"Welcome home sir Angelo."

The warm smile on Morris' face warmed Angelo's heart. Years has passed and even in his old age, Morris loyalty was unmatched, especially to the Trusks. Just like when he first got into the mansion, just like when he got back home, Morris was always there to welcome him with a warm smile even when no one else really did. Morris made staying at the mansion the most bearable.

"Thank you Morris."

Angelo slowly stretched his jacket to Morris and the old man took it.  He slowly turned to Anna watching how she slowly got out of the car, taking Angelo's hands as she did.

"Easy." He told her. Anna held on tight to him. She wasn't really strong enough to be on her own at that point,

"Mrs Trusk,"

She forced a smile on her rosy lips as she nodded at Morris, acknowledging his greeting.

"Where is everyone?" Angelo had to ask.

"The madamme and young master are waiting for you in the living room, your sister is here too." Angelo furrowed his brows like he didn't understand what Morris had said the first time.

"Sophie is here?"

Why did that even suprise Angelo? It probably wouldn't if it had happened any other day but Angelo knew the relationship between each member of his family. He knew there was still a lot of bad blood between Sophie's family and theirs. How was she having dinner all of a sudden? He couldn't explain it but it made him even more curious to know why the dinner had to hold with all of them in it all of a sudden.

Anna took a deep breath as she and Angelo walked into the large house.

" Welcome sir Angelo"

Anna held her breath. She couldn't help but get really nervous. The last time she was in the mansion, things didn't end well. How on earth was she even there trying to have dinner with the same woman that never even liked her ever?

"Are you okay?" Angelo whispered loud enough so she could hear as they got closer to the living room. Anna cleared her throat

"I am." she tried to sound confident. "I'm just a bit nervous."

"Well you don't have to be." Angelo patted her hand. "Nothing's going to happen today, I'm right here."

Anna smiled.

For some reason, Angelo's words gave her all the confidence she needed. They were reassuring, she believed him, she believed that as long as she held his hand and stuck close to him, everything was going to be fine. What could Juliana possibly do? The last time they met, she was kissing up to her, maybe this could be like the last time. At least the company was still Anna's.

They got into the living room.

Anna could see Sophia and Stefan, they were with Juliana and Micheal, talking. Sophia seemed to be saying a lot of things but Juliana was barely listening. Her entire attention was focused on Stefan. She looked at him closely, like she was studying him with a slight look of disgust in her eyes.

Years had passed, lots and lots of them and the way she felt about Stefan hadn't changed at all. She didn't look the least impressed with everything he had become.

"Mum, Angelo is here." Micheal whispered to Juliana.

Anna froze as they all turned to them, she swallowed hard. The warm  welcoming smile on Sophie's face gave her gave her all the courage she needed. Sophia wasn't the only one happy to see her, it looked like Stefan was too with the way he had a huge smile on his face.

But Juliana, her frown hardened when she saw Anna. She tried to hide the glaring look of disgust on her face but she sucked at it. It was almost like she hadn't expected her to to be there with Angelo that afternoon.

"Good day mother." Angelo walked closer to Juliana and kissed her on both her cheeks.

"Angelo." She called his name accepting his kiss.

"Mother."

Anna took a step closer and was about to do the same but Juliana pushed herself back a bit to avoid Anna's warm greetings. 

"You don't have to. " She stopped her before she could take another step to reach for her cheeks.

"Mother," Micheal called her attention. "be nice."

Anna paused for a minute, and then she exhaled. It didn't matter anyway, it was probably better if she and Juliana didn't have any skin contact. She was used to it anyway.

"Anna,"  Sophie walked to her with her arms wide open and her smile warmer. If Juliana wasn't going to take that kiss, Sophie definitely was.

"How are you?"

"Sophie."  She kissed Sophie gently on both cheeks.

"Stefan." She kissed Stefan too.

Juliana rolled her eyes and cleared her throat before she slowly turned to Angelo.

"This was supposed to be a family lunch Angelo, you didn't tell me you were going to bring her too." The greetings stopped as everyone slowly started to turn to Juliana.

"Mum, what are you talking about?" Angelo asked her, a wry smile covering his face so Anna didn't get uncomfortable with Juliana's approach to welcome her. "Anna is a part of this family, she's my wife."

"No." She shook her head. "Not this family, no Atian can ever be a part of my family, especially her."

Angelo could feel how his chest tightened just hearing those words, he didn't mean to but he could feel himself slowly glaring at her, his face hardening while he did. There was no way he was going to let anyone talk down on Anna, he wasn't going to tolerate it especially after he had promised to protect her.

"Come on mum." Sophie walked closer to Juliana, taking her hand, someone had to ease the tension in the room so the staring contest didn't have to persist for so long.

"Angelo and Anna just got here, why don't we just give them a break and have lunch like we planned to."

Juliana rolled her eyes right before she turned to Anna.

"Just because he brought you here doesn't make you a part of us. I don't eat with thieves and murderers, I'm only letting this slide because of my children, I don't owe you anything, and you are not welcome here."

Anna held her breath. She was wrong. Everything she thought she understood about the situation was wrong. Juliana was still at it, she obviously didn't care to be on Anna's good side for the company. She hated her, she hated everything about her and the company wasn't going to make it go away.

"Come on Mother." Sophie pulled Juliana lightly as she led her out of the living room, if she didn't, the entire house was going to be turned to a glaring contest that was going to ruin lunch eventually . Micheal was right behind them, while Anna just stood there, shaking a little bit.  Something in her just wanted to walk away from that house and pretend like nothing happened.

She took a deep breath trying to convince herself to stay back. She deserved to be in that house just as much as everyone else. She was a part of that family, she was a Trusk and nothing Juliana was going to say was going to make her feel any differently.

Her thoughts were cut off by Angelo's warm hands finding her hands. She slowly turned to look at him.

"Are you okay?"

His eyes were focused into hers so much that she could see her reflection inside. He gave her all his attention too. Angelo could tell how sad her eyes were. He knew exactly how she was fighting to act like she was fine when she wasn't. He exhaled.

"You know it's not too late." He said "We can leave now if you want. I could tell everyone that something suddenly came up." The look of concern in his eyes got even worse. "let's just go huh?"

"n-no." Anna reached for his hand. She rubbed it gently trying to force a wrinkled smile in her flushed face.

"It's fine." She held her breath for a minute and then exhaled lightly.  "I'm fine."

She tried to convince him but Angelo wasn't buying it. He knew exactly what Anna was trying to do. He could read her like a book. She inhaled.

"Don't worry Anna," They both turned to Stefan as he walked closer to them.  "You'd get used to it eventually. It's not your fault mum is like that, she doesn't really like anyone, me included."

Anna smiled. She knew Stefan was trying to lift her spirit and it was working.

"You should have seen the way she looked at me when we got in here. I could have sworn her head was on fire from all that fury." She chuckled alongside Stefan

"Don't worry," he assured her "it'd get better eventually, trust me."

"I won't let anyone disrespect you." Anna turned back to Angelo, his eyes and full attention never left her side. "And once it gets too hard for you to be here, say the word and we are out of here okay?" He looked at her like he needed an answer.

Anna nodded slowly and just like that everything felt okay again. She could definitely do it. It was almost like she could do anything with this man by her side.

Anna exhaled.

This was it. This was lunch time.