Chapter 8

Vien rolled her eyes as she entered the private room, her gaze landing on Vera already seated at the head of the table. The seat beside Vera was empty, but to her dismay, the next one over was occupied—by Gabriela. Gabriela glanced up, her dark eyes locking with Vien's for a moment before she quickly looked away.

Taking a deep breath, Vien walked over and pulled out the chair beside Gabriela, settling into it. Her arm brushed Gabriela's, and Gabriela stiffened slightly. The faint scent of Vien's perfume—elegant and subtle—reached her, making her shut her eyes for a second. Get it together, Gabriela.

The room buzzed with chatter and laughter as their colleagues from the Forensic Science Department mingled, but Gabriela stayed quiet, her hands gripping the armrests of her chair. Was this a side effect of the hormone therapy? She chuckled internally. No, it was something else entirely.

"Wow, the Briar twins actually showed up," Matthew remarked, breaking the silence as his gaze darted toward Vien.

Vien set her phone down, leaning back in her chair with an air of effortless confidence. She crossed her legs and arched a brow. "Matthew," she began coolly, "since we're not at work, let's stick to first names, alright?" She glanced at the group, offering a polite smile and nod before returning her attention to him. "It's Vera," she gestured to her sister, "and Vien."

Matthew shrugged. "What's wrong with calling you the Briar twins? It is your surname."

Vera smirked, chiming in, "True, but I'm not just any Briar." She gave Vien a sly look. "Though I'm not sure about this one over here."

Vien groaned, shaking her head. "You and your useless one-liners," she muttered, exasperated.

Matthew chuckled. "Still, what brings you two here? It's not your usual scene."

Vien arched an unimpressed brow. "We organized this gathering, Matthew. It'd be odd if we didn't attend," she quipped. "Honestly, your logical thinking is severely lacking in basic common sense sometimes."

The table erupted in light laughter, and Matthew cleared his throat, choosing not to respond.

When the food arrived, Gabriela instinctively tensed as the waiter approached, carrying a steaming bowl of soup. Her shoulders stiffened as she subtly leaned away.

Noticing her discomfort, Vien frowned slightly before addressing the waiter. "Excuse me," she said, raising a hand, "could you serve that on the other side of the table, please? Thank you."

Gabriela exhaled a soft sigh of relief. "Thanks," she murmured, her voice barely audible.

Vien glanced at her, chuckling softly, but she didn't comment. She leaned back in her chair, her arms crossed. Does she have trauma because of her scars? she wondered, though the thought irritated her. Why am I worrying about a grown woman?

Clearing her throat, Vien clasped her hands together. "Right," she began, addressing the group. "Vera and I won't be staying too long—our family is just outside—but feel free to stay as long as you like. Everything's on us, so dig in." She smiled politely.

Midway through the conversation, Vera nudged her. Vien leaned closer. "What?" she whispered.

Vera gestured toward the slightly ajar door. "Look at your daughter and my son," she chuckled.

Vien followed her gaze, spotting Blair and Shiloh peeking inside, giggling. Her stomach sank. Blair knows Gabriela. "I think I should—"

Before she could finish, the door burst open, revealing the two children.

Vera laughed as Vien buried her face in her hands. "Sorry, everyone. It seems we have some uninvited guests," Vera announced as she stood to greet them.

"Are they yours, Vera?" Ingrid asked, smiling at the kids.

Vera nodded, grinning. "This little guy's mine," she said, patting Shiloh's head, "and this little lady belongs to Vien."

"They're adorable," one of the professors commented, smiling warmly.

Vien sighed as Blair grinned up at her. "Hi, Mommy!" Blair chirped before her attention shifted to the person beside Vien.

"Blair," Vien said sharply, her tone a warning.

Blair tilted her head, pointing at Gabriela, who froze mid-sip of her water. "Gabi!" Blair exclaimed excitedly, running over and wrapping her small arms around Gabriela.

The room fell silent, everyone's eyes darting between the child and Gabriela, who awkwardly returned the hug.

"Oh, for the love of—" Vien muttered, covering her face with her hands.

Vien sighed, glancing around the table. The curious glances thrown her way were palpable, though no one dared to voice their questions outright. She rolled her eyes heavenward before setting her glass down. Clasping her hands, she leaned forward, addressing the group.

"Alright," she began, clicking her tongue. "I know I don't owe anyone here an explanation about my life outside of work—but let me just clear something up." She raised a single finger for emphasis. "My daughter, Blair, happened to meet Gabriela during her campus interview. Blair accidentally kicked her toy, and it landed right in front of Gabriela. That's it. The rest is history. My daughter somehow managed to befriend one of our professors. Fun, right?" She plastered on a smile that barely concealed her irritation.

Ingrid chuckled. "Oh, that's why Blair was so excited to see Gabi here. How adorable, isn't it, Gabi?" She nudged Gabriela, who forced an awkward laugh.

"Y-yeah, an instant friend with a kid. Yay!" Gabriela said, feigning enthusiasm while feeling Vien's intense gaze burning into her.

Vien muttered under her breath, loud enough for Gabriela to hear, "I shouldn't have brought her here." She rubbed her temple, exasperated.

Matthew, smirking, leaned back in his chair. "It's a surprise to see you letting your daughter befriend a commoner. That's not like you, Vien."

Vien's eyes snapped to him, a sly smirk forming on her lips. "Oh, Matthew," she began smoothly. "Are you jealous that my daughter doesn't even know someone like you exists? That's rough for you." She raised her wine glass in mock sympathy before taking a sip.

Matthew chuckled, though his confidence wavered. "It's just refreshing to see a Briar breaking tradition and mingling with... well, everyone else."

Vien set her glass down, her gaze sharpening. "Compared to you, Matthew, I'd much rather my daughter be friends with Gabriela. At least she won't risk losing her basic common sense by hanging around someone like you." Her tone turned cold, a smirk tugging at her lips. "And for heaven's sake, stop acting like you're bitter over the past. It's called the past for a reason."

Matthew swallowed hard, visibly embarrassed, but before he could retort, Vera clapped her hands softly and rose from her seat. "Alright, that's enough," she said warmly. "We'll be taking our leave now. Enjoy yourselves, everyone. Everything is covered, so stay as long as you'd like." She smiled at the group, defusing the tension.

Vien raised a brow at Vera but followed her twin's lead, setting down her glass. "Ta-ta, everyone!" she said with a playful wave, exiting the private room with Vera.

As soon as they were outside, Vera nudged Vien, arms crossed. "Did Blair meet Gabriela off-campus too?" she asked, her tone light but probing.

Vien scoffed. "And? I was with her the whole time. Relax. I know what I'm doing with my daughter."

Vera tilted her head, studying her twin carefully. "Are you... dating Gabriela?" she asked gently.

Vien froze, her eyes wide. "What?" she blurted, scoffing incredulously. "Where the hell is that coming from?" She chuckled awkwardly, shaking her head.

"Yes or no?" Vera pressed, undeterred.

"No!" Vien shot back firmly. She crossed her arms, groaning. "Blair just decided Gabriela should date me. Like, what the actual hell?"

Vera blinked in surprise, then burst out laughing, covering her mouth as her face turned red.

"Come on! Stop laughing!" Vien exclaimed, rolling her eyes. "It's not funny!"

"It is, though!" Vera gasped between chuckles. "Blair really tried to set you up?"

"Yes!" Vien groaned louder, throwing her hands up in defeat. "Blair outright told Gabriela to date me. Like I don't already have enough to deal with."

Vera doubled over with laughter, unable to contain herself, while Vien crossed her arms, glaring.

"Can you please be serious for once?" Vien snapped, though the corners of her lips twitched in reluctant amusement.