Gianna stared absentmindedly at the passing trees, her thoughts spiraling out of control on all the ways the conversation she was going to have with their grandfather could pan out. She had thought of all the things she could say to broach the topic without offending anyone but it seemed that deep down she knew it wasn't just going to be wishes upon horses. She sighed and straightened her spine. If she was going to do this, then she needed to channel every last bit of courage she could muster because it wasn't just the grandfather, she was going to face what could be an entire generation. Her wits needed to be about or else their stares alone could very well make her bolt from there.
She had seen firsthand what intimidation felt like when she had been in Xavier's presence but she had come too far to back down now. Refocusing her attention on the road, she saw that they had almost reached the mansion and her jaw almost fell to the ground at how ridiculously huge it was. An electric gate, sleek and modern swung open to let them in. The lane to the mansion was filled with all kinds of colorful flowers, adding a breathtaking and serene view to the environment. The fountains on either sides of the lane were crafted in such a way that it brought intrigue to the whole place. The entire place exuded a modern, but an ancient kind vibe and it blended so well together. It was like they had accepted modernity but had still decided to keep some ancestry details.
Her bodyguard parked the car at the circular driveway in front of the mansion and he got down to open her side of the door. Now the house itself was the one doing the intimidation but she just couldn't stop staring. It was that beautiful. "Miss Michaels," Xavier called, noticing how mesmerized she was at the mansion. He saw that she was genuinely trying to comprehend how such a thing could exist and he couldn't help the smile that formed on his lips at the awe on her innocent face. "Oh sorry...I was just admiring the place," she laughed awkwardly, clearing her throat as she looked everywhere but the man who stared at her in absolute amusement.
She wondered what he found so funny. "It's okay miss Michaels, no need to apologize. I live here but anytime it comes into view I marvel at it too," Jeremy came to stand with them, his gaze falling on Gianna and he gave her a gentle smile to make her feel at ease. Xavier's eyes narrowed. The punk was definitely up to something and it seemed it worked perfectly because Gia looked at him in gratitude for his 'kind' words. "I've already informed grandfather of our visit so let's not keep him waiting," Xavier's smile vanished and he led the way to the mansion. Gianna took in deep breaths. It was now or never. She followed Xavier and Jeremy followed right after. Gianna was happy the dress she had worn was decent enough. As it was, her dressing could speak on her behalf before she could even open her mouth. If she thought the outside was beautiful then the inside was beyond her expectations. The golden chandeliers, the antique vases, the paintings, everything just screamed perfection and she was in awe again.
"Grandfather," Xavier addressed and she brought her attention back to the people in the room. And indeed, it was an entire generation. All kinds of pairs of eyes fell on her and the hairs on her skin grew in awareness of the sudden way they were all looking at her. It was worse than she had anticipated and as the seconds passed her anxiety grew together with their stares. "Is that my beautiful granddaughter. Come and let this old man look at you," grandpa Gary beckoned and Gianna smiled at his kindness. At least he wasn't looking at her weird. Nodding at him, she made her way towards him and sat beside the space he patted. "I remember when you were so tiny. Look at you now, all grown up and beautiful," he looked at her with nothing but grandfatherly affection and Gianna felt warm inside at the reception she was receiving. "Thank you grandfather, although I don't think I remember you," her statement made everyone laugh and she was surprised at this. She was glad they were warming up to her too. It had been way too intense at first. "Of course my dear, it was a long time ago," he affirmed her statement and gently rubbed her hair. Xavier just stared at their interactions in silence, something in his heart blossoming at how comfortable Gianna had gotten around his grandfather, the one person he respected the most. He knew how nerve wrecked she had been from the beginning and even though he had meant to assure her a few times, he just couldn't bring himself to. He clenched his hands. If he couldn't bring her comfort to ease her worries when she needed it most then what good was he to her. He sighed and he saw her gaze land on him. He smiled at her and she shyly averted her gaze. How adorable. Jeremy who was observing things noticed the little exchange between them and his eyes narrowed.
"These are all your aunties and uncles too. Go ahead and greet them," grandpa Gary pointed to everyone else in the room, willing Gianna to acknowledge them. She smiled and nodded, getting up from her seat. She didn't know why but before she could address them her eyes fell on Xavier again and he saw the sour look on his face. Now that she thought about it, unlike Jeremy who had greeted everybody, Xavier had only spoke to his grandfather. Strange. As if she had finally been enlightened she felt the hatred the family members were not even trying to hide all around them and it was directed to Xavier. She could taste their bitterness towards him on her tongue and she wondered what exactly had caused it. Sure, Xavier was cold and didn't express himself that much but he cared about things in his own way so she didn't understand where all the hate was coming from. He seemed to share their sentiments too and didn't shy away from it either. Thinking about it now, she noticed Jeremy's mother among the people because of their resemblance. It was subtle but it was there. Did they want Xavier to give everything up for Jeremy? They seemed to like him more anyways.
Her gaze returned to Xavier and he was still staring at her. This time it felt like his eyes were telling her something. Looking around again, she realized nobody was truly on his side. She looked back at him again. He wanted her to be on his side. To choose him. Believe it or not, she knew how it felt to have no one stand by your side so she understood him but regardless of whatever was going on between him and his family members they were still elders and she had to politely acknowledge them. She clutched her dress, feeling the intensity of the blue blue eyes on her. "I...they didn't greet Xavy like how they did Jeremy," she ended up saying instead and the loud gasps that followed her statement was deafening. Xavier was stunned at the turn of events. He was utterly and completely speechless, not expecting those words to come out of her mouth in his defense. And Xavy? She had given him a nickname? No one had called him that before. He liked it, because she gave it. She didn't owe him anything and yet she had taken his side. It was just wishful thinking and he didn't even think she had understood what he was trying to convey but she had shocked him once again and had actually spoken up for him. He didn't know what exactly he was feeling but it felt really good.
Gianna looked at Xavier and she saw the gratitude and relief in his sparkly eyes. She knew it. This meant more to him than anything else and she was glad that even if it was just temporary she had been able to bring him some sort of comfort. Besides they were the elders and having literal hatred for someone they watched grow up was just diabolical in her opinion. They could have valid reasons to hate him but at the point it was just childish because if they couldn't sit him down and take on their issues with him then whatever it was that was going on, regardless of Xavier's involvement, they were the ones at fault the most. She didn't regret taking his side and she was never going to. She realized that they weren't going to like her either from the moment she had set foot inside anyways.
Grandpa Gary noticed the way those two looked at each other and to think they could talk to each other with their eyes to the point where the little girl who had just visited them today could take his grandson's side without so much as a twitch. Internally he was happy that there was a person in this world who was ready and willing to support him no matter what but he knew that he couldn't showcase this happiness in front of everyone. He had to put the joy aside and speak on the matter. The murmurs that had started since the beginning hadn't died down and continued to increase. "If you didn't notice, little girl, Jeremy greeted us and acknowledged our very presence. The person you're defending treats us like absolute dust. Isn't respect reciprocatory? Before you take someone's side, know where they fall first. Not every pretty thing you see is good," Freda's eyes narrowed slightly as she regarded the young woman, her audacity to talk out of turn surprising her. The people in the room agreed, and to think it was the first time she had been to the house too. If she married Xavier, with the way things had started to pan out, it was more likely that she would become just like him. "You're just jealous she didn't follow you around like blind sheep and actually uses her brain unlike all of you," Xavier said casually, staring at every person in the room with absolute boredom. Gianna's eyes widened. How could he just throw insults like it was nothing. "It is high time this nonsense of yours stops Xavier. We're not your puppets for you to speak to us anyhow," an uncle, Uncle Joe, spoke having had enough of the boy's disregard for them. "Look who decided to join the party after letting the ladies take the lead all this while. It is quite admirable, I'd give you that," he clicked his tongue in distate and smiled as if he was truly moved by his uncle's sudden interest to speak but the smile disappeared as quickly as it came.
"That is enough. You're always talking out of turn Xavier. Gianna probably was surprised at the hostility in this family that is why she said that. All of you have made a person who only came in today see how much we have failed as a family and none of you are concerned about that but instead throwing jabs at each other. I'm old and don't have the energy to always mediate amongst you," grandpa Gary said solemnly, his face conveying disappointment at the way they always chose to handle situations. "Grandpa, are you alright?" Gia asked as she sat beside the old man and he nodded vigorously. "I'm fine my dear and I'm sorry you had to witness this," he said quietly, as if he was even ashamed to admit the faults of his family. Gianna shook her head at him. "It's okay grandpa. We all have family dynamics," she smiled at him and it eased some of his worries. "I can't believe this is the family I'm making you marry into. It makes me feel so lacking as a grandfather."
Gianna pursed her lips. "About that, I was kind of hoping we could cancel the marriage alliance." This time the gasps were even more deafening.