Accidental Marriage With Mr Billioniare
Chapter 155: FAMILY DINNER

Chapter 155: FAMILY DINNER

Astrid stepped out of her car, in a stunning, floor-length gown made of silk and chiffon.

The gown was a radiant shade of emerald green, perfectly complementing her porcelain skin.

Her long, hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall of night, with subtle, shimmering silver threads woven throughout.

The hair was styled in an elegant updo, with a few loose strands framing her heart-shaped face.

As she stood before her father’s mansion, a mix of emotions played across her face.

Her eyes seemed to cloud over as if memories were rising to the surface. Her full, rosy lips pressed together.

The memories were the kind she wanted to remember, but she needed to push them aside.

As Astrid stepped into the grand foyer of her father’s mansion, the security man’s eyes widened in recognition.

"Astrid!" he called in shock and a warm smile spread across her face, and he opened his arms, embracing her warmly. He is the only one that takes her as human.

"Astrid, it’s so wonderful to see you!" he exclaimed, holding her at arm’s length to take in her elegant appearance.

"You have changed so much! You are even more beautiful than I remembered."

Astrid smiled graciously, thanking him for his kind words. As she entered the mansion, she couldn’t help but notice the changes that had taken place since she last lived there.

The interior was still luxurious, but there was a new sense of warmth and hospitality that she hadn’t experienced before.

One of the most noticeable changes was the presence of maids, who were busily attending to their duties, polishing the marble floors and dusting the ornate furnishings.

Astrid’s eyes narrowed slightly as she watched them, remembering how she had been treated like a servant when she lived in the mansion.

As she walked further into the foyer, one of the maids approached her, eyeing her warily. "Excuse me, miss," the maid said, her voice trembling slightly. "May I ask who you are?

Astrid’s gaze swept over the maid, her expression unreadable. Before she could respond, a voice rang out from the top of the staircase.

"Astrid! Welcome home!" Astrid’s eyes flicked upwards, meeting the gaze of her step-sister, Nadine.

She descended the staircase, a bright smile on her face, but Astrid’s expression remained cool and detached.

Nadine reached the bottom of the staircase and hurried over to Astrid, embracing her.

"I have missed you so much, Astrid! You look stunning," but her smile wiped off when Astrid pulled her away.

"You saw yesterday, you don’t have to pretend like you like me," Astrid announced, giving her a cold gaze.

The maids, who had been watching the exchange with interest, began to murmur among themselves.

"She’s even colder than ma’am Nadine," one of them whispered. "I wouldn’t want to cross her."

Nadine’s eyes narrowed, her gaze sweeping over the maids.

"What’s going on here?" she demanded, her voice icy. "I won’t have you speaking ill of my sister. Astrid is a member of this family, and she deserves respect. Go get the table ready!."

The maids scurried away, chastened, as Nadine turned back to Astrid.

"Come, Astrid," she said, her voice sweet once more. "Let’s catch up. We have so much to talk about." but Astrud cut her off.

"Where is Dad?" Astrid asked.

Nadine’s smile faltered, but she quickly regained her composure.

"Father will join us shortly." Astrid’s eyes narrowed.

"I only came for him, so stop this tricky drama," Astrid finally said.

A scowl appeared on Nadine’s face but she kept her tone light. "Hey, I know we didn’t have a good relationship in the past but I promise I changed now, I am even a model."

"Good for you then," Astrid announced, still standing by the door.

"Astrid, why are you being.."

"I am because he called me, and I am giving him the respect he deserves because of his title, but as for you, Nadine... I never accepted you as my sister. So, get out of my sight."

The maids, hearing this as they exchanged with growing unease, scurried away to arrange the table and clean the silverware. They whispered among themselves, fearful of incurring Astrid’s wrath.

Just then, Leila and Josh entered the foyer, their eyes fixed on Astrid.

"Well, well, well," Leila called out from the stairs "Look who decides to honor us with her presence after almost a year of ignoring us."

Astrid’s gaze locked onto Leila having that disapproving look. "You should be grateful I decided to see you both not like you are even worthy of a second of my time."

The atmosphere tensed up as Josh gave to her, he approached her with open arms. However, Astrid’s expression remained unforgiving, and she pushed him away with a firm hand.

"I don’t hug murderers," she spat, her voice venomous as she walked past them.

Her father’s face fell, and he looked at Nadine, who quickly intervened.

"Astrid, don’t be rude to Father," Nadine said,

"He’s changed, Father, he’s not doing it for the money, I am buoyant enough now so he just wants to rekindle old love."

Astrid’s steps faltered, and she turned to face Nadine, her eyebrow raised in incredulity. "Rekindle what love?" she repeated, her voice laced with disdain.

Astrid’s eyes narrowed as she gazed at her father, "I know you do well, You are going to pretend to care about my well-being before asking for something in return?"

Her father shifted uncomfortably, avoiding eye contact. "Astrid, please... let’s just talk, we can do so over dinner." Astrid let out a small smile and pulled out her chair to sit, surprising the maids.

They all sat as the maids began to serve their food, and one of the maids mistakenly poured slip and the oil splash on Astrid.

"Hey... what is wrong with you? Are you blind?" Nadine’s voice was cold as she yelled at the maid who immediately swallowed hard.

"I am sorry ma’am, it was a mistake," she pleaded, already scared.

"Nadine, she is older than you, show her some respect, no one is perfect." Astrid scolded Nadine who felt a bit embarrassed.

"I... I just.."

"Enough," the maid was shocked, Astrid glanced at the lady and gestured for her to give her a handkerchief which she quickly handed to her. "Never mind, I made that mistake too," she assured the lady making the maids dawned at her with admiration. After this, there was no more talk till after the dinner.

*******

This time the family could be seen in the living room sitting as Josh finally got the chance to talk to her.

"Go straight to the point Dad," Astrid cut off her dad who has been beating around the bush since she sat down.

"Well, I just need a little favor from you." he finally spoke out.

Astrid’s laughter was cold and mirthless. "Talk? Do you want to talk? I knew you wanted something from me the moment that call came in, and you are not going to deny it."

Her father’s face reddened as he sighed, "Actually I got to know your mum left a blueprint for you, please can you give me so I can complete the project of the JL.."

Astrid cut him off, her voice rising in anger. "You think I am going to give you my mum’s hard work?"

Her father’s expression turned defensive. "Astrid, I took care of you. I provided for you, I did what I had to do to make sure you were taken care of."

A bitter laugh escapes her lip, "You call that taking care of me? You call abusing me, hurting me emotionally and physically, taking care of me?" Astrid’s hand brushed through her ear as she scoffed.

"That’s not what a father is supposed to do. You’re supposed to protect me, to love me unconditionally. But you didn’t do that. You broke me into pieces, and the only people who have ever tried to put me back together again are the people who aren’t even my family."

Her father’s face turned red with rage. "How dare you! I did everything for you, and this is how you repay me? You ungrateful child!"

Astrid stood up, her eyes blazing with fury. "You are not even worthy of being called a father. You are a monster, a selfish, cruel monster who only cares about himself. And as for being grateful, I will never be grateful to you for anything. Everything you’ve ever done has been out of selfishness and a desire to control me."

Josh flared up immediately and he took a step closer to Astrid. "How dare you talk to me that way? I am your father, and you’ll show me some respect."

Astrid laughed. "Respect? You want me to respect you? You’re not even worthy of my respect."

"How dare you!" Josh’s hand was raised, his palm inches from Astrid’s face, when suddenly a loud gunshot echoed through the living room. The sound was deafening, and everyone froze in shock.