Geneva spoke so bluntly in front of them, with no regard for how they would probably feel, but they had no reaction whatsoever. The middle biological child, Ingrid, lowered her head as she seemed to be the most affected by this. She was the only one with any reaction as she was very sensitive.
Geneva studied Shelby’s reaction carefully as they had this conversation but saw nothing unusual. Shelby was used to many absurd situations and did not easily reveal her emotions. This made Geneva feel like Shelby was worth her time at that moment.
"Are you done with the meal?" Geneva suddenly asked, "You should treat your body well and nourish it!"
Shelby lowered her head, and a small smile escaped her. ’Geneva is so weird, but in a good way.’ She contemplated.
Shelby then straightened as Gabriel wiggled on her lap a bit, trying to find a good position. With her concentration temporarily on Gabriel, Shelby did not notice that Geneva was sizing her up and conveniently avoided direct eye contact. The table was promptly cleared, but the two women kept quiet, lost in their thoughts. Shelby felt so much out of place, especially with the boy who had attached himself to her like an octopus refusing to let go.
"Grandma, can we leave?" Came the sudden voice of the eldest, who had almost been forgotten after being introduced.
Geneva nodded absentmindedly at Samantha. Samantha turned swiftly and pulled Ingrid, whispering,
"Gabriel, we have to go."
"But why? Mama Shelby is here," he clutched the front of Shelby’s top tightly, almost afraid as if he would be dragged from her lap.
"It’s okay, Samantha. I’ll get him back to you in no time."
The young girl turned and left quickly without sparing her glance or even acknowledging having heard her.
Shelby sighed as she could sense the girl’s dislike for her.
At that time, only the thoughts of the children and their mother were on her mind. No matter how much she thought of it, it did not make much sense. She had even forgotten her own predicament of popping out a baby with a non-existent man. Just then,
Both Shelby and Geneva turned to see a male worker fumbling. He looked like he didn’t know where to put his eyes. Looking everywhere but at the two women as he apologized vigorously.
Geneva waved her hand in a dismissal gesture, and the man literarily ran from the room looking so flushed. It was ridiculous.
Geneva seemed to have a hunch about why her worker was like that because she turned sharply to look at Shelby meeting her clear blue eyes. Geneva quickly looked away, too. On one side, she was happy that the new wife she had gotten for her son had an irresistible charm. It was the best weapon to work on her son, but she was starting to second-guess her choice because other people, especially the males, could not function right when she was around.
"Mum!" The voice brought Geneva out of her thoughts as her second son strode confidently to the room.
"Mum, I-" Brad froze when his eyes landed on the back of Shelby. Brad’s eyes went as round as saucers. Because Shelby’s back faced him, she did not see this. However, she did not want anything to do with her brother-in-law, so she focused on Gabriel instead, busying herself with running her hands through his hair. On the other hand, Geneva wondered what was wrong with her youngest.
The memories from the previous night surfaced, and Brad looked at his hands, which had started to shake. The experience from the night before had shaken him to the core. He felt a slight tingle in his hands as if he was having physical hallucinations. Brad had not slept much during the night and only came in because he thought it was late enough that he might not meet Shelby. How wrong he was!
’She’s a witch!’ These thoughts crossed his mind. He nodded heavily, stumbled back a few steps as if he had seen a ghost and ran! He ran as if he was being chased with his tail between his legs.
But Brad was already long gone.
"What is wrong with him?" Geneva asked no one in particular but looked hard at her daughter-in-law, whose head remained bowed throughout.
Geneva narrowed her eyes because she knew his son very well and hoped he had done nothing stupid.
"Let’s go back to your room if you’re done. We need to do something about your wardrobe." In fact, she had sought out Shelby that morning because of that. She had already prepared what she felt were ’suitable clothes’ for Shelby to aid her in her task.
Geneva rose swiftly and soon, followed by Katie and even Suzie. They were both outside Shelby’s room. Geneva paused, hovered around Ian’s door for a while, and then entered Shelby’s.
This time, she personally went to the wardrobe and opened it. She grabbed a couple of attires and held them up.
Shelby blushed upon seeing them and turned Gabriel away simultaneously.
"Is – i-s this what she prepared?" She muttered to herself as she got impossibly more embarrassed as more were taken out of the closet. Suzie’s expression was just like Shelby’s, but as a slightly experienced woman, Katie did not have much of an obvious reaction.
Lingerie, thongs, see-through slips-ons, crotchless one-piece and much similar attire, came out one after the other.
Geneva herself hesitated and looked at them. Initially, she had thought, ’Sexy, does it!’ But now, she kind of changed her mind because of thoughts of occurances withing the short period Shelby had been with them.
’Even without these, my staff cannot function around her- The original plan had to be scratched.’ She thought.
"Never mind these. I’ll leave them here for now. I don’t have to teach you how to use them, right?"
"Are these the only -"
"Katie, go get her a few ’decent ones’ to walk around the house in, but make sure she has these on whenever my son decides to let himself out of that room."
"W-wear that? And nothing else?"
Geneva shook her head and wondered,
’Why is she so prim and proper with looks that others will kill for?’
"How else do you expect to get that monk out of that room? In a sackcloth wrapped all around your body?"
Suzie muffled her laughter and looked away. "As I said, the task is as simple as it gets. Get his seed and get pregnant! Then all that has been given to your family will not be demanded back!"
Shelby stepped back, startled at the fierce and cold look in Geneva’s eyes.
"Only then will we consider you family. For now, you are just an outsider with a task! I can equally find anyone else. You are not the only woman out there who will be willing to spread her legs for my boy. ... But you indeed have an advantage, and that is why you are here, despite the ridiculous conditions of your family!"
Thank you so much to all for your votes and comments! I hope we can keep it up ^_^