"Now I can call you my sister inlaw without having second thoughts!" Elsie said wiggling her brows happily. There was no one as excited as she was about how Ariana had stood up for herself. In her opinion, Lily really deserved what she got. It was high time somebody put her in her place.
Ariana and Bianca giggled like little girls as they sat around the kitchen eating area. It was made for the maids but sometimes Aunt Bianca used it to catch up with her sister Elsie or whenever she wanted a quick meal for herself.
"I'll say you use, aunty-in-law than sister-in-law!" Aunt Bianca added making the trio erupt in another round of laughter.
Ariana was grateful that Aunt Bianca and Elsie had accepted her wholeheartedly despite all of Lily's gimmicks. She wouldn't have been able to get this far if she hadn't had their love and support.
"That reminds me, why don't they call you an aunt? By all right you are their aunt, right?" Ariana asked as she picked up a fresh waffle from her plate.
Elsie waved her hand with a smile. "I think Bianca will have a better answer to that!" She snorted.
"Well, Ariana, no one calls Elsie Aunty because she doesn't want to grow old!" She said amidst laughter. "She prefers being called Elsie to deceive everyone and herself."
"Bianca, that's not true!" Elsie cried out. "Ariana does not listen to her!" She added.
"Okay, what should I believe then?" Ariana beamed at both of them.
"I am the youngest Lawson and I am barely thirty-two years old! Why should anyone call me aunt?" She said flipping her beautiful long hair to the side.
Ariana nodded as Bianca playfully pulled Elsie's cheeks. "You should be ashamed of yourself! Your nephew will be getting married before you!"
Elsie just shrugged it. "This cousin and I, are barely a few years apart. It doesn't matter. It's not like I am forty-seven! Right Ariana?"
"Do not bring dear Ariana into this!" Bianca said and they laughed again.
Their conversations ventured from Elsie's loveless life to Ariana and Calhoun's wedding. They couldn't wait for the day to come so they could all pull strings and make the event perfect. It was long into the night by the time the three women finally said goodnight to one another.
Ariana walked the rest of the way to her room since Elsie and Bianca lived on different wings of the house. She got to the room and unlocked the door. Before she could step in, she felt strong arms on her shoulder.
She turned sharply with wide eyes. She was shocked to find Matt looking down at her with intense eyes.
"Ariana, we need to talk, please," he whispered in a husky voice that made Ariana suddenly feel conscious of herself and the situation in front of her.
Before she could open her mouth to talk, Matt took his hands away and spoke again. "I know that you and my mother don't quite get along but I need to talk to you... you are the only one who could help me with this..."
Ariana's good heart was winning over her more rational part. She knew that Matt had been trying to be nice to her for the past week but she wasn't about to let her guard down and think that all was well.
"I am sorry Matt but can't we talk in the morning?" She asked instead.
"I might not make it till morning, please Ariana..."
Ariana was shocked at his replying. She turned completely towards him and saw how pained his eyes actually looked. Was he thinking of committing suicide or what?
"Why me?" She asked as she squeezed her brows together in thought. "If you need to speak to someone, why does it have to be me? Matt, I—" she started to say but he stopped her.
"I know you are thinking of so many things right now but Ariana, you are the only sane person in this house. My parents are completely hopeless and my grandparents think nothing good could come out of me, tell me who can I speak to?" His voice was broken and Ariana felt her heart squeeze as she was caught between being her usual sweet self and helping the guy or she should throw on her armour and ignore him.
"Matt, you still have your uncle Thomas and Aunt Elsie and Bianca. I am not the person you should be speaking with," she told him calmly.
Matt hissed and pulled at his hair. "You don't understand. I am not talking to you because I don't know that I have a family but because you're the only one who can help in this matter. Besides, I think it does concern you in every way. If I am not wrong, it might cost you your life as well and not just me!" Matt spat.
Ariana was once again shocked. She slowly pulled the door of her bedroom closed and locked it as she swallowed. If she was going to talk to him, then it couldn't be in her room.
"Fine, what is it?" She asked him with a raised brow.
Matt looked behind her and then back to her. There was a small frown she hadn't noticed on his forehead. He looked at the door behind her and then back to her once again before rubbing a hand through his hair. "We can't talk here, can we go in?" He asked testing his chances.
"I am sorry, We can't go to my room. If there is anything you want to tell me, I think you should say it here," Ariana said firmly.
"We can't talk while standing Ariana, it won't look appropriate. You are a beautiful woman, you shouldn't be standing for long?"
At this point, Ariana was certain Matt had nothing important to say. She crossed her hands against her chest and glared at him. "Matt, I have been standing for close to five minutes now and I can stand for twenty-five minutes more if what you want to say is truly important. So what is it?"