"This is the first time I'm not entirely enjoying my dinner," Arion mumbled, but everyone at the dining table was able to hear him.
His gloomy expression is affecting everyone except for Stan, who is being more cheerful than usual. "How can you say that, Arion! You should get used to this!" Stan said.
"Get used to this? Why should I?" Except for formalities, business over dinner, Arion has no other reason to dine at the same table with the Robertsons.
"You know what I mean by that! Do I really have to say it out loud?" Stan grins. His grins somehow annoyed Arion to the max. If his wife did not tell him so, he would not be here in the first place. Stan knows his temper, yet he is doing this on purpose.
Arion glanced at Layla and said, "I'm sorry, Layla. I know I should be grateful that you cook this delicious dinner, but your husband is really getting on my nerves." Now, Arion felt terrible that he is not enjoying the food that Layla prepared.
"It's alright, Arion. I don't blame you. Besides, I understand why you are acting like that. That idiot did something he should not have." In Layla's opinion, she should be the one apologizing to Arion. When she heard from Stan what he is planning, headaches strike again.
'Why does he have to act like this? He is a grown man, for Pete's sake!'
"I, Stan's father, am ashamed at how my son is acting. As you know, Arion, he's been like this since he was young. I tried changing this side of him, but to no avail, he still remained the same." Even Elijah is giving up already. Elijah is somehow thankful that his wife is no longer here to see how their grown-man son is acting right now.
'My dear wife, I have failed in raising our son.'
"This playful side of my father is one of the reasons why I didn't invite him to my 'Bring Your Parent to School Day' back then. I was afraid that he might be acting like the way he is now." Lannie said, then she smiled sweetly at her father. She doesn't even look like she is sorry.
"Wha- You people are heartless! How could you gang-up on me like this? All of you against me? That is so not fair!" Stan sulked. He can't believe that his family is treating him like this. What did he do to be treated this way? All he did was, be the nicest son, husband, and father to them, yet this is what he gets?
'Where is the justice in this family?' He inwardly cried.
"First of all, Father, they wouldn't be treating you like this if you aren't getting on anyone's nerves." On this matter, Kyle is not siding with anyone. He is neutral in this matter because if he does pick a side, his father might actually and literally cry for real.
"How am I getting on anyone's nerves?" To most things, Stan is oblivious to everything he has done, and everything that he has done is only going according to his plan. If it doesn't go as he had planned, then it will not work.
"Like what you are doing to me. You texted my wife, which you know, she will go along with whatever you are planning. I'm here and not with my family having dinner." Arion gave Stan a smile, but it was not a genuine smile.
Stan puffed and said, "You really want to know what am I planning? Fine. I will tell you." It's not part of his plan, but to make Arion satisfied with tonight's event, he will have to share. "As a good father that I am, I'm helping my son achieve his current goal."
"And what is my current goal, Father?" Kyle raises his brow, then stared at his father.
"You know, getting Arion's blessing. Now that everyone knows about your relationship with Anna, you need to work harder to get that blessing! And luckily for you, I am here to help." Once this mission is over and succeeds, Stan will claim that he is the father of the year.
"Thank you, but no thank you, Father. That is not gonna help me at all." Knowing Arion, Kyle is sure that whatever his father is thinking, it will never work. Worst-case scenario, Arion might never give him the blessing he wanted.
"Hate to admit it, but your son is right, Stan. It's nice that you have good intentions, but in things like this, he has to do it by himself." Of course, his daughter will help Kyle in some ways. Arion expected that much, but what he said is the truth.
Right now, he can tell that Kyle is determined, but that determination might be over sooner or later. In his opinion, it is best to keep on testing Kyle. Anna is his only daughter, and he will never give her to someone else's arms until he is sure that someone will make his daughter happy.
"Looks like you're not the father of the year, Dad." Lannie teased her father, but Stan only gave her a look.
Stan was enjoying his dinner earlier, but now, he has lost his appetite. 'This is so annoying.' He inwardly said.
"Anyways, what business did you have here earlier, Arion," Elijah asked curiously. When Elijah heard that Arion Coleman is in the manor for some business matter, it made him wonder if something terrible has happened. After all, Arion is the type to not go anywhere unless it is crucial.
"The Ricci family is planning to show themselves out, but this time, it looks like they are going to make themselves known throughout the world." Initially, none of the Ricci family problems does not concern the Robertsons, but this time is different. Arion wants the whole members of the Robertson family to ready themselves.
"And this concern my family, how exactly?" The Ricci family problem is the Colemans problem. Elijah would never let his family gets involved with what is currently happening between the Riccis and the Colemans. Disaster will be the only result.
Of course, Elijah has not yet forgotten the trouble his son has caused him years ago by getting involved with the Riccis, but all of that is in the past. His son now is free from those people.
"From what I gather, the Riccis are trying to take over as much underworld organizations as possible, and the only thing that is getting in their way is my family and your family. Now tell me, if they were able to take down one of us, what do you think will happen after?"
Elijah nodded after seeing that meaningful look plastered on Arion's face. It is as if he is saying that he understands what Arion is trying to say. While on the other hand, Kyle and Lannie are confused. Kyle has little information about the Ricci family, and when he tries to learn more, his grandfather starts to open his mouth nonstop.
"Father, I know you don't want our family to get involved, but I do personally think that we should this time. For the sake of balancing the power in the whole underworld organization, we need to aid the Colemans." Stan said in a serious tone. "Do you agree or not?"
"I am already done. I passed the baton to you, son. It is up to you on whether you want to get involve or not. I am only here to advice you in your every step." Even if Elijah said no, he is sure that his son won't listen to a word he says. 'What is the point in asking me if you're going to do it anyways.'
"Now that is said and done, what is our first move, Arion?" Layla asked.
"Not at the moment, I have to deal with some family matters first. But we do need to keep the Riccis at bay until I finished my family problem."
"Do your personal matters first, then we can discuss about the Ricci family later. Let us, the Robertsons, handle maintaining those bastards at bay." Layla suggested. Now that Arion mentioned it, Layla remembered her brother talking about James Coleman aligning itself to someone powerful. From what she heard, it has been a headache trying to figure out to deal with it. "I heard from my brother that you guys are going to make your move soon, so what is the plan."
"The details are a secret, but the twins are making the first step from the plan." Kyle is shocked to hear that Anna is going out on a mission. From the way he interpreted Arion's word, it looks like it has been a while since the plan has been made.
'Why didn't she said anything to me about it?'
"They are? Well, I hope they succeed. After all, the first move in every plan is very crucial."