n

n

nSeeing their aunt and uncle play with them reminds Damien of how much he's been wishing for something like this for a very long time.

nAs much as he and his brothers don't want to admit it, they are lonely. Even when their mother was still alive, he and Joshua couldn't see and play much with her since she's often ill and bedridden. Their father did try his hardest to balance his time with them, his wife and his work, but it's never enough to fill the gap.

nAnd when she passed away, things got worse.

nIt's not just about having not enough time with them anymore. Edward was busier than ever - and Damien knew he's doing it on purpose in order to forget their mother and move on. When he's working, he could easily get his mind off of things.

nBecause of that, he and his brothers grew feeling lonelier than ever.

nHowever, they didn't complain out loud. They kept it in most of the time because they knew that this was just how things were supposed to be in this family.

nThey don't have cousins since Edward's siblings don't have children yet. Contact with other people outside of the family is limited. It also doesn't help that Gertrude is fond of having them meet and play with the children of their family's business partners - spoiled and arrogant children, that is.

nRight now, though, Damien feels like he's slowly becoming strangers with loneliness.

nAll it needed was a single hand reaching out to them - and Cassidy doing just that was all it took.

n

"Oh, Damien likes meat, huh...?

"

nAt his aunt's comment, Damien perks up and turns to face her, snapping out of his musing. He then finds Cassidy taking a seat beside him while staring at his plate. She appears to be amused for some reason.

nThey're now taking a break from a couple hours of swimming and having their picnic at last.

nThe attendants that Adrian called had arrived a while ago. While they were playing in the ocean, they prepared the picnic set and their orders - all of which are still of the finest quality despite the short notice. They brought this huge rectangular table, a canopy to cover them from the sun, and a barbecue equipment.

nLunch time came right exactly when everything was done.

n

"Yes, I do like meat. What about you, Aunt? Why are you having dessert first?

" Damien asked as soon as he noticed that she was holding a cup full of ice cream with different flavors.

n

"I'm afraid they might melt if they stay in this heat for too long,

" Cassidy reasoned out while averting her gaze.

n

"No, they're not. We have just the right equipment to keep it from melting even in this heat.

"

n

"I'm waiting for the barbecue to finish.

"

n

"The first batch already is. There are some on the table.

"

n

"W-Well, ummmm...

"

n

"You're so easy to read, Aunt. Just say that you like ice cream.

"

nAs he chuckled that out in amusement, she only smiled, not denying the claim. She does like ice cream and other sweets, especially since she has considered something as simple as them to be quite the luxuries when she was younger.

nMost people didn't really expect that she had a sweet tooth, though.

n

"Speaking of ice cream, you should come with us when we sneak out of dinner tomorrow night...!

" Damien enthused all of the sudden, much to her surprise.

n

"You see, Hugo want to go to this popular ice cream parlor near the hotel that we'll be having dinner at. I was the one who kinda told him about it, so I felt responsible to take him there when he insisted to go. It's also fine with me since it's a good opportunity to escape that place.

"

n

"Wait, what dinner?

" Cassidy asked while blinking in puzzlement.

n

"Huh? You don't know, Aunt?

"

n

"I'm sure I don't have any plan to go to any hotel for any dinner.

"

n

"Did Uncle not tell you about the family dinner we'd be having tomorrow? Well, it's supposed to be a family dinner, but Grandmother had invited some guests from my birthday party who were still in the hotel.

"

n

"What?! Maleficent's coming-!

"

nThen, she paused.

nShe immediately cut herself off, not wanting to let her nephew hear her insulting his grandmother. Fortunately, he did not catch on as he only tilted his head quizzically. She also cringed a little at the thought that she reacted like a scaredy-cat when he mentioned her mother-in-law.

n'I'm not a coward, and I'm not afraid of her! Who cares if she's gonna come or not, anyway?' Cassidy thought with a huff before turning to where her husband and other nephews were.

nAdrian is in the middle of serving a new batch of freshly-grilled barbecue to the children. Joshua and Hugo seem to be really attached to him. Then again, it's not everyday that he pampers people like this. Damien also mentioned that they had a good relationship somehow.

n

"Bossman, can I ask something?

" Cassidy called out all the way from the table, catching his attention.

n

"What is it?

" Adrian replied as he finished what he was doing and walked up to her.

n

"What's the family dinner all about? Damien just told me.

"

n

"Oh, that...

"

nSeeing him hesitate for a second, she only raises a brow. It seems like he does know about it too but is keeping it a secret from her until now. It's not like she wants to go, anyway.

n

"Well, if you're planning on going and not telling me, it's alright. I won't hold a grudge or anything,

" Cassidy continued with a nonchalant shrug.

n

"No, it's not that...

" Adrian trailed off before regarding her contemplatively.

n

"To be honest, I am planning not to go. That's why I didn't bother to tell you. I knew you would not want to, after all - not when you sneaked out yesterday to avoid that meeting and everything. I also didn't want to leave you at home just because of a dinner.

"

nWith her eyes widening for a bit, Cassidy falls silent at this, taken aback by his reason. The way he looks at her seriously can only mean that his words are genuine - that he truly doesn't want to go only because she will not be there.

nMore surprisingly, it ends up with their nephews hearing their exchange and doing the same thing.

n

"Uncle's really not coming?

" Damien blurted out, both nonplussed and disappointed.

n

"He's not? And Aunt too?

" Joshua chimed in with the same dismayed reaction.

n

"If Uncle Bossman and Aunty aren't coming, I don't wanna go either!

" Hugo bolted out before proceeding to throw a tantrum.

n

"Joshua's out too. I ain't going no more.

"

n

"Well... Maybe me too?

"

n

"W-Wait, you guys...

" Cassidy trailed off in flummox, not expecting that they would suddenly back out like her husband.

nIt's not like she has a say in this matter. She can't decide for them, but at the same time, she bets that them not coming will bring forth a disastrous storm. Gertrude might really reach her limits or even go past her boiling point if his son and grandsons didn't appear for that occasion.

n'Again, it's not that I'm afraid of Maleficent. I just can't stand her for too long, but...' Cassidy pondered before looking at her three nephews.

n'The boys have a plan for that evening. Visiting an ice cream parlor, is it? That does sound tempting.'

nWhat doesn't sound tempting yet necessary is for her to stop running away from those people.

nShe knows that she doesn't want to meet Gertrude or even breathe the same air as her. However, she is also aware that fleeing every single time will not solve anything. Sooner or later, they will definitely cross paths again, and it's not like she still can't defend herself like before.

nBesides, Irish will surely be there, which gives Cassidy a show to spectate at least. Since it's a family dinner, all the other members will be coming. Staying at home for such a consequential event sounds boring now that she thinks about it.

nCassidy already made up her mind to deal with the threats inside the family, anyway. Going there will help her learn more things about the other members - things that Cecile can't provide in detail just by informing her. However, she will still have to use the head maid to make sure that she will be steps ahead of them in case they are scheming something again.

nAll in all, if Cassidy is going to decide to come, it will be for the sake of getting to know the threats more - those people's true nature, that is.

nAside from that, she will be able to go to that ice cream parlor with her cute little nephews. Of course, she can't deprive herself of that kind of fun. Adrian was able to bribe her to come to the party using the beach before, after all. An ice cream parlor shouldn't be an exemption.

n'Oh my, I'm such an easy woman to please~' she cooed to herself, feigning distress.

nWhile Cassidy continues to act like some helpless damsel with all those thoughts in mind, Adrian and the boys only watch her in bafflement and incredulity.

n