... did you guys miss me?" She replied. Her voice was now clearer since she had taken the water she came for.
"No wonder I didnt hear from you," aunt Bianca said.
"You cant hear anything over the noise in this house. What was this morning's episode about?" Elsie asked and this time, she turned her attention to Ariana. She didn't hate Ariana, she was just somewhere and not there at the same time. She had tried to make friends with her the first time her nephew Calhoun brought her home but Calhoun was being too protective, so she gave up trying to be friends.
"Ah, just the usual dear..." aunt Bianca replied. She had somehow found another pan and was now making another sauce.
"What did Lily do now?" Elsie asked as she kissed the bottle of water once again. She was wearing a light short and singlet. She looked way younger than her age and Ariana couldn't help but wonder why Calhoun's youngest aunt was beautiful, yet she wasn't married.