02: Family Dinner

"Help me reserve a seat in that auction. I will go there myself." I told Michael on the earpiece and started the engine. 

I wanted to meet the owner who backed away from his words and have a friendly talk with him.

The work hours ended. Thus just like everyone, I too left the office.

At this moment, I wished I had more work and more reports to check and go through.

Going back to that place was the most dreadful thing I evaded at any cost, at any chance I could get.

Yet here I am, going to that place again.

"I'm here," I informed and the entrance door opened instantly. Taking slow steps I was met with an old woman who was there waiting for me in the hallway.

She looked down when I bravely locked eyes with her as if wanting to hide away from me.

But did she hide and run away? Nope.

She stood shamelessly without flinching when she saw me again. She even smiled like she was glad to see me.

"Victoria..." She came forward but I created a distance between us, stepping back.

"It's Miss Ford. I haven't allowed you, a servant, to call me by my first name."

She appeared a little hurt by my actions and after a while, she smiled, recovering.

"Mr and Mrs Ford are waiting eagerly for you."

"Here you are!" This time, it was my father who welcomed me.

Taking huge strides, he extended his arms, expecting me to leap in his arms which I used to do when I was a little girl in the past.

I nodded my head, my manners polite, "I was invited, so of course, I had to come. Refusing would have been rude of me."

Stefan Ford's hands came down awkwardly as he beckoned me to follow him to the dining hall.

Amidst walking, he tried to make a conversation between us, "Why would you need an invitation, my daughter? You are a part of this family. It's your home."

I did not reply and instead gazed at the room. Pretty much everything was the same except for the photo frames above the fireplace.

The photo frames only had three people. My father, Kristina, and my half-sister, Lydia who is the same age as me– Just 2-3 months younger. From the early years to this day. 

Maybe I was standing there for a long time, staring at them that Kristina had to stand in front of me, blocking me from seeing them any longer.

With a pretentious smile, she said, "After the house was renovated, we didn't have your pictures, so.."

"That's fine." I was not affected. "I don't live here anyway."

Wanting to ease the awkwardness, Stefan Ford took me to the table. "Why are you all standing? Take your seats."

A huge table having a variety of mouthwatering appetisers was set.

A delicious aroma was coming from the main dishes brought by the old woman I met earlier and some people behind her. Each had a separate dish in their hands.

It felt like a Michelin Star restaurant's quality food.

"I was told that you and Kristina wanted to talk to me about something." I did not need to beat around the bush. I saw Kristina's face changing, making me nearly smirk, but I controlled myself and kept a neutral face.

She loved to be called Mrs Ford and I could never call her that. 

No matter what she did, she could never be the true Mrs Ford.

Everybody knew that. Though, no one dared to tell her.

Every minute I was spending here was enough to make me suffocate.

"What's the rush, Victoria? We can talk about that after dinner." My father laughed and said, "You have come here after a long time."

Kristina sided with her husband, "I ordered the cooks to make the best type of dishes for tonight's dinner. Hope they are of liking to you."

I watched as Stefan Ford smiled fondly at his wife, silently praising her for doing good. How would have mom reacted if she were to be here?

"Hey, you two. I'm back." A female's happy voice sounded in the room.

I looked up to see Lydia who had come from some party.

She seemed changed. Donning a costly golden shimmering dress with her delicate facial features more enhanced.

The last time I saw her was when she was going through an emo phase wearing piercings covering all visible parts of her body and complete black clothing.

Without acknowledging my presence, Lydia excitedly laughed, "Seafood! I was legit missing it."

"You can have it now." Stefan Ford glanced at his daughter with his face softened. It was unbelievable, honestly.

Surely people change and improve when they finally find the right company suited for them.

I fully acknowledge it now.

Kristina glanced at me with worry, "What happened, Victoria? I see you're not eating anything. You don't like the food?"

Only then did Lydia look at me.

A mere side glance before she started eating, ignoring me.

I did not mind her one bit.

Many years had passed, I was a stranger to her and she was a stranger to me. I would have done the same if I were the Victoria from five years ago. Immature and ignorant.

So for the sake of her being my half-sister, I greeted her first. The attempt went in vain since I got no reply. She had not changed.

"Here. Try these prawns. They taste delicious." Stefan Ford pushed a plate of fresh prawns in front of me.

I gave them a weird look and placed the cutlery down on the table, watching them.

"Victoria, do you still hate me? I thought everyone had moved on." Kristina tried to reach out for my hand which I swiftly withdrew. She was doing it again.

"Kristina wants to mend our relationship! Why do you treat her so badly when all she wants is to be good to you!? You keep making things difficult for her." 

I scoffed and crossed my arms; shaking my head, my eyes not showing any emotion, "You think that I'm making things difficult for her? Don't you think this is the other way around?"

"The seafood you're trying to feed me, don't you know it's poison for me?" The main dishes were all seafood. Kristina must have done this on purpose with the help of that old woman earlier to make me appear as the villain in front of everyone. 

"What...?" Stefan Ford was dumbfounded. He did not expect it, did he?

"Others might not know but I thought you knew that's why I kept silent."

"We didn't know that... that you were allergic." Stefan Ford guiltily began, but I did not want to see this side of him. He never paid full attention to me when I was in this place with Mom, so how could he know of this? 

"It's fine," I replied and saw the time on my phone. It was almost 8. Time to get on the topic.

"I had the appetizers taken as a meal course, so I'm full." My attention was on the pair of husband and wife.

"The appetizers were savoury just as how they looked. I wish I could say something about the main dish as well, but I'm sure they must be delicious."

Kristina's jaw clenched slightly before she tried to smile at me again, dismissing my words. 

"Since the dinner is over, let's talk. I'm sure I was not called here only for a simple dinner."

I felt someone's piercing gaze on my back and saw it was Lydia, who was staring at me with hatred. I ruined her favourite seafood, didn't I? 

"Yes, err... Let's go to my study." Stefan Ford was embarrassed, that I could tell. Soon my footsteps followed behind him, and memories of the past appeared in my mind.