The breakfast

Her hands clenched at her sides, nails digging into her palms. She swallowed hard, forcing herself to stand tall despite the burning embarrassment.

She wanted to walk away, but it would be labeled as a walk of shame. In as much as she wanted to escape the sharp glances of both brothers and the lingering weight of their presence, she wouldn’t give Hardin the satisfaction of thinking he’d humiliated her.

“I thought as much.” She looked up at him and found him staring at her, but he looked away immediately.

She followed his gaze and it rested on Oliver who stared back at her. His gaze calm and unreadable.

“Got home extremely late, but I did sleep.” Oliver spared Hardin a stare before returning his gaze to Aurelia. “Did you sleep well, sister-in-law?”

Aurelia chuckled dryly. She knew Oliver was trying to save her from the embarrassment, and she could pay a thousand dollars to replay the look on Hardin’s face.

“Yes, thank you.” She replied with a light smile. “Linda and I will give you some privacy.” She said and wanted to walk away, but was stopped by Hardin.

“It’s breakfast time.” He informed.

‘Are you going to threaten me again?’ The urge to say out those words was great, but she didn’t speak.

She nodded and located the dining table, while Linda excused herself.

******

The dining was quiet. Too quiet, that the clink of the cutlery echoed through the room.

Aurelia was seated randomly at the middle and Oliver knowingly took the seat next to her. While Hardin sat at the head of the table, distancing himself from them.

She didn’t bother to look up. Her gaze was fixed on her plate and she had her fingers wrapped around her cutlery tightly.

Who could have thought eating would be this awkward?

When the chef came to dish out the food, she wished he wouldn’t leave. She needed a human shield to save her from this awkward dining. But unfortunately, the chef left after he was done with his job.

She exhaled quietly and ate calmly, promising herself she would exit the room immediately she was done eating.

“I hope my brother has been treating you well, sister-in-law?” Oliver suddenly asked, breaking the silence.

Her grip on the fork tightened and if Hardin wasn’t present, she would shove the fork on Oliver’s neck. He was taunting her, and she hated it.

“It’s barely a day.” She replied, sounding as calm as she could.

“She’s not a kid, she can take care of herself.” Hardin replied from the end of the table.

Hardin’s words hit a nerve in her. Her hand stopped midair.

She couldn’t immediately shake the words off and it wasn’t because she found it offensive, but because she just found a defense.

His own words armed her.

She gently placed her fork beside her plate and looked up, meeting Hardin’s eyes without hesitation. “I’m glad you know I’m not a kid, and I can take care of myself. I know when I’ll eat and when not to, I do not appreciate you sending me life threatening texts because I refused to eat. Do you understand?”

Hardin’s gaze flickered. Instead of taking offense, a trace of amusement tugged at his lips.

“Is there anything you’ll do to me if I don’t understand?” His blue eyes swept over her.

“Maybe.” She shrugged. “You can never tell.”

He scoffed lightly. “I see you are cunning. Just like your dad.”

Aurelia’s brows furrowed. “And what is that supposed to mean?”

Hardin leaned on the table, crossing his hands as his gaze hardened.

“It means deception runs in your family. One minute you act like a naive calm girl, and the other minute you’re a defensive tiger. Whatever your plans are, do not even dare.”

Her chest tightened, pulse hammering against her ribs. There was no hint of exaggeration in his voice, it was obvious he meant every word.

Aurelia’s lips parted but she couldn’t say anything. She just sat there, torn between resentment and disbelief.

Without sparing Oliver a stare, she pushed her plate to the front, stood up, and walked away quietly.

Blue and brown eyes followed her until she was out of sight.

When she was out of sight, Oliver moved to the first seat after Hardin’s.

“You didn’t have to say that to her.” He said.

“She should know I’m not oblivious of her father’s plan. It’s only a matter of time before I sort the whole thing out.” Hardin replied, shoving a pineapple into his mouth as if he didn’t just take away someone’s appetite.

Oliver shoved the plate filled with pineapple to the other side, and then leaned on the table. “Brief me.”

“Michael did destroy the evidence after the wedding, but you and I know he has it somewhere else. He didn’t send his daughter here for nothing. Michael wants her to spy on us, gather more leverage, more evidence against Dad, so he can keep requesting for shares.” Hardin explained.

Oliver didn’t immediately say a word. He thought of his first meeting with Aurelia. She had barely done anything, yet somehow he’d ended up wanting more from her than he should have. And how he also thought she was a spy when he caught her eavesdropping.

Could it be that he was right all along? Did she know he was her soon to be brother-in-law that night? Did she intentionally trap him between her legs that night?

He had so many questions and there was only one person who had answers to them.

“Ollie?”

He snapped out of his thought when Hardin called his name.

“What’s up with you?” Hardin noticed he was lost in thought.

“Nothing.” Oliver replied. “What do you intend to do about her?”

Hardin leaned back on his chair. “We’ll get rid of her.”