Chapter 36: An Unexpected Invitation

The room fell into silence, every word of introduction on their lips stuck to their throat and they stared at each other as if seeing each other for the first time.

June didn’t want Chris knowing Amie was her half-sister, but she couldn’t help but think what Amie was doing in their presence.

The little tension between them hadn’t gone unnoticed by Chris. Yet, he plastered a smile to his lips as he said. "Miss June, this is my sister, Amie, and Amie meet June, the friend I was talking about."

Again, they stared at each other without making any attempt to shake each other. It wasn’t until they felt Chris’s eyes on them before they made an attempt to shake each other.

"It’s nice to meet you, Miss June." Amie said through gritted teeth.

"Same here." June responded while biting down the urge to throw up at the sight of Amie.

The last time she had seen her, Amie had been claiming her husband. She never thought she would leave Kansas behind and start claiming to be someone’s daughter.

What was Amie up to?

Chris continued the introduction. "And this is my mother."

Serena smiled at June. "It’s a pleasure meeting you, darling. I know I can’t see you, but you sound beautiful and I like you."

Before anything else, Serena pulled June in a tight embrace, her nose sniffing her hair, while her hand rubbed her back softly.

"You must be special to Chris, you’re the first women he’s ever brought home."

Chris’s cheeks turned red. "Come on, mother. It’s not like that. June and I are friends."

Serena nodded. "Of course, who said otherwise." Hiding her smile behind her hand. "Now, let’s go and eat. The chef has outdone themselves tonight. Every meal was prepared carefully."

June could tell.

At the mention of food, her stomach was already growling.

Thankfully, no one else could hear the embarrassing tone, even though she could still see Amie’s face on hers.

She got lots of questions to ask Amie, yet that was surely not in the presence of the Vassari.

"Mother, let me take her to where she would be sleeping before roping her into your countless gist at the dinner."

Serena scoffed. "You’re already being overprotective of her. Raising a son is surely a bad investment." She joked. "At the end of the day, they are going to dedicate all their life to their wives."

June’s cheeks turned red and she placed her hand to the small bump. Maybe because her stomach was just growing that was why they couldn’t tell she had a bump.

"She’s not my brother’s wife, right?" Amie interrupted Serena.

The thought of sharing this love with June was a nightmare.

Only June that detected the bitterness in her voice. "Of course not. I don’t go around claiming other people’s husband."

Amie bit her lower lip before she could utter words she was going to regret.

Chris placed his hand on June’s bag. "Let’s go."

Serena also led Amie towards the dining. "Don’t worry, you’ll get used to seeing your brother’s wife."

Meanwhile, Chris kept stealing glances at June beside him.

One, he hadn’t thought it would have been this easy to bring her home considering the fact that she was usually arguing every small thing with him.

Two, he had noticed the tension between her and Amie.

How couldn’t he notice it, when the tension was so big, knife could cut through it.

He cleared his throat, gaining her attention. "Is there something you want to tell me or ask me?"

June, whose eyes moved around the house, wondered how many rooms were in this mansion and if the people got lost trying to find their way sometimes.

Again, Chris took another turn, clearing his throat more loudly than before.

June finally turned to him. "Sorry, what do you say?"

Normally, Chris would have asked her not to bother. But the curiosity deep within him wouldn’t let him go off the topic. "I said, do you have anything to tell me or ask me."

June shook her head.

Though she wanted to know how Amie had become his sister, but he had come here for a different purpose. What if she was thrown out of the house for pokenosing?

Information about her mother was much more important.

Chris stared at her skeptically, but he couldn’t force the words out of her. Finally, he stopped in front of a door, opened it and stepped in. "This is the guest room you’ll be sleeping in. I just need you to drop your bag and let’s go eat first."

She did so.

As Chris watched her leave the room, June knew there was no way she would remember the way to the room.

She followed him back to the dining room.

Serena and Amie were already seated and waiting for them. It was the sound of their footsteps that Serena heard. Since she was blind, she had been using her other senses to recognize things.

"Took you long enough to return." She said.

Amie didn’t utter a word, but she narrowed her eyes on June.

Who knows the cock-and-bull story she might have told Chris ?

But June smiled at her, settling beside Chris.

The long table looked like it would seat twenty people, but they were just four of them sitting on it. Yet, every inch of the table was filled with food - varieties of food.

It only encouraged the growling in her stomach and June swallowed the saliva in her mouth. She was certain if she were at home, she would be picking the foods randomly without waiting for anyone.

But here, they waited until Serena said, "let’s eat "

She moved her chopsticks to scoop some rice at the same time Serena wanted to take some. Their spoons clashed. "Who’s that?" Serena said with hints of amusement in her face.

"Me!" June responded, clearly feeling ashamed and picking up her spoon to take something else.

Serena laughed at that, "It seemed we have similar taste or should I say interest."

Amie frowned at June, before turning back to Serena. "I wanted to scoop some too." She said, even though her hand was still stuck in the garnished potato.

June shook her head lightly, picking a different dish. It was so like Amie to get jealous whenever she was complimented for anything.

She has made her father stop complimenting June.

But Serena had moved past that. "I don’t know why, but I like you. There’s something about you that sits well with me."

June had started eating by now. She planned to stuff her stomach. So, she’d have enough energy to question the people working here. Never had she thought the house her mother worked in would be this huge.

But again, what does she expect from a Mafia Queen’s house.

"Thank you." She responded, politely.

But Serena wasn’t done with her, she had loads of questions. "I know you said you’re June, but I wish to know you on a more personal level. What’s your name, again?"

She looked towards Chris, who gave her a small nod. "June."

She scooped a chicken from the table, cutting a bit of it and stuffing it into her mouth. The food was way more delicious than any other thing she had eaten.

"June what?" Serena continued.

June froze for a second.

In those few seconds, Chris noticed it but didn’t say a word.

Soon, she started eating again. "Just June, ma. I don’t have a surname."

A wave of pity washed all over Serena. "What about your parents?"

"My father is dead." She responded without missing a beat and ignoring Amie’s eyes that were digging a hole in her head.

Ever since her father had chosen Amie over her, and had forced her to spill out precious moments for Amie’s sake, he had become nothing more than a dead man to her.

"Oh! I’m so sorry about that." Serena said."Then what about your mother?"

Silence.

Her eyes moved to Amie, she didn’t want her to know that she was already looking for her mother. As far as June knew, Amie had always been her father’s eyes and ears when it comes to matters concerning her.

If she should know, she would surely inform her father immediately. And that might hinder her research.

Yet, she didn’t want to say her mother was dead.

Finally, she shrugged. "She should be somewhere happy."

Serena gasped. "Don’t tell me your mother abandoned you?"

"It’s okay, mother. Let her eat so she could rest."

Serena smiled, nodding. "I’m sorry about the whole question and answer thing, June. It’s just been a while I have met someone that interests me so far."

Then her hand moved to Amie’s "And recently my whole life just became complete. I found my missing daughter, so forgive me if I am being inquisive and taking your privacy for granted."

June shook her head. By now, her stomach was so full that she could barely fit anymore food in.

She pushed her plate forward. "Thank you for the meal, ma."

Serena nodded. "Have a night’s rest."

Chris helped her up and tried to take her to her room.

But Serena’s voice stopped her again. "I’m so glad to meet you, June. And I am inviting you to my daughter’s welcome party."