Just as soon as the words left his mouth, Ian added, a bit more harshly to himself,
"You’re stupid, Ian. Who can ever control you? Does such a person exist? You read that info yourself. The oath cannot be taken against your will. So, stop being an asshole and man up to your actions."
However, knowing this and accepting it were proving to be too difficult for Ian to handle. Thinking deeply about this, he couldn’t be blamed much. He was obsessed with one girl, and he had committed his whole being to another without being aware of it. It was more like he had two wives vying for attention in his mind. This made his mind ache with a sharp pain, as though a thousand thoughts were fighting for attention.
The car door was opened for them by Albert with a bow. "We’ve arrived, Miss."
Gabriel’s loud and lively chatterbox-like voice was the only one heard amongst them.
Albert stood straight and waited for his opening before sending another exaggerated bow.
"Thank you so much for the help, Albert."
"It was my pleasure, young madam."
"Young Master Brad! Are you heading out?"
The group all turned to see Brad, who had been about to turn and head back into the house.
"Fuck! Curse that blabbermouth!"
Brad had spent a miserable day. It had only been a few short hours, within which he felt like he was going crazier by the minute.
This was after his unexpected visitor who had ’helped him clean his room.’
To Brad, it was a complex state of mind. Have you ever felt like you’re losing yourself? Brad knew exactly how that felt at that time. His mind had almost deteriorated to a point where he couldn’t recognize himself anymore. It’s a scary feeling, and he was struggling to find a way back to who he used to be. It was a pity.
He had spent the better part of that time gnawing his fingernails and squeezing himself into a corner of his bed and in his room. Brad had tried to stay awake as much as he could, but that also proved to be difficult. After staying awake for almost a day in constant fear, he developed a pounding headache, bloodshot eyes, and a general lack of focus.
"Let’s go out to get some fresh air!"
However, he had hardly stepped out of the estate when he met the person who had been the onset of all his problems.
Brad had been petrified on his feet. His one thought, ’Couldn’t I have picked a better time?’ By the time he had decided to sneak out of there, Suzie had spotted him.
However, whether he had been seen or not, Brad did not linger at the scene and ran away as if he was being chased. The last thing he wanted to do was meet those cursed beautiful blue eyes. His eyes were frantic and unfocused, and he had no idea of what direction he had taken. All he wanted to do was get out of the scene, and that was what he did.
"What’s wrong with him?" Shelby asked in puzzlement—suzie shrug. Shelby was not his biggest fan after what he had attempted that night, but wasn’t it strange that he was the one acting that way?
These were Shelby’s thoughts as she made her way back to the central wing.
"Mama Shelby, I had fun!"
"Me too, Gabriel! Thank you for accompanying me."
Shelby headed there because she knew that Geneva would be there as usual. The older woman was now busy knitting a delicate sweater.
Geneva nodded at her without much acknowledgement to the children. Ingrid pulled Gabriel, and they both sent a solemn but polite greeting to the older people in the room before leaving. Even though Gabriel was reluctant, Ingrid did not give him a chance, dragging him away.
Geneva called out, dragging Shelby out of her focus on the children.
Shelby obediently walked over but was surprised by Geneva’s actions. She placed the half-knitted sweater on her stomach.
"This should be okay!" She nodded at something she only understood. Katie itched to laugh out loud but held herself back. Shelby refrained from asking as she sensed the answer would be unpleasant.
"Let’s have dinner together today."
"Yes, Mum. I even brought you some snacks from my friend,"
"What possibly could your friend do that would be better than Katie’s or even the chef? Let them prepar-"
Suzie, who had been about to pitch into the conversation, immediately shut up from the glare sent from Katie. Suzie seemed to have lost her direction and most of her education after staying with Shelby for a few weeks. Shelby was not a sucker for rules and was even grateful for the suggestions brought forth by her, but with that, she sometimes forgot her place when she was with the elders.
"Suzie, since your mistress is back, please go assist them in the back."
Suzie stepped back even straighter and bowed, leaving them. Only she knew that ’assisting them in the back’ meant more than it sounded. She had overstepped her bounds several times without punishment and had forgotten the strict training that they had gone through.
"Sit by me and have a chat as they prepare the dinner." Geneva patted the empty place on the settee on which she sat.
So, Shelby sat by Geneva, and they talked casually, but it wasn’t long before their conversation was cut short, and Alex joined them in the room. Geneva smiled up at him, and Alex kissed her hair, giving her a side hug before taking another vacant seat. The tiredness in his demeanour was very evident. But Geneva started with talks of work, knowing very well that he would want to get it off his chest.
"How are the vines that were in trouble?"
"Don’t get me started on it. It’s getting worse by the day."
"Isn’t it a relief that we managed to finish most of the harvest before this? Usually, it’s a race against time with the weather and everything, but we made it! So, we shouldn’t have lost much?"
A deep sense of concern crept over Alex as he slowly shook his head, his troubled expression intensifying even more.
"I wish it were that simple Geneva dear, but it’s not, -"
The conversation flew over her head, and Shelby also let her mind wander about the day’s events.
A stern shout from Geneva wrung her back to the room to meet Alex’s gaze on her, making her feel uncomfortable.
"What is wrong with you, Katie? Have you lost yourself too?"
Shelby’s gaze left Alex, but she still felt his penetrating gaze on her. She turned to look at Katie, wondering what was up with her only to see her eyes on her too.
For Katie, she had been lost in thought on Shelby or, rather, the painting she had created of Geneva. Thinking of the painting gave Katie the creeps. It was evident how beautiful the painted image was, but looking at it gave one a melancholy-like feeling as if the painting was so sad that it projected on the person looking. It kind of grew on you the more you looked at it. Since she had taken it upon herself to take care of it, she was the one affected the most.
Just that thought was enough to give her goosebumps. With her gaze stuck on Shelby, wondering how she did that, she did not hear when Geneva had called her.
"Do I have to remind you to get Alex a glass of water or refreshing juice before you do?" Geneva snapped. Katie apologized profusely and left to give instructions to get that done. She beat herself up in her head for her negligence.
After she had left, Geneva turned to Shelby,
"I love that you were able to get closer to my block-headed son. But whatever you are doing to him, can you minimize it around others? Now even Katie is getting affected. Just look at my husband?"
Alex cleared his throat embarrassingly for having been caught, but there was no guilt on his face. Shelby lowered her head in embarrassment. However, Alex only said,
"Forgive my wife, as she can be blunt sometimes. Also, I am sorry for making you feel self-conscious about yourself."
She lowered her head, not even knowing what to feel. She wished that it were that simple, but People’s reaction to her supposed beauty was something that she did not understand herself.
"How are you settling in?"
"Why does she get to be called Mum and I am called ’Sir’? That is not fair!"
Shelby burst out laughing so brightly that the older couple averted their eyes momentarily.
"That’s more like it!"
Katie returned then with tea and the ’fruits’ that Shelby had returned with.
"If you get to talk to that bull-headed son of mine, please talk some sense into him. The business really needs him. He had that.... What is it called? ... Ah, yes! That Midas touch. I really need him now."
Shelby nodded and added,
"Oh my! Who made this? Katie, did you come up with something new?"
Katie was interrupted by Geneva. "What’s the fuss about some fruits? It’s just-"
She stopped mid-sentence with a funny look on her face as if she had achieved a food orgasm with that one bite. It was a truly delicious sensation that Geneva did not remember feeling much in her life.
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