Tense Dinner

Sia only looked at Miranda like she was looking at the dumbest thing in the world. She tilted her head while thinking to herself:

'She's screaming like a retard...'

"Miranda, sit down." John said in a stern voice which made Miranda flinch back while muttering:

"B-but but she..."

"You don't need to yell like that. I'll deal with her myself."

Miranda could only obediently sit down while glaring angrily at Sia, the latter only looked blankly outside without paying any heed to her, which made Miranda even more furious.

'...You'll pay for this.' She gritted her teeth in indignation.

"Anastasia, I understand you need your own privacy but that doesn't mean you can talk to your father like that." John said with hidden anger in his voice which drew Sia's attention back to him.

"I don't see that you have done anything worthy to be called my father."

"Only when you can't control me anymore that you speak sweet and caring words."

John couldn't refute any of what she had said since he knew it was true. The marriage between him and Sia's mother was simply a political marriage out of interest which would strengthen the ties between his family and the Evernight family, so he had always seen Sia as a burden and not his daughter.

He only pretended to be nice to her to get his hands on the inheritance which Sia inherited from her mother.

"Everyone, dinner's ready." A maid came in to inform them to have dinner which helped temporarily solved the horrible atmosphere in the room.

"Oh, time flies. Let's have dinner then family." John stood up and spoke to everyone then quickly left the room. The rest soon followed with only Sia and Brad remaining in the room.

"Anastasia, won't you follow them?" Brad asked while still staring at Sia's body up and down constantly.

"I don't want a scum like you behind me, piss off then I'll go."

"...So feisty, that's why I like you so much." He said while licking his lips up and down.

Brad then stood up and left the room, but not before leaving a few small but audible words for her:

"I'll make you mine soon enough."

When he was out of the room entirely, Sia's brows scrunched up while thinking in irritation:

'I need to kill that sick dog soon...'

With that said she also left the guest room and went to the dining room with calm and composed footsteps.

The dining room had a long table with 2 chairs on its 2 ends and multiple chairs on both sides. John sat on one hand of the table with Miranda and the child to his right side while Brad sat to the left.

Sia chose to sit on the other end of the table, which was the furthest away from everyone. John was displeased by her action but he couldn't say anything so he just maintained silence.

The maids soon arrived and put down dishes in front of them. After they had all left John clapped his hands and said:

"Well, let's eat everyone."

The meals that were in front of Sia and the others were steaks that were cooked to perfection. Everyone other than Sia began picking up their cutlery and started cutting the steak, putting little pieces in their mouths.

Only Sia remained indifferent and just silently looked at the meal in front of her with a hint of contempt.

"What's wrong? You don't have an appetite?" John asked with fake concern.

"Fortunately, yes. I'm not hungry." Sia said while scoffing in her mind.

Did they really think she was stupid enough to eat without suspecting anything?

She knew for a fact that they had most likely put something inside the food or drinks. It could be sleeping drugs or some kind of poison. If she ate these, they would utilize this chance to get rid of her existence forever.

"Brat, you really don't have any respect for your family." Miranda commented on the side while looking at her scornfully.

"I assume there's a reason why you call me here?" Sia ignored the dumb woman entirely and gazed straight into John's eyes without moving away.

"...Fine, let me get this straight." John sighed and paused for a second, then continued: "You are incapable of managing the Evernight Corp, Anastasia. It is better for everyone, including you to give the position to your cousin, Brad. He is a capable young man and would run the company better than you are."

"...So it is still the same old thing. I was hoping that you called me here for a different reason, but I suppose I had too much expectation for you."

Sia stood up and glanced coldly at John and everyone present, her killing intent leaked out a little, which made everybody present shudder in fear.

"My answer for you scoundrels will always be the same."

[...Over my dead body!]