Shattered Heart

Chapter 8 : "The Family's Turmoil"

A few minutes later, two identical twins burst into Antonia's room, rushing toward her with enthusiasm, their arms outstretched for a hug. "Hi!" they exclaimed in unison, embracing Antonia tightly. Antonia was taken aback by their sudden appearance and the warmth of their greeting.

The twins sat down on either side of Antonia, chuckling and sharing laughter as they introduced themselves. "Hi, I'm Sonia," one said, while the other added, "And I'm Silvia." They continued in unison, "We're the SS sisters in the house," performing a brief synchronized dance and sharing another round of laughter before settling beside Antonia.

Antonia was unsure of how to respond but was eager to say something when Sonia interrupted her once more. "We're your boyfriend's sisters, and I know you've already met our mom, Mrs. Veronica. We just arrived from Dubai, and we heard about you a minute ago from our mom. We're thrilled to meet you, and you're very welcome. Feel free to stay or hang out with us whenever you like."

Antonia expressed her gratitude, saying, "Oh, thank you so much. You ladies have made my day. I'm genuinely thrilled to see both of you."

The SS sisters couldn't contain their excitement and responded with an affectionate, "Awwwwn," hugging Antonia once more. Silvia took a moment during the embrace to compliment Antonia on her beauty.

Shortly thereafter, Jackson entered the room, wearing a bright smile on his face. However, his mood seemed to shift when his sisters began running around him, singing, "Brother, brother, brother." This had been a cherished tradition since they were three years old, a way of showing their excitement upon seeing him for the first time each day. They had started when he was a child and continued into his teenage years, as he was the only son in the family. However, as he transitioned into young adulthood, the dynamic seemed to change.

Jackson attempted to sneak around, avoiding getting caught by his sisters, but they always managed to spot him. Their singing ritual took about a minute before they settled down, and Jackson usually sacrificed that minute by standing in the midst of his twin sisters, who circled him while singing.

Shouting for them to stop only extended the performance to 2 or 3 minutes, during which they would tearfully report to their parents how harsh he had been. This would result in him being called to apologize, but often, only the "am" from "I am sorry, Sonia and Silvia" was required to prompt them to resume singing and circling.

However, this time, it felt somewhat nostalgic, almost sweet like old times. With Antonia present, Jackson couldn't help but comment, "Here the SS sisters go again." In response, both sisters burst into deep laughter, and this statement led to Jackson sharing a brief story with Antonia while they continued to sing.

Once the SS sisters had finished their singing, they hurriedly left the room, leaving Jackson and Antonia alone.

Jackson extended his arms towards Antonia with admiration. "You look so beautiful, my love," he complimented, moving closer for a warm hug.

Antonia graciously accepted the compliment, responding, "It's the work of your beautiful mom, baby," as they embraced tightly, sharing a brief kiss. Antonia then inquired, "You smell sweet! What's your secret, baby boy?"

Jackson explained, "It's strawberry and sage leaf fragrance. It's one of a kind, really nice."

A doorbell rang, breaking the moment. Antonia turned to the mistress who had been standing in the corner and instructed, "Mistress, please answer that and find out who it is."

The mistress quickly relayed the information, saying, "Ma'am, dinner is ready, and all the family members have gathered at the table."

Jackson smiled at Antonia, taking her hand. "That means we should proceed to the table, my love," he said, leading her towards the door with the mistress following behind.

Upon arriving at the table, Jackson gallantly pulled out Antonia's chair, treating her with utmost chivalry. He ensured she was comfortably seated before taking his own place, which was always at the head of the table, where his late father used to sit for dinner. Diego occupied the other head of the table.

Jackson initiated the meal with a request. "Let's say the Lord's Prayer," he announced loudly. They all joined in, reciting the prayer in unison before starting their meal.

Curiosity got the better of Mrs. Marisa, Diego's mother, as she inquired, "So, who is this lady sitting among us, Jackson?"

Jackson's response was clear and concise. "She's my girlfriend," he stated firmly, making it evident that he didn't wish to delve into further explanations. He held his fork and knife in readiness to start eating, his demeanor signaling that he wanted to avoid any further discussion.

Mrs. Marisa, adopting a mocking tone, remarked, "I wonder why your relationships always end at 'girlfriend'." With that, she shifted her gaze downward to her meal, avoiding any eye contact with Jackson. Antonia was taken aback by this comment but remained silent, glancing at Mrs. Veronica, who discreetly signaled her to remain composed. Antonia then returned her attention to her meal.

Jackson seethed with anger at Marisa's comment but kept his focus on his meal. His fork and knife hovered above his meat, motionless.

Mrs. Veronica couldn't let Marisa's comment slide. She fixed a stern gaze on her and remarked, "You seem to have forgotten your table manners, Marisa. I suggest you keep your mouth shut, lest you accidentally spit into my food."

Marisa, though showing a hint of amusement, looked back at Mrs. Veronica with a noticeable anger in her expression. "And who do you think you're talking to like that? Your son or your daughters?" she retorted.

Mrs. Veronica didn't back down, responding firmly, "Who else should it be but you, Marisa? Even your 20-year-old son behaves more maturely than you. You should be ashamed of yourself." The tension between the two women escalated as they locked eyes, seemingly on the verge of a physical confrontation.

Diego's voice boomed, cutting through the rising tension. "Silence, women!" he shouted.

Mrs. Veronica didn't take kindly to Diego's interference. She retorted sharply, "Shut your filthy mouth, beast. Maybe you don't have respect for your mother. Perhaps you should show some respect to someone of my age. Don't you ever raise your voice to me again in your life." With that, she turned away, picking up her utensils that she had set aside during the heated exchange, and added a final, "Nonsense."

As the heated exchange of words continued between Mrs. Veronica and Mrs. Marisa, the rest of the family remained in a state of tense silence, watching the confrontation unfold. The tension in the room was palpable.

However, it was Antonia who chose to step in and diffuse the situation. With a calm and composed demeanor, she introduced herself, saying, "My name is Antonia, Antonia Silverton. I am from Scotland, and I am delighted to meet all of you this evening. I feel honored to be among you, and I hope this evening will be a memorable one for me. Thank you." After delivering her statement, she turned her attention to her meal, wearing a warm smile on her face.

Everyone at the table shifted their gaze from the ongoing conflict to Antonia, their eyes fixed on her as they absorbed her words. Mrs. Veronica, breaking the silence, smiled at Antonia and inquired, "Are you enjoying your meal, dear?"

Antonia responded with a simple "Yes."

The family members then resumed their focus on their meals, but all eyes were on Jackson, who had not touched his food since Mrs. Marisa's comment. It was evident that something was brewing, and they observed him cautiously, anticipating further developments.

"You know," Jackson began, his tone filled with anger as he locked his gaze onto Marisa, "I received a call from the company while I was in Scotland. They claimed that you took 50 million dollars from the company's account and that you forcefully extracted it from the company's financial secretary."

Mrs. Rosalia, the third wife, reacted with shock, exclaiming, "WHAT!?" She shot an angry glare at Marisa, clearly taken aback by Jackson's revelation.

Diego immediately chimed in, seeking an explanation. "Mom, what's the meaning of this?" The others at the table followed suit, their voices raised in anger as they bombarded Marisa with questions.

Jackson, needing to restore order, raised his voice to command attention. "SILENCE!" He took a deep breath to calm himself before continuing, "Please, Mother Marisa, tell us why you took such a significant amount of money from the company. It's not your company, and the money certainly isn't yours—it belongs to everyone. You threatened the financial secretary and forcibly obtained that money. Explain why you did this, or you won't like my next reaction."

Marisa's expression shifted to one of sorrow, and she turned her attention to Diego as she spoke through tears. "I did it for you, Diego. I did it for you and your brothers."

Diego, however, was not swayed. He responded firmly, "Mom, you never mentioned anything about this money since yesterday, and I believe this incident happened only yesterday since Jackson just returned today. Even if the company's funds were to be divided, what you took is far less than our share. It's not for me or my brothers, and I never authorized you to take such actions. So you need to explain precisely what you were asked, because as far as I'm aware, the money given to you to share with us, you took it for yourself, claiming it was yours. None of us children have a share unless you willingly want to share it with us. I'm sorry to disappoint you, but you have to answer for this, as I'm not on your side in this matter."

"SMACK!", on Diego's face...