The hall for the dinner was the largest Ava had seen. The all-white interior decoration with diamond pebbles made the room scream class. From the champagne pyramid to the ice sculpture, the gigantic cake at the end of the hall, and a banquet with professional caterers dressed in white uniforms that matched the hall decoration.

The men in the room including the musicians and guards were dressed in suits from the high quality textile design to the affordable cotton, they all appeared dashing. The ladies also were perfectly dressed in dinner gowns of several shapes and designs, adorned with gold, silver, and diamond accessories. It was a Douglas event no one wanted to appear small.

Ava had never felt so shy in her entire life like she was that night. Walking into the room seeing the obvious shock and awe on their faces. She loved how beautiful they made her feel but no face was familiar except Aiden and Alisa’s who were at the opposite end of the room. She knew he was rich but expected a petite family dinner but seeing the amount of people in the hall, made her feet weak yet she continued walking in, concealing her fear by any means necessary.

Mrs. Emily rushed to her, wrapping Ava in her arms.

“I’m so happy to see finally meet you!” She exclaimed in a British accent, it’s where she schooled most of her life hence the adoption. Ava wondered what she meant by ‘finally’ but ignored it, feigning a smile as Emily led several of her friends to come greet her.

“What a pleasure to meet y’all!” Ava grinned in an attempt to sound Scottish.

Ava felt a cold palm on hers amidst the greetings causing her to turn swiftly only to meet Aiden’s smiling face. She almost jerked in fear but held it in, it was the first time she was seeing that grumpy face concoct a smile and for her it was weird.

“You lovers….should take a break!” A husky voice commented, Ava could swear it was Aiden’s if not that he was seated right beside her in his wheelchair.

“Hi, Dad,” Aiden said. Ava quickly untangled her hands from his to greet him but he shoved it aside, pushing for a hug instead. He looked just like Aiden just more handsome and younger as Aiden’s overgrown beard made him look older.

“Ava, right?” She nodded affirmatively.

“I’m so glad to finally meet you…come on, Let’s eat and be merry! My son is now a married man!”

Ava wheeled Aiden to the dining area where a long table was set for only the Douglas family. Other tables were set for the guests which the caterers attended to. Aiden insisted that Ava sits by his side and not opposite him at the dining table to avoid any confusion. He knew his family dinner was more of an interview session but he knew nothing about her and vice versa.

“So Ava, tell me….where did you and my son meet?” Liam questioned. Ava paused eating and threw Aiden a troubled glance which he returned as they simultaneously blurted.

“Beach party!” She said.

“Church!” He said.

Liam and Emily froze at the contradictions. Aiden held a wry smile and so did Ava.

“Actually….we met in a….church…beach party!” Ava defended, Aiden pitched her thighs under the table for such a wispy explanation.

“Do church hold beach parties now?” Emily asked Liam who still appeared unconvinced. The duo remained silent hoping Emily and Liam would not question further.

“Come on Dad, you both have to believe him…she’s not wearing a red gown that’s enough proof.” Ethan’s jovial voice arose from behind causing everyone on the table to turn.

“Ethan!” Emily exclaimed.

“Whaaat? We all know his obsession with red.”

He patted Aiden on the shoulder brashly with a broad smile.

“If it isn’t my favorite wheeler brother!”

Ava coughed at his insensitive joke and so did everyone.

“Ethan!”

“Sorry, Dad. I was just playing around. You understand right, bro?” He asked Aiden rhetorically before proceeding to his side of the table but he didn’t sit instead pulled out the chair and began announcing.

“Ladies and gentlemen!”

The whole room gave him the attention he sought.

“Join me receive the most beautiful and elegant woman in the whole wide world, my beautiful wife. Sasha Douglas!”

The guards parted the door and a woman dressed in a satin black dress majestically walked in wearing a smile like a model on a runway.

Ava although agreeing that Ethan was an immature attention seeker, had to agree that Sasha was indeed beautiful. Her fair skin complimented her auburn hair and brown almost black eyes, her pointed nose, and slender shoulders were enough to make any man an announcer.

“Ethan, grow up!” His dad shunned him.

“What? Is it a crime to celebrate my wife? We’re here to celebrate Aiden’s.”

“Ethan!”

He finally sat down and was quiet for a while before seeking another opportunity to taunt Aiden.

“But bro, I have to give it to you….she’s so beautiful and young….at least now I can let my wife go out freely.”

Aiden threw him a darting gaze in response but said nothing.

“Nice to meet you…I must say this is a typical beauty and the beast tale,” he said stretching his hands to receive Ava’s hands but Aiden quickly pulled back her hand. Ava was shocked at Aiden’s display of what appeared like sudden jealousy.

“If I were you, I would focus on my trophy wife.” Aiden gritted, struggling not to sound rude.

“Suit yourself, Hairy Wheeler!” Ethan scoffed, rolling his eyes and returning to his food. Ava could feel how hard Aiden’s body was burning from anger.

“So nice to meet you too, Ethan. I’ve heard so much about you.” Ava smiled.

“Really? My ears are itching, what did you hear?” Ethan probed. Aiden pinched Ava to remain quiet but she pressed on, letting her arm rest on his shoulders. A posture that was shocking to Aiden.

“Actually, when my husband was telling me about an Ethan and how he behaved, I actually thought he was a child….I must say, babe, you’re a chief of sarcasm.” She laughed, patting Aiden gently provoking a subtle laughter from him. The romantic show of the couple was biting Ethan who was spited already.

“What do you mean?”

“Oh, you don’t get it! It just means he was describing a grown child!” Ava blurted, causing everyone on the table to burst into laughter including Aiden. It was the first time he was seeing Ethan quiet and burning red with anger.

“That was a good one, babe!” Aiden laughed even louder, spiting Ethan greater.

“I need to use the bathroom,” Ava said, excusing herself. She brisked to the convenience and like an erupting dam she burst into unrestrained laughter. It was the first time she had a prompting to laugh since she arrived in Scotland. Despite her taunting of Ethan, she didn’t lose sight of the pretentious atmosphere, everyone pretending to be what they were not and being formal.

Ava proceeded to use the toilet and stepped out to the mirror where she spotted Alisa wearing a stern expression waiting for her. The smile plastered on her face disappeared, wondering what Aiden sent Alisa to do.

“You look stunning!”

Alisa scoffed, turning to face the mirror and touching her face.

“Thank you.”

“But this isn’t what I told you to wear….”

“Oh, that! I told you….I hate red…but everyone thinks I look good.” Ava smiled, examining herself in front of the dressing mirror again. She had since moved from the weight of what she was wearing hence hearing Alisa complain about her white dress, wasn’t an issue but instead more of an advantage seeing that Ethan was looking forward to it.

Ava turned to leave the convenience but Alisa grabbed her by the left arm pushing her against the wall.

“Don’t get on my toes, gold digger!”

The well of anger welling inside Ava finally burst out pulling herself violently off Alisa’s grip.

She had had enough of Alisa.

“If My husband has a problem with what I’m wearing, he’s gonna tell me himself….if not whisk the hell off!”