"You are our dear friend's mother, and we know you mean well for him just as we do, it was all a misunderstanding so there's no need to worry," Gabe said
As Gabe said this, he made eye contact with Willow, Rose, Abel, and Jack. By this time, Willow had already regained consciousness. By looking at them, he was trying to let them know that everything was alright and that they should follow his lead.
"Why don't we go inside ma'am," Gabe said.
"Ok, sure thing," Stella replied.
Even with all the destruction that happened, the house was undamaged. This was because of high-grade formations that were set on the main building.
'Hmmm! So if we had stayed inside, we would have been basically untouchable. Yeah right. What am I even thinking? She technically owns this place so she would have just walked in and roasted our butts,' Gabe thought.
After everyone was in, they all went ahead to their rooms to freshen up. Rose was wearing rags as the fight had left her naked. After Gabe had healed them she some torn-up fabrics lying on the floor and used them to cover herself up. Gabe had also done the same thing immediately after the fight.
Twenty minutes later everyone was present in the sitting room. They all stared at Stella with mixed emotions.
"Why are you guys looking at me that way?" Stella asked.
That question rubbed all of them the wrong way, and Gabe, not willing to continue with the bullshit, spoke
"Well let's see, you came out of nowhere feeling all high and mighty, and started dishing out fiery punishment without explaining who you were and what you wanted. The worst thing is that you were behaving like you were the righteous one, and we were the villains when it was the other way around. After all this, you still have the nerve to ask why we are looking at you the way we were! God have mercy on this wicked soul that she may see the error of her ways."
"You will address me with respect young man, I am the firstborn and daughter of Osbert Almer, the current head of the Almer household," Stella said.
"Respect is something earned. Funny how you throw your position and family name forward to intimidate a bunch of kids into respecting you. People can never be forced to respect, they can only be forced to fear. Since you came here you have been behaving like a child," Gabe said.
"You little piece of sh... Urgh! I don't have time to argue with children, where is Cole?" Stella asked.
"He is not here, he left two ago, saying he had to report back to his family," Gabe replied.
"You are his mother, aren't you the first person he is supposed to go see?" He asked.
"You know, he told us that everyone in his family despises him and that at the age of thirteen, he was sent on a dangerous mission in order to prove himself to them. He refused to tell us what the mission was about, saying it was top secret but at least he told us this much," Gabe said.
"Who would want to go and see a mother, who would stand there and watch her son being sent to die somewhere?" He asked.
Hearing this, Stella became very upset.
"Watch your tongue brat, or it will be cut off one day."
"The truth is bitter," Gabe said.
Stella sighed.
"Since you guys are close friends of my son, I will overlook your behavior today."
'Tsk! Close friends my ass, your son tried to kill me,' Gabe thought.
"You see, Cole has had it rough right from time. Anytime I'm around, no one tries anything funny towards him, but when I'm not there, even servants have the gall to disrespect him. Of course, when I come back, those who disrespected or harmed him, face my wrath. Most of the time, the price they pay for their behavior is their heads" Stella said.
When she said this, everyone felt a chill running up their spines to their heads.
"I was given a task to accomplish by my father. It took time to get it done and it lasted for three weeks. By the time I had come back, he was already gone. I wasn't there to protect him when he needed me the most," Stella said.
Everyone just watched this back and front between Gabe and Stella. It was like a wife and a mother-in-law were arguing.
"Ok, I'm sorry if I disrespected you in any way, but know that I would still do it again if you don't respect me also. So let's get to the main issue here."
You asked where Cole was, right?" Gabe asked.
"Yes I did," Stella replied.
"When he left exactly two weeks back he told us he was reporting back to his family, that's all we know," Gabe said.
"But he didn't. I haven't heard from him, the main family hasn't heard from him either. Two weeks back I was alerted that this house had been occupied, so I figured Cole was back as it's only me and him who have access to the safe house. No other person has access and I make sure that the house formations are upgraded regularly in respect to how technology is advancing" Stella said.
When she said this everyone couldn't take it anymore. They were all cursing under their breaths.
"So why the hell did you attack us when you know full well, in fact, you made sure, that it was only you and Cole that had access to this place. You didn't think he could bring in guests? What is wrong with you? Tell us," Rose said, almost shouting.
"Ugh! I thought we had already crossed that bridge and corrected misunderstandings. Why are you taking us back? Well, I will never be sorry for trying to keep my son safe," Stella said.
"What a bitch!!"