The Gathering

It took them almost an hour and a half to control the press that has been following their trail since they left the mansion. She's used to this kind of attention from the media, from the people, from the stalkers even. She's used to it all but now... the attention and spotlight she's received has vanished.

Now as they drive towards the mansion of Edmond Cullin, they're being constantly followed by the paparazzi. And her mind is going haywire as she imagined what would happen if the press finds out that the 'Killer Beauty' who has gone insane was let out of the facility.

She hates it all. Acashia's smile was the only thing that's keeping her anxiety at bay. But here she is now, suffering and experiencing a whole new level of discomfort within the pools and mobs and people around him.

The arms from unknown people thrust up in front of her face without any warnings, and of course, next comes those irritating and unnecessary looks she was getting.

She covers her face with her left arm right after she saw the familiar lens of a DSLR camera shooting, and taking continuous pictures of her, accompanied with the photographer's questions of what, how and why.

And as the guards protected Acashia and Matthew from the venomous media, Astrid had to cloak herself as well in order to survive.

She nods inarticulately when Matthew reminds her of the event, telling her that they're already an hour and a half late for Edmond' birthday.

"I know." Astrid responded idly, covering her face once again when another photographer flashes and captures images of them.

She felt a soft push on his back and soon enough a semi-translucent door is pushed open by the body guards that's surrounding her and the two, moreover, protecting them from further harassment. The last seconds before the door closes were merely flashes of lights from the cameras, shouts and shrieks from the reporters, and then it's all over, after that…. she felt a sense of peace again.

"We're here." Matthew announced right after she straightened her back.

Matthew Cullin frowned after entering the 5000 square feet mansion along with Astrid and his precious daughter. Doesn't mean that he's not a celebrity he's saved from the grips and pulls of both stalkers and press. He's Matthew Cullin after all. One of the top 100 richest men in the United States of America. Needless to say, he's suffering the same harassment as Astrid used to.

And since it's his grandfather's birthday. Edmond Cullin, he's one of the few important people in the tycoon's life. And who doesn't want to have a picture of Augustus' grandson. He's the main target of the press as of now, and of course with his knowledge regarding the family business, who would need to wait in line to witness the grand birthday of the old man.

"This way, sire."

Aero spotted his cousin with someone else right then and there. He thought that everything else is a mere illusion that's caused by the continuous flash of lights. "I know… But where is…" Aero paused when the man next to Katrina Cullin Valentine turned to face him.

'I see that she married that pompous.', he silently questions himself as he approaches the man he wanted to see all this time.

Instincts mixed with unsorted emotions were controlling him as he paced towards his grandfather with Astrid and his daughter. His steps were fast and his gaze reciprocates the crowd's piercing stare.

"You're late…" Katrina snapped after the seemingly long seconds of staring at Aero and the woman behind from head to toe. "We've been waiting for almost two hours."

"Who told you to come?" Aero countered with nothing else but aggression showing and oozing from his firm stand and expression. He looked at Astrid who was now staring at them with a baffled look on her face.

The side of Katrina's lips cringes when she saw that her nephew's fingers were enclosed around Astrid Starling's wrist. "And you brought that woman too?"

Aero didn't answer, instead he chose to ignore Katrina. "Let's go." He demands quickly and then he grabs Astrid by the wrist unconsciously, dragging her and his daughter to the center of the ballroom. He realized what he was doing halfway to the ballroom. But nevertheless, he didn't let go. Like it's the right thing to do. Like it's the only thing he's supposed to do. And the thing is…. Astrid didn't complain about the whole thing either.

As they stood in the middle of the ballroom, the invited guest began to clamor. Soft whispers reached their ears and everyone's attention went to them. Astrid, who was standing behind Aero, lowered her head when she heard her name being uttered from somewhere.

Tonight, the infamous Astrid Starling was wearing a nude mermaid cut dress, the hollow design at the back reveals her slender back, and the small butterfly tattoo on the back of her shoulder. The dress was cut low, showing her slender waist and wide hips. The dress accentuated her features. Showing her fantastic hourglass figure.

The handsome man who's standing in front of her is wearing a black suit, and his slender legs are particularly stealing the attention of the crowd.

While their precious daughter, Acashia, was wearing a pink dress with tutu made out of lace. An ear to ear smile was the best accessory on her pinkish face, adding perfection to her glow.

No matter how a person would look at it, the view of the three of them standing together as one was naturally endearing. No matter how you looked at it, they looked like a family.

Until they've realized that people were looking at them for another reason. Something menacing and purely judgmental.

"Wait a minute… isn't she Astrid Starling? The daughter of the La Belle's?"

A woman gasped. "Yes — she is! Her mother is a model and her father is a director right?"

"I've heard they disowned her. The press named her 'Thunder Legged Killer'. I can't believe she's here!"

"Hold on… she's the murderer from five years ago?"

"Why did she come back?" A woman shrieked. "Why is she still holding Matthew Cullin's daughter?!"

"Look, her leg! It's broken…" And the crowd gasped again. Now they're pointing fingers at Astrid, making her visibly shrink. "Seems like that killer got a piece of her own medicine." And the crowd of aristocrats laughed.

As the people around her talked about her past, Astrid tried her best not to pay attention to their discussions. After all, she was used to it, wasn't she? What mattered the most to her is her daughter's reaction instead. She wanted to see how the crowd's remarks on her affected the little one. She lowered her head to check on the little girl's reaction, and found relief when Acashia paid no mind to all the words that were thrown at them.

She let out a soft sigh and held Acashia's hand a little bit tighter.

Just when Astrid thought it couldn't get any worse, a familiar face from a distance came over. Walking towards them in all elegance and grace. It was none other than the daughter in law of Edmond Cullin. She approached the three of them, her three inch heels clicking and clacking against the polished floor.

Astrid, who was already standing on thin ice, tried her best to relax. Calming herself to not make it obvious that she's almost about to break down.

"Astrid Starling, is it really you?" Genevieve Cullin's voice was not quiet or soft and yet… Her surprised greeting managed to echo throughout the ballroom, enunciating their small world of Astrid's return. "I never knew you were discharged from the… institution you were confined in… this is quite a surprise."

The woman looked at Aero. "Don't you think so too, my son?"

Astrid's hand balled into a fist, trying to control herself after hearing Genevieve's words that came off as a backhanded compliment. She tried her best to show no interest in fighting. No interest in indulging with the older woman's games. She took a deep breath, smiled and said, "Good to see you too, Mada'am Cullin."