Chapter 102

"Calhoun no one is trying to put her on the chopping seat, we are only being concerned," Grandfather blurted and this made Calhoun even more angry. This was the least he expected from him.

He got up briskly and held Ariana's hand pulling her to her feet. "Fine! Since no one wants to respect my decision for my life. We will take our leave now!" He barked turning to leave.

Grandmother wanted to go after him but grandfather gave her a stern look. "We have spoilt the boy too much. We are only trying to look out for him!" He repeated sternly.

Lily adjusted in her seat with excitement. "Finally you both can see that!" She said under her breath.

Aunt Bianca got to her feet and wet after them, ignoring her father's stern eyes. If they all felt Ariana wasn't good enough for their Calhoun, she didn't. "Calhoun, my boy, please don't be like this," she begged.

Lily rolled her eyes in satisfaction that the dinner got ruined and grandfather didn't seem to like the girl Calhoun had brought home. Maybe this was what they needed to break Calhoun and his grandparents apart.

Calhoun stopped on his track unable to ignore his aunt's call. "Aunt Bianca, I will call you once I am settled. Right now, we can't talk," he said through clenched teeth.

"Calhoun, we love Ariana. The family is just being skeptical because no one truly know her," Aunt Bianca tried to convince him to come back but Calhoun knew who his enemies were. Aunt Bianca might mean exactly what she was saying but the same couldn't be stated about the rest of the people on the table.

Calhoun looked down at Ariana that clutched his hand like her life depended on it. He could feel the wave of unease that was bouncing off of her. She didn't like where she was and he could sense it.

"I am sorry aunt Bianca, but we are leaving," Calhoun said as he continued moving. But as they got to the dinning arch, a loud shriek made them stop once again.

"Calhoun!! My favourite!" Aunt Elsie shrieked like a cat the moment she walked through the dinning room arch and saw her nephew.

"Is she the one? Is this Ariana?" Elsie continued checking out the woman beside Calhoun. She didn't even wait for him to respond before she moved closer to Ariana that was slowly shrinking behind Calhoun.

"Hi! I am Elsie. Calhoun's youngest aunt. He loves me too much!" She said stretching her hand to Ariana.

The entire family poked their necks waiting for what was going to happen. Lily was already pissed off for she knew Elsie was going to change the tides of the family reunion like she always does with that loud voice of hers.

Ariana looked at Calhoun for direction and he nodded for her to go ahead. She stretched her hand and Elsie shook it wildly.

"Thank you," Ariana whispered shyly.

"Awww, she is so cute when she is shy! My God Calhoun where did a devil like you find an angel like this?" She exclaimed aloud.

Ariana blushed despite the tension that was still pinning at her back. She knew the entire family were watching and she knew just how they looked at her.

"Are you two just coming?" Elsie asked them as she realized for the first time they were not with the rest of the house. She moved her neck around and saw the entire family ogling at her. "Hey people!" She waved like a teenager.

Ariana thought for certain this particular Lawson was adopted. She behaved less like the rest of them. She was almost like a woman from an average family on the street. Maybe she could relate with this particular aunt of Calhoun's.

"Come on, I am sure, grandfather over there is going crazy thinking you won't show up!" She said pulling Ariana back with her but Calhoun stopped her, taking Ariana back to himself.

Elsie looked at her empty hands and then at Calhoun. "What's going on, devil?" She said playfully even if the situation didn't seem like a game at all.

"We were just leaving," Calhoun said and continued walking out of the mansion.

Elsie turned back to the people behind her and from the way Aunt Bianca looked like she would cry and grandmother was biting her fingers, she knew something must have happened. Rather than stay and ask questions, she ran after Calhoun.

"Calhoun wait!" She called out as she rushed completely out of the dinning to the adjoining reception area.

Calhoun clicked his tongue in annoyance and kept going. Ariana was yet again, surprised. Elsie had introduced herself as Calhoun's aunt, but why was he ignoring her?

"Calhoun, she is calling for you?" Ariana whispered to him as they moved out of the house with Elsie screaming for Calhoun behind them.

"I heard her and we are not stopping!" He said firmly with a voice Ariana should probably listen to but she didn't.

She stopped moving and pulled her hand out of his.

"Carl stop!" She said sharply.

Calhoun turned to glare at her with fire in his eyes. Ariana was being stubborn and this was the first time she was directing it to him.

"What are you doing?" He growled.

Ariana didn't respond, rather she turned to face Elsie who had now reached the exit and was heading towards them.

"Oh, I thought, you will never stop!" She said trying to catch her breath at the same time.

"I am sorry, we didn't hear you at all..." Ariana said with an awkward smile.

Elsie got to where she stood waiting for her and smiled. "Awww, you are truly an angel. I know that Calhoun will never stop when I call for him. He thinks I am crazy!" She said bursting into laugh. "That nephew of mine can be so rude at times. But I love him still!"

Ariana laughed awkwardly along with her as she tried to comprehend how Calhoun ignoring her was a good thing. Or even funny.

"So, where are you off too? Can we hang out?" Elsie asked happily.

Ariana turned back to Calhoun for help and he had his eyes narrowed like an angry lion.

What should say now?

"Ye-s."