Chapter 8 A gift

The following morning, Grandma Lilian sat in the open field waiting and bathing in the sun. After a while, she asked the maid to invite Selene to join her. Selene was a little surprised upon receiving the invitation. She came to Lilian with a glass of juice."Here you go Grandma" she said and gave it to her.

"That's very thoughtful of you dear, I am grateful" Lilian appreciated taking a sip from it.

"How are you coping these days? I saw how Emily and Cassandra treated you, are you okay? If you want to cry then you can cry on me?" Lilian said and Selene was touched.

Selene wondered how Lilian was the most sensible person among them, she was the only one who made her feel like she actually mattered to the family.

"You know sometimes I wish I was dreaming, I wish my life wasn't such a mess and when I wake up I would be fine. I don't know what I did in life to deserve such pain and misery but I certainly know that I haven't wronged anyone. My family don't want to hear from me no matter how much I try to reach out to them." Selene expressed her frustration as she suddenly broke down in tears and Lilian patted her back once again.

It broke her heart to see a nice girl like Selene going through such hardship, most especially by her family who she thought were responsible and respectable.

"Stop crying my dear, I will like to show you something beautiful, something that means the world to me" Lilian said and Selene raised up her head, wiped her tears immediately and paid good attention to her.

She pulled out a necklace she had kept in her pocket,

"Stretch your hand" she ordered and Selene did as she said, she placed the necklace in her hand and spoke.

"My mother gave it to me before she passed and I had promised to give it to my daughter in-law but I just couldn't give it to Emily, you can already see why," she stated and they both laughed.

Selene could tell that Lilian was unfamiliar with Emily which was why she wasn't able to give her the necklace.

"I had thought about giving it to my granddaughter but I ended up having only boys, I have watched you and Cassandra from the little time I have stayed here and I choose to give this to you. You are a good person Selene, don't let anyone taunt the goodness in you" she said to her and Selene was moved.

"I will be sure to wear the necklace everyday and take good care of it" Selene answered and Lilian believed she could do that.

Just standing by the door was Cassandra, staring at them with prying eyes.

"She gets to have a family heirloom and I don't, we will see about that Selene" she frowned and returned to the villa.

Selene had a pleasant talk with Lilian that morning, venting all the pain and sadness she had accumulated the past few days. After bidding Lilian goodbye, she headed back to her room with a contented smile on her face.

When she passed by the living room, she found Dante reading a newspaper and he looked so manly to her, it reminded her of the times they were both together.

"Food is ready." Cassandra's voice rung out walking towards Dante.

After the wedding, Cassandra moved into the mansion with them. Her hair was up in a bun today, revealing her long, swan-like neck, and the necklace that rested on her clavicle.

Selene instantly recognized this necklace. After all, its design was unique. Selene couldn't help but look at it every time she passed by the jewelry store counter. She once told Dante how much she wanted it, but he impatiently dismissed her. Selene wanted to look away but she couldn't. Selene watched Dante pulled Cassandra to sit on his lap.

"Aren't you going to work today?" She asked as he wrapped his hand around her waist demanding that she feeds him.

"No, I want to stay back home and be in your warmth" he replied and Selene felt jealous by those words.

"I had almost forgotten how sweet you are, what would I have done if I didn't have you in my life" Cassandra giggled happily, she was glad that he decided to spend some time with her.

"I should be the one saying that, I am glad that I have you in my life" he expressed.

"But you haven't been paying much attention to me, I know your work is hectic and all but I do need you to be with me more often." she requested and he thought slightly about it before he finally accepted.

"I will try to make my schedule much lighter so that I can have more time with you my dear" he answered.

Suddenly, he heard his phone buzzing and he picked it.

"I'm on my way" he said and Cassandra immediately frowned.

"Where are you going to, you promised to spend the whole day with me" she said sad as she pouted her lips.

He lightly kissed her and smiled,

"I'm sorry but I have to go to work, it's an emergency. How about we go out for dinner, I will send my driver to pick you up once I am done" he said and she agreed.

His alternative to go to dinner was a much better way and she readily accepted it if it would give her some time to spend with him.

Selene watched Dante leave and Cassandra immediately got sad, it reminded her of herself and how busy he was when they were in a relationship.

Cassandra saw her and she walked towards her."Have you been standing there watching us like a stalker, what a pity. You are lusting after a man who can never be yours."

Selene burst into laughter, unfazed by her taunts. "Oh, I'm well aware that he's yours now. But as Dante's ex, let me give you a tip. You'd better not wear your hair up in the future, because Dante likes to fuck women with their hair down."

Cassandra's eyes went as wide as saucers. She clenched her fists angrily and glared at Selene as though she would rip her apart at any given moment.

Selene didn't want to give her that chance. She turned around sharply and went back to her room.

Just as she made it to her door, she ran into Matteo, who was about to go out.

He stood in the doorway with a gloomy expression, looking deeply unhappy.

Selene was a bit puzzled and couldn't help but wonder who was unlucky enough to upset this man.

But she didn't dare to initiate a conversation with him now, so she was about to walk past him. Unexpectedly, Matteo stretched out his hand out to block her way.

"I will be gone for three days, " Matteo said.

"Oh. Where're you going?" Selene asked, puzzled.

Matteo bit his lip before he answered. "That is none of your business."

Seeing that he had no intention of telling her, Selene shrugged and didn't say anything more.

She walked past him and went inside the room. Matteo watched her, staring at her beautiful hair hanging down loosely. Finally, he couldn't restrain his complicated feelings and blurted, "Do you still love Dante?"