Chapter 16: The Jealousy

Cameron Hayes' POV

I was looking at the two figures that belonged to my mother and Ella. I shook my head as I know that my mother was talking with Ella, no doubt about my secret as I followed them into the drawing-room. I heard that we were the last one to arrive.

"Okay, everyone. Cam's finally here. And he brought a guess," my mother announced as Ella turned to look at me. Her eyes were pleading to save her but I shrugged before she glared at me.

"Finally, we can eat," Dylan's voice filled my eardrum as I was closing my eyes. Now, Ella will see my dumb cousin here and probably thinks that we were related or something.

"Oh, I see that you brought someone, big brother," my sister, Sabrina, greeted me outside as I was standing at the door. She just got out of the second floor from her bedroom, no doubt. I sighed.

"And I think mother was too excited that she forgot to tell that we were just friends," I said as I turned to hug Sabrina and she was smirking at me.

"Did you tell her that?"

"You know I don't have the chance," I defended. Her smirk widened.

"Then, I think the wedding will be in order, big brother," she said as I was glaring at her.

"Why do you say that?" I asked her as she shrugged. Seriously, my sister was very annoying until the end.

"No reason, although I do see the ruby necklace around her neck. You know how Mum felt about Gran's necklace around a young woman," she said as she was wiggling her eyebrows at me. I rolled my eyes at her.

"Of course I know what it means. I was hoping that she would not think it literally. Figuratively, it seems to work fine but I hope that mum will not associate me and Ella as an item," I said as I walked into the drawing-room as I saw Dylan was lounging on the sofa as father was talking to him.

It seems that his big brother was not here with his wife. Good news for me.

"Now, shall we head out to the dining hall then?" My mother asked as Ella was still by her side. That would keep her busy with Ella while I was free to talk with anyone else. She was preoccupied with my new toy.

"Please, I'm starving," Dylan said as he was standing up from the sofa. I rolled my eyes at him.

"You always hungry,"

"That, cousin, is the truth. Besides, I miss my aunt's cooking," Dylan said as he was winking at me and Sabrina. She was amused with him as well.

"I see that he did not change even though he was pursuing his Ph.D.," Sabrina said as I was looking at Dylan that walked beside my father who was talking about stars and universe.

"Tell me about it," I said as I walked with Sabrina into the dining hall as Ella took her seat next to my mother on the right. My father took the other end and Sabrina was on Ella's side. It leaves the opposite of Ella opened and I think I know who will be there.

"You don't mind, do you, coz? I just wanted to get to know your girlfriend a little bit more," Dylan said as he was taking the seat in front of Ella. Trying to conceal the fury that was burning inside me, I smiled at him as I patted his shoulder.

"Of course," I said before I gripped it firmly. He winced as I was looking at Ella before she turned to Sabrina who was talking with her. I took my seat in front of my sister as the servants were putting the dinner on the table.

This will be a long night indeed.

Ella Lattone's POV

"It's alright. I can see that my brother likes you a lot," Cameron's sister, who I learned her name was Sabrina, whispered to me when Cameron took another seat in front of his sister. I thought he did not want to be with me since his cousin, the guy named Windell who Daisy hated was in front of me.

"Oh, I don't think that he does like me. You get the wrong idea," I whispered to Sabrina before her green eyes were holding mischief in them.

"If you say so, Ella," she said before the dinner was served to us. I was looking at the pot roast with some mash potatoes and baked asparagus. It was simply delicious as it has been months since I was eating an exquisite meal.

My mouth watered at the sight.

"Bon appetite, dear," Mia said as she was smiling at me. I smiled back at her before I was looking at the set of spoons and forks. I don't know much about this since I have an unusual upbringing with my aunt but I did know some of the table manners when I went to the prep school in my youth.

I picked up the right knife and fork as Cameron was eyeing me before he did the same. I arched my eyebrows as I was looking at the food before we were eating.

"I have to say, aunty, this is one good pot roast," Windell said as I was cutting the tender meat and I forked it before I put it to my mouth. The taste exploded in my mouth as I was munching the meat.

I thanked the Lord for this dinner tonight.

"Oh, you always such a flirt, Dylan. You know it was my only recipe for our family reunion," Mia said as Sabrina snorted.

"Keep telling yourself that, mum. Maybe next time you should try something else since there is a new addition to the table. I think Ella would love to taste something else as well," Sabrina said as I saw Cameron's head was turning sharply at her.

"Sabrina," he warned before Sabrina was smirking at him. He narrowed his eyes.

"Children, please behave. Ella is our guest so watch your manners tonight," their father spoke before they subdued and focused on the meal again.

"So, Ella, how's your advisor search? Got anyone interested in your proposal already?" Dylan asked me as he was looking at me. I turned to look into his grey orbs and I think I saw something in them before he blinked and it was gone.

"Oh, yes, I have actually. My advisor was also my professor for Volcanology Ecosystem 101," I said as Dylan smirked.

"Isn't that the class that you're the teaching assistant, coz? I wonder that's how you guys met," Dylan said before Mia beamed at Cameron.

"Was that true? Is that how you met her, Cam?" Mia asked her son before Cameron was sipping on his wine.

"No, mum. That's not how we met," he said as he was looking at me. His eyes were telling me that don't you dare to speak any of it.

"Oh wait. I remember! Isn't the woman that you bullied at your workplace named Ella as well? What was her last name again? Ella, what is your last name?" Sabrina asked me as she turned to look at me.

"I…I…What?"

"Your last name, what is it?" She insisted.

"Sabrina, stop it. You're making her uncomfortable," Cameron warned her as Dylan was pressing me as well.

"Dylan, language," Mia chided in as I was looking around the table. Everyone was talking before I could not think of anything. They were so lively and I don't think I have all the energy to speed up with them.

"Enough!" Someone's shouted and it was Cameron as he was slamming his hand on the table. I can see that he was trying not to rub his hand as I can sense that it was painful. He was blushing with anger already so I kept quiet.

"Can't you see that you're distressing her? Come, Ella, we shall leave at once," Cameron said as he started to leave the table before his dad spoke.

"Sit down, boy, your mother has planned this dinner for months and I will not suffer again if you did not turn up at the door for another month. Now, you can deal with this, or I will," he said as Cameron stopped in his track before he reached out for me. No one spoke as Cameron was staring at his father.

I can see that his father was a commanding man. Then, Cameron sighed.

"Yes, father," he obliged before he took his seat and we were eating the dinner again. His father cleared his throat before he turned to look at me.

"So, Ella dear, why don't you introduce yourself to us since Cam never brought a woman to meet us before," he said as his green eyes were penetrating my soul.

Just what I signed myself up to?!!