Everyone was seated together in the dining room and I was just feeling so nervous and self conscious under Tristan's intense gaze.
"Jennifer? Could you pass me the salt please?" Damien suddenly asked me. "Yeah, Sure."
As I was handing over the bottle of salt to him, it slipped from my clumsy hands but luckily, Damien caught it before it fell.
I gave an apologetic look to him but he just smiled at me.
I was quietly eating my dinner but the others were just so excited as they kept talking more and eating less.
"Tristan. You remember how fascinated you were when you had seen Jennifer for the first time?" Ben suddenly amused and my hand which was holding the spoon, stopped in mid air.
Please don't talk about me.
Please don't talk about me.
I think you should get used to it.
Heck no!
"Yeah. I remember." Tristan shyly replied.
"You literally told me that you would marry her when you both grow up." Ben chuckled. Isabella and Simon joined him.
Zack choked on the food he was eating and Charlotte rubbed his back.
I felt my face heating up.
"Dad! I was a silly kid back then! Why are you bringing that up?" Tristan was looking flustered.
"I just felt like sharing it with everyone." Ben shrugged.
"Jennifer deserves the best... And I'm not the best." Tristan gave me a half hearted smile.
Why are they talking about me?! I am sure Max would love getting the attention more.
I accidentally locked eyes with Liam and he seemed to notice the pleading look on my face.
"Guys! Why is no one talking about my Maxy here? He's pretty awesome too." Liam said and soon all the adults were talking about him.
To say that Max was enjoying being the centre of attention would be an understatement.
I gave a grateful look to Liam to which he winked at me.
*****
The next day, we met Mr. James Brown, dad's lawyer. He informed us all about dad's business and his properties and that everything would be ours when Max and I turn 18. He also helped us in informing the police about everything and got all the legal procedures about mine and Max's real identities done.
The police are now searching for Rose and Matthew and hopefully, they'll be arrested and punished soon.
Then came the most nightmarish thing for me- the media! The mansion was surrounded by different reporters all the time.
I had to give so many interviews unwillingly. I was so anxious throughout this entire time but never once, did I feel alone. My family was always there for me.
Our story was in the spotlight in almost all news channels and newspapers. But thankfully, Ben eventually got the media off of our tails.
****
"Isabella." Zack started. "I know how much you love us but, we need to go back. School's a thing you know." He crossed his arms in front of his muscular chest.
Isabella was not letting us leave the mansion. She had got really close to all of us in all this while.
Right now, we were trying to convince her to let us go and that we would be back during the winter break, after all, we would be living here after graduation from high school anyway.
"I will just miss you all so much. You all are like my own children." Isabella looked away, hiding her sad face from us.
"We'll be back during winter break." Liam said and hugged her from behind. We all joined the hug.
"Let's do one thing." Isabella's face lit up as we all pulled away.
"There are only a few days left for Zack and Damien's birthday. You all stay till then and then leave?" She asked, looking hopeful.
We all looked at each other, communicating through our eyes.
"I think we can do that. Right guys?" Charlotte asked and we all happily nodded.
Isabella hugged us again. She looked so happy. Her bright smile looked so pleasant.
"I love you so much, my dear children." she sighed in contentment.
"We love you too, Bella!" we yelled, with Simon joining us.
****
It is Zack's birthday in a few days!
So?
I don't know what to gift him..!
I have an idea.
I was searching the house, asking the maids for wool but no one seemed to have it. I guess I would have to buy it then.
I turned at a hallway and bumped into someone's chest. My clumsy legs stumbled backwards but two muscular arms steadied me. "Easy there." he chuckled.
"Tristan? What are you doing here?"Â I asked in confusion.
"Dad sent me here. We have to contact all the members of the mafia. The information about everyone is in your dad's office." He informed.
"So.. You are re-establishing the mafia?" I furrowed my eyebrows.
"Yeah. We are. Now that the heirs are here with us again, so why not."
"That's.. Great I guess.... Anyway, have you seen Max or Liam? Or Charlotte?" I asked.
"The three are watching a movie in the theatre room. Well, it was supposed to be only Liam and Charlotte but Kyle joined them too." Tristan laughed.
"Oh.."
"Is something wrong?"
"No.. I just.. Wanted to buy something.."
"What is it? I can get it for you." Tristan smiled down at me.
"Oh it's fine. I don't want to waste your time." I smiled back.
"Tell me Jennifer. What is it? You can never waste my time even if you wanted to, trust me."
"Well.. I wanted to buy some wool." I nervously said.
"Wool? What do you need wool for?" He slightly tilted his head in a cute way which made me smile a little.
"I can't tell you right now."
"Okay so.. Why don't you come with me? We can buy whatever you want to and then maybe walk around in the city? How does that sound?" He was looking really hopeful and I just couldn't deny him so.. I agreed.
****
After I bought all the things I needed, Tristan and I went on a ride around the city. He was a good company and kept talking to me throughout the entire car ride.
"I used to play in this park with my friends all the time when I was little." Tristan stopped the car and turned to look at me. "That's nice." I smiled.
We were walking together in the park and Tristan told me stories about his childhood. He looked really cheerful reliving his past.
"You know Jennifer... When you were born, I had begged dad to take me to the hospital because I was just so excited to meet you and Kyle." Tristan took my hand and took me to the swings.
"Your dad... He was looking so proud that day." He looked at me and smiled. "He had jokingly said that protecting you was now my responsibility." He turned his face away and sighed.
"And you know what? I had promised him that I won't let any bad thing happen to you." He looked sad and started swinging on his swing. "But I couldn't keep that promise." he whispered.
"Tristan." I said and he looked at me. "It's Okay. You were just a kid back then. The thing that.. You even promised something like that about me... It really means a lot." I smiled softly at him.
****
After staying in the park for a little while, we went back.
Tristan got a call from his dad and he had to leave. "I'll have to go now. Mom has invited her relatives for a visit today and though I am really not interested in meeting them, I'll still have to go." he dramatically sighed and I laughed.
"Well, see you later then." I said. "See you later, Jennifer."
I turned around to go to the staircase to go up to my room but I found a very pissed off looking Zack standing there, with his arms crossed, staring at me.
"Hey Zack." I went towards him but he appeared to be in a really bad mood.
"Where were you?" He asked in a cold tone and I frowned.
"I Uh... Needed to buy something." I replied but he was still giving me a cold look, his arms still crossed in front of his chest.
"What did you need to buy?" He took a threatening step towards me and uncrossed his arms. I stepped back. He was towering over me as he is so tall and I looked down at my feet in nervousness.
"I can't tell you right now. But I promise that I will tell you when it's the right time." I looked up to see his face.
"Why were you with that Tristan?" He glared at me and clenched his fists. I felt tears forming in my eyes.
This is the Zack I fear.
"I w-went out with him." I stuttered. He roughly grabbed my arm and pulled me towards him. "Why?" he seethed.
I kept quiet. Max, Liam and Charlotte were unavailable and I couldn't have bought stuff for his and Damien's birthday gift with either of them.
"I AM ASKING YOU SOMETHING JENNIFER!" He yelled and I flinched.
I don't know why, but something in me snapped.
I harshly pulled my arm from his grip and pushed him away. He looked shocked but I didn't care.
"Who are you to ask me that?! I can go out with whoever and whenever I want! You are no one to tell me what to do Zack! And I am not obligated to answer any of your questions! You are not my boyfriend or something that you are demanding answers from me!" I yelled and stormed off from there, leaving him dumbfounded but I was just so angry to care.
I am not some little girl that he can control me. I wouldn't have snapped at him like that if he had asked me in a nicer way.
I really don't like to yell or fight with people. I just hate that but I can't control my anger. It feels like my mouth has a brain of its own when I am angry.
Now, here I am, sitting on my bed, regretting every word I just said to Zack.