Ava's POV:
The old Earlton snorted and turned his attention to me. "Come, my daughter."
I stared at Yan, who nodded. What the fuck was happening? I didn't want to be welcomed into this family like I was their daughter-in-law.
"Sir, there must have been a misunderstanding. Of course the kids are Yan's, but I am not his wife," I explained, and he furrowed his brows.
"But Yan said..."
"No, I am not his wife." I stood on my words, and Issa walked to me.
"Can you stop pretending like it's not a privilege? If indeed you aren't his wife, then why did you come here?" She had a mocking look, and I sighed; she was never going to understand.
"Cut the crap, Issa," Yan frowned at her before he nudged his head.
"Let's have dinner by the poolside; we could talk about our affairs in private," he added, and I rolled my eyes as we all walked to the poolside. The long dinner table was filled with mouthwatering meals.
Lily definitely had a positive reaction to this; she loved food so much. "Mother, I don't know what to eat first," she muttered, and I chuckled as the old Earlton placed his hand on her head.
"Little princess, you should take your time and have a taste of everything, okay?"
She nodded happily; I could feel Issa's strong gaze with those of her twins on me.
I sighed for the eleventh time. What was their deal?
"I don't think I got to introduce myself; I am Jodi... and this is my twin brother Jeremy," the female twins introduced, and I nodded.
"Actually, I think we might be about the same age... though I am still a virgin though," she added, and I clenched my fist below the table.
If they were to blame someone, then they should blame the man who had taken away my virginity and left me with three beautiful souls.
"Jodi, I heard you got an endorsement deal yesterday." Yan chimed in, and she nodded excitedly.
"You wouldn't want to lose it, right?" He asked, and her expression became all pale; she smiled slightly at me.
"I am sorry."
I never expected her to apologize that easily; the maids served the food with Yan's gaze stuck on me and the old man chatting with the kids.
Will he stop staring at me? It made me uncomfortable and angry at the same time.
"Ava, what do you do for a living?" Issa asked as I had brought the spoon close to my mouth. I dropped it and answered, "I am a feature writer."
"Does that give a five-digit salary?" She asked again, and I shook my head in denial. I knew they were trying to insult me, and that was okay. As long as the insults were directed at me alone, then I had no problem.
"Oh, do you know Yan was once married? If you both have kids of this age, then this only means you were his mistress." Issa had a shocked look as even the old man stared at me with realization.
"I had no idea he was married," I explained. I will never willfully want to be a mistress; I was just eighteen.
"That's what every mistress says," she snorted, and Yan stood up angrily.
"Can you shut it?" he scolded Issa, who rolled her eyes.
"Don't you have respect?" Issa questioned when her son Jeremy butted in.
"Respect mother? Have you forgotten his wife was way older than him? So how could he know the difference of age?"
This was a shocking revelation: the woman he was married to was older than him?
Like older for a year or what? I dont get.
"Jeremy!!" the old Earlton scolded. They were about to get into a heated argument, and this was definitely not a good atmosphere for my kids.
So I stood up and walked to my kids. "Uhm, it's getting late... I think we should leave."
"No," Yan said.
"This is my house, so if anyone is leaving, then it's definitely not you or my kids," he added, and I sighed. Why didn't he like peace? It would have been easier if we just left; was he going to send his stepmother and siblings out of his house?
"You invited us for dinner, and here we are; now you want us out of your house?" Issa asked in disbelief.
"Mistresses are indeed homebreakers." Jeremy snorted, despite the insults. Jodi didn't find it necessary to butt in; guess she was trying to protect her endorsement deal.
"You think so?" Yan questioned with his gaze on Issa. "Don't forget your mother was one."
"Cut it, Yan," his dad scolded before he pointed his stick at Yan, then at Jeremy.
"The mistake I made with you both is letting you all be raised by your mothers; that's why I will personally raise my grandkids."
Huh? What grandkids was he talking about?
I held my kids tightly and shoved for them to move. "We will leave now."
"Stop!" Yan yelled. "You shouldn't leave," he added, and I turned a deaf ear to him and walked away with the kids.
We arrived at the gate when Yan hurried to us. He held my hand and pulled me to him. "Why are you stubborn? Will it kill you to listen to me?"
I tried releasing myself from him, but he won't let go. "Yan, the kids..." I reminded him before his gaze turned to the kids, then he let me go.
"I got some gifts for y'all; go meet the butler inside and he will give it to you," he told the kids who had excited looks; they all turned and ran past us.
"Why did you lie to them?" I asked.
"I didn't; I really got gifts for them."
Oh, then it was better... To my surprise, he wrapped his hand around my waist. "We had dinner with the kids, my family... Can we please have dinner just us? I really want to make it up." He had a sincere look, which he had used to fool an eighteen-year-old me, but not anymore.
"Yan, go to hell," I scoffed and succeeded in pulling my hand from him.
"What do you think of me, Ava?" He asked, and I could see this wasn't one of his jokes; he was damn serious, and I have been wishing for this moment, this moment to tell him how much I hate him.
"Today I was referred to as a mistress, Yan."
"I know, and that broke my heart," he cupped my cheeks with his palms.