She's a criminal

Lia held her breath as she walked into the dining room with Pete and her father, she was more than nervous right now, she was scared.

After the way things were left with her mother yesterday, she did not know if she could mount up the courage to face her, much more less have the confidence to come and have brunch as if nothing had happened yesterday.

Lia was more than scared she was terrified, she had never been terrified to be in the same room as her mother as she was now, she had never seen her mother so upset in her entire life, and to make things worse, all the words her mother said came from a place of hate.

Lia was sure that her mother absolutely hated her for what she did and she would not forgive her for what she had done.

Lia sighed as she looked at Pete and her father that were having a mini chat amongst themselves, she smiled at the sight.

Just as she had hoped her father really seemed to like Pete, from their first official meeting they seemed to be getting along very nicely.

Of course they were, her father was a very nice and easy man to get along with, and well Pete, he was being his usual respectful, nice likable self. Lia sighed, Pete was always himself, no matter the situation, she wished that she could be like him, so settled and content...but she wasn't like that at all. It was clear that if she was, she would have never ended up in a situation like this.

Pete pulled out a seat for Lia as she smiled at him and thanked him as he smiled at her and sat down right beside her and Cecil smiled, liking how Pete was treating his daughter.

To be honest, from their first official meeting, he liked Pete, he thought he was a kind, respectful young man and he was very easy to get along with. In just a few minutes of meeting each other they managed to talk about a whole lot of things that Cecil would have never thought would be relevant before now.

"I love seeing you smile like that princess, it's been a long time since I've seen that smile from you, and I guess it's thanks to you Peter" said Cecil as he smiled and looked at Pete as Lia just smiled.

"I would like to think so but if you really want to see Lia smile you should just see her when she's doing something she really loves, like photography" said Pete as he smiled.

"Ahh yes that is true, the way she loves photography, I've always told her that she is very good at it" said Cecil as he laughed.

"That she is, the pictures she takes are wonderful" said Pete.

"I do enjoy photography, but I'm not that good, or at least not as good as the two of you make it sound" said Lia as she laughed glancing from her father to Pete.

"Oh but you are princess, you really are good at it" said Cecil as they all laughed and the maid came into the dining room as she set the table.

"I agree your father is right Lia" said Pete as he agreed and nodded as Lia smiled at the both, she was about to say something when suddenly the vibrant happy atmosphere turned rigid and cold as Lia felt as if cold water poured on her as her mother entered the dining room and her eyes fell on her for the first time.

Lia could see the pure disdain and hate in her mother's eyes, her eyes were full of fury, Lia felt scared, why did she think that it was a good idea for her to come and eat brunch as a family as if nothing had happened yesterday?

As Alyssa looked at her daughter she was prepared not to deal with any nonsense this morning, she was already at her breaking point by still allowing Lia to stay in this house, if it was up to her, she would have thrown her out yesterday.

There was no way she would accept living with such a child like her, she was serious yesterday when she said that she had disowned her.

Lia blinked and snapped out of her stupor of coldness as she looked down, wondering what she should do or say? She didn't like how cold everyone was once Alyssa had stepped into the dining room.

"Good morning mom..." said Lia as she figured that a greeting would be the best way tot go but boy was she wrong, with Alyssa's reaction it would have been better if she had not opened her mouth to say anything at all.

"What is she doing here?" asked Alyssa to no one in particular, she was not ready for Lia to be here, pretending as if nothing happened.

She had not expected to see Lia here today, with how distraught she pretended to be yesterday, she had not eaten anything, she had thought that her fake way of gaining empathy would continue for days.

"Alyssa dear, please, don't be like that..." said Cecil as Alyssa turned to look at him.

"Don't be like what? I am only asking why there is a stranger at my table?" asked Alyssa as Lia flinched, it was clear that the stranger she was talking about was her and not Pete who her mother was ignoring at the moment.

"Alyssa, please I beg you, she's still your daughter, let us have brunch in peace, all I ask is that you sit and we all enjoy a meal together, please" said Cecil as he pleaded with Alyssa and she scoffed and sat down.

"She's not my daughter, I don't have one, and I am only staying because you asked Cecil" said Alyssa as the maid finished setting the table as she bowed and took her leave.

"Thank you my dear" said Cecil as he smiled in relief and Alyssa did not say anything, she could say that she was less upset with Cecil than she was with Lia, it would take her a miracle to even think of forgiving Lia.

"Ahh dear, let me introduce you to Peter" said Cecil as he smiled and Lia looked up, she still felt cold in fact she had lost her appetite.

"Good morning" said Pete as he smiled.

"Good morning" replied Alyssa as she started to eat and everyone did the same as there was a prolonged silence.

Cecil wanted to say something but he did not want to make Alyssa any more upset than she already was, and it would be hard not to do that with Lia present, he just did not know what to do.

"*Ahem*, so Peter, you have not told me what you do for a living?" asked Cecil as he smiled and looked at Pete who looked up and smiled.

"I am actually a police office, a commander to be exact" said Pete as he smiled.

"Oh really?" asked Cecil in surprise as he nodded.

"That is really interesting, that is a very admirable job right dear?" asked Cecil as he smiled and nodded and looked at Alyssa who looked up.

"That it is..." said Alyssa as she cleared her throat.

"So are you here to arrest Lia or what?" asked Alyssa as her question caused even more coldness to blow over them.

She had remembered yesterday that he had introduced himself as Lia's friend, so maybe he could arrest her because there was no way she would be harbouring a criminal in her house.

If Lia was arrested, she would not try to help her in any way, she deserved what would come her way.

"No Ma'am..." said Pete as Lia glued her eyes to the food that had no flavour in her mouth, Pete felt that he needed to clear some issues right now.

"Actually... I'm Lia's boyfriend... we have been dating for a while now... I apologize that I did not mention that earlier..." said Pete as Alyssa scoffed.

"Of course you are... Cecilia certainly knows how to play the right cards..." said Alyssa with a scoff as Cecil looked at her in horror.

"Alyssa!" he called as he did not like what she was insinuating, but Alyssa ignored him, of course that was the only way she could evade an arrest, she was dating the boss.

"Don't call me Cecil, Peter, are you aware that you are getting yourself into a whole lot of trouble by having a relationship with her?" asked Alyssa as she looked at Peter.

"I do not think so ma'am, I love her" said Pete as Alyssa scoffed.

"Do you know that she's a criminal?" asked Alyssa as she heard the scolding voice of her husband call her name as Lia felt her tears dropping.

"Do you know the horrible things that she has done not just to strangers but to close friends?" asked Alyssa as she was warning Pete.

"I don't think a law abiding respectable man like you should be entangled with someone like her, I am just warning you before it's too late, take it from me, Cecilia can be someone very deceiving" said Alyssa in seriousness.