The next morning, the Riverdale family gathered to have breakfast together.
Justin ca downstairs with Natalie, who looked tired and was yawning. They headed toward the breakfast table.
"Are you still sleepy?" Justin asked, seeing her yawn as if she had been deprived of sleep for ages.
"Shouldn’t you ask yourself why I’m sleepy?" Natalie asked. "It’s all your fault."
"You can sleep the entire day while I’m busy working," he said.
"Mr. Husband, you’re forgetting your wife is a CEO of a company and has to work as well," she countered in a complaining tone. "Tonight, you better stay away from and let catch up on all the sleep you’ve been depriving of since I arrived here."
"I’ll try to," he said.
She observed his uncertain expression and sighed deeply. "I truly don’t trust you."
Grace and the others who had already arrived at the breakfast table heard them as well. Grace had no choice but to swallow her anger, while the others had nothing to say—choosing instead to feign ignorance.
When they reached the table, Grace was sitting in the chair that was ant for Natalie, next to Justin. Aeldric sat in his chair, with Mallory in hers.
Justin didn’t bother with where Grace was seated. Instead, he walked to the chair that was exactly opposite Aeldric’s, at the other end of the table.
Aeldric looked at him as his gaze t with Justin’s. It was clear that Justin had no desire to sit next to Aeldric, which ant Aeldric was no longer the superior. Now, Justin had already taken his own place—silently declaring to Aeldric that he was the family head who controlled everything in the Riverdale empire.
Natalie sat in the chair on Justin’s right side. The couple was seated at the other end of the table, leaving several chairs in between empty.
ira and Noah arrived just then. Noah was not surprised to see the change in the seating arrangent, while ira was confused about where she should sit.
Grace shalessly stood up with the intent of sitting in the chair on Justin’s left side, which was directly opposite Natalie, but Noah had already made his way to the chair and pulled it out.
"ira, sit here," Justin said to her.
ira felt relieved that her confusion had been resolved and sat in the chair, while Noah took the seat next to her.
Grace gritted her teeth and said, "Noah, I was supposed to sit there next to my husband. How dare you give that chair to soone else?"
"I did what Mr. Aiden wished to do," Noah answered.
Grace looked at Justin, only to hear him say to Noah, "You’ve always been a perfect assistant, Noah."
"Thank you, Mr. Aiden," Noah replied.
Grace stomped out of the room without even having breakfast.
Aeldric looked at Justin. "That girl will go to her father."
"That shows how undeserving she is to be here," Justin countered.
"Though we are most powerful here, we need them. You’re underestimating their power," Aeldric said.
"And you’re underestimating mine," Justin countered again. "Now stop discussing useless things. My wife is starving."
Aeldric slamd his hand on the table and left as well. Mallory did the sa, glaring at the other end of the table.
Now only four people were left.
"This feels peaceful now," Natalie said.
"Do you want it to be like this always?" Justin asked.
"No, no. That would be so boring," Natalie said quickly. "I like a little spice and drama—and without those people, it’s impossible."
Natalie knew Justin was capable enough to get rid of them if she didn’t want them around anymore.
"As you wish," he said, serving food onto her plate. "Eat well."
ira blushed and smiled lightly at the lovely couple, and a thought ca to her that she’d never had before. I wish to marry soone like my brother too.
Natalie looked at ira, who seed a little lost, though her face was radiant. "What are you thinking about, little girl?"
ira snapped back to her senses and imdiately lowered her gaze. "I was just thinking... you two are sweet together. My brother treats you so well."
Natalie smiled. "So, would you like to marry a man like your brother too?"
She nodded, but then quickly realized what she’d just said and shook her head in panic. "N-No, I’m still young... I can’t..."
"I was just teasing you," Natalie said, seeing the girl flustered, and then laughed softly. "Don’t worry, we won’t marry you off to just anyone."
ira didn’t know how to respond to the teasing, but then a thought ca to her mind. She hadn’t seen the outside world yet—and how was she supposed to trust others? She felt scared.
"Can’t I just stay with you and brother?" she asked, her tone hesitant.
"Of course you can," Natalie said. "But after a few years, won’t you want to marry soone and have a family?"
"People outside... I don’t know them, and I feel scared. I’ll just stay ho with you and brother," she replied.
Natalie thought her reaction was natural. This girl had been caged inside a ho all her life and was no better than a little child in front of the harsh outside world. She didn’t want to scare her, so she said gently:
"Don’t worry, you can stay with us all your life," Natalie assured her. "But you can’t stay confined inside the ho. You have to start going out and learning about the outside world." She looked at Justin and asked, "What do you think?"
Justin humd in agreent.
Aeldric went to his study, fuming with anger. He still couldn’t accept his defeat and wanted to get back at Justin for what he had done. Though he was old and had lost power, he wasn’t completely incapable—he still had connections and ans.
Aeldric dialed a number and said over the call, "Let’s et. I have sothing better to offer than our last deal."
After listening to the other person, Aeldric hung up and left the Riverdale estate with only his driver and a trusted bodygaurds. Kawin was not his person now, but there were still his people that he could trust on.
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