Declined

Diana knew that Alva will just laugh If she asked whether she's a wolf. Her mind is getting blown with different revelations, thinking what her mother is hiding from her.

Diana wore a black long sleeves dress with a square neckline, black and white pumps, as she hold onto her white medical coat. She looked straight in the mirror and stared at her own reflection before leaving her bedroom.

The weather today is as gloomy as how she feels. She took out the tarot card and thought of Emilia.

Arriving at the hospital, Diana smoothly made her rounds among her patients and then completed a meeting with her residents. She glances on the people's faces wondering if anyone of them are wolves, vampires or nagual. 'Must be good if I can tell who's what', she thought.

Diana passed by the laboratory. She suddenly thought of having her blood taken to check what's in her blood that her father was worried about years ago. 'Might be nothing now, but still', Diana thought.

She went inside and looked for Calvin. No one's around so she just decided to draw her own blood.

Diana placed her coat on the table, prepped and sat comfortably on a chair. She pulled up her sleeves, placed the tourniquet and cleaned her brachial area. When she's about to stick the needle, she heard someone opened the door.

"What are you doing?", Calvin observed Diana as he approached her.

"Getting my blood", securing the needle as she aspirate the blood out, removing the tourniquet she tightly placed.

"What for?", Calvin kept his distance while Diana is doing her business.

"I want a comprehensive metabolic panel, and a toxicology test", once done, Diana stuck the needle out.

"Okay? Have you been taking drugs?", Calvin placed a cotton adhesive on Diana's arm and pressed on it gently.

"Just for wellness monitoring, Calvin", she smiled at him. Diana wanted to ask Calvin about wolves but, she don't want to end up having him tell Alva about it.

"Got it. It will be done in no time", Calvin took Diana's tube of blood, and smiled showing his deep dimples.

"I'll get going then, thanks Calvin", Calvin opened the door for her as she went out. On her way to the elevator, she was reminded by her coat she left in the lab.

In the small crevice on the door, Diana was apalled to see Calvin drinking her tube of blood. She widened her eyes and leaned her back on the wall, breathing heavily in disbelief. She ran to the elevator not minding her coat anymore.

When she touched the elevator buttons, Calvin was already behind her.

"You forgot your coat, Diana", moving closer as he handed it to her.

"Oh yea, thanks Cal. Getting forgetful lately", Diana forced a smile as she took her coat.

Calvin didn't let go easily, and moved his face closer to her.

"Are you sure you are okay?", he said with furrowed brows and partly showing his dimple.

"Why wouldn't I be?", Diana took her coat as the elevator door opens. She went in, breathe deeply staring at Calvin as the door closes.

*************

Time went by so slow for Scott who kept looking at his watch. It's already half past six, and had his car ready for Priscilla and Stanley.

They reached the restaurant on time, and went in the private dining room Priscilla reserved for the family. The feast and drinks have been served and yet no Woodsworth have arrived.

Priscilla can feel the tension in the air and laughed nervously. "They will surely come", batting her long lashes and forcing a smile.

"Alva is smart. She make deals on her own terms", Stanley warned as he closed his eyes, with his hands thrembling on his lap.

Scott stood by the window, fidgeting with his lighter. He looked down and smiled seeing his Luna get in the restaurant.

EARLIER

Diana requested the medical team to have the surgery performed earlier if possible. As soon as the operating room was available, they started the operation and successfully finished by six in the evening.

She left the hospital at exactly seven, went home to freshen up and change in a blush pink tulle frilled dress, grabbed her purse and went out. Alva, wearing a grey suit, was already waiting in the car.

They were silent, until Alva break the air.

"You don't have to say anything. I just want you to be there", Alva said as she stared out the window with her hands crossed on her lap.

Diana was too tired to respond.

The car stopped at the entrance of the restaurant. Diana noticed a blue sportscar parked at the valet service. Her heart pounded trying to decipher what's ahead of this business meeting her mother involved her with.

Diana followed her mother from behind, like an obedient gosling following its mother goose. She kept her hand in her pocket, with her purse hanging from her arm. The door was then opened and the first thing she saw was Scott standing by the window with a glass on his hand.

"Hello to the both of you! Such lovely ladies!", Priscilla clapped joyfully as she kissed Alva on the cheek. She effortlessly made the room warm and vibrant. While Alva kept her composure and poise, and stared down to Priscilla like an insect.

"Stanley, you look awful", Alva bitterly said.

Stanley struggled to stand up to greet them. He gazed at Alva who's already looking at him in disgust. Diana reached out to him to shake hands. She instantly noticed the visible tremors, big droplets of sweat and his cold clammy hands on the old man.

"Nice to meet you, Sir", she said as Stanley just replied with a smile. Alva gave her a side eye not expecting a warm greeting from Diana to a person she just knew.

"You look so beautiful, my dear. I hope you still remember me?", Priscilla hugged Diana and pushed her to her son. "This is our son, Scott Devlin", as she introduce the two who hardly meet their eyes.

"Pleasure is mine", Scott took her hand and kissed it, pretending they don't know each other. Diana flushed and just smiled.

"Enough with the introduction, shall we begin?", Alva said as she sat down in one of the leather seats of the circular table, in between Priscilla and Diana.

"As you know, it is not my son's plan to runaway from the wedding.", Priscilla started as she put her palms facing down the table. "It was a bad joke of his siblings that took him away on your very special day. That's why… we are here as family to give our sincerest apologies for what happened….", she clasped her hands together as she bat her lashes.

"Apologies accepted", Alva drank some wine and asked for more. Diana had nothing to do but to sit down and listen as told.

Scott kept his gaze on Alva, trying to sense her being. Nevertheless, he can't help but compare the mother and the daughter from the looks, to their attitude.

"Oh.. Thank you, I knew you are very kind hearted. Well then, we still wanted to pursue the we…" before she could finish, Alva roared to disagree".

"Declined.", Alva stared at her daughter who's looking straight at Stanley.

"P.. pardon?", Priscilla's face was painted with fear and worry.

"My daughter and I have talked about it. We refuse any negotiation of marriage between the Woodsworths and the Devlins", Alva pursed her lips as she squinted her eyes on Diana and Scott.