JADE
I arrived at Mrs Gabriela’s mansion quite a bit late. I wondered if she would be angry at my tardiness.
I just did not want to come early and meet with those annoying two daughter inlaws of hers. The later I come, the shorter I get to stay.
I could hear feminine giggles and discussions as I plodded towards the huge dining hall.
I took in deap breaths in order to brace myself up for whatever I will have to face in there. Putting up a stoic expression on my face, I meandered further into the dinning hall.
Like expected, numerous orbs were on me including those of Mrs Gabriela’s herself.
I spotted Elisa, so far she was the only daughter inlaw that I liked. Aurora just gave me her signature saucy look before flipping her hair and adverting her gaze away.
What a banquet of food this people have prepared here!
This is all way too much and I doubt we would even be able to eat half of the entire food arrayed on the dinning table.
Honestly what do these people do that give them so much money?
“Oh look who is here. Jade you are welcome though. Have a seat” Mrs Gabriela smiled at me, motioning with her hand for me to take a seat.
A staff on standby attempted to help me pull out a seat but I quickly stopped her. I can definitely pull out a seat for myself. I do not need help for everything.
“Do not worry. I will put it out myself ok” I smiled at her to which she bowed and stepped back.
“Thank you for the invitation you handed out to me to attend this dinner. Honestly it was very thoughtful of you Mother” I spoke in a very elegant manner, ignoring the bashful stares of Aurora and Mariposa.
“Of course. Everything I do is well planned out and perfect” Mother chortled, taking a sip of her wine.
I smiled and began eating my food.
“Though Jade, I do not quite understand why you are late. Did your husband, Luciano, not inform you that I do not like it when someone is late be it to family meetings or dinner gatherings like this?” Mrs Gabriela raised a brow at me.
Great. I am guessing I must have gotten on her bad side already.
“Oh he must have mentioned it but I am guessing it slipped my mind. I am really sorry. It would not happen again mother” I apologised with my tongue in cheek.
“It should not” she authoritatively stated.
I ate in silence from then on, unwilling to speak to anyone. The entire hall had been submerged in animated discussions, female giggles and gossips filling the air.
I did enjoy the peace though, I loved as no one was trying to poke their nose in my business.
Hopefully it can go on this way and this dinner will be over in no time.
“Mother I think it is time you address the issue that made you to host this dinner, don’t you think so?” Aurora said out of the blue. Her tone was so sweet and polite.
What a two faced woman!
And what issues did she want to discuss?
Oh God.
“Yes you are right Aurora. You see it has come to my notice that there are some, should I say, little element of disunity and dislike among some of you” Mrs Gabriela began speaking, using a napkin to wipe on her lips.
“Like the fall out that happened between Luciano and Raffaele, I would not want to call it a fight. It is very shameful you know. It was a clear picture that some of you seating on this table have harboured resentments towards one another” she narrowed her eyes down to me catching me by surprise.
Why was her gaze fixated on me and where was she going with this?
“Why are you staring at me mother?” I asked, nervously moving in my seat.
“Because I have gotten word that you and some daughter inlaws here and not on good terms. Let me go straight to the point and stop beating around the bush.
The main reason I arranged this dinner was for us all to settle our differences amicably. We are the daughters of this family and one of our core responsibility is to maintain peace between our various families. That is how it has been done from generations to generations.
We have so many extended relatives and I bet you all they will be disappointed if they happen to get word of this.
Jade you are the newest daughter inlaw here but by default, you are the oldest because of your husband’s status in this family. Honestly I expected more from you”
More from me?
“I do not get mother. What did I do?” I asked, very much confused.
“You just arrived in this house some weeks ago and you have already started keeping malice with your husband’s brother’s wives. I mean why would you even start doing such? When Aurora told me that you normally threaten her and insult her I could not believe it myself—” Mother divulged to my utter shock.
“That is not true” I interrupted her sharply, my features hardening.
I was the one threatening Aurora? This sounded like a bizzare information. She has been the one always threatening me, always stepping on my toes, always looking for ways to spite me.
I can not believe she will lie against me in such manner especially to mother.
“Do not interrupt me Jade” Mother sternly spoke.
“I am sorry mother” I bit down on my tongue and flashed Aurora angry glares while she maintained her innocent farcade look.
“You are fully aware of the fight that happened between your husband and Raffaele aren’t you?”she asked.
“Yes..” I gulped. “I am aware”
“That is the result of your unnecessary malice with the daughter inlaws of this family” she scoffed at me, her face growing red.
I was honestly flabbergasted by these stupid accusations. She called us together to settle our differences but it seemed I was the only one getting tongue lashed.
Where is the justice and fairness?
Why did she listen to only one side of the story and pass a judgment only on what Aurora told her?
Does my own opinion not matter to?
“Pardon me mother?” I was beyond shocked.
“You heard me right Jade. Jade don’t you understand that who you dislike, your partner will also dislike and who you like, your partner will also like? Honestly I expected better from you. You are the eldest daughter inlaw, your main priority is maintaining the unity in this family not creating havoc”
“Mother how can you say all that about me when you have not even listened to my own side of the story yet? I am not the cause of the fight between Luciano and Raffaele. And I am innocent of all your allegations mother. I never for once initiated dispute and disharmony between I and Aurora. Infact she started all of that between I and her from the very first day I stepped my feet into this house” I spoke up in my defence.
“How dare you say such rubbish against me?” Aurora butted in.
“Aurora you have had your chance to speak to mother and table your complaints. So it will be fair now to let Jade speak and also share her own side of the story. Don’t you think that what is what an intelligent and sensible woman should do?” Elisa stood up for me, a lopsided evil grin on her face for Aurora.
At least it was encouraging to know that someone had my back here.
“Elisa please do not start acting like you are the most perfect here with your unnecessary opinions” Mariposa scowled.
“That is enough!” Mother banged her fist on the table, causing a deafening silence to sweep the air.
“I said that is enough and I mean every word! You all shut up! I called this dinner for us to settle and make peace with one another but you four want to turn here into a battle ground. Don’t you all have respect for me again!
Gosh. Jade from now henceforth I do not want to hear any complaints from your colleagues regarding you..”
“But mother…” I made an attempt to protest when she upheaved her hands at me.
“Shut up! Aurora has been one of my favourite daughter inlaws because of her peaceful nature and she has never had any issue with anyone apart from you. You are new in this family. Make friends and not enemies! Have a wonderful dinner gathering” Mother abruptly stood up from her seat before walking out.
I stared at her profile leave before facing my attention at Aurora. Anger and resentment flashed in my exasperated orbs and my hands balled up tightly.
She had a triumphant smile on her face as she stood from her seat and ambled towards where I sat, Mariposa following along.
“Jade I hope we can be friends from now on” she sarcastically said with a malicious smirk before laughing.
“This is just the beginning sweetheart” she leaned down towards my ear and whispered maniacally.