Chapter 118 - One Hundred And Eighteen : Way Worse Than Niklaus (1/2)

Maya's POV

I must have brought a country to ruin in my past life to deserve this kind of fate. Was it really impossible to escape the Spencer's? It seems the more I run, the more I keep getting tangled with them.

Like a rose, they're beautiful and enticing but right now, they're choking me with their thorns.

I was more shocked to see Pedro than Isabella, what charm did Anabelle use on Cecil for her to release her precious son and allow him to journey with them without her supervision?

This unusual gathering was probably instigated by Annabelle - definitely not Isabella's normal mode of operation else, chaos would've broken out already.

Seeing Isabella made me a whole lot uncomfortable. It was nerve-wracking having a meal with a child that would've become my stepdaughter if things had gone according to as planned.

Thankfully, she just passed me a brief glance and focused her attention back on her food.

I felt like I failed her like I didn't fight enough for my relationship, but what could I do? Sometimes it was better to give up than fighting a losing war.

Love was not always enough to face all situations. Niklaus and I had too many opposers and oppressors. Also, a marriage hardly survives without the support of family members - household enemies were the most dangerous of all.

”Take a seat, ” Eden said without looking at me.

Not a word was heard from my lips as I pulled out a dining chair and sat down, he was still angry at all.

I must have scared the hell out of Eden, now he must be thinking I have *Suicidal ideation - I couldn't exactly blame him anyway; catatonia in most cases comes with depression which in turn leads to suicide.

But I had to survive ..no, I must survive!. I still have a lot to achieve in this life also, I couldn't give Kim and her family the pleasure of knowing I turned out to become a failure as they predicted.

”Aunt Maya ” Annabelle's energetic and high-pitched voice jerked me out of my thoughts

”Huh? ” I was startled.

”What happened to your face? Did you fight with a cat? ” She asked pointing to her own face as reference.

I blinked in confusion.

Oh, I haven't treated that scratch wound yet, that skipped out of my mind thanks to the drowning incident.

I felt Izzy's heated gaze on mine, my hand flew to my face, stroking the wounds that no longer hurt as before.

With no clue how to answer Anabelle's question, I decided to go along with the flow of her thought

”You're right pumpkin, your aunt Maya fought with a dangerous wild cat today ”

”That witch touched you? ” A cold voice resonated directly across from me at the table and caused me to look up, my calm gaze connecting with Isabella's heated orbs.

”We touched each other, ” I clarified.

Tina is a b*tch, that I agree, but I'm not going to dump all of the blame on her. We fought each other period - though it was three against one.

”Touch? ” Annabelle chimed in, albeit she couldn't decipher our cryptic conversation ”A witch touched you? I thought witches don't exist, how did you find one? Is that possible? ”

This was one big question - numerous at that - how could I explain everything to Anabelle in a simple and concise manner.

Still thinking hard on how to maneuver my way out of this situation without creating more loopholes, God helped me out by touching Eden's heart.

”No talking at the table, ” He told Annabelle strictly who tried to protest.

”But still, I want to - ”

”That's final, ” His voice sounded a lot firmer.

Tears gathered in Annabelle's eye but Eden ignored her, it seems her charm wouldn't work this time; save Pedro who rubbed her back in a soothing manner.

”Don't cry” Pedro comforted her while I shook my head in disapproval - Eden spoilt her way too much or maybe, she's just a natural crybaby.

Still, the amount of tears she produces in such a short time amazes me, Anabelle would do exceptionally well in a crying scene. Especially when she lifts those beautiful blue orbs with glittery tears gathering at a corner of her eyes and looks straight at you - God, the scene would be so breathtaking!

Unlike Anabelle who is so natural at shedding liters of tears, I have to compose myself and remember a really emotional experience that hurt me badly before I'm able to act out a crying scene.

”Hope you won? ” Isabella was the first to break the 'no -talking- at- the -table' rule and her question was obviously directed at me.

It indeed baffles me how every member of the Spencer household was obsessed with the winning mentality. Would it be a crime if they lost for once?

I watched Eden's reaction, he had a calm and neutral expression, nothing else as if he had expected it.

”Must I win? ” I asked back.

”You lost to her in love, lose to her in a physical battle too? Then you're nothing but a coward ”

My head jerked up, while the grip on my spoon was so tight I could already feel it deforming.

”Excuse me? ”

Eden cleared his throat awkwardly, Annabelle who had been whimpering at the side even stopped and watched the both of us.

Isabella held my furious gaze,” You heard me right ”