Terry felt humiliated at being ignored by Rocky, but armed with the knowledge that he would be at the festival, she made a mental note to start preparations towards that.
’It would be the best informal setting to corner Rocky! It will be my time to shine brightly to him. I can’t let this chance slip by. Daddy is counting on me!’
Rocky would usually not go for such festivities, especially when his sister had not been allowed to in the past. However, the last time he talked to Shelby, he could hear the longing in her voice when she talked about the festival.
Shelby would have no restrictions at all because the festival in question was organized by T-Vino Winery, and she would definitely be there. For Rocky, that meant that Ava would also be there and that was all that mattered.
With each with their thoughts, plans were formed. Plans that would have outcomes, whether desirable or not.
The worker did an about-turn and headed for Brad’s wing and Avril’s old room. He pushed the sophisticated trolley that held the many bags without looking at the owner. Ian’s words were gold, and a newcomer like Avril had no bearing at all.
Avril gritted her teeth in annoyance. She really wanted to stay in the East Wing!
She smiled brightly at Shelby, and Shelby was taken aback. It wasn’t that she had to call Avril an older sister, but the turnaround in attitude was just too abrupt, especially upon hearing Avril’s words of sisterhood.
Shelby sighed and smiled back but concentrated on her meal.
The breakfast went uneventful after that. Shelby and the two kids quickly finished their breakfast and then, stood up together. Shelby was starting to get worried about Samantha.
’It’s been days since I saw her at a meal. We cannot leave Samantha like that. Sigh! I must go check on her.’ Shelby concluded.
Ian got up leisurely as well and leaned towards Shelby.
"Hmmm...." Ian whispered and pulled her in for a deep, toe-curling kiss. Of course, the whole family was used to such, but definitely not Avril. The little pecks and the little caring actions earlier were tolerable, but not what was going on before her eyes.
’What are they doing?’ Avril blushed, and her eyes widened. She clenched her thighs together just from watching them kiss. That was how intense the kiss was. This was no goodbye kiss for just going to work. It was more like a prelim kiss before the main deed was done. ’Why are they being so reckless? Especially in front of children like that?’ Avril thought.
Shelby hummed in contentment, Gabriel covered his eyes, Ingrid looked away, and Geneva watched on in happiness.
’Soon! Very soon!’ Geneva’s eye glinted as she sipped her tea as if in a cinema watching her favourite movie.
Ian nibbled on Shelby’s lips and then reluctantly let her go.
"Let’s go," his gruff voice called out to Gabriel and Ingrid, but this time, Gabriel stuck close to his mother.
Ian’s gaze hardened, "You don’t want to go to school after taking a few days off?" Ian asked,
In essence, James was the kids’ grandfather, and because of this, they had been given a short leave -of absence for the funeral.
Gabriel lowered his head and slipped behind Shelby, holding onto her hand.
"A few days would not hurt. I was planning on visiting the orphanage again today. Maybe I can send them for a breath of fresh air." Shelby skewed her head with a smile.
From the corner of her eye, she saw Ingrid perk up at the mention of ’send them,’ which meant she had already been included. Ingrid tried to hide her smile by lowering her head and letting her hair cover her face.
"You know I can’t say ’No’ when you make that face." He whispered and then leaned in for another kiss. Shelby placed her index finger on his lips to stop him, but Ian only kissed the finger, opened his mouth to swallow it like a lollipop, licked it clean suggestively and winked at her.
That made Shelby blush. She stepped back quickly, knowing very well that their farewell may very well be cancelled if she did not distance herself from him. It had happened one time too many.
Ian rubbed her hair fondly and left decisively.
"I think, it’ll be a family day out then,"
"Yay!" Gabriel started jumping up and down.
"He does not even see his mother in the face of his wife! Hmph!" Geneva harrumphed as Alex shook his head, his eyes softening at his wife’s actions.
’Weren’t you the one who wanted Ian to get closer to his wife more?’
Shelby stretched her hand for Ingrid, waiting patiently until the girl walked over before they started for the rooms.
Suddenly, Gabriel was almost pushed away from Shelby’s side. Ava was very quick to stabilize him.
"Little sister, are you going to your room? Let’s go together!"
Shelby raised her brow questioningly.
"That’s a bit random, Avril. Don’t you want to rest a bit? I mean, you just arrived from a real long journey, I presume?"
"Awwww! My little sister does care for me best. You’re right! I’m dead tired, but work calls! I’ll catch a quick power nap and then get to work. My services are needed. So, little sister, enjoy your time at home." Avril smiled. She also gave Shelby a quick hug, bid her ’parents’ farewell, and then left with Brad in tow.
Shelby gazed at Avril’s back with a meaningful look. She had intentionally used Avril’s name as she did not feel close enough to this person to call her by such intimate relations like little and big sister. Everything about Avril showed that she was at odds with Shelby, and Shelby did not understand.
"Yes dear, are you okay?" Gabriel nodded and glared at Avril’s retreating back.
With that, Shelby started for her room along with her whole entourage.
"Miss Shelby, I don’t think this Avril woman has good intentions towards you...."
"That makes two of you. Even Gabriel said the same thing."
"Count that as three!" Ava added on the side, and Shelby shook her head.
"What’s with you people? Yeah, her first impression was bad, but I don’t think that she is a bad person. She-"
"There she goes again. You need to see people for what they are Shelby! The world is not all rosy! Why-"
"Even her tone of voice was annoying!" Suzie chipped in, lowering her head.
"See? Everyone but you see her for who she is! Or rather, who she portrays herself to be!"
"Ava, you have to give people the benefit of the doubt. Understandably, she was surprised to see me here today, but you can see that she made an effort to be civil later on-"
"You call that civil? Really? The Avril woman was trying to use all the sarcastic words in the world for you in a single sentence, and you still say this? You’re just a lost cause!"
Suzie followed a few steps behind and then ran up, bypassing them to open the door to Shelby’s room for her.
"Gabriel and Ingrid, go grab your bags, and I’ll be out in a bit."
The two children did not need a second call to do that.
Shelby smiled fondly at them and then turned to enter her room, only to stop short.
"Do you like it, Miss?"
Shelby nodded and walked slowly into her room, marvelling at the changes and feeling touched. The whole room had been turned into a giant walk-in closet and dressing area only. Her bed was missing, and it its place, racks of clothes neatly arranged. Shoes were on another side and lingerie, nightwear. It was an endless lady’s haven!
"How long has it been, since you entered this place, Shelby?"
"Huh? Maybe a few weeks." She replied absentmindedly.
"Oooohhhh, so you’ve been so busy sucking him dry that you have not even seen these changes?"
Shelby nearly stumbled and turned sharply to her friend.
"What the hell, Ava!"
"Don’t act like a prude to me! Do you think we do not hear those R-rated moans from his room all the time? Can’t you guys pick a time of the day and do the deed? I understand that you are in the honeymoon phase or whatever, but please give some of us a break!"
"What! Are you still acting so shy? The kids are not here. Anyway, you owe me the jist on that. You have to tell me what it felt like. Girl, you make me so sad that I am still single!"
Ava felt a tinge of guilt when she said this because she had still not told Shelby about her relationship with Josh, which had already fallen apart before it had even taken root. Nor had Ava told Shelby about Rocky’s pursuit of her at all.
Shelby plugged her ears with her fingers and ran into the bathroom, shutting the door behind her.
Ava was right; the few weeks had been bliss. Ian’s stamina was overwhelming, but what surprised her was that she could match him very well. They had tried all positions she could think of and even those that she did not know existed; even thinking of what they do behind closed doors made her blush to her roots.
She had not thought of the fact that other people could hear them when she screamed out his name.
Shelby felt her pussy throb just thinking of that.
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