Chapter 101

The whole room went as quiet as a grave yard as everyone watched Calhoun for a reaction after Lily's comment.

Her husband pinches her from under the table and she throws him a stern look. She was tired of playing nice games here. They were calming having a nice day in their part of the mansion when grandfather imposed the dinner on them just because Calhoun was bringing some pauper over for family introduction.

"Benson, control your wife we have a guest here!" Grandmother yelled from beside Ariana who was gradually shrinking back into Calhoun who stood fuming beside her.

"If the members of this family don't want to meet up with my Ariana, then it is fine..." He trailed holding her hand firmly. "We can leave!" Calhoun announced already turning around to leave. His uncle and his family had a way of bringing out the worst in him.

"No!" Grandmother shrieked staring at her husband for help.

Grandfather took a deep breathe and raised his hands. "Calhoun, please bring your fiance to the table let's eat. We will talk after." He then turned to Lily and Benson, "if you two feel uncomfortable then you are welcomed to leave the house all together. I didn't ask you to sell your house or any of your property. As long as you are in my house, you will respect my rules. Is that clear!" He growled and Benson nodded as fast as he could.

"Yes father, we are sorry. Please forgive my wife. You know how she can be..." He tried to clear the air.

Grandfather wiped his hands and Calhoun moved to the dinning table with Ariana close behind him.

Matt and Noah where present but they dared not state a word for they were both under their grandfather's mercy as well.

Little Rosa got down from her seat and moved to present a small white lily flower to Ariana. "Here aunt Ariana, this is for you," she said sweetly.

Ariana was shocked at the gesture. After such a dramatic welcome, the last thing she expected was a gesture of love from one of the Lawson's. She took the flower from her and smiled. "Thank you," she whispered.

She held the small flower in her hands and admired the small little gift of nature. Maybe the Lawson's were not as perfect as she was thinking them to be. At least she knew a few who liked her and some who didn't.

She turned to Calhoun and he smiled at her. She placed the flower in her hair and bent over to speak to the girl that had given her the flower. She didn't seem to be holder than ten or eleven years of age.

"What's your name?" Ariana asked her.

"Rosa Lawson," she said proudly.

Ariana also noticed some smiles and scoffs on the table, but she ignored the negativity and focused on the positive people. Rosa sat beside her and the meal started.

The first course was a plate of olive rice with some baked peas and chicken breast. Ariana could feel the stares coming her way from Lily and her husband but she tried on concentrating on the food she was trying to swallow and not the people opposite her.

"So, Ariana, where did you study?" Someone asked.

Ariana looked to Calhoun and he moved closer to her ear to whisper the person's name. "That's my aunt Bianca."

She nodded and smiled at the older woman. "In the state," she responded proud that she had struggled to leave their city to get her degree in business management and adminstration.

"How can a girl like you afford to study abroad?" Lily asked. Ariana sensed the edge in her voice that meantbshe was mocking her but she had gotten enough of such treatment from Alice she wasnt bothered.

"I saved up for it," Ariana replied as sweet as she could

Grandmother clapped her hands and everyone turned to her. "Such a determined and hardworking young woman!"

"I like her already!" Aunt Bianca put in.

Lily rolled her eyes as she shoved more chicken than she coukd actually take at once into her mouth. She was thinking of the next question she could throw at the girl who seems to be too comported in her eyes.

"So, is Calhoun like your first boyfriend?" Noah asked for the first time.

"Cousin Noah! Even I know that is a rude question!" Rosa reprimanded in her usual sweet voice.

The room went silent again as everyone fell in shock at the exchange. Ariana was beginning to think the Lawson's house was a drama hole. Why would they even ask her about that?

"He actually asked a good question. A couple of weeks ago if I am not mistaken, there was a video of a girl like her on the internet," Thomas said shoving another fork into his mouth.

Lily's eyes spat with mischief as she dropped her fork and turned to glare at Ariana. "Was she involved in pornography? What's the link please? We need to be certain that our dear Calhoun isn't marrying a porn star!" She spat.

Calhoun had taking enough from them all. He didn't bring Ariana in here for all these questions. He narrowed his eyes at Noah who had even started the whole thing.

The change in Calhoun's mood made Lily all the more happy. In the past it was always difficult to rile the devil up but now, all she had to do was say something nasty about his girlfriend.

"Calhoun, we are only trying to look out for you. This woman here-"

"Enough Lily!" Grandfather growled and the table went quiet again.

All the while, Ariana felt like the ground should just open and swallow her whole. The only video of her that was on the internet was the one someone took when she was sending Ethan out of her house the last time he came to her with flowers and clothes.

"You should let the young woman answer the question before concluding!" Grandfather said and Calhoun turned his stern stare to him. "Young lady, is there a video of you on the internet?" He asked and Calhoun felt so irritated his skin itched.

Ariana's hands were sweaty but she found courage to respond. She swallowed her saliva and opened her mouth to respond when Calhoun stopped her.

"I didn't bring her here to answer questions! This isn't a panel, or is it now?" Calhoun barked and another silence encaged the room.