Chapter 120: Relax, Zia

Zia's POV

My plan was going painfully slow. I had promised Hillary a situation where he could take Elara without anyone suspecting him, but that situation had refused to come.

Elara never left the house. And she was never alone. It was either one of those two brats were with her, or mother, or some maid.

Mother... That bloody bitch elara had managed to win over her too. I had caught the both of them laughing a few times with each other, smiling as though I had been tossed aside and Elara has been converted to the first choice.

Gritting my teeth, I got up and walked away, squeezing my hands into a fist while muttering. 'I'd kill you Elara!' she yelled, even though her voice was always whispering.

I had to out up with all of that, but I wasn't complaining because, it was only a matter of time before she got what was coming for her.

Only that, Elara's cup was slowly tipping over, the second it does... I wouldn't be able to take it anyone.

...

The next morning, I woke up with a headache, and a slight pain in my chest. My first thought was to grab my medicines just over on the table when I happened to see the calender, and today's date.

My heart dropped as soon as I saw it.

Jane's death anniversary.

Today made it eight years since she had died.

A cold shiver ran down my spine, and I looked away from the calender.

A thought came to my head, and I stopped.

Today was Jane's death anniversary.

But there was one person that day affected much more than me.

A small smile tugged at my lips. Finally, today would be it.

Without wasting much time, I went to the bathroom to freshen up before heading downstairs for breakfast.

As usual, mother was already seated at the head chair, leaning her back on the chair, her two hands on the table while her eyes were closed.

Beside her sat the twins.

Just like their grandmother, they both had their hands placed on the table, but their eyes were wide opened.

As soon as they noticed me, an emotion of fear passed through their eyes. One sat upright, avoiding eye contact with me.

That was fine.

It was better for them to think of me as the bogeyman than to make any mistakes around me.

My eyes roamed around the dining.

Jayden wasn't present, same with the bitch Elara.

"Good morning, mother." I greeted Victoria before taking a seat adjacent the second head chair, the place which would be closest to Jayden whenever he arrived.

Bending down, I was about placing my butt on the chair, when Victoria's stern voice flowed into my ears.

"Don't seat there." It sounded more like a command than a suggestion.

I froze in that awkward position and stayed there for a few seconds before standing straight.

Victoria tapped the empty seat next to her. "Come seat close to me." She said, her tone void of any emotion.

My eyes darted towards the seat, then towards the kids, to be precise, the one who stood opposite where mother didn't want me sitting.

"Hey kid..." I called him, I hadn't bothered to learn their names. The kid raised his head to look at me. "Come sit here. I want to be close to my fiance today."

The kid blinked,

"What?" Then he shook his head, "No."

"Huh?" I replied in shock.

Did the kid just say no to me?

But instead of him answering, his brother did for him. "It's scary enough that we have to seat opposite you." Said the mroe enthusiastic brother who looked more like Elara, "If I sat next to you, I might die!"

My nose twitched, and I felt a sudden surge of anger rise in my chest.

"You little..." I took a step towards them, but before I could do anything, Elara and Jayden walked in... Together?

"Oh Elara, Jayden..." Victoria beamed as soon as she saw them. Even the twins who had shrunk to their seat lit up at the sight of Elara.

Fine.

Let me be the bad guy.

I couldn't do anything anymore, and my plan of sitting next to Jayden had been ruined. I could only resign to the seat next to Victoria.

"Hey Elara, how was your night?" Victoria asked Elara. It had been over five minutes, and the food had already been brought to the table.

Elara who had just placed a spoon in her mouth looked up, "Good." She muttered, rubbing the back of the spoon on her tongue.

But her action wasn't what caught my attention, it was the faint red stain that appeared on her cheeks, and the subtle smile on Jayden's lips.

'Don't tell me...'

My grip on my soon tightened as I watched the both of them.

Victoria seemed to notice something too.

"Jayden, how was yours?" She asked the same question.

I noticed the way Jayden's eyes darted to Elara before answering. "Good."

No.

There was definitely something going on.

Victoria cleared her throat, a smile forming on her lips. She could notice whatever nonsense was going on between them too, only that unlike me, it brought a smile to her face.

"You copied her answer." She stated, looking down at her food as if her words didn't mean anything. "Was it because...?"

No.

"He didn't copy anything, they just had the sane answer." I interrupted her before she could finish her words, while copying her actions of looking down and pretending to be oblivious of how much impact my words had. "Ask me the same question and my answer would be good as well."

Something was going on. But it could only be stamped as though once someone mentioned it.

Until then, I would rather chose not to acknowledge it.

"Excuse me," Victoria smiled. It was the small amused smile she always had on her cheeks. "Relax Zia."

How the fuck could I do that?

"I am relaxed, mother." I answered, forcing myself to sound calm. "I just don't want anyone assuming anything."

Victoria didn't say another word, she just resumed eating her breakfast.

The dining experienced silence for almost two minutes, with the only sounds being the ones the cutleries made as they collided with the plate.

"Jayden." I called breaking the silence. Jayden raised his head from food too look at me.

Leisurely, I picked out a napkin and brought it to my lips, cleaning the invisible particles before speaking again.

"I hope didn't forget what today's date it."

Almost immediately, the atmosphere in the dining changed.

It was calm before, but then it turned cold, with a hint of sadness.

His mood had that effect.

"No." Jayden gritted his teeth. "I didn't." Then as though he was frozen in place, he didn't move for almost a minute.

Finally, he did, but it was to stand up.

"Mother, if you need me, I'd be in my study." He announced, before whispering. "But please don't need me."

Good.

He was still the same Nelson I knew.

Elara seemed surprised by his sudden change. She looked up at him. "Nelson..."

But Nelson ignored her. He usually ignored everyone today, including his own mother.

"For everyone's safe, it is best no one checks up in me until tomorrow." He said, and without waiting for reply, he walked out.

The twins and Elara gave themselves a look.

"What...?"

A smile tugged at my lips but I resumed eating as though what happened hd nothing to do with me in the slightest. "Are you worried about Jayden?" I asked, looking at Elara who still looked confused. Don't worry he's fine. It's just, for a day in the entire year, Nelson becomes a different person." I explained, with a shrug. "In the morning he's nice, and honest, but from midday, he becomes..."

"That's enough Zia." Victoria's stern voice cut me off. "Nothing is wrong with my son."

Of course there wasn't anything really wrong with him. I wouldn't want him if there were.

Tossing the napkin to the table, I stood up as well. "Excuse me."

The first step of my three step plan was done. By the time everything was finished, Elara wouldn't know what hit her.