Chapter 96: A Slide On The Maternal Line
1573words
'Uncle Max!" Andrea screamed, running into his outstretched arms, a giggle falling to her lips while Andrew just strolled towards them behind her, Sapphire had an idea how her children would turn out to be when they grow up.
'If it is the cutest kids to ever exist," He replied, hugging both of them closely and the kids beamed at him.
'Why haven't you come over to our house, mom said that you would come but the days keep increasing and there is no sight of you," Andrea said, a pout on her lips and Maxwell chuckled.
'Honestly, there was no other reason for us to come to this place, if not for the fact that we wanted to see you," Andrew said, emphasizing on the words ‘this place' while looking around with a stare that screamed how inferior he deemed the Conrad mansion compared to their house and both Melissa and Marylynne couldn't help the scoff that fell from their lips.
'We missed you so much, it would have been better to stay back at home with dad, he is so much fun and family meetings bore me out but here we are, just because we wanted to see you," Andrea said and Maxwell nodded at them before ruffling their hair.
'So you should learn to appreciate the kids' effort," Ruby said to Maxwell before stopping at Madam Emiliana's side and pecking at her. 'Hi, Grandma," He greeted sweetly and the older woman smiled at him, nodding her head in response.
'Hi grandma," Sapphire greeted when she stopped in front of the older woman and the woman stared up at her face. The elegant woman turned to look at her kids who were chatting with Maxwell and beckoned unto them.
'You should greet your great-grandmother, kids," Sapphire said and they stopped what they were doing to stare at her, they raised a brow at her and she nodded at them in assurance.
They started walking toward them in firm and steady steps before stopping right in front of the matriarch of Conrad Family, they just stood there and stared straight into the woman's eyes while the rest of the family stared at the rude kids in disbelief.
Sapphire knew what her kids were doing, this is their own way of protecting her. Her kids had heard from her friends and from the media the kind of family she was from and none of them had anything good to say about them.
'How expected of kids born from a runaway nuisance, they are so rude," Melissa said and Andrea turned to stare at who talked and furrowed her brows at the woman.
'How expected of the rich brat that stayed at home, you like interfering in things that are none of your business," Andrea snapped back and Melissa stared at the kid, speechless, that was the second time she was dissing her and she had no word, the first time was at the party and now in a gathering.
'Wow..." Arielle trailed off under her breath, how on earth did Sapphire raise her kids to be this snarky?
'You would talk respectfully to your aunt," Marylynne commanded angrily, glaring at the kids.
She thought in her mind that it would be good if these kids recognize and respect her as their grandmother, then she could make a firm connection in the Aldine family through them, after all it is as clear as day that Alexander loves this kids a lot as well as the Patriarch of the Aldine family.
She always overheard him talk about how cute his great-grandchildren are whenever the opportunity arose when he was playing golf with the rich old men and women that were as rich as him.
Arielle started from the kids, to furious Melissa, then Sapphire who looked so relax and calm like her mother aren't screaming down her beloved kids head and finally at Aunt Marylynne who had a frown etched between her eyebrows and nodded in understanding, they needed no training when it ran in the blood.
Andrea and Andrew stared at the woman before turning to look at their mom in question.
'Who the hell is she?" Andrew asked and Marylynne stared at them with wide, shocked eyes.
'I am your grandmother!" She screamed at them before Sapphire could answer but none of the kids flinched.
'We do not have a grandmother," Andrew replied simply which made Marylynne raise her hand to her head when she felt a headache brewing.
'What…." She trailed off in disbelief.
'Did you tell your kids that your mother is dead?" Melissa asked Sapphire, a death glare on her face but Sapphire merely shrugged at her which made her even more furious.
'That is so unfilial of you, I mean... the kids are saying that they had no grandma with the certainty you used to say that one plus one is two," Arielle added but she secretly enjoyed the show.
Aunt Brielle, Matthew, Maxwell and his father all sat back and watched the drama that was happening. It had been a while since things had gotten interesting in the dining room.
'I am pretty sure that my ears and eyes were working perfectly well when I watched the interview where you confirmed that you disown our mother, you said that she stopped being your child a long time ago, how dare you try to call us your grandchildren?" Andrea replied and turned back to look at Mrs. Emiliana. 'We don't have a grandmother, maybe a great-grandmother but not a grandmother," She finalized and the other members of the Conrad family couldn't help the dumbfounded expression that settled perfectly on their face.
'Hello, Grandma, nice to meet you," Andrea said with a big smile. 'I am Andrea," she said and bowed.
'Hi, I am Andrew, it is so nice to meet you and sorry for our attitude earlier," Andrew said beside her and bowed as well, a sign of respect towards their maternal great-grandmother.
Madam Emiliana reached forward and raised both kids before hugging them to herself, whispering some words to them while both Sapphire and Ruby went to find themselves a seat.
'Hi Sapphire," Matthew greeted and Sapphire smiled at the man before nodding.
'Hi Matt," Sapphire said and that brought a broad smile to the man's face, that was what she used to call him before all this mess started.
Things were slowly going back to the way they were and Matthew couldn't be happier, he was glad that he took on Claire's advice to give her the space she needs.
Melissa raised her head to stare at Matthew, her whole expression screamed 'Oh, Really?" but the guy didn't even spare her a glance.
'Wow, you haven't been at home all week and since we sat at this table, all you did was bury your face in your phone but as soon as you saw Sapphire you became an extrovert, how cool!" Aunt Brielle said sarcastically.
Maxwell nodded his head in realization, that must have been the reason why Melissa kept staring at Matthew's face like it was a painting, the only person she genuinely listen to was absent from home for a week and when he is finally around, he ignored her existence, it must hurt Melissa's egotistical pride.
They have all settled down behind the table comfortably, the kids sitting comfortably between Maxwell and Matthew while Sapphire sat on the empty chair between Arielle and Melissa which made both ladies scoff in disbelief.
'Where is the darn third granddaughter?" Aunt Brielle asked just as they started to eat and Arielle looked around, she seemed to just realize that she was absent, Melissa looked lost in thought while Sapphire didn't give a damn and continued eating.
'She is…" Arielle started saying but stopped whatever she was trying to say when the door opened and Venita entered, to everyone's shock she was in a good mood.
'Psychopaths all around, she is grinning like her career didn't just crash," Arielle said in surprise while Melissa just stared at her suspiciously.
'I see that you all missed me," she said with a small laugh. 'Don't, I am here now," she continued.
'Imbecile," Aunt Brielle said.
'Useless," Felix muttered.
'She is really nuts," Maxwell said while Melissa just kept staring at her suspiciously, she is hundred percent certain now that Venita had done or is up to something.
'So," Madam Emiliana said after they had all started eating but none of them focused their attention on her. 'I gathered you all regarding matters that had to do with the plant," she continued and successfully got their attention now except for Sapphire and her kids who kept eating like none of the thing happening was their business, they were right, it wasn't.
'The family Company," Matthew asked and she nodded in confirmation.
'What about it?" Melissa asked.
She is the most defensive about the company matters because she was heavily involved with the matters that had to do with the plant and most decision making passes through her, she gives out 'I would be the CEO vibes" most of the time.
'I want Sapphire to resume there as the General Manager."
