No one from her family felt like celebrating Christmas anymore. Cory was still at the hospital and danger was still looming over them. No one knew when their enemies would attack them and things weren't getting any better.
Cayenne was sitting on her lounge chair at the balcony while waiting for her husband to come back with food. She wanted to cheer herself up but she would still feel gloomy in a matter of seconds. Stefan was also getting worried for her.
Cayenne stood up and walked to the door. When she opened it, she saw Kyle standing with a small bowl of ice cream. "Let's talk?"
"Don't shoulder everything up. It's not your fault that bad things happen."
She pouted her lips and received the dessert from his brother. "I'm worrying you guys again." She muttered while opening the door a little wider to let him in. "I just can't help it."
"Your husband feels sad when you are sad."
"I feel sad when he's sad as well."
"But most of the time, it's you who feels worried over every little thing. I understand that what happened last night was really bad and worrisome but you have to be strong for your husband."
"I wanted to. I just didn't know how to."
"Why don't you start looking after his grandpa, instead? His wife is currently in the hospital. He needed someone to reassure him. Although Dominic is there, a man isn't very expressive after all."
"You are right." Cayenne agreed. If she was talking to Stefan, the conversation would never turn this way. Her husband would only spoil her and would try to shoulder everything so that she won't have to worry. Cayenne smiled and patted her brother's head. "It's a good thing that some people don't spoil me."
"Geez! Only sir Reuben and brother-in-law spoils you." Kyle responded as he stood up from his seat. "If you're okay now, you should come downstairs and help your husband."
People already shifted their attention towards Jillyanna and Travis. Sometimes, they'd still talk about Stefan but he was now seen as someone selfless and a reliable friend. Even though Denise Amir wasn't someone related to him, he still helped Jillyanna and Travis. Only few people know why he was involving himself with the Amir family.
Two days later, Denise's body finally arrived and Jillyanna helped to hold a funeral service for her. Monique cried a lot when she saw her mother's body. When her grandma collapsed, she didn't know what caused it. When she arrived at the Madrigal's home, she was so tired and wary about them. Even though they introduced themselves as relatives, she didn't feel happy. She was even slightly angry at them.
She was angry because they weren't around when her family needed help. When their family needed money, her mother chose to leave and work in a far place. She couldn't even spend so much time with her. And then, she heard Jillyanna and Travis talk how to inform her about her mother's death. She wasn't eavesdropping. She wanted to get a glass of water when she heard them talking in the kitchen.
She couldn't believe them but right now, she was crying her heart out while looking at the coffin.
"Niknik." Jade called out, crying along with her new-found friend and relative. She could understand her. She lost her biological mother and sister as well. She felt really sad for Monique. "I know that it's painful but you have to stay strong. Your grandma still needs you."
At the word 'grandma', Monique looked towards Jade and cried even more. "My grandma is sick. My mother is dead. My father can't even visit. I'm alone."
Jade patted Monique's back gently, like an adult comforting someone. It was really odd to see a little girl comforting someone. Most children of her age don't act like the way she does.
"Niknik, you are not alone." Jade stated as she wiped her own tears. "You have me and Raizel. You have your grandma in your heart. You have your father in your mind. And for sure, your mother will always look after you from heaven. That's what my mother does to me.
My mother and my sister look after me and brought me to a new family who loves me and cares for me."
Monique frowned while listening and looked up to see Jade's face. "Huh? Your mother and your sister?"
"My biological mother and sister. They died on the same day." Jade told Monique her story since both little girls have similar experience.
Looking at the two little girls, Riley decided to bring them something to eat. Monique hadn't eaten anything ever since she learned of her mother's death. Now's the chance to make her eat while Jade was telling her about herself.
"Jillyanna and Travis is really lucky to have a little girl like her."
"She's really a good child."
"I hope she won't change."
"Riches can make people change. I can only hope that the couple will raise her with good character."
Even during the funeral, Jade couldn't escape being the food for gossip. She didn't hear them though which was a good thing.
Stefan and Cayenne also came to pay respect. It was Monique's first time to meet her in person. Although Jade talked about Cayenne in the past few days, she never got the chance to see her. Now, Jade and her were sitting in between the couple.
Vincent told Simon about Denise's death. The man was silent and didn't say a word. He didn't hold any romantic feelings for her but he never hated her either. In fact, he admired her intelligence but that's all there is to it and nothing more.
"If you want to see her for one last time, I'll give you permission to go outside for two days. My men will be there to accompany you."
"I'll think about it."
Simon was still considered young and strong. He looked calm when he returned to his cell but the moment the guard left, he charged towards Napoleone and punched the man on the face. "I will never allow you to leave this place!" He said through gritted teeth. The calm expression was gone and was replaced with hatred. "How dare you kill her?! You took my child's mother away!
I'll make sure that you rot in here!"
Napoleone was older than Simon but he was also a strong man. Getting hold of Simon's wrist, he pushed the man off of him and returned the punch. The other inmates yelled to get the attention of the guards who came running back to the cell. They separated the two of them and brought them out. Napoleone was escorted out first.
Having his back on him, Simon took this opportunity to kick the man really hard.
Napoleone grunt in pain and screamed 'I'll kill you when I get back!'
Sadly, he didn't get the chance to. Vincent ordered for the two of them to be in separate cell after their wounds were tended.