Devil’s Dinner

The Family Brides

MICHAEL

With her coming into my arms I feel happiness exploding within me but accompanied with my gut warning me against this sudden reunion.

I have always wished for her to come back,missed her a lot and blamed Xander for his incompetence but seeing her now brings out the hypocrisy in my thoughts.

The thoughts I’ve been harboring all these whiles,it’s been 7 months and she is back safe and sound.

I squeezed her tightly in my arms inhaling her sweet smell,it’s been so long I miss having her in my arms.

“Yeah that’s it,this is the Michael I know” she breathed out with a satisfied smile.

I missed having her all to myself when Xander isn’t around.

She was my girlfriend back then in high school before Xander claimed her,although she agreed willingly but later came back to me that she was lonely and that was how our affair started.

I don’t care if she’s being a b***h or not,as long as I can have her anytime I like.

It doesn’t feel like betrayal to my friendship with Xander,he has that hobby of snatching everything that belonged to me!

With this feeling of possessiveness rushing over,I hugged Dara so tight and she did the same.

She disengaged from the hug and I could see tears forming at the corner of her eyes,it must be tears of joy.

“Michael I...”

I shushed her up with the tip of my finger,hold her hand and took her out of the office.

“I will be going home early today,tell visitors to call and forward me the important documents” I said to my assistant before heading towards the door.

As soon as we stepped out,Dara adjusted her face cap so as not to create attention about her face considering she was on news for weeks after her death tagged as suicide.

THE GRIMES

Xander opened the car door for Ashley and she carefully alighted from the car.

“You should go take a rest” he said to her then turned his back to leave for the main house.

Ashley pulled his coat with the tips of her fingers.

“Why don’t we have lunch together?” She stuttered.

Xander turned gently removing her fingers off his coat.

“Okay I’ll be there” he said.

Ashley smiles at him but he left without flashing her any ray of hope.

As soon as Xander stepped into the house,a maid approached him to inform him of his package.

“Who brought this for me?” He questioned.

“It was dropped anonymously but since it has your name on it,we picked it up” the maid explained.

“Okay bring it along to my room” he ordered.

“Yes young master” the maid replied humbly.

The maid left his package on the table before exiting the room.

Xander removed his clothes and changed into something free and casual then went over to the package to check it out.

When he opened the box he saw just a small colored paper with few writings on it.

He arched his brows with confusion creeping over his handsome face,he thought someone must be playing tricks on him again.

In the past,he do receive anonymous packages and letters calling him monster and different names but it stopped thanks to Michael dealing with it but he wasn’t sure how he solved the problem.

He was about to throw it out of his window when the content of the letter appeared visible to his eyes.

“Do you miss me?”

Not only the content of the letter but the hand writing got him most.

Who sends hand written letters these days when they can just send a text message or through phone calls.

If sending letter is to be romantic then it should be with bouquet of flowers or a card.

Staring into the colored note,he recognized the letter to be Dara’s writing.

Her strokes and small proportion of her alphabet writings.

The box dropped from his hand and his eyes bulging out in shock.

Even if anyone is to play tricks on him or cuss at him,is there someone so gifted at forging writings?

“Dara!” He voiced out then rushed over to the window checking the surroundings.

He picked his phone to check for any messages but there was none.

“You are alive?”

Ashley already have the maids prepared Lunch and Mrs.Grimes arrived at that time too.

She saw the maids setting the table and with Ashley arranging the dishes with them.

“Hmm today seems to went really well” she said with a smiling face.

Ashley was surprised to see her out of the blue and she immediately said her greetings with a bow.

“Do you mind having lunch with us MOTHER” she said hesitant on the “Mother” part.

Mrs.Grimes raised her eyebrows in amazement with the fact that she was not expecting that from her yet.

None of the previous wives called her that before they died except for Dara,the third bride that Xander loved so much.

“Don’t get too ahead of yourself,become the official daughter-in-law first” she said with a scornful look.

“You should enjoy your lunch with Xander instead,you need that love from him”she added before leaving for her room.

Ashley heaved a heavy sigh with worries creeping up her innocent face but then Xander’s voice forced her back.

“Not all that glitters are gold” he said then moved to the chair.

“What do you mean?” She sniffles.

“You need to learn two things in this house, first is how to ignore negative words and how to adapt to it without taking it personal or let it affect your emotion” he explained.

“Why are you telling me this?”

“Because you need it” he said straight up not minding her reaction.

“Your first statement, you should stop calling me a gold digger indirectly. I knew nothing about this marriage before anyway” she muttered as she took her seat out as well.

“The food taste good anyway” he commented trying to snub her complaint.

Ashley said nothing in return and they had their food in silence.

Ashley’s thought is filled with what might be coming for her after the wedding and her tenses rising with the fear of not disobeying the what ever rules the family keeps talking about.

Xander was so lost in his thought about Dara’s letter to him.

He was confused for a while but with the thought of her coming back,a smile crept up his face and he looked so happy eating.

Michael’s car swerved into the compound of his apartment.

He got the door for Dara and they both went inside hand in hand.

Dara retained her smiling face while checking out the rooms and kitchen.

“It’s still the same” she confirmed.

She then ran to the closet to check some of her clothes she left during her stay and to her surprise the clothes are still there untouched.

Michael hug her tight from behind kissing her necks.

“You are irreplaceable in my heart Dara” he said with a moan.

Dara turn to face him and she crush her lips on his kissing him so deep and passionately.

She removed Michael’s hand from her neck and directed it to her waist ruffling her fingers into his hair.

“I want you inside me”she moaned into his ear.

Michael halts his actions at first and Dara wonders why he did so.

She was surprised when Michael lifted her up in his arms and carried her into the large bedroom.

He dropped her on the bed and removed his upper clothes immediately with internal fire blazing vigorously inside him.

Dara undress herself at once and Michael went on top of her.

He entwined his fingers into hers right over her head then kissed her again.

After having a steamy good s*x,he collapsed on top of her with their breathing so rapid both enjoying the after glow of their intimate moment.

Few minutes later,Michael could be seen coming inside with a bottle of wine and two cups.

Dara flash him a smile as she yanked off the duvet cover from her body.

She is in her bra and pant looking so curvy.

Michael place the wine on the nearby table and lean closer to kiss Dara again.

“Now should we talk about what happened that night?” Michael inquired.

Dara glance at her side then saw a pillow,she picked it and hit Michael hard with it.

Michael groaned and snatched the pillow from her.

“What was that for?” He yelled.

“You guys were keeping such a big secret and you kept it away from me?” She bellowed.

“Oh... you found out about the king being alive?” He inquired with a smirk on his face.

“You knew if I found out I was going to die, but I thought I was part of the family too how could Mrs Grimes do that to me?”she protested.

“To start with,Mrs Grimes never liked you and you know that. The fact that Xander always stood up to her anytime she tried to make you feel bad... she wanted to be the only one in control of Xander but then you gained all his attention, what do you expect?” Michael explained and now he is serving the two cups.

“That old hag called me out that night right after she saw me coming out from the chamber upstairs.

She promised to tell me everything and tricked me into believing her promise of love.

Without feeling of guilt,she pushed me into the swimming pool knowing fully well that I can’t swim” Dara explained with great feeling of contempt.

“You mean Mrs Grimes did that to you? I knew it... Xander could not be the one to kill you and you couldn’t have committed suicide for no reason” Michael said.

“And who helped covered that up? For how long will you continue to be the Grimes dog?the man in black that covers up their dirty crimes”

Michael burst out into laughter and then sip from his cup.

“You have no right to judge me Dara,all these names shouldn’t come out from your mouth” he warned.

“Anyway how did you survive? I was at your burial with your parents, also do you plan to go home?” He questioned further.

“I don’t wanna go home yet, at least not for now that’s why i need your help with a place to stay for the mean time” she explained.

“What’s your plan exactly?”

“Why do I feel like you’re interrogating me as the Grimes lawyer? The fact that I’m alive and back is enough for now so don’t ask me anymore question”

“I thought you came back for me” he uttered as his face went down wearily.

“I’m sorry Michael please try to understand me, I promise to tell you everything once it’s all ready”

“You don’t need my help?”

“I know how much you cherish your friendship with Xander even though you are f*****g his girl so I’m not that stupid to take your help” she smiled and sip out of her cup.

“Okay, when have you ever trusted me on anything before.” He said.

“Now that you are saying that... I think I might need your help”

“Really? With what?” He asked.

“The venue of the wedding,I need access into that place” she said turning seductively to Michael.

Seeing her curves and smooth body,Michael’s doubtful face changed to submission.

“I knew it, you want to claim your position back as Xander’s wife” he said.

“Will you help me or not?” Dara questioned.

“Anything you want Dar” Michael said with his glass raised up.

DARA

Of course, what choice do you have? I’ve always controlled you guys with my body after all.

I will make the Grimes pay for treating me like that but for now I have to get back my place in the family.

Thanks to Princess Vivian who saved me and faked my burial,I should help her with what she wants as well.

The loneliness I felt in my comatose state,I’m going to repay you all with something worse.

I hope Xander got my letter.