That's when Astrid noticed she had nowhere to sit. The seats were filled and everyone was already comfy on their chairs.
Astrid only cleared her throat and remained standing. She wasn't feeling uncomfortable nor embarrassed at all. But it wasn't the same for Blaire Cynclaire.
Blaire Cynclaire's cheeks were flushed in a pinkish hue, and she was profusely nibbling on her lower lip. She looked around, but most of all, she kept on looking up to Astrid Starling.
"Uhm… excuse me." She tapped Matthew on the shoulders, blushing even further as she pointed her finger at Astrid. "Should I… give up my seat to her?"
Before anyone else could answer, Genevieve said, "Why? She is no longer part of the Cullin family." She let out those distasteful words as she looked at Astrid. "There is no need for you to give up anything for her, my dear Rose."
As spiteful and ridiculous Genevieve Cullin may sound, she was right. Indeed, Astrid Starling has no status or relations with the prestige Cullin family. Not only that, but the Starling's lost a lot after Astrid's scandal. Not only losing fortune, but her mother also lost her mind in the process.
Kirsten Laurenz Starling is Astrid Starling's beautiful mother. Her depression started when her husband cheated on her. His infidelity not only led to her heartbreak, but also gave her a stepson. A bastard.
His father is now known as the broke and fat director who lost everything. And her brother is in a coma, waiting for his death for Corazon La Mour to take his every possession.
Yes, indeed — the life Astrid knew disappeared because of her scandal. Every bad thing that happened to her family was linked to it. Now, it has been decided that she is merely a woman of ordinary status, with no family, no fame, no riches and no good background.
Blaire Cynclaire who was conversing with Genevieve smiled softly and looked at Astrid apologetically. "I'm sorry, Astrid." She said, making sure her voice was soft and laced with innocence. And yet, Astrid knew better. For she was as fake as the bracelet she bought from Cartier six years ago.
"It's fine, Blaire Cynclaire." Astrid said with an arrogant smile. "My right leg may be bad, but I can still stand."
"I want to sit next to my beautiful friend, grandma Gene, can't you just add an extra chair? Pretty please —" Acashia looked at her grandmother with such irresistible doe eyes. And she begged with that sweet sweet voice, repeating over and over again. " —please, grandma? I want to sit beside my pretty friend!"
The little girl who was about to throw tantrums made Genevieve's ear red. She placed her hand on top of her granddaughter's hair and brushed it lightly with her fingers, feeling the smooth hair against her skin. "Acashia, darling. Calm down — don't raise your voice."
"But I want to sit beside my pretty friend!"
"Sweetie —"
"No! I want to sit beside her. Promise you'll let me sit beside my beautiful friend!"
Genevieve sighed and looked at Blaire Cynclaire with an apologetic look on her face. "Rose, look… I know I said there's no need for you to leave this table…" She bit her lips and let out a chuckle. "...but for my granddaughter's sake. Can you step away from the table?"
The look on Blaire Cynclaire's face says what she felt almost immediately. She let out a laugh that was painfully awkward as Genevieve. For a moment she did not know what to say. She looked at the little girl, then to Genevieve, to Matthew — to almost everyone on the table, except Astrid Starling.
It didn't take long for the girl to give her an impatient look.
And then she thought, 'If I said no, the old man and the lady would judge my whole being as if I denied them air and the world.'
A trace of embarrassment flashed across Blaire Cynclaire's face. For the first time, she felt that she had lost to a little girl.
Tension riddled the table filled with elites. Everyone was silently judging the woman in red who refused to get up from her seat.
Until.
Astrid, my dear… Sit next to me."
It was none other than Edmond Cullin.
Those who were seated near the table of elites looked at each other, silenced and shocked by Edmond's gesture. Some of them were disgusted by Astrid. Others questioned the old man's judgment, whether he's in his right mind or if he was bewitched by Astrid Starling. Some simply disregarded it and minded their own business.
And those who were still whispering and chattering about it and then calmed down, realizing that there's nothing they could do.
Astrid's shoulders shook as she covered her lips, letting out a soft cackle that tortured her speculators even more. She walked towards the old man, carrying herself with much grace. As she walked, the old man raised his hand and ordered the waiter to give a seat to the beautiful young lady.
When the waiter arrived with Astrid's chair, the beautiful young woman looked at the old man with glint in her eyes. "Thank you, Edmond. And I'm sorry I've delayed everyone's meal."
She spoke politely, making it difficult for the people at the table to say anything spiteful. They simply smiled — though some were forced and picked up their utensils.
As the waiters served their delicious soup — one of their 15 course meals, Blaire Cynclaire spoke, making sure that her voice was loud enough for everyone to hear. "You know, I often hear Beatrix Solenn mention how beautiful Astrid Starling was during her prime…" She said with an ear to ear smile, particularly staring at Edmond. "...now that I saw her in person, I think my aunt had always been right about her. She's really a beauty, isn't she?"
The others who were seated on the table did not even bat an eyelash at Blaire Cynclaire's flowery words. They enjoyed their meals and did not pay heed to her. Noticing the latter's discomfort, Astrid chuckled and said, "Blaire Cynclaire, you've already said that when we bumped into each other at the bar a few minutes ago, remember?" She raised her brows and let out a foxy smile. "No need to compliment a person twice… unless you're sucking up."
A soft gasp came out of Blaire Cynclaire's parted lips. Her pupils dilated and her hand unconsciously went to her chest, giving away her second hand embarrassment. She slowly looked away from Astrid Starling as she let out a soft chuckle. "Oh… so—sorry." She stuttered, and she cursed herself inwardly for letting Astrid get into her head. "But I was not trying to suck up or anything."
But the latter was not having it, instead she began to talk to Edmond.
While Astrid was everyone's apple of the eye, Matthew was enjoying himself. He kept his silence as his mother fed his daughter, Acashia. He didn't talk much and from the moment he entered the ballroom until now. But he tolerated and answered questions that came from Blaire Cynclaire and his mother, Genevieve.
Like this kind of question.
"How are you enjoying the soup, dear?" His mother asked, sounding as chirpy as a bird.
He looked at her with his cold, cold eyes and hummed. "It's fine."
Genevieve clicked her tongue, upset with his son's monosyllabic answers. "Damn you, Matthew. Why can't I have a proper conversation with you?" She hissed.
Matthew did not pay heed to his mother's dramatic antics. Instead, he looked down at his daughter and watched as she ate her chicken. Acashia held the fork in her little hands restlessly, looking like an angel about to face a hurricane. Like a calm before the storm.
"Matthew." His mother called him again, rendering a low and long sigh from the man.
"What?"
"My little girl looks thin." She said with a forced smile. "She needs someone to look after her with love."
"She has someone." He answered a bit too quickly, showing that he was being a bit defensive. "She has Milly."
"Not her!" Genevieve hissed then rolled her eyes. The middle aged woman lifted her bottom from her chair and leaned close to whisper to her son. "She needs a mother."
The small muscle in Matthew's jaw tensed. He breathed low and deep, letting out the warm air from his nose. He refused to look at his mother after that. Not even as she continuously hissed his name as if she was a snake, as if he did something that denied his daughter a breath of fresh air.
'Needs a mother.' He hissed mentally. 'No… my daughter doesn't need anyone else!'
Matthew's not blind nor is he thick-skinned. He knows how much his mother is wooing Blaire Cynclaire to be his wife. In fact, his mother is practically trying to force the relationship on him. Genevieve is going as far as inviting her into the table.
Not only that but the Cullin's and the Rose's had partnered up and had created an automotive company, planning to overthrow the Mishatti's, the Lambugenes and the Parries.
But for Matthew Cullin, he's not interested in women for the meantime, nor was he looking or ever tried. For now, his top priority is his daughter's happiness and her health. Nothing else matters in the world for all he cares.