Revenge Rule # 7: Avoid Drama(Successfully failed)
Even though Lilac detested the rest of her 'family' members she had promised Emily she would be there for dinner. So, once it was 7pm she got dressed, she wore a black knee length floral dress with puffed sleeves, the flowers were wilted paired with black pumps. Casual but elegant.
A black car was already waiting for her when she got downstairs, Lilac leaned against the window for the 10 minute drive just looking at the view. She hadn't been back in Country V since the incident that happened 3 years ago.
The driver slowly pulled in front of a sleek black gate. She got out and stood in front of the guardian lion statues just staring at the huge building that was definitely way older than her. The Callen family was a century old family that had been 'ruling' Country V for a very long time, despite the countless renovations they managed to preserve some of its aged elements like the guardian lion statues. Looking at the building reminded her of many memories, both the good ones & the bad, she didn't feel too much emotional fluctuations. She couldn't help the shudder that ran through her body when the huge gates opened, no matter the beauty of this place, it was like a prison for her. She saw a fountain, the same one she had made countless wishes too, then a huge garden filled with only red roses, at night it looked like a bloody mess. The pathway had a red carpet and she made sure not to step leading to the front door. Lilac rang the door bell and the huge brown doors were pulled open. The maid standing there immediately bowed seeing her, "Welcome young miss."
"Thanks." She walked in quickly and headed to the dining room using her memory.
When she got to the dining room, everyone was already seated around the large Victorian-style dining table. The air was heavy and everyone was silent and tense. The tense air in the room seemed to hush itself as she entered. There was no one seated at the head of the table on the right side, a seat that felt almost ominously empty Directly opposite that vacant chair sat a man Lilac would describe as "foxy-looking", sharp-featured, effortlessly poised, and watching everything with a kind of detached amusement. His name was Jacob, he was Emily's second older brother & her step brother. To Jacob's left sat a sickly-looking woman with paper-thin skin and deep shadows under her eyes, Catherine, Emily's 'step mom' and Jacob's mother. Seated beside Catherine was a young man in his twenties, despite his age, he had a weird vibe around him that made people uneasy. That was Ethan, the youngest in the family and Catherine's last child. The chairs beside him remained empty.
To Jacob's right was Emily, sitting perfectly straight, her expression unreadable. Next to her was Zade who seemed more exhausted in the tense environment. Beside him was a man with tousled ginger hair and a freckled face, who Lilac recognized as Emily's older brother, Kyle. He was Beatrix's first child, originally meant to be the heir but he was mute & more interested in teaching & art. He smiled at Lilac when she walked in. At the very end of the row sat Beatrix eyes sharp, fingers drumming against the table, waiting.
The seat beside her was empty. Lilac didn't hesitate. She moved quickly to the empty chair beside Beatrix and sat down.
Once she settled she said, "Sorry I'm late."
"Isn't that typical YOU behavior?" Ethan jabbed, unwilling to engage with him she just rolled her eyes.
"It's fine. We can start eating." She signaled the maids to bring the food.
"There is no way we waited for that long just for her! I thought you had someone important coming!" Ethan said, pointing a finger at Lilac.
"If you still want to keep that finger I'd suggest you put it down." Smiling a bit too brightly Lilac picked the dinner knife and pointed it at Ethan.
He quickly lowered his hand scared out of his wits.
"Good boy." She chuckled, putting the knife down.
They all began eating silently. Ethan couldn't hold it and after a few minutes he spoke again "I didn't know big sister had the time to come back."
Lilac shrugged, "I always have time."
Jacob gently placed his utensils down and faced her, "I hope you're not here to stay permanently."
"Why? Scared?" Lilac retorts facing him.
Jacob scoffs but doesn't reply. "Why would big brother be afraid of a low-life like you!?" Ethan jumped in to say.
Beatrix glared at him, "Shut up!"
"Why should he shut up?" Catherine retorted
"He's saying rubbish, how dare he say Lilac is a lowlife when he isn't any better himself"
"At least he wasn't adopted!" Catherine yelled.
"At least she's not an illegitimate child from a mistress trying to claim someone else's title."
Ethan and Jacob glared at her, if looks could kill Beatrix would have died a million times over.
"What? Bite me." Beatrix taunted.
"How dare y—"
BANG.
Emily hit her hand on the table looking directly at Catherine, "We are all having dinner, can we all shut up and observe table manners?!"
Lilac said, "We can…but I'm just wondering what he's doing up there." She pointed at Jacob.
"What? Should I not be here?" Jacob replied.
"No, you should not. That chair is directly opposite the family head chair. What are you trying to achieve by sitting there? Hm?"
Jacob's face changed and he quickly tried to salvage the situation, seeing Beatrix look, "That's not…"
"So what are you trying to achieve Young Master Jacob....are you trying to tell everyone you're going to be the next head of the family? Are you wishing for your poor father to die so you can become the next head of the family?"
Lilac dramatically gasped, shaking her head dramatically, "Tut tut…what a son."
"Why would I.."
"Shut up! And get off that chair!" Beatrix ordered her voice showing the authority of the matriarch.
"Yes Matriarch." Jacob silently stood up and sat beside Catherine.
Everyone's expression was somber, except Lilac who ate her meal with relish. Dinner ended on that note & everyone dispersed.
"Come with me. I'll drop you off." Zade offered.
"I.."
"Lilac come with me." Beatrix ordered without any room for argument.
"Aunt…can I visit uncle first? I promise I'll explain everything to you."
"...alright."
**
Lilac walked down the familiar hallways going to the room at the end, she gently opened the door and stepped in. A nurse was cleaning up inside.
"Excuse us."
"Yes miss, please refrain from riling the patient up."
Without promising, LIlac smiled.
The door shut.
Lilac grabbed a pillow from the couch and sat down, she looked at the man on the wheelchair facing the window. The once strong Patriarch of the Callen Family, Sean, now reduced to a patient that needed help with everything. Sean had a stroke a few years ago, the same year Emily inherited the family business and the same year the incident happened. Three years ago.
She turned the wheelchair to face her, "Uncle.." She grasped his hand getting his attention, his eyes turned to look at her.
"Uncle...how…how are you.."
Sean's hands shook violently seeing her. She leaned closer to him slightly, her voice soft "Oof..what the fuck am i asking, of course you're not fine and you can't reply. Sorry sorry. HAHAHAHA" Lilac tightened her grip around his hand and bent her head laughing gleefully. Anyone observing from the CCTV would think she was crying "I'm sorry I wanted to play the role of a worried daughter but I just couldn't…how could I? When I'm so happy you're here." She let go of his hand using a wet wipe from her pocket to discreetly clean each of her fingers.
"Ba...Ydo...." Sean shook more violently, drool coming out his mouth as he tried so hard to say something.
"Don't get agitated, why are you so mad? Mad that I'm alive? You wish I was the one in this wheelchair right? Well I'm not…..How I wish I could smother you with this pillow and watch you breathe your last…but I won't. You'll live a very long life and watch Emily take over everything you worked so hard to keep away from her." She picked a towel and 'gently' wiped his drool whispering, "Don't be disgusting you old bastard."
Sean trembled more violently and the nurse pushed the door open coming in with Jacob.
"What did you do to father?!" Jacob rushed over grabbing her wrist & violently pushed her away from Sean.
She bit tongue forcing her eyes to well up with tears, "I don't know…I don't know what happened to him…he was probably just so happy to see me..I'm sorry..Uncle.."
"Stay away from my father, okay? And stop with the fake tears and get out!" Jacob yelled. He knew Lilac, she never cared about Sean, everyone else might be fooled by her acting but he never would because he saw it, he saw it all happen that night 3 years ago. He knew exactly the devil she was and even though it pained him to admit, he was scared of her.
She walked out of the door cleaning her eyes. Lilac clicked her tongue taking one last glance at the room, "Tch..I hate weaklings like that."