After landing at Riverdale airport ,Dave needed to attend to an urgent matter ,so he headed straight to the office.Alexandria and her daughter's took the car back home.
They pulled into the Wallis residence an hour and a half later.
" We're back !, Alexandria announced carefully, leading Annabelle into the house." Your grandma and brothers are all waiting to meet you .
Annabelle nodded in understanding.
Emily strutted into the living room, declaring ," we are back , grandma!".
She handed her bag to the servant and made her way towards the living room, acting like the house belonged to her.
" Any souvenirs for me ? A young boy of about 8 years ,Jamie the third child of the Wallis family emerged from the living room .his eyes sparkling with anticipation .
" What could they possibly bring from that dump? A raspy voice echoed from the living room.
"Yeah right .got me all excited for nothing ", Jamie rolled his eyes , plopped back into the sofa and continued playing his game console.
Annabelle followed Alexandria into the living room , decked out in the luxury of European baroque style.
An elegant old woman with silver hair b, dressed in a luxurious outfit,sat gracefully on the sofa , sipping tea.
Emily , always the dutiful granddaughter, settled beside her grandmother and poured her a cup of tea ," Grandma where's Gabriel?.
"He flew out for business after you guys left", old Mrs Wallis replied , taking another sip of her tea ." Said he was visiting some organization."
Alexandria expression darkened upon hearing this .
Before leaving that morning,she had told her eldest son b, Gabriel that they were picking up Annabelle and the family would have a reunion dinner , hoping he would make it.
But Gabriel always marched to the beat of his drum and was the apple of the Wallis family's eye.she couldn't blame him,so she could only suppress the discomfort in her heart.
"Mom, we've brought Annabelle back" Alexandria said , introducing her to her grandmother. Annabelle , this is grandma.
Grandma , Annabelle greeted softly.
Old Mrs Wallis ignored her greeting,she put down her cup and summoned the servant " Rita , bring the rest of the bone broth to Emily.
" Thank you grandma, Emily smiled sweetly and continued to enjoy the bone broth , flaunting her special treatment.
"Take your time dear,no rush , you have been cooped up in the car all day ;it must've been tiring . take care of yourself and keep up the good looks so the Lannister boy will be besotted by you" , old Mrs Wallis advised sweetly tucking Emily's hair behind her hair.
"Mmhmm, Emily smiled sweetly while accompanying it a nod.
She smiled and glanced at Annabelle who was left aside,her smile becoming even more evidently triumphant.
Observing Old Mrs Wallis deliberately ignoring Annabelle, Alexandria tried again
Mom....
" Oh , well look who's back ", old Mrs Wallis turned her gaze as if she had just noticed someone there and scrutinized Annabelle .
Annabelle possessed striking facial features that would definitely turn heads, though her hairstyle left much to be desired. However,her icy eyes and pursed lips hinted that she might not be the type to attract a wealthy man.
Her clothing, a dirty and torn garb paired with a tattered clothed bag, deepened old Mrs Wallis disapproval ; her mud- stained shoes further intensified this impression.
" Rita get a pair of new shoes, don't let the dust from that dump stain my wool carpet."Old Mrs Wallis instructed the servant
"Yes ma'am", the servant responded promptly, bringing in a pair of new slippers . miss Annabelle please change your shoes.
Annabelle remained silent.
From old Mrs Wallis action and words, Alexandria understood that Annabelle was not welcomed.
WhenAlexandra was dating Dave, the Wallis was still country bumpkins, but then the struck Gold with a mine they found underground.
With their new found wealth old Mrs Wallis developed a snobbish attitude and look down on people from rural areas. She even forced Alexandria to break up with Dave and relocate the whole family to Riverdale.
Desperate to shed their nouveau riche label and enter the upper class circle, they started a small company and bought a villa and indulged in luxury items.
If Dave hadn't been set on marrying Alexandria, if she hadn't been unexpectedly pregnant with Gabriel, Wallis first one grandchild, Alexandria might never had become a part of this family.
Remembering her own struggles Alexander felt a knot of anxiety in her stomach.
Knowing Annabelle groups in the countryside old Mr Wallis despised her even more .
Alexandria tried to meditate," life in the countryside is tough and Annabelle has been through a lot since she was a child...
"Enough already ,get her cleaned up and get something decent for her to wear ," Old Mrs Wallis dismissed Alexandria with a wave.
Alexandria could only say to Anabelle.
" Here,belle, mom will show you to your room."
Annabelle hid her disdain for old Mrs Wallis and nodded .
Emily watched Alexandria attempt to please Annabelle and suddenly felt the bone broth in her hand had lost its appeal rather she felt like exploding.
That maternal attention , love and care was originally her's .why did Annabelle come and easily snatch it away from her just like that.
Unwilling to accept it ,she turned her attention to Jamie who was engrossed in his game.
" Jamie don't you have any homework to do?", Emily reminded him softly.
After being killed in the game , Jamie cursed and then,upon hearing Emily's words immediately abandoned the game console and ran up to the third floor.