Kali moved the grain of rice on her plate with the fork she held. At some point during the excitement of conversations and family banter, she felt incredibly lonely. In the past, dinners with the Madden family were usually tense. She had grown used to the attacks from Giovanna and ridicule from Ysabel. It turned out that she fed off those things to keep her strength.

This dinner was different. The disdain was still the same, but no one seemed in a hurry to light a fire. Everyone rather decided to relish in old memories and share tales of their different lives. In thirty minutes, Kali learned about Peter's job at the family office, Ember's years in college, Timothy's inspirations for his paintings and Samuel's work in graphic design.

Yes. Everyone talked a lot during this dinner. There was laughter, clinking of champagne flutes, and rounds of cheers. The drinks flowed like milk, the food and the joy appeared endless. Kali was certain she would go mad.

Sorely, she wished they'd fight. The more they laughed and celebrated, the more she remembered what she didn't have.

She didn't want to be reminded how her mother prepared the table every night, ensuring everyone was in attendance. They were allowed to dress however they liked; even if they came to the table in pyjamas, it was alright for her. Her father rarely missed dinner. If he had a lot of work, he still tried to stop by the house, eat and return to the factory.

She was barely a teenager then, young and in love with family life. June was a little kid. Kali remembered helping her into the seats and laughing when her chin barely passed the tabletop. All those memories she buried so their death wouldn't hurt. She couldn't miss what she couldn't remember, but memories haunted her occasionally. And usually at the worst times. Times when she needed to be strong.

"Kali?" Sluggishly, she looked up from her plate at the sound of Ember's voice. "Granddad was speaking to you."

She blinked in surprise. She hadn't heard a word. "I am sorry. What was the question?"

"I asked after your sister. We didn't meet, but I was informed she was at the wedding."

"Yes. She came to support me."

"But she left soon after you returned from your trip."

"She needed to return and finish some things back home."

"So, you have no one here with you?"

"As of now, yes, but she will be back soon."

Again the conversation strayed away from her, and she returned to her thoughts. When she couldn't bear things anymore, she stood and excused herself from the table. Following Samuel's guide, she found the guest bathroom beneath the large stairs in the mansion and locked herself in it. Sitting on the toilet, she dropped her head to her knees and cried softly against her lap.

She wasn't sure why she felt terribly sad and couldn't help it. Aside from Samuel, she had no one else to lean on. No one to help her through the battle she was struggling to survive. She missed her parents. Maybe things would have been gravely different if they were still alive. The thought of sitting at a table with them, hearing their voice and taking in their advice.

Even worse, she wondered how they would feel seeing what her life had become. Married to a man she didn't love and filled with enough bitterness and vengeance to poison an entire continent. How would they feel about all the lies she had told and everything she had done that led her to this point.

She remained seated until she checked her phone to see if she had been away for a long time. No doubt they were worried or interested in her sudden change of mood. Kali walked out of the toilet and turned on the tap. She gathered some water in her hand and splashed her face repeatedly. Then she dried her face, combed her fingers through her hair and adjusted her gown.

A knock at the door made her stop short. Someone had come to see if she was okay. Kali cursed under her breath. She had been gone for way too long. Of course, they became suspicious.

"Who is it?" She called out.

"It's me," Samuel spoke and knocked again. "Are you decent?"

"Yeah."

He entered, looking around the room first. "Hey."

"What are you doing here?" She grumbled, washing her hands with jerky motions.

"You left the table looking like you were going to throw up. I came to check on you."

"You didn't have to. You could have waited for me to come out." She dried her hands and faced him. "I felt ill and came to collect myself."

"What's wrong with you?"

"What do you care?"

She tried to move past him, but he caught her wrist and pulled her back. "Are we back to being cross with each other?"

Kali relented. She didn't complain when he locked the door behind him, effectively trapping her where she stood.

"I know I haven't been the best at taking your side, but I am not your enemy. Can you trust me enough to tell me what's going on?"

"It's the stupid dinner?" She finally confessed.

"The food or the event itself?"

"The event."

"What's wrong with it."

"This is the first time since we married that everyone at the table is on good terms. No one is fighting. No one is speaking with underlying malice or judgment. Everyone is happy or at least pretending to be."

"And this upsets you?"

Tears prickled at the back of her eyes, and her words mangled in her mouth. She stuttered on the first two tries and swallowed the rest. She closed her eyes, holding her head back to prevent more tears from falling.

"Kali?"

"It's been eight years since I had a family dinner. All my friends and I go out to eat, but it doesn't remind me of what it used to be like with my family."

"And this does?"

"Somewhat. I don't know why, but it does. I am used to being ridiculed and poked fun at when I eat with your family. Today, no one is doing that, no one is focused on poking fun at me, and it's leaving me in a mess."

"I am sorry." He spoke softly, pulling her into a hug and banding his arms around her. She felt his fingers run through her hair as he began stroking it. He swayed, side to side like he was rocking a child.

Kali didn't fight him. She allowed him to hold her until she was sure she was back to herself. When she was considerably back under control, she pushed at his chest, prompting him to let her go. Samuel moved his hands to her shoulders, gripping them firmly.

"We can leave if you want."

"No," she stated with finality. "I don't want to leave. I don't want to give anyone the idea that something is wrong. Most especially your mother."

"Now, you are being paranoid."

"No, I am not."

"Who cares what she thinks." Samuel made her face him, holding her in place with a firm grasp on her shoulders. "We can say you have a stomach ache. We can claim food poisoning or stress. You don't have to torture yourself to save face in front of my mother."

"I can handle it."

"I don't doubt it, but I need a break and would gladly take one now that you have presented the opportunity. I will tell them you are sick, and I found you throwing up here. I'll apologise to my father, and then we'll leave."

"Really?"

"Definitely. Don't torture yourself more than you have to." He whispered, searching her eyes.

The offer was tempting, but she was unmoved. "I am fine. The dinner is nearly over, and I think we should stay."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes." She took his hand.

Thankfully she was right. Dinner ended soon after they returned. Samuel gave them the story of her feeling sick, and they believed him. Poised to survive whatever was left of the night, Kali returned to herself. She smiled and laughed along with them as they drank and discussed the city and some of the politics.

Soon, family members began to leave. The aunts and uncles first. It was the perfect time for Samuel and Kali to make their escape, but before they had the chance, Giovanna spoke up.

"Samuel, Kali, can I speak to you? Mom and dad are in the study waiting for us."

Samuel looked to her for confirmation, and she nodded. They followed Giovanna back into the house and towards the studio, where their parents waited. Kali entered cautiously, wondering where the conversation would lead, and Samuel closed the door to give them privacy.

"We all are ready for this night to end, so I'll get straight to the point. I want to apologise." Giovanna announced, looking directly at Kali. "I was rude, and it was not right for me to speak to you the way I did."

"Alright."

Giovanna looked at Timothy and sighed in defeat. "I also want to apologise to you, Samuel. For not respecting you and your wife."

"Are you apologising because you regret it or because your parents are making you?"

"Samuel." His mother warned, but Samuel remained undeterred.

"Allow her to answer the question because it is a simple one. Isn't it, Giovanna?"

"It is." Giovanna twisted her fingers together, shifting nervously between her feet. "I apologise both because it's what father wants and because it was unladylike behaviour on my part to act the way I did. I also know what I did was disrespectful, and I created a scene for no reason."

"Giovanna has learned her lesson." Ysabel stepped in. "She wouldn't behave that way, ever again."

"In that case, I guess if Kali is alright with it, then I am too."

Kali didn't believe that Giovanna was sorry for all the drama she caused. Personally, she was willing to bet the girl was only apologising so she could save face in front of her watchful parents. But that was a battle for another day.

"An apology is good enough for me," Kali assured, taking Samuel's hand. "I am glad you are making amends, and I hope things stay this way."