CHAPTER 113
BRIANNA'S POV
By the time we made it downstairs, Sebastian’s uncle was already settled in the dining waiting for us.
The dining area was set beautifully, with candles casting a warm light over the table and assorted dishes that made it look like a food haven as though we were hosting a mega feast. It was just the three of us and no other person. I don’t know if the maids didn’t consider that or if Sebastian ordered them to make this large quantity of food.
On seeing us step down and approach, a wide grin set on his uncle’s face. Immediately, he stood up and embraced Sebastian tightly for a long time, their laughter and outburst of joy echoing in the dining area and beyond.
I took in a deep subtle breath and tried to steady my nerves as I waited to be introduced.
When they pulled away, they made a special handshake that seemed a bit childish but like something they’d been doing for who knows how long.
I guess Sebastian was right when he said his uncle was the most easy-going person he knew. He seemed cool and friendly. And that gave me hope that we’ll get along just fine.
He had a tall, imposing figure like Sebastian. And also Sebastian’s creamy brown chocolate eyes and once thick beard and unruly hair, except he was steely grey. Though his features were ageing, he still looked handsome like an older version of Sebastian.
I forced and maintained a smile, my cheekbones protesting as Sebastian was about to introduce me to him.
“Uncle Joe, I’d like for you to meet….”
To my surprise, his uncle took him by the shoulder and interrupted him, diverting his attention from me as he led him to sit beside him at the dining table.
My eyes flickered with confusion as I couldn’t understand what just happened. But I tried not to find fault or think too much about it so I took a seat at the other end of the table though I wanted to sit with Sebastian. Since his uncle was spending the night in the castle, there was more than enough time for Sebastian to introduce me. So I didn’t need to worry or rush things.
We started eating. For several minutes, his uncle talked nonstop about how long it's been since they last saw each other, royal stuff and Catherine’s passing. I couldn’t help but notice how much he praised Catherine as though she was one irreplaceable goddess. Though I tried not to dwell on it, that made me extremely worried. It made me fear I might never live up to Catherine’s standards. Fear I can never be good enough for Sebastian.
At some point, I thought Sebastian lost interest in their talk.
I couldn’t bring myself to eat because of the worry and nerves acting up on me. I just played around with the food like a bored child.
Sebastian must have noticed because he cleared his throat noisily to catch my attention. I looked up at him and he shot me a reassuring smile. I managed to return it.
“Uncle Joe I’d like for you to meet Brianna,” he finally decided to call the shots as he gestured towards me with a proud smile on his face.
The fork I was holding clanged noisily on the plate as I quickly left it. Awkwardly, I composed myself, swallowing a lump that formed at the back of my throat the moment his uncle’s gaze flew to me.
“Oh…” he raised his brow in surprise, looking at me as though that was his first time noticing my presence. “Sorry for not noticing you earlier. It’s just that my boy and I haven’t caught up for such a long time I forgot about every other thing. But…but I didn’t think you would be joining us…”
His face scrunched up as he threw both Sebastian and me confused glances.
I didn’t say anything. I just managed a small smile and lowered my gaze, feeling…embarrassed.
“Don’t feel bad,” he said as he noticed. “What did you say your name was again?” He asked.
I raised my head and replied quickly. “Brianna…Brianna Campbell.”
“Where are you from? Who are your parents? Which kingdom are they ruling?” He asked all at once, catching me off-guard. I didn’t know which one to answer first.
Blood began to pound in my temples. My thoughts reeled and knotted inside my head and my breath fluttered in my chest.
I had a bad feeling about this. Did he think I was of royal blood? Think my parents were an Alpha King and Queen? Why was he thinking that way? He shouldn’t think that way. Was it because of how I looked?
Right now I wished Sebastian had given him a heads-up about me before this dinner. If he did, then his uncle won’t be asking me all this.
“Em…em…I…my...” I stuttered, unable to find my words.
I glanced at Sebastian. He heaved a deep quiet sigh and squeezed his eyes shut in somewhat disappointment.
I have succeeded in bruising the pride he had for me. I have succeeded in disgracing him in front of the one person who mattered a lot in his life.
Fuck…I was a big mess.
“What?” His uncle leaned in, looking at me as though I was a dumb student. I couldn’t help but think he was trying to sabotage me in front of Sebastian. “Did the cat suddenly get your tongue?”
He looked at Sebastian.
“Where did you say you found this girl?”
“We met at….” Before Sebastian could finish, he cut him off, saying.
“I know that whatever you’re about to tell me is a lie. You’re trying to cover for her.”
He looked back at me and ground words angrily from his teeth. “Mere looking at you, I can tell you’re nothing special. How dare you sit and dine with people of high social standing like us? Have you no shame? No fear…respect?...” He cocked a brow.
“I won’t sit back and watch you talk to my fiancée like that, uncle?” Sebastian cut in sharply to defend me.
My lips parted in disbelief as he called me his fiancée. He has never addressed me as that before. What were his plans? We just got together and promised to take things slow.
Him calling me that in front of his uncle will only make things worse. And I didn’t want that. I didn’t want him to ruin the lifelong relationship he had with his uncle because of me.
“I will fucking talk to her however I fucking want,” he replied Sebastian sternly. “You must be out of your mind to make her….an omega. Not just any omega but an omega from the slave auction your fiancée. Do you think I wouldn’t know? I have lived long enough to tell who is who across all kingdoms. Even her Omega scent is so suffocating I could choke on it,” he rolled his eyes and grimaced with disgust.
“Are you blind, kiddo?! Can’t you fucking see people like her have no place in our life? They’re beneath us and forever will be. Their role is only to worship and serve us wherever and whenever we want. Not to dine with us!”
I stiffened at what his uncle said, my heart dropping and sinking into my stomach. Since Catherine passed, no one has said such a disdainful thing to me.
My eyes widened and brewed with unshed tears. I continued blinking, almost uncontrollably to hold them back from falling. I can’t afford to cry in front of his uncle. It will only make him think he has the upper hand. And I can’t give him that satisfaction.
Gently, I pushed my chair back and stood up. I just bowed and without saying anything, started making my way upstairs.
“Brianna…Brianna…please don’t go…” Sebastian called me a few times but I shook my head and shut my ears to his pleas. I can’t believe he had all this prepared and me looking this beautiful just to be dragged through the mud by his uncle.
He tried to chase after me but I heard his uncle say something that stopped him from doing so.
I put my hands over my mouth to cage in the sobs that shook me like a terrible earthquake, but they were too powerful to be stopped and resonated through. The tears I struggled to hold back poured down effortlessly as if released from a floodgate, drenching my cheeks and hand.
That caused me to quicken my steps upstairs because I didn’t want them or any of the maids to see me in such a state.
Just as I was about to reach the last step, the hem of my dress got caught in my heels, causing me to stumble and lose my balance. Gravity pulled me and I fell down the hard wooden stairs. I could hear the seams of my dress ripping as I fell, my head and body striking against the stairs with a sickening thud. Gasps and shouts followed. I saw Sebastian running towards me, but I couldn’t see him clearly as darkness took over.