"Co, have a seat, Rena. Welco back."
The air around the Dawn family dining table seed to thicken as Serena entered the living room. Mathew Dawn, sitting in Edwina’s usual seat at the head, gestured toward the empty chair reserved for her. Serena’s gaze swept over each mber of the family as she approached, her polite smile fixed in place. Ahh.. This was going to be interesting. Everyone was present other than Lucas...
"Thank you for inviting over, Uncle Mathew," Serena said smoothly, seating herself directly across from him. "I see your promise to ’extend the olive branch’ has reached all the way to the house itself. That’s quite...generous."
Mathew’s smile remained steady, though his eyes revealed a flicker of unease. "Of course, of course, Serena. It’s important we keep family matters civil. Now that all of us are here, perhaps we can begin."
Ava interjected quickly, shaking her head as she objected, "Daddy, Sidney is still on his way here. He should be arriving any mont."
Mathew glanced at Serena and realized that she did not seem to be bothered so he nodded, "Well, I suppose we can wait a few more minutes for him to join. Serena, I hope thats okay with you."
Serena’s eyes flicked up from her phone and shrugged. "So, the Dawn family dinners now include guests? My, how tis have changed."
Ava shot her a glare, cheeks pink with irritation. "Sidney is not a guest, Serena. He’s going to be my husband very soon."
"Really?" Serena’s voice held a faint note of amusent. "Strange, though; I don’t see his ring on your finger." Her gaze dipped back to her phone, entirely unfazed by the seething look Ava threw her way at the barb. O
This ti, it was Sofia who spoke up, her voice laced with irritation as she directed her words to Mathew, affronted on her sister’s behalf. "Did you really have to invite her over, Daddy? Just looking at her makes lose my appetite. I don’t like her being in our ho."
Serena lifted her gaze, her expression cool and unbothered. "Then it’s a good thing I have no interest in frequenting your ho, Sofia," she replied, her tone light yet condescending. "Although it is rather odd, considering you don’t seem to mind living in my house."
The comnt struck a nerve as Serena reminded everyone that the estate now belonged to her. Sofia’s face flushed a shade deeper, her fists clenched beneath the table as she spat back, "This house belongs to us—rightfully. You’re nothing more than a usurper."
"Sofia, that’s enough," Mathew interrupted, his tone sharp as he leveled a warning glare at his daughter. He was about to add more, but the sound of hurried footsteps at the entryway drew their attention. Sidney had arrived.
The usually composed and dapper Sidney looked disheveled, his hair slightly mussed and his shirt wrinkled as if he’d co straight from a scuffle. Ava was the first to react, rushing over to him with worry evident in her voice as she grabbed his arm.
"Sidney, what happened to you?" she asked, her eyes sweeping over his disarrayed appearance.
Sidney gently shook her off, barely glancing at her as his gaze flickered to Serena, who remained seated, seemingly absorbed in her phone. "It’s nothing," he said dismissively. "There was a bit of a protest at the factory. So of the workers got riled up, and things got...heated."
"Are you injured?" Ava asked with concern as her fingers lingered near his arm.
"Just a few scrapes and bruises. Nothing serious," Sidney replied, moving past her to take a seat at the table. He settled himself across from Serena, casting her a pointed look. "No need to worry, Ava." Then, almost as an afterthought, he addressed Serena with a curt nod. "Serena, you’re here too."
Serena finally looked up, eting his gaze briefly with an impassive expression. "Yes, I am," she said, before turning her attention to Mathew. "Uncle, are we going to get started, or did you invite here just to sit and starve?"
Mathew chuckled, though the strain in his voice was unmistakable. "Of course, Rena, of course. Lydia, please inform the staff to bring out the food imdiately. We wouldn’t want our...guest to feel unwelco."
"Sidney," Serena’s voice cut through the polite murmur with a sharpness that made the others turn to her. "Are you feeling unwelco here?"
Sidney looked up, slightly startled, glancing around the table as every eye fixed on him. Ava’s frown deepened as she turned toward Serena, unable to hide her irritation.
"What exactly do you an by that, Serena?" she asked, her tone as biting as her narrowed gaze.
Serena only shrugged, though a glint of defiance flickered in her eyes as she regarded Ava and Mathew both. "Your father seems to believe I’m rely a guest in this house," she said smoothly. "So, I thought I’d remind him—and everyone else—exactly who I am here. I’m the mistress of this house, and I would appreciate being addressed accordingly."
Ava’s lips parted in outrage, her voice taking on a tremor of anger. "Not for long," she shot back. "You’re only overseeing things temporarily, Serena. Three years—that’s all. My grandmother left this house to my father and uncle. Not you."
Serena’s smile widened slightly as she leaned back in her chair, folding her hands in her lap as if she had all the ti in the world to enjoy the discomfort around her. "Ah, true, Ava," she replied lightly. "But those three years are entirely mine. And with them cos the authority to do as I see fit with this house. If I wanted to sell it, demolish it, or transform it into a hotel, there’s absolutely nothing any of you could do to stop ."
"You wouldn’t dare," Ava whispered, her voice taut with indignation. "This is our family ho. You wouldn’t dare turn it into so..."
"That’s enough Ava! Serena, if you are here to bait and..."
Serena raised her hands," Of course not. I’m just here to enjoy my al..."
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