A Woman's Empire

VIII

CHAPTER EIGHT

After Audrielle met Leo's younger brother, Antonio, everyone took a seat at the dining table. At one end, Mr. Amour sat and Emma sat on the left to him. On the right, in the middle, was Alessio and then at the other end was Leo, with his mother on the right and Audrielle on the left of him.

"Mamma, how's Stella?" Leo asked, cutting into his steak. Audrielle couldn't help but snap her eyes up and found a subtle, loving smile on Camilla's face.

"She's doing great. Her fifth birthday is in a couple of months. If you're not so busy running your businesses, maybe you and Audrielle could come down for it. I know Stella would love to see her big brother again." Camilla said. Leo smiled and as Audrielle looked down the table, there was a scowl resting on Mr. Amour's face.

"I'm sorry to ask, but where is Stella now?" Audrielle asked politely. The room fell silent. Alessio and Leo shifted uncomfortably in their seats while Camilla eyes snapped towards Christian's, boring holes into his skull.

"She was not invited." Mr. Amour stated, raising his head and sitting up straight professionally. Apparently this comment did not please Camilla one bit because before Audrielle knew it, Camilla picked up a dinner roll and aimed for Christian's face. He dodged it just in time, hitting the wall behind him and Camilla rose from her seat.

"She's my daughter Christian! She should be allowed to come to a family dinner if I'm invited!" Camilla screamed.

It was now Christian's turn. He stood up and slammed his hands down onto the edge of the table. Audrielle flinched at the loud bang.

"She is not family to me! There is not a single drop of Amour blood in that girl, therefore why should I have to invite her into my home?!"

Camilla cackled loudly. "Stella is only five Christian! Her bloody brother is getting married... And- and you're stopping my little girl from seeing her!" She screamed, her voice becoming croaky.

"That girl is Leo's half sister. If she is not related to me, I do not want her around. You should've thought about this before you cozied up with her father." Christian spat in a dangerously low voice. Audrielle's wide eyes flickered towards Camilla. One stray tear rolled down her cheek and she knew that Christian had hit a weak spot of Camilla.

"Well, she might've been your own daughter if you didn't leave me for a fucking domestica."

(Translation: Maid)

Camilla slowly walked out of the dining room crying and Audrielle sat there, not knowing what to do. Mr. Amour sat back down and started digging at his potatoes. At the same time, Leo and Antonio both looked at each other and stood up, about to follow their mother when Christian spoke up.

"Sedersi ragazzi. Ho conosciuto tua madre per molto tempo e il modo migliore per lei per raffreddarsi, è quello di dare il suo spazio." Mr. Amour muttered without even lifting his face to look at his sons. Whatever he said though, must've worked because Leo and Antonio sat back down, sending one another a worried look.

(Translation: Sit back down boys. I have known your mother for a long time now and the best way for her to cool off, is if you give her space.)

Audrielle had suddenly lost her appetite and when her eyes looked up from her plate and towards Leo's, he was staring down at his food with dark green eyes. His hands were clenched tightly around his knife and fork and a frown was etched onto his face.

Slowly, Audrielle's hand dared towards Leo's thigh and when she lightly placed her trembling hand on his lap, his eyes snapped up to her and as she mustered up a small smile, Audrielle could visibly see Leo's face muscles relax.