Chapter 146: The Breakfast to Remember

The next morning came about and Jennifer made it her mission to find out more about who Madam Serena was as she was her only, lead to solving the mystery of her predicament. She arrived just in time as breakfast was being made. Finally, the time had come for Jennifer to meet her new in-laws in person.

Walking with heavy, calculated steps, Jennifer opened the guarded doors of the dining room and was met with the second biggest dining room she had seen (second to the Bennett's mansion). At the head of the table, she saw her husband, and seated on his far right was a beautiful young lady she easily identified as Victoria Bennett, her sister-in-law.

They were all seated around the table, laughing and conversing. However, as soon as she entered, Alexander, who had been laughing in a lively manner, quickly wore an expressionless face and took a rigid posture.

"How kind of you to finally grace us with your presence, my dear sister-in-law," Lucas sneered. "I was just talking about you changing forms and bolting. After all, you Bennett's are quite famous for being two-faced, so it wouldn't come as a surprise." Lucas, her brother-in-law, said in an overly enthusiastic tone from where he sat opposite Victoria.

Alexander let out a laugh, "Come, sit by me, so we can begin the meal." Alexander said, gesturing for her to take the seat on his left.

"Yes, Alexander ." Jennifer responded nervously, as she hurriedly walked over to take her seat.

A guard waiting in the dining hall pulled her seat, and the maids served her.

After her arrival, there was no more conversation between the Romano siblings. They all took their servings, and it was time to say grace.

"Would you do us the honor of saying grace, my dear sister-in-law?" Lucas asked in a mocking tone and Jennifer flinched.

Alexander, eyes like a hawk looking at its prey, nodded and repeated.

"Yes, my dear Isabella. Do us the honor," he said.

Victoria, noticing their antics and understanding that they had made it their mission to torment Jennifer, glared at both of her brothers until they got the message and stopped smiling.

"I'm sure Isabella is used to eating with her family and is unfamiliar with our customs, so I'll say grace," she spoke and looked at her brother with a knowing look.

Lucas, sensing his sister's piercing gaze, yielded and let her pray. Sophia, the youngest, could not care about her older siblings' bickering, because she was too deep and focused on her phone as she scrolled through social media.

When the prayer was done, Jennifer visibly heaved a sigh. She said ", uhm, if you all don't mind, can you please call you by my other name, Jennifer." This was because Jennifer could make sure she did not lose herself in this pretense she was like the real Isabella.

Alexander chuckled out loud " Jennifer, oh I'm sorry, maybe we should add a queen to your name while we are at it." he said mockingly.

Victoria said "Ignore him, if you want to be called Jennifer, then that is what we will call you."

"So, Jennifer, I'm curious. What is breakfast like in the Romano household? Did your servers and staff go around dressed in kittens?" Lucas asked with an expression so innocently curious that naive Jennifer didn't realize what he had implied.

Before Jennifer could respond, Victoria slammed her hand down on the table and hissed, "That is enough Lucas!" Victoria boomed in a strong tone as she glared at her brother, filling him with instant regret. He knew he had crossed the line in his sister's eyes and, although he felt and showed no remorse for his words, he felt bad because he had disappointed her.

Victoria shook her head at her little brother, then turned to Alexander to give him a stern look, making it clear that she wouldn't let him off if he took over from Lucas in harassing Jennifer.

Alexander understood and yielded to his sister's reprimanding and the 'family' began to take their meal.

Stressed by everything that had occurred in the few minutes of her arrival, Jennifer was determined to be done and out of there as fast as possible. She ate quickly but maintained basic etiquette. The five were silent for a while after that and the tension in the room rose until Victoria felt that it would suffocate her if she didn't attempt to break the ice.

"You know Isabell….. Jennifer, Ricotta and Honey go very well. If you spread creamy ricotta cheese on toasted bread or crackers and drizzle it with honey, you will be in for a sweet and creamy treat," she said.

Startled by Victoria speaking to her, Jennifer was too nervous to realize that it wasn't an order but a suggestion and quickly followed the instructions. She took a bite and, with the explosion of creamy flavor in her mouth, her eyes bulged out, and she unconsciously said.

"Hmm, this is so good," she said as she savored its taste.

"I knew you would love it," Victoria replied, delighted. Jennifer was visibly more relaxed and the tension in the room had drastically reduced.

Breakfast continued as Victoria added more items to Jennifer's list of best snacks and brought other small talk to ease her anxiety.

Uninterested in their conversation, Alexander and his brother resigned themselves as they finished the rest of their breakfast in silence.

Alexander was the first to be done, and he ordered the maids to clear his plate, then turned his gaze toward Jennifer, who sat on his left.

"I have business to attend to and I will not be back till late in the evening. It is none of your business where I am going, but if I receive word that you have gone against my rules in any way, you can rest assured that the distance between me and you would be the least of your worries."

With that said, he stood up and made his way towards the exit of the dining room.

Just then, Victoria got a call and had to stand up to leave.