CHAPTER 49: BIRTHDAY BANQUET 3

"Huh, we have finally arrived!" Tiana, like an adult, exclaimed with relief as she looked at the familiar hotel in front of her, her tone laced with some grievance.

When Lyra and Cade heard that, the two couldn't help but shake their heads helplessly, smiles on their faces, thinking to themselves.

'It's good that she is like this. Let it remain that way!'

When Logan joined the kids, Tiana scrunched her face at him before marching off leaving him speechless.

How did he offend the little princess again?

He couldn't help but look at the two eldest.

The two simply shrugged their shoulders in response before running after the little one.

Logan could only chuckle helplessly before following the kids.

Although the news of Tiana was not his blood, it angered him so much. He wasn't an unreasonable person who would push all the blame and hatred on a child.

When he thought of what Briar wrote in her diary. How she was going to love the little one like her own just in case things got messy in the future. Logan's heart melted.

No matter what, Tiana was his child and it would remain that way.

He and the other family members last night all agreed on that and had the copies and diaries burnt to a crisp, erasing any evidence that could lead to the matter resurfacing.

Having such thoughts, everyone promised to never bring up the matter again. And since Briar was trustworthy, considering how she managed to keep the secret for seven years, there was no need to alarm her.

Besides, they all promised to not let her know that the diaries existed. Who knows how she would react if that ever comes out?

 ***

Logan's arrival wasn't known to the interested parties, as they were busy doing their best to show off like peacocks.

Meanwhile, the person who many people were also curious about finally made her appearance, but not in the hall as she happened to bump into Anna, who was holding onto the wall, seeming to be in pain.

Alice wasn't expecting to meet Anna so soon. However, seeing that she was in pain, the corner of her lips couldn't help but rise as she wondered who Anna had offended or what infliction the other had for her to groan in pain like that.

She was curious.

Anna, on the other hand, couldn't believe how ruthless Bertha was. To think that the other could shamelessly and ruthlessly hit her body like that and yet leave no trace. And now she could only feel the pain with every step that she took.

She regretted it badly. If she had known that she would meet such a person, she would have stuck to her mother and didn't leave for the restroom. Now see what had happened to her!

How was she going to attract Logan's attention now?

As she was worried about that, her body suddenly tensed as she heard a familiar voice calling out to her, "Anna, dear. What's wrong with you?"

When she wanted this person, she didn't appear and when she was in a bad state; she dared to appear like a genie!

Anna's inside was boiling at the thought of facing Alice. She hated the other so much right now. However, she couldn't show it without getting what she wanted. So, she could only plaster a fake smile as she turned to look at Alice, who fortunately looked worried to the bone.

After playing with Alice for years, how could she not be able to read the other?

She heaved a sigh of relief as a calculating thought emerged in her mind.

"Alice! Thank goodness you are here! I have been trying to reach you for a while. I was afraid that something happened to you!" Anna relievedly said as she looked at Alice with relief and concern, sizing the other from head to toe.

Alice scoffed inwardly upon seeing the familiar act. If it had happened before, she would have been happy thinking that Anna was a good person. But after knowing Selena's true personality, Anna didn't seem good at all.

At least Briar was deadly but good.

Nonetheless, it wasn't time to strip the other's mask. She could only restrain herself and continue the play.

Alice helplessly sighed as she reached Anna, her expression looking aggrieved.

When Anna saw that, she knew automatically that something was happening behind the scenes that she didn't know. She was curious. And even the pain she was feeling just now vanished into thin air.

The pain could wait, but hearing what happened to Alice takes precedence.

Seeing Anna getting hooked by the bait, Alice victoriously pumped her fists inwardly as she hooked her arm with Anna's, taking the other mercilessly away.

As for the flinching Anna was doing as if her body was riddled with pins, she wasn't hearing a single thing at all.

 ***

Meanwhile, at the banquet hall, the family of four everyone had been waiting for finally appeared.

The moment that they appeared; the atmosphere changed.

Lyra and Cade wanted to roll their eyes when they saw these ladies, who never learn every single time, arranging their clothes and shyly tucking their hair behind their ears.

Who were they to try to take the position of their second mother?

Their precious mother was lying in the hospital. They just wanted to keep her company; however, they couldn't miss the banquet. After all, their father gave them a death order.

If they didn't attend the banquet, then they wouldn't be allowed to visit their second mother at the hospital. How could he be so ruthless like that?

No wonder why Tiana was angry at him.

However, as kids who were taught manners, they didn't show their attitudes to these people but showed smiles as they shyly responded to the enthusiastic aunties and madam.

They hurriedly passed through the others and made their way to their grandmother, who was waiting for them already.

The three sat at the table designated for them and began to chat amongst themselves while their grandmother was entertaining another friend while their father was talking with a few friends who stopped them.

As they sat there, a familiar person suddenly came into view, taking the three by surprise.

Lyra frowned a bit upon seeing the other, especially how the other was looking at Cade as if he was the only person there.

To think that there were still people with such thoughts as this person, Lyra found her dislike for the person growing.

"Grandchildren, how have you been?" Madam Hilary, who remembered how she was less concerned for her grandkids earlier, felt like she had been given a second chance when she spotted the three sitting down.

As soon as she saw them, she hurriedly went to them and greeted them despite being an elder, thinking that the kids would be overjoyed.

Unfortunately, she made a mistake. If only she had greeted them while looking at all of them, the kids would have felt something. However, this maternal grandmother of theirs was too patriarchal, with only benefits swimming in her mind.

How could she greet them when she was looking at Cade alone?

Didn't she know that her thoughts were written all over her face?

However, they were good kids. And good kids didn't harass adults. Otherwise, the second mother would nag at them once she wakes up.

So, they responded, though their greeting was mild.

"Hello, Grandmother!"

"How have you been?"

Madam Hilary, seeing the kids responsive as always, her eyes narrowed into slits, thinking to herself that kids as always were the easiest to fool.

Since she was their grandmother, talking to the kids wasn't problematic. Besides, she was on a mission. She was going to stop the other vixens from trying to please the kids.

What if the vixens managed to fool the kids and then the father picks one of them?

She wasn't going to allow such a thing to happen.