The Girl Who is Favored

As long as she's happy and she's healthy, then he'd feel like he had accomplished something good and feel a different kind of satisfaction.

He doesn't have to lose sleep anymore.

After their luxurious meal was over, as they were picking over their desserts, Genevieve's eyes widened after remembering something redundant, but she thought it was something that his son would be excited about.

"Oh, I remember something…" She took Blaire Cynclaire's hand and looked over the crowd just to look Astrid in the eye. "Blaire Cynclaire, my dear, you can speak four languages fluently, am I right?"

"Petty." Astrid grumbled under her breath.

She was in the middle of chatting with Edmond Cullin when Genevieve's loud and intrusive voice distracted them. She let out a crooked smile and leaned her back against the chair, waiting for the show — the act to begin.

"Yes, I do. I speak Chinese, Croatian, French, German." Blaire Cynclaire said with a smile, speaking as if she was reciting poetry.

Genevieve's eyes glinted. "That's amazing! You're really a woman of class, Blaire Cynclaire. Unlike the others, you have such a good repertoire." She looked at Astrid again. "If I could just ask you a favor… Just a little…"

Blaire Cynclaire tilted her head to the side and smiled like an angel once more. "What is it?"

Genevieve placed her hand on top of Acashia's head. "My little angel is now in her 1st grade. Do you perhaps… have some spare time to maybe teach her some French? And a little German perhaps?"

Blaire Cynclaire blushed as if they hadn't practiced this conversation a million times. "I'll be honored!"

The look on Genevieve Cullin's face made Astrid's stomach churn.

"French, my ass." She hissed under her breath. "I went to La Piere's School and graduated with flying colors. I can also speak and teach my daughter French with my eyes closed."

As much as Astrid tried to suppress the irritating feeling that's crawling on her chest, it still resurfaced on her face. Her cherry red lips curled down into a frown. And in her mind she repeatedly screamed and screeched, 'I hate it! I hate them all! I hate their stupid fake smiles. Their fake laughs — I hate it!'

Even though she wanted to throw a fit — literally throwing a bowl of half eaten lava cake on their face, she stopped herself. She breathed in deeply instead. Counting from one to ten and closing her eyes, imagining she's in her happy place.

"No problem. I happen to have nothing to do recently." Blaire Cynclaire said confidently. And just like a minx in heat. When it was the time to ask the right question, she said, "But… if only Matthew allows me too." Her stare on Matthew's handsome face was sticky, as if she's a lethal prowler and he was the prey. Her voice was smooth grease. And made it seem as if she was moaning.

Matthew rolled his eyes and parted his lips. He was about to say something, but then…

"NO!" Acashia screamed, stealing everyone's attention. "I don't like that stinky lady! I already have my beautiful friend! She's my only pretty friend and I don't want anyone else!"

The little girl stood up and grabbed her father's coat, shaking him and tried to force him to decline what her grandmother was enforcing on her. "I don't want her daddy! I don't like her!"

On the other end of the table, Astrid Starling could feel Blaire Cynclaire's fiery eyes on her. She peered towards the direction of the woman in red and snickered. The jealousy in Blaire Cynclaire's eyes was too obvious.

"Go ahead and sweat, bitch." She mumbled to herself, not letting the latter affect her.

She was a killer. A beautiful murderer. Nothing scares her anymore.

As Acashia was throwing another series of tantrums, Genevieve could only scoff. She didn't want to upset her precious granddaughter, but also could accept the fact that her little angel is fond of the snake that personified as Astrid Starling.

Wanting to persuade her granddaughter, Genevieve placed her hand on Acashia's head, and gently caressed the little girl until she was calm. She then pulled the little girl close and embraced her tight.

Why not, my sweet?" She said with a sweet smile. "Blaire Cynclaire can speak four languages and she's one of the most successful females in the world! It won't hurt if you tried to be friendly with her."

Acashia puffed her cheeks and crossed her arms against her chest. "I… I don't want to." Tears welled in her eyes and the little one began to sob.

There was a standoff at the dining table. And the two Queens, Genevieve and Blaire Cynclaire were close to reaching their goal. And that goal is to have Blaire Cynclaire invited inside Matthew's mansion and to be his wife.

Astrid on the hand sneaked a peak at Matthew's direction and tried to read the man's features. Wanting to see how he was reacting. But when she did, she found out that he was looking at her too. But he didn't mirror the same desire in his eyes.

Instead he was on the brink of losing his self control. A look that Astrid knows oh so well. The man was clearly pissed off. And had enough provocation from his mother and the temptress beside her.

"Matthew." Genevieve continued, gesturing at the little girl. "Your daughter will benefit from this, don't you think?" She continued. "Not only that… but their bond will strengthen our connections. The Cullin's and the Rose's will reap from this."

Edmond Cullin, who was chatting with Astrid, kept his silence instead. Not wanting to be involved or interfere with his grandson's family affairs. Unlike his daughter in law, Genevieve, he wanted Acashia to have a voice of her own. To grow as a person. So he didn't open his mouth even if he wanted to. And yet, Astrid caught the frustrated look on the old man's face.

His lips were concealed and tight. His hands were balled into a fist as he rested it against his knees. It was obvious how much the man was trying to hold back his anger.

Seeing how much his daughter in law was trying to remove Astrid from his grandson's life pained the older man. Astrid Starling was more like a daughter to him. He loved her like his own blood and not just the wife of his grandson. Their souls mirrored each other, as if they're kindred souls.

Not only that, but Augustus was far from stupid and daft. So how could he not know Genevieve was up to. Clearly it was not just to give lessons to his great granddaughter, but it was to make Matthew and Blaire Cynclaire comfortable with each other's presence.

"You don't need to look at them." Augustus finally spoke. "Just look away, my child."

"I am not looking, Pops."

"Yes… but you're still in pain. Aren't you?"

After hearing this, Astrid couldn't help but scoff and shake her head. Lying through her teeth when she said. "Why should I be hurt?" Was what came out of her lips even though she felt a small pang on her heart.

It left a bitter taste on her tongue and memories from the past tortured her mind.

And just when they thought Genevieve stopped persuading the little girl… the middle aged woman even tried to make Blaire Cynclaire carry her in her arms.

"I don't want to!" She cried. "I don't want her! I don't want her!"

Acashia wiggled her way out of Genevieve's grasp and ran towards the living room of the humongous mansion.

The guest stopped chattering and looked at the girl's direction, only going back to their business when Genevieve screamed, "What are you maids doing?" She said aloud that the veins on her neck almost popped. "Go after her!"

Genevieve lowered her head and ran her fingers against her well styled hair, almost ruining it. "Matthew, what do you think about this? Clearly she's upset, but I think she really needs to mingle with other people."

Matthew hummed and spared Blaire Cynclaire a glance. "Tomorrow, I'll let the housekeeper know about this and ask her to let you come inside. Look for Milly Brown. She'll open the door for you." The man's cold voice resounded, but the emotions in his eyes were dark and forced.

Astrid and Matthew's eyes met again. And what Astrid saw was the same look in Matthew's eyes that held intense emotions when he thought Astrid killed Gladyss Ellaine Cynclair. It was the same look in his eyes when he sent her to John George's Psychiatric Hospital. The same eyes that asked her help to save their daughter.

Astrid smiled bitterly to herself, realizing how much she didn't want to enter their glamorous yet murky world.