"Hello, Catherine..." Piper said, giving me a sweet smile, her finger curling around her brunette hair.
"What’s she doing here?" I asked bitterly.
"You two know each other?" Agatha asked, and I have never seen a more faux-shocked expression.
"Yes..." I replied stiffly, not taking my gaze off that bitch face. "We’ve a history."
"Let’s get this dinner started. We’ve already wasted enough time," Elias said, taking out his napkin.
He seemed impatient, and my best guess was that this dinner was all Agatha’s doing.
Ares pulled out a chair for me, and I sat. He followed suit, and I let my attention drift to him. I have never seen him so blank... or maybe I have back then, when I was just his secretary.
Dinner hasn’t even started yet, and it already feels like I have dived headfirst into a fire, alone.
I looked to Tori, who was glaring a hole into Piper’s head, before she flickered her eyes to me, giving me a soft look as if to ease me. She sat opposite me, and I really wish we were close. She was the only person who wasn’t a stranger here.
"A toast!" Agatha pitched, breaking the graveyard stillness. "Ms. Fisher is our honored guest, and as Kings we celebrate them."
I grabbed my glass and raised it briefly, noting Ares didn’t. I chugged my entire champagne, and one of the house staff came to refill.
"Thank you," I murmured.
If I’m gonna live through this night, I might as well see through it drunk. No one is sane enough to deal with this shit.
Feeling a burning look at my side profile, it was no other than Piper, and I returned the favor, doing mine as classy as I could, twirling my glass just a bit to get the contents inside swirling.
A hasty click-clack filled the air, and I automatically glanced behind as Athena approached the table.
"Forgive my tardiness!" she announced. "Getting ready has always been a handful for a goddess like me."
She kissed Elias on the cheek, who didn’t flinch or even glance her way.
Athena dragged an empty chair from a corner, resulting in a wincing, screeching echo.
"Scoot over! Whoever you are..." She said to Piper, who gaped at her.
"Scoot. Over!"
Piper flinched, doing so quickly, and Athena happily inserted herself, filling her plate with food.
Agatha’s face had twisted into a quiet rage, but she stayed composed. With a snap of her finger, a nanny came for Adrian. She murmured something to him and kissed his forehead before he left.
I veered my gaze back to my plate, not having an ounce of appetite, and the only one who ate was Athena.
I have never seen anyone as unbothered as she was. It was just like the ball, where everyone observed as if she were an alien, yet she didn’t give a shit about them.
In all honesty, I’d really go insane. I can’t imagine Granny and Gramps hating me or a ballroom full of people. I barely survived the bullpen at the company.
"How’s the business going?" Agatha asked Piper out of the blue. "I trust the funds I sent assisted in some way."
"Yes, Mrs. King, it was really helpful."
"Oh, please call me Agatha," she said, amused. "Your mother and I are close friends. We’re family in a way."
That explained why Piper could waltz in here.
"That makes me happy..." Piper replied in a shifty tone. "A lot has been going on and..." She paused, her expression turning heartbreaking.
"Whatever’s going on, tell me, I’m all ears," Agatha urged.
"I really shouldn’t bring my baggage to the table. That’d be inappropriate."
"I think your baggage is needed. The table’s dead."
No shit.
"I heard you had a fiancée."
My heart skipped a beat.
"Yes."
I chugged my champagne too quickly, raising my glass for another refill.
"What happened to him exactly?"
Athena dropped her fork, the sharp sound ringing through the space. "This is a family dinner, not sure why she’s here."
"A dinner you’re not welcome," Agatha shut back. "I suggest you leave."
"Is that what you also think, Daddy?"
Elias said nothing, simply in the middle of eating. I caught the flash of hurt on her face.
"Do not mind that..." Agatha said sweetly to Piper. "So you know Catherine, right? Such a small world. How did you two meet?"
I clenched the napkin tightly, suddenly feeling uncomfortable.
"My fiancée cheated on me with her. I caught her in bed with him."
I snapped my gaze to Piper, disbelief plastered on my face.
What the fuck?!
"What did you say?" Elias questioned.
Piper sobbed, tears suddenly streaming down her face. "I’m sorry I shouldn’t have said that I—"
"Do you have anything to say about this?" Elias asked sharply. "I have clearly brought a cheater into my home."
"She has nothing to say to you or anyone." Ares spoke up. "The only thing you should question is how convenient all this is."
"We’re talking about your wife soiling the King’s name, and you’re speaking about convenience?"
"Ms. Fisher, recently, your mother’s company has gone bankrupt."
Piper looked anywhere but at him nervously.
"Rumors also have it you’re pregnant. You should be three months by now."
I rasped, looking at Piper, the shame and shock plastered on her face weakened me.
Did she lie about the pregnancy?
"E-Excuse me." She pushed to her feet to leave, but Ares wasn’t done with her.
"Your fiancée skipped town, too."
She froze.
"Along with the investments made. Your family business went bankrupt because of that unfortunate event."
"Ares, that’s enough!" Agatha snapped.
Slowly, Ares’ gaze shifted to her. "A family dinner where dirty clothes are washed is a crude attempt. Degrading a King in the presence of an outsider is unacceptable."
"That’s no way to speak to your mother..." Elias intervened.
"Stepmother," Ares corrected, bringing his flute glass to his lips.
A small smile formed on my lips.
"You really outdid yourself there, Stepmother," Athena spoke next.
"I beg your pardon?"
"What’s your aim? Labelling Catherine a cheater when it’s the complete opposite. You should have done your research. Didn’t you hear? Piper Fisher was fucking around with someone’s boyfriend and got knocked up. Oops!" She placed a finger on her lips. "Faked... getting knocked up to entrap the guy."