Chapter 4
I brushed my hand over the cane and said softly.
"I know you can handle it, Kieran, can't you?" I looked at him with quiet confidence.
Kieran stood up and headed for the door, but two servants blocked his way.
He turned back and shot me a furious glare.
I idly twirled the key to the storeroom in my hand.
"Oh, I forgot to mention, Kieran. From now on, you won't be able to access a single coin," I said coolly.
"Aviana! I'm divorcing you!" Kieran shouted.
I let out a cold laugh and rapped the cane hard against the table.
"Sorry, Kieran, I didn't quite hear you. Care to repeat that?" I taunted.
Kieran shrank back, struggling to keep his anger in check.
"I... it's nothing. I'll go talk to Carolina," he said through gritted teeth.
But Carolina had gone to attend a service and wouldn't be back for at least ten days, maybe even half a month.
What I didn't expect was that Kieran's grandmother, who was supposed to arrive in half a month, showed up just three days later.
Her entourage filled my courtyard, a sea of people crowding every corner.
"So you're the new wife Kieran married?" Kayla Wallace said.
She sat at the head of the table, looking me up and down with obvious disdain.
Before I could say a word, she continued, her voice dripping with contempt.
She said, "Carolina must have lost her mind, letting Kieran end up with someone as cruel as you.
"I heard Kieran didn't even get dinner last night?
"And you even made him sleep in the study? Seriously?
"You're out of control! Fine, we'll just send you packing.
"A woman like you has no place in our family."
I frowned and glanced at the woman standing beside Kayla.
She was breathtaking, every gesture radiating elegance and allure.
But when her eyes met mine, they were brimming with undisguised resentment.
"I'm talking to you! Is this your attitude?" Kayla snapped.
Kayla rapped her knuckles sharply on the table.
"Someone! Slap her!" she barked.
Well, she was acting all high and mighty.
No one had ever dared lay a hand on me, and that was not about to change now.
Just as the old maid stepped up, I beat her to it and gave her a sharp slap across the face.
Kayla shot to her feet, her face flushed with fury.
Her hand trembled as she pointed at me.
She said, "You brazen wench! How dare you raise your hand against someone right under my nose!
"Guards! Drag her out!" she shrieked.
As soon as she finished speaking, nobody from the Armstrong family budged, only the people she'd brought with her moved.
Kayla's face turned livid with rage.
She barked, "Where's Carolina?"
"I'm her mother! Is this how you treat me?" she demanded, her voice shaking with anger.
The butler looked uneasy, but I spoke up calmly. "Carolina's gone to attend a service and won't be back anytime soon."
"As the granddaughter-in-law, I'm running the household now. Naturally, everyone answers to me.
"You just set foot in the Armstrong family and already want to find fault with me? Well, I'm not about to let that slide!"
Kayla let out a cold snort.
She said, "What are you complaining about?
"You've been mistreating my grandson, so that gives me every right to punish you."
"Even Kieran's own mother, Carolina, supports me. So what makes you think you can butt in?" I shot back, my tone cool and unyielding.
"She's lost her mind!" Kayla snapped.
"Then just wait for Carolina to come back and lecture her all you want.
"What does that have to do with me?" I shot back.
She was practically gasping for air from rage, and the woman beside her hurried to offer her some wine.
"Please, that's enough. Kayla's not in the best of health. You really shouldn't get her so worked up," the woman said,
Her tone was all softness on the surface, but underneath, it was more threat than comfort.
I let out a mocking laugh. I'd heard Kayla was bringing some pampered young lady with her this time.
Now that I had seen her, she was nothing to write home about.
I said, "Kayla, you've seen it all in your years, like I could really rattle you."
"This is my courtyard, so I'll have to ask you all to leave.
"You're guests in this house, not here to take over the owner's place, right?"
Kayla couldn't get anything out of me, so she just started talking tough.
"I'm done arguing with you. Just wait till Kieran comes back. I'll have him kick you out for good!" she spat.
When Kieran got back, he showed up at my place first.
He gave me a once-over, smirking as he spoke.
"Not a single scratch, Aviana. You really are something," he teased, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
I sipped my coffee.
"As long as I'm calling the shots, no one in the Armstrong family dares to hurt me," I said, my voice cool and unwavering.
Even before I married in, I made it clear. Once I set foot in this house, the reins would be in my hands.
"She's your elder. Aren't you worried people will call you unfilial?" Kieran said.
I gave him a pointed look, and Kieran was momentarily taken aback.
Judging by his expression, he realized that with everyone already thinking the worst of me, one more rumor about being unfilial wouldn't change a thing.
I poured a cup of coffee and slid it over to Kieran.
He stiffened, his eyes going wide with panic as he looked at me.
"What are you doing?" Kieran blurted out.
"Chill, it's not poisoned," I said dryly.
"So, is that girl your grandmother brought with her the one you've got your eye on?" I asked.
Kieran froze for a second, then quickly shook his head.
"What are you talking about? Stay away from Eve Wallace. She's trouble," he said.