(Freya's POV).
"Are you sure he hasn't done anything bad to you?" asked Tristan. I looked at him with a smile.
"He didn't do anything bad to me. Why are you asking like that?"
"He looked at you with a strange look. I get the feeling he's not a good person."
I stopped walking and looked at Tristan with an uneasy feeling. I was still too shocked when I saw Devan hold up a number pad and offer me a large sum of money just to have dinner with me.
It's been four years since I left him. I have started a new life. I can't believe I'm going to see him again. I hope he doesn't get suspicious and find out more about me.
"Tristan, I guess everyone you meet you always says isn't a good person." I chuckled, trying to cover my nervousness.
"I'm a man and I have instincts, Vivian. I just don't want you to get hurt. You're too good for people who are mean to you."
"Don't worry. I can take good care of myself," I said trying to reassure him, "it's just a normal dinner. He can't possibly have any ill intentions towards me. Besides, this auction is only for businessmen close to us and cooperating with our company. I'm sure they're all good people."
"You shouldn't have proposed such a crazy auction," he protested.
I chuckled. "I have nothing but a boutique, Tristan. I just want to be able to help people in need from this auction. The more money raised, the more orphanages and poor people get help."
He sighed heavily in response to my stubbornness. "I no longer know what to make of your careless attitude."
"Well, at least no one has beaten me yet. Don't you think so?" I smiled a little, and I felt him run his fingers through my hair as he smiled too.
"Call me immediately if he does something bad to you. Do you understand?"
"Yes." I wandered my eyes. "By the way, where's Adam?"
"He was here with Adrienne," Tristan replied, "sorry, Vivian. I told Adrienne to wait for him while I looked for you. I was worried because you didn't come back."
I was immediately struck with panic.
"Oh, no. I'll look for him first...."
Just as I was about to leave, I saw Adrienne coming towards us, alone. With an annoyed face, she showed me.
"Adrienne, where's Adam?"
"Why are you asking me? Do you think I'm a babysitter?" she replied in a cold tone.
"Tristan said you were with Adam."
"Don't ask me." She shrugged her shoulders. "He's your son. You should be looking after him."
"Adrienne!" I snapped at her. I was trying to hold my temper, but it was no use.
"Don't you dare yell in front of me, Vivian," she hissed. She prodded my body with her finger. "Just because you have our surname, it doesn't make you one of us, do you understand?"
"Adrienne, enough." I heard Tristan trying to break us up.
She laughed mockingly. "Why do you like defending her so much?" she asked. "She's just a whore!"
"Adrienne, enough...."
"Why? I'm talking facts," she protested, "See how she auctioned for a dinner? It looks so cheap .... Why doesn't she auction off her body too? Disgusting. She's just embarrassing our family!" She glared at me.
I just kept quiet. Didn't reply because I was used to her constantly putting me down. From the beginning, she never accepted me as her family. And I understood that not wanting to force or push her to like me.
"Adrienne!" snapped Tristan. "You'd better watch your mouth. We're in a public place. Aren't you embarrassed to be acting like this?"
"Why should I be ashamed of the slutty woman who ruined our family!" snapped Adrienne. "If she hadn't come into our family, our father would still be alive. I'm sure she killed our father for the heritaー"
"Shut up, Adrienne..."
"Tristan, don't!" I held back Tristan's hand who was about to slap Adrienne. My eyes widened in surprise. "Tristan, please calm down."
"Slap me! Come on! Why did you stop it?!" shouted Adrienne. "Just because of this slut you dare to slap your little sister?!" She pushed Tristan's body irritably. "You make me sick, Tristan. You've changed since Vivian arrived in our home. You are no longer my brother!"
"Vivian is also our family. And she's older than you. She's your sister. So respect her and don't be insolent," Tristan said. I held Tristan's angry hand. I was afraid that he would slap Adrienne again.
"Tristan, I'm fine. Don't be rude to Adrienne," I said.
"Don't play nice in front of me, Vivian," Adrienne snapped, "I won't fall for your fake face. I know you've come to our house to get all our possessions. And I will never let that happen. Especially, think of you as family. Never!"
"Adrienne Harrow, if you're still blabbering unkind things, I will—"
"What? You want to try slapping me again?!" shouted Adrienne. She sagged towards me and Tristan.
"Yes, if that's what it takes."
"Tristan," I protested. I felt bad for Adrienne. Especially, when I saw her face turn sad. "Adrienne, I'm sorry. Tristan, apologize to Adrienne."
"No."
"Tristan."
"Don't push me, Vivian. She deserves to be scolded for her insolence towards you," he insisted.
I saw Adrienne's eyes glaze over. Her hands were clenched into fists.
"Adrienne...." I reached out my hand to touch her, but she brushed it away roughly.
"You disappoint me, Tristan. I hate you!"
"No, Adrienne...." I tried to stop Adrienne from leaving, but I felt Tristan's hand grasp my wrist.
"That's it, let it go. She needs to be taught a lesson once in a while so she's not rude to you anymore."
"She's your sister," I said with a sad face.
"You're my sister too."
"But, Tristan—"
"Let's find Adam first," he interrupted me, then walked away to find Adam.
I joined him on the outside of the building while Tristan was inside. I shouldn't have let Adam be with Adrienne. I hoped he was okay.
But I couldn't find Adam anywhere. I was getting anxious and scared that something would happen to him. Until I saw Adam get out of the car, along with a man.