Chapter 30: Girl

OLLIE

I felt an awkward, nauseating swirl in my stomach. Archibald’s arrival made my heart beat faster.

He entered the room with a woman who looked like Anna’s blonde twin.

~Great.~

I hid in a corner near Sarah and watched Archer’s beautiful green eyes search the room.

His golden locks shone in the light.

He was carrying a big bag full of presents that he put beside the Christmas tree before greeting his family.

I could tell everybody in the family loved him, as they all took their time to hug him and welcome him.

It was like he brought the warmth they all lacked.

My eyes quickly scanned his broad shoulders and lean, athletic physique beneath the light sweater he wore.

I wanted to look away, but his dazzling smile was mesmerizing, and I couldn’t help but steal some glances his way.

Sarah brought me back to myself.

“Are you okay? Do you need to go to the restroom? Why are you twitching your hands and crossing your legs like that?”

“No, I’m okay. I just need to stretch my legs,” I lied and walked away from Sarah, moving closer to the living room.

I was so nervous side-eyeing Archibald’s beautiful face that it caught me off guard when his eyes found mine and he approached me.

“Oh, not again,” I muttered, putting a hand to my chest, feeling my heart rate rise.

At least the monitor wasn’t beeping.

“You left without giving me your number.” His expression was unreadable.

“Oh, hi, Archer,” I greeted him shyly.

“Aren’t you happy to see me? Come step on my feet and give me my Christmas hug.” He smiled sweetly and watched me with those deep emerald eyes, his arms wide open with a smile brighter than the sun.

#

The beautiful dining table, with all the family members gathered around, waited for us.

A set of eyes caught my attention. Luther was here.

The creepy old man studied me intently.

The curve of his lip tucked upward and his slim arm raised a glass. He was toasting in honor of my presence, something meant for only me to understand—a threat.

I swallowed. ~A house full of snakes.~

I wasn’t an angsty person, but that man’s presence was unsettling and blood-curdling.

I watched how he looked at my sister next. He was probably thinking of different ways to make her disappear.

He smiled at his nephew, Alexander, who didn’t smile back at him.

Sarah was in Alexander’s arms, looking for comfort.

He looked serious as he caressed her arm, like he knew they were being watched too.

She was so naive, never truly aware of how things were.

Maybe it was better for her to believe she was safe in his arms while I figured out what to do next.

~Darius and Alexander are handling them,~ Sarah had said while we got dressed.

Handling them, my ass.

I didn’t want to imagine what Edmund and Luther were capable of. It was more than sure that we were in deep shit.

Where was the head of the snakes? Nowhere to be found.

Edmund was not in the room. It was a slight relief; at least I only had to deal with the slender creep.

I hoped this dinner wouldn’t go as terribly as the first one.

As long as my seat didn’t face him, I would be okay.

I sat far from Luther, next to Vivian.

She looked bored, as always.

~Okay, Ollie. Play it cool.~

“Is this seat taken?” Archibald asked, pulling out the chair next to me.

I turned my head and answered sweetly, “All yours.”

I couldn’t be anything but sweet to him.

Archibald gave me the comfort I needed to stay civilized.

“Archer, what are your plans for New Year’s Eve?” Anna asked as soon as Archibald sat.

“Alexander and Sarah will be flying to Sydney in a couple of days.”

“Drop the baby bomb and fly away to Sydney, nicely done,” Vivian muttered for only me to hear.

“We’re planning to catch the fireworks over Sydney Harbor. It will be Sarah’s first time in Australia,” Alexander explained, caressing Sarah’s arm while she pressed her face to his chest.

Archer was so polite that he didn’t answer, letting the conversation revolve around Sarah and Alexander.

“That is lovely, dear,” Anna’s sister commented.

I avoided eye contact with her.

Her resemblance to her sister gave me the chills. Wasn’t one Anna enough in this world? Did we need two of them?

“Yes, Aunt,” Alexander agreed.

“We have a lot to celebrate.” He kissed Sarah’s head, and she breathed in, closing her eyes.

The picture of pure devotion.

If only she could be this happy forever.

It made me angry to have Luther planning otherwise a couple of seats away from me.

“I’ll be meeting some friends in the city,” Archer answered, joining the conversation.

“What about you, Ollie? Any plans?”

“Just noodles and a movie.” I tried to control my facial expression, but couldn’t change my mouth from a flat line.

I could hide my rage to some degree, but not completely.

“You are welcome to join me,” Archer offered, placing a hand on top of mine.

I inhaled sharply at the sudden contact.

“Aww, Archer, that is so sweet of you!” Sarah exclaimed.

Anna’s face was stoic; she didn’t like Archer’s interest in me.

That didn’t stop him from giving me his full attention, though.

“Thank you, Archer.” I smiled and glanced wickedly at Anna just for the fun of it.

“Where is Edmund?” Archibald asked Luther.

Luther broke his silence. “He is handling things.”

“You don’t have to explain; it’s been hard on all of us,” Sophie said.

“Yes, many unfortunate sets of events…and people,” Anna muttered.

The way she said “~people.~” ~This woman! If I could throw a fork into her eye without a lawsuit, I would.~

“Anna-bear, where is your Christmas spirit?” Archibald teased, lightening the mood, putting his hand back on mine reassuringly.

“Of course, dear, you’re right,” she paused momentarily.

“Speaking of the Christmas spirit, aren’t you going to ask where your cousin is?”

“Nah, I think we are better off without him,” he said with his dazzling smile.

“Archer!” Sophie exclaimed in disapproval.

“Nonsense. You loved each other so much while growing up,” Anna insisted.

“Barely,” Alexander muttered and took a sip of his scotch.

“If you mean they loved each other like a cat to a dog, then yes,” Vivian added.

“I think it is time to put that aside, don’t you think?” Sophie pleaded with her son.

Darius appeared unexpectedly from the back of the room.

“Don’t worry about that, Sophie. We are grown-ups. Right, Archie?” His cold glare directed at Archibald sent a chill down my spine.

~Oh, fuck me. He is here! They are both here!~

I wanted to take my hand out of Archibald’s hold, but he held it tightly while he twitched his mouth.

It was evident how much they hated each other.

Anna stood. “Darius! Oh, my son! I wasn’t sure you’d come back. I am so happy you returned for Christmas. You must be tired from all the work.”

I freed my hand from Archer’s hold as soon as he relaxed.

“I’m not taking my eyes away from that baby until it’s living and breathing,” Darius replied. “There are a lot of things we need to discuss as a family.”

~Oh.~ Already calling it a baby.

“Yes,” Anna grumbled, realizing she wasn’t the reason why he was here.

Darius was here because of Alexander.

“Hi, Anna,” a velvety voice chimed.

Standing behind Darius’s back was a bombshell of a blonde.

Blondie was here too?