The dining table was arranged, with several types of food and drinks to pick from. The cooks and maids who had worked together knew that it was a special day in the McConnor mansion and they didn't want to mess it up, which is why they had put in their very best.
Today was a big day for the McConnor sons; they were going to have dinner with their family and fiancee.
Everyone except Melissa and Ryan sat at the table. Helen, dressed in a gray suit, sat at the head of the table. After all, she was the house's matriarch, therefore she deserved to sit at the head.
August alongside his fiancee, Belle sat next to his mom while Emerald sat at the other side of the table by her mother's right.
"Where is everyone?" August inquired from his mom. He was asking after Ryan.
"I have no idea where he is," Helen picked up a chicken breast tender and she placed in on her plate.
"We're not his babysitters and you do know how he is, no one knows what he's up to and where he is," Emerald answered. "He's too embarrassed to show his face here,"
"As he should," Belle chipped in. "He must be somewhere on his knees begging a random lady to pose as his fiancee for tonight's dinner."
Emerald chuckled. "Belle, you had better not let him hear you or else even your August your fiance won't be able to save you,"
"Ryan can't hurt my belle as long as I'm alive," He gave her a kiss on the cheek which earned them an aww from everyone seated at the table with them.
"He can try all he wants but he'll never succeed." Said, Helen.
Little did they know that they were about to get the biggest shock of their lives.
Melissa and Ryan hand in hand walked down the stairs all smiles as they headed to the dining table.
Emerald who had been the first to spot them gestured to August who turned in the direction her finger pointed and he also called the attention of his mother who was busy with her food.
Ryan under their watchful gazes ushered Melissa into her seat before taking his.
"We've all lived together in this same house for the past twenty three years so I have no idea why everyone is looking at me like it's been a while,"
"Who is she?" Helen demanded, staring at Melissa like she was trying to scan her to find out every little detail about this woman who had just walked in with her stepson.
Melissa looked round the table and she recognized each and everyone of them except for the lady who sat next to August. The lady, alongside everyone gave her dirty looks.
She could tell that none of them liked Ryan one bit. Judging from the few hours she had spent with him, she could tell that he was very nice, funny and caring. He had helped her pick out her outfit because she was indecisive and had helped with with other things while getting ready.
"If You act like this. Ryan stated, "In front of your children, they are bound to exhibit the same traits." "You just met a person for the first time, what happened to exchanging pleasantries?"
"Ryan, cut the crap and just tell us why you've brought a total stranger to join us at the table." August spoke impatiently and angrily.
"Since everyone is so eager to know I'll tell you all, she's my fiancèe." Ryan carefully picked up her arm and held it in the air so that everyone at the table could see the lovely engagement ring on her finger.
"Fiancèe?" Emerald laughed with surprise. "A man whose heart is as hard as a rock loved a lady till the point where he asked her to marry him?" She clapped her hands in disbelief. "I don't believe it."
Helen dropped the fork and knife on her plate which she pushed aside.
"Ryan, I'll ask again , who is she?"
"My fiancee, stepmother,"
"Mother, I'm pretty sure he held this poor innocent lady at gunpoint and he forced her to show up here," Belle hissed.
Melissa who had been quiet all these while decided it was high time she said something, after all she was the topic of discussion, wasn't she?
"This is the exact reason why Ryan never mentioned anything about our relationship."
"This is a family matter and outsiders aren't allowed to speak," August said sternly.
"I am his fiancee which automatically makes me a part of this family whether you like it or not," Melissa fired back at him.
Ryan was surprised to see that she had it in her to be bold.
"Mind the way you talk to my fiance," Belle pointed a warning finger at her.
"Tell your so-called fiancee to mind the way he talks to mine. Ryan is neither his mate not in his level, he is nowhere equal to my fiancee so she should learn to give him the respect he deserves,"
"Jones has done an amazing job." Ryan said inwardly.
He rarely ate at the table with them because of their unnecessary jabs and side talks. The only time he joined them was when Marie who derived joy in putting each and everyone if them in their place was home.
Marie was in university, but now that Melissa was here he was looking forward to every meal he would have at this table.
Helen banged her fist on the table and everyone went silent.
"This isn't the reason why we've all gathered here," Her gaze fell on Melissa. "I'm Helen, I'm quite sure your fiance must have mentioned me to you,"
"He never did,"
Helen was pissed by her words but she wore a fake smile, "that's not a problem, I'm Helen, your fiance's step mother and you are?"
"Melissa."
"Ryan here has never mentioned anything about you to me in this house. Well we don't usually see eye to eye but at some point i would have found out about you two." Helen eyed her suspiciously. "I'd like to ask you a few questions, I'm his mother and guardian so it is only right my son marries a good woman."
"Who are your parents?" Was the first question.
"I have no parents," Melissa answered truthfully. "I was raised in an orphanage,"
"Okay, so you must have been adopted at some point right so you must have foster parents?"
"I was never adopted, I ran away from the orphanage."
"Really?" Helen looked at Ryan. "Why did you run away?"
"I was being mistreated."
"Education level?"
"A third year university student,"
"Major?"
"Psychology."
"How did you and Ryan meet?"
"We met at a cafe where I worked," Melissa replied.
"So a cafe worker randomly fell for her rich customer? A poor cafe worker?" Emerald asked, laying emphasis on the poor.
"More like she fell in love with his money so that she could escape her poverty stricken life and have access to all these luxury," Belle sneered.
Ryan decided to jog her memory a bit, perhaps she had forgotten who she was before August fell in love with her. "You were a mere stripper, having sex for money and displaying your half naked body every night to earn tips yet you dare to throw shade at Melissa who was working a decent job? You can do better than that."
Melissa almost spat out her drink. She had to place her hand over her mouth to stop herself from laughing.
"Did you bring me here to get insulted?" Belle began to vent out her anger on August.
"No one insulted you Miss belle, I just reminded you of your past, that's all."
"I'm still talking," Helen reminded them. "Melissa, you're welcome to the McConnor mansion, feel free because this is now your new home," she smiled. "Whatever you need, you can come to me,"
Emerald and August exchanged glances before looking at their mother who was being all nice to Melissa.
What was she up to?