Allegiance

Chapter 25

"How can you call me a cheater when I won fair and square!" Renoylds' voice boomed throughout the house.

"Fair and square my ass!" Vincent's voice sounded off with a scoff. "I know you cheated somehow!"

In the kitchen, hearing the voices, Alice and Tabitha shared a knowing glance and smile, hearing their husbands bickering as they entered the mansion. They had finished washing and putting away the dishes and were now talking in the kitchen.

Tabitha, Alice, Eleanor, and Lilia looked at the entrance to the kitchen, seeing Jarrod walk in with a humorous smile. He looked around, seeing Tabitha and Alice standing beside each other, leaning against the counter. Across from them stood Lilia, who was also leaning against the counter, while Eleanor sat on the counter beside Lilia, kicking her feet.

Lilia smiled warmly at Jarrod, "Let me guess, my Dad lost again?"

Jarrod chuckled comically at Lilia's comment and nodded, "Yeah." He approached Lilia, returning her warm smile, staring into her deep brown eyes. Jarrod jestfully said, "He really doesn't like to lose," before he leaned down and gave Lilia a quick peck on the lips.

"Eww," Eleanor teased with a friendly smile, earning comical laughter from Tabitha and Alice.

Tabitha smiled warmly at her daughter, seeing her look at Jarrod with a loving gaze as he brought her close into a side hug. Tabitha's eyes flicked to the kitchen entrance, seeing Reynolds walk in with a proud smile. Vincent stepped in behind Reynolds with a downcast gaze, sulking at his loss at horseshoe.

Alice smiled warmly at Reynolds as he approached and stood beside her, "I take it you won?"

Reynolds nodded proudly with his head held high as he took Alice into a side hug, "I sure did."

"He cheated," Vincent muttered under his breath as he walked past Alice and Reynolds and proceeded to stand beside Tabitha.

Tabitha chuckled in amusement, seeing her husband's sulking demeanor, and gave him a quick loving kiss on the cheek, "Oh, don't be too upset. All that matters is that you had fun."

"Winning would've been nice," Vincent grumbled.

Tabitha chuckled comically before she reassuringly rubbed Vincent's back. Vincent smiled happily, feeling Tabitha's touch, and leaned closer to her.

Alice smiled, seeing Tabitha comfort Vincent before looking at Reynolds and jokingly whispering, "Could you at least let him win once?"

Reynolds shook his head as he whispered back, "Nope." He chuckled as he leaned closer and whispered in Alice's ear, "Besides, a cat could play horseshoe better than him."

Alice quickly bit her lips between her teeth, trying hard not to laugh at Reynolds's comment, before she playfully nudged him in the side with her elbow.

Eleanor grumbled, seeing everyone being all lovey-dovey in the room, "Must be nice not to be single."

Alice's gaze flicked to Eleanor, and she gave her an amusing smile, "Don't worry, you'll find someone one day."

Eleanor scoffed and pouted as her eyes flicked to Reynolds, "Not with Dad and Arthur around." She grumbled with annoyance and rolled her eyes, "They'll either scare off or kill the next boy I bring over."

Alice laughed comically and shook her head, "Oh, come now. That's not true."

"Your mother, right," Reynolds said before he gave a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Killing him is too much of a hassle. It's best to injure them and let them get away as a warning to others."