Chapter 313 - The return of the threat (1/2)

**NOTICE**

I have updated the previous chapter to a better version and extended the scene to continue further, so please give it a read before you get to this chapter.

*****

The group reunited in the living room earlier than Anna had predicted. They returned to watch the movie, Miracle on 34th Street, for the 30th time, an early invitation to welcome Christmas spirit. Cuddled together on the couch while sipping the innovated cranberry margaritas, the adults picked the movie considering the little one's presence. Jake made the final call, happy to see Lia show enthusiasm to watch it. Halfway into the film, Lia starts to nod on and off.

Breakfast and lunch with grandparents while dining with mother's friends came to be an active day for a child to carry. Exhausted from the delicious feast and exclusive desserts, little Lia rested close to her mother, giving out little yawns and shutting eyes often to her fatigue.

Giselle noticed the drowsy little bird by her side and nudged Lia to wake her up.

”You're sleepy already?” she spoke softly to her tiny ears.

While the adults enjoyed glasses if refreshments, the child gawked at them, empty.

”Do you want some water?” Giselle asked.

Lia bobbed her head lazily.

Giselle signaled Anna before leaving to find water for Lia from the kitchen. Noticing the child awake and distracted, Jake went to sit next to her, inquiring about her weariness.

Distracted, Diego found someone missing and stood up to announce his short detour to the restroom.

”I had dozens of these. I'm going to take a leak, ” he announced loudly and left the spot, unnoticed.

Anna glanced next to her to find Lillian still stiff like a statue, holding on the same expression, which Anna guessed to be the conclusive response of the conversation with Giselle.

”Are you okay?” she called in concern.

Awakened to a friend's cry, Lillian nodded to look around.

”Where's Giselle?” she asked, panicking.

”She is in the kitchen.”

Anna replied to grab Lillian closer to ask of details about meeting with Giselle. They got engaged too, dismissing the environment.

Diego stopped on his way to the restroom. He looked behind to find the rest busy in pairs: Anna with Lillian while Jake and Lia had their own chat. Having already crossed the kitchen, he chose to return and make a surprise, private appearance.

Entering the broad kitchen, he found Giselle filling a glass with tap water. He neared her without an alarm.

”What do you think you're doing?” he said to disturb his company.

”Diego!!” Giselle winced from hearing his voice all alone.

”So, you do remember my name, uh, Giselle? he mumbled.

As if someone flipped the switch in his system, Diego presented a different version of himself to the trembling Giselle. A version- only known to her and invented for her as a consequence of his unrequited love for Lillian Grey.

Giselle gave distance between the two, holding a defensive posture with him, cautiously.

”Why are you here?”

”Did you not hear what I said at our last meeting?”

”You think you have a chance now that you've returned.”

He bombarded her with his questions, plunging rapidly into his wrath naturally developed for her.

”What do you think you're doing here?” he repeated to Giselle's lull.

Seeing her unaffected by his raging interrogation, Diego shifted his course to another target.

”Don't you have a child now?” he said to notice her eyes twitch to his rhythm.

”Lia, it's her name, right?” he continued to taunt her.

Giselle wordlessly stood to listen to him but hearing her daughter's name thrown into his speech, she couldn't remain hushed anymore.

”Diego!! Don't talk to my child.”

Diego laughed, not too loud, wary of his position.

”That's rude! Last time I saw you, you were gay, but now you have a child, ” he said to sneer.