(Freya's POV).
I couldn't sleep last night because I was thinking about the messages and memos I received. I immediately turned off my cell phone. I slept in Adam's room because I was afraid something bad would happen. I even told Silvanna not to open the door to strangers.
I also asked my driver not to let anyone near Adam while he was at school. I was so scared.
He knew everything I did daily. Knowing I was having dinner with Devan meant he followed me around all the time.
I should have done something from the first time I got the flowers. And now, everything has happened. I didn't know who to tell because I was also afraid that he would find out that I told this matter to someone else and he would threaten to hurt him.
I got out of the car when I reached my family's mansion. Adam followed me and took my hand as we went inside.
"Are you here yet?" Tristan was the first to greet me as I entered the mansion. Giving me a quick hug and a peck on my cheek.
"Yes. Where is everyone?"
"They're in the back garden. Come on," he said as he took my hand and Adam's.
As we walked out of the mansion area into the back garden, Adrienne walked towards us with an annoyed look on her face.
"What are you doing here?" she asked in an irritated tone.
"I came to join you for dinner."
"No one invited you! And you're not welcome in our family!" snapped Adrienne.
"Adrienne, stop. I told her to come," Tristan said with an annoyed expression. "And behave yourself. There's Adam. Aren't you embarrassed?"
"Why would I be embarrassed? After all, she's not part of our family!" exclaimed Adrienne.
"I can leave if you don't want me here," I said in a low voice.
"Yes, leave! You should have realized from the start that you don't deserve to be here."
"Adrienne!" snapped Tristan.
"What?!" she shouted, "Do you want to slap my face? Or do you want to kick me out of here?, who's your sister, huh? Me or her!" she pointed at my face with bulging eyes.
"You're both my sister...."
"What the hell are you doing guys?"
I looked back and I saw Maria, our mother, walking towards us.
"Mom..."
"Adrienne, watch your temper. Let Vivian have dinner with us and stop fighting," Maria said, trying to break up our argument.
"But, Moms."
"Enough, we should have dinner together." She took Adrienne's hand and led her to sit at the dining table.
Tristan invited me to sit too. The chef came over with some grilled meat and placed it on our plates.
"Vivian, I heard that the fundraiser on the night of the auction went well," Maria said as she busily sliced the high-quality meat and devoured it with relish.
"Yes, it did. It was all thanks to everyone who participated," I said.
"You're very talented indeed. Is that why your father gave you more shares than his other children?"
"Mom!" Tristan protested.
I just smiled in response to Maria's remark.
"Mom, I'm not interested in the business world. So, I have a plan to hand over my position as CEO completely to Tristan. After all, he's the one better suited for the position."
"Vivian, never mind..." he protested. "Are we having a family dinner or a business dinner?"
"Why don't you just give us all the shares you have? Because you don't deserve them either!" exclaimed Adrienne in a cold tone.
I fell silent. I was surprised when my father passed away and the legal expert said that I got more shares as my inheritance. It even included the position of CEO.
On the other hand, I felt guilty for Tristan because he was the son of the house. Ever since I came to this house, he's been the one who's always been kind to me. Taking care of me during my pregnancy until I brought Adam into this world.
That's why every time I saw his face, I blamed myself for what had happened.
"If that's what you want, I can do it...."
"Vivian, enough. You don't have to listen to Adrienne's crazy talk."
"Why? Don't you think the same way? She's not the father's biological daughter, but she's the one who got more inheritance when he died. You're the oldest child in the family, but you don't get anything. I know you don't think it's fair either, do you?!"
"Adrienne, stop talking nonsense," Tristan said. He glanced at her sharply. He had lost his appetite earlier.
"You're too stupid, Tristan. If you continue to be soft like this, you'll be kicked out of your position as CEO and you'll be homeless because she took all our wealth!" she shouted.
"Adrienne!" snapped Tristan. He stood up in anger.
"Tristan, it's okay. I'm fine." I pulled his arm to sit back down, trying to calm him.
"You all have nothing to worry about. I already feel grateful to be a part of this family. And I'm also not in the mood to keep all the treasures that Father gave me. It will take some time, so... you guys just wait."
"That's fine if you feel that way," Adrienne snapped.
Tristan glared at Adrienne. I knew he was annoyed with his sister's attitude. But I'm never happy when they fight just because of you. Just because a stranger came into the middle of their originally peaceful family.
At that moment, I heard my cell phone ring. My forehead furrowed when I saw Devan's name on my phone screen.
"Who's it from? Why aren't you taking the calls?" asked Tristan.
"Oh, um, I'll take this call first," I said as I stood up from my chair. I walked some distance away from the dining table. And pressed the green button on my phone screen. "Hello?"
I furrowed my brow as I didn't hear any voice from the other side of the phone.
"Devan?" I called, but there was still no sound.
There was only a scaly sound that came from nowhere.
"Devan?" Once again, I called his name.
Until I heard the sound of something falling. Like a glass cup, or something similar. I gasped in shock. My eyes widened with exploding worry.
"Devan!? Are you okay?!"