Chapter 6: Congratulations!!

Eventually, they heard footsteps approaching the dining hall. Soon the footsteps came to a stop in front of the dining table. 

"Come in," Grandma called them all. There were four of them including Kieran, his mother, Aunt Linda, and her daughter Sarah with butler. All of them sat on their respective seats. 

The food arrived shortly after they were seated. It was roasted duck breast with a creamy white sauce along with side dishes of, beef steak, shrimps stir fry, vegetable fried rice, etc.

"Let's start eating," Grandma urged them all as he picked up knife and fork. Butler Wang served Grandma a plate full of meat along with soup and vegetables. There was a rule that no one was allowed to eat before Grandma ate. Everyone took their respective knife and fork and dug into the food.

Mira took her knife and fork into her hand and proceeded to dig into the beef.  It was soft and juicy as it slid smoothly on her tongue. The taste of the beef was salty and delicious. She was so hungry that she had no choice but to devour the food as fast as possible.

"Slow down Mira or you will choke on food," Grandma chuckled lightly at her actions.

She glanced up at Grandma sheepishly and quickly stuffed another mouthful of food into her mouth.

"I haven't eaten anything since yesterday night because of that devil Zion," Mira said between bites.

"What did you say?" Grandma asked with a confused expression as his ear failed to detect her sound. She swallowed the last bite from her food and answered,

"Nothing Grandma, it's just I was starving,"  she explained as she picked up the bowl of chicken broth to drink.

"Butler Walker, can you bring wine? We need to celebrate Kieran's victory today," Aunt Linda spoke with a satisfied smile plastered on her face as she looked at Kieran. Drawing the attention of Grandma towards Kieran so that he could forget about Mira. In this family, only Grandma gave importance, love, and affection. The rest of the members hated her guts and resented her. 

"Congratulations Mira," Grandma congratulated Kieran genuinely smiling.

Kieran stood up and bowed in acknowledgment to his grandma. Butler took a bottle of wine from the wine cabinet and poured a glass for each person who was present.

"I am so happy for you Kieran," Aunt Linda said as she raised her glass

"Thank you, Aunt Linda."

"To Kieran and his victory!!" Everyone shouted and clinked their glasses except Mira who was busy eating her food. Because she didn't want her appetite to be ruined by them.

"Mira, will you not congratulate your brother," her stepmother Matilda asked her with a disapproving look on her face. She did that on purpose because they wanted to see Mira covetous and sore face. They wanted to see the defeated look on her face.

"Why not?" Mira shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly. She stood up from her seat, grasped her glass of juice, and walked towards Kieran.

"I will cheer with the glass of juice if you guys don't mind, I am not in the mood to drink Alcohol," Mira spoke her hand clenching the glass of juice, a satisfied grin on her lips.

Kieran watched in astonishment as Mira approached him. He stood up with his proudy upright posture.  His proudy grin spread across his face and the look in his eyes was full of pride, satisfaction, and joy.

"Congratulations on buying the project!" Mira clinked her glass of juice against his. The smile that was plastered on his face withered. His hands were tightly clenched around his glass. 

"What do you mean by this Mira?" Matilda rose with rage as she glared at Mira.

"I don't like to repeat myself, excuse me," Mira smirked sarcastically as she placed the glass of juice on the table as faced her stepmother.

"Have a good night," with her last words she turned around and left the dining hall without sparing anyone a second glance.

...

Marston's Villa.....

Zion strode inside the villa after parking his car. The housemaids opened the door and bowed as he passed by them. As he walked towards the living room the voice of laughter grew louder. 

He walked inside the living room and saw the entire family gathered around a coffee table. His Grandpa, his father, his mother, and his sister were laughing while enjoying themselves.

"What is going on? Why are you all gathered here?" Zion questioned as he made his way toward the middle of the table.

"Did you forget what is today?" His sister Nora asked him with a mischievous look on her face. She couldn't believe her eyes. This was the first time her brother had forgotten Grandpa's birthday. 

"I don't like riddles Nora, speak straight up." He replied annoyed and looked down at his watch that was on his left wrist.

"Son, did you forget about my birthday?" Grandpa asked as she looked at him with a frown. 

Zion blinked twice before he realized that he had forgotten his Grandpa's birthday. Everyone present in the living room was shocked. He never once forgot Grandpa's birthday. Instead, he would be the first one to wish her. but today he had forgotten.

"All of this happened because of that woman. Nothing goes right when she is around," Zion scolded himself as he ran a hand through his hair and continued. Sorry Grandpa, recently I have been so engrossed with work that I completely forgot about your birthday," he answered as he ambled towards his Grandpa and hugged him.

"You are forgiven son," Grandpa replied happily.

Suddenly Zion's phone started ringing in his pocket. He pulled out the mobile phone from his pocket and noticed there were several missed calls from his secretary. 

"Excuse me, I need to take this call,"  he excused himself as he hurriedly made his way toward his room. 

"Yes Bruce, what is wrong?" Zion asked as he strode on the staircase leading to his bedroom.

"I got the information you asked for. You were right, something is wrong about the Grandiose Group bankruptcy," Bruce reported to him.

"Tell me everything."