He didn't even do any grovelling.

Skylar had accepted the dinner invitation with any fuss or show of anger which pleased and surprised Kaden. He had expected the usual full anger blast,but Skylar had disappointed him by not throwing a temper tantrum like she used to do.

Dinner was well... Dinner.

William was sitting beside Ansela who was busy eyeing Skylar's low cut neck-line blouse with disgust on her face. The family was quite tonight which was surprising.

The only sound that could be heard in the gold and brown decorated dining room was the clatter of plates as the maids placed dishes on the golden oval shaped table.

Kaden had always loved the simple but beautiful dining room.  A gold rack that contained flowers was placed few fleets away from where Steven,his father, was sitting. Behind William and Ansela was a floor to ceiling window,flanked by gold curtains with brown trimming on the edges,which looked out into the endless yard at the side of the house. The chair was made up of royal blue with also gold rose petal trimmings at the back.

His parents had always loved simple but elegant things,just like Kaden did.

Although they had their mother's white skin instead of their father's darker one,each one of them had their father's light green eyes and his traits. They also had their father's taste in good things. But William had taken after their mother's softer heart which was why he and Kaden never see eye to eye on almost everything.

Kaden was really tempted to irk his brother but a warning glance from his father told him that he should re-think his decision. So he did.

"Will,would you do us the honour of praying?" Arabella said from the other end of the table.

####

William said a quick prayer and then after a loud and resounding amen,everyone, except him dished their food.

The truth was that his mind was elsewhere. He couldn't stop asking his self why Cassie had not called him after all this while. He was nearly going put of his mind waiting for her. Which was the reason why he was just making his arrival known to his parents.

He had thought that he would have time to hang out with her and talk her into coming with him to the family dinner he was sure that his mother would hold in honour.

He felt a bit irritated at the sight of Kaden who sat directly across from him. Kaden was glaring at him as if he was not happy about his arrival,which was not surprising since they don't get along too well.

When he heard about Kaden's engagement to Skylar Anderson,William was surprised.

Never in a million years did William see his brother settling down, since he was famous for breaking ladies heart as he pleased.

The said Fiancé was sitting across from Ansela with a glare on her face at Ansela who was glaring right back at her. William was not surprised about that since he himself harboured a secret dislike for Skylar.

But just like Kaden would say if William dared to express his feelings about Skylar,it was none of his business.

"Here are what are on the menu today," Aliyah,The Mckade's house maid for eight years, announced as she entered the room. "Quails eggs, baguette, salmon sashimi with avocado,crispy onions,sweet and spicy sesame sauce and of course Master William's favourite food."

"Crispy spicy tuna roll," William recited it with her. "With Avocado and soy paper."

This made every one except Kaden and William laugh.

"For dessert,we have banana split pudding, Baked Alaska with Angel food cake and lady fingers." Aliyah retreated the way she came in.

"That girl has not changed at all." William chuckled. "sembri favoloso." He said to Arabella.

"Show-off." Ansela snorted as she filled her plate with quails eggs.

"I have missed you little pet." William ruffled Ansela's raven black hair.

"Pet?" Ansela smoothed her hair with her fingers." I am eighteen not twelve, and I am no one's pet."

Everyone laughed again.

"Don't tease Ansela,William." Steven said as he too filled his plate with Quaild eggs.

"You've barely touched your food Will baby." Arabella frowned at his still full plate. "Aliyah made your favourite,you know?"

"I would eat mother."

"Big baby." Ansela giggled with a mouth full of eggs. "Will baby."

"Pet." William wiggled his eyebrow.

"You are not eating." Skylar pointed at his plate with her fork.

"We know,doctor Skylar obvious." Ansela rolled her eyes.

William knew that trouble would start at Ansela's words so he changed the topic. "I was only marveled at how much everyone has changed."

"Especially me right." Ansela grinned. "I was thirteen when I allowed you to call me that stupid pet name. Look at me now,I am wiser and older and beautiful."

William snorted.

"Ask Kaden." Ansela pouted.

"She has changed alright." Kaden spoke up for the first time ever since they stepped into the dining room. "She's mischievous and very very naughty. I should warn you about her temper tantrums too."

William stared at Kaden as if he had grown two heads. He had been expecting a crass word or two Kaden always seem to throw his way whenever they see each other,but he was surprised by his cool and calm words.

But then again,as the family princess, Ansella always get out the soft side in everyone with her easy going way and smile.

"I knew that she was still a pet." William said the pet name just to irk her,but his sister only threw him a side-long glance as she sipped Alcopop from her champagne flute.

"Welcome home dear brother." Kaden gave him a lopsided smile.

"You look different." William said with a lopsided grin of his own. "Having a fiancée is really catching up with you I guess."

"Ask doctor Skylar obvious about that." Ansela threw Skylar a dirty look. "She seems to be an expert about those things."

"What do you mean?" Skylar eyeballed Ansela.

"Don't pretend that you don't know." Ansela placed her champagne flute on the table. "It's no news that you change destinies and manipulate minds. I won't be surprised if love-sick Kaden here stop talking to us."

"Ansela,don't speak to Skylar like that. She's older than you are and she's my fiancée." Kaden frowned at her. "I want you to apologize to her. You spoilt brat."

"She's not a brat." William glared at Kaden.

"Ah,just like I expect. Older brother knight to the rescue." Kaden said with mockery etched on the hard lines of his mouth.

"Darling,he's your older brother." Skylar dropped her fork on her table with a clatter.

"He does not behave like one."

"Don't insult Will,Kaden." Ansela defended." It is you who acts as if you are the last child of this family."

"Don't talk to me like that." Kaden leaned forward in his chair."in case you don't know,I am older than you are. So I demand respect from you."

"Respect is reciprocal." William stated. "You don't demand respect,you earn it."

"I swear---"

"Shut the hell up!" Steven slapped his palm on the table. Several plates and cups jingled but none of them fell on the floor. "what is wrong with you all? This is supposed to be a reunion dinner not a battle field, we have to a guest who would be family soon and are you trying to scare her off before she decides to join this family? Ansela is always the cause of dinner conflicts." He held up a hand when Ansela started to say something. "This dinner is to continue in silence. Ansela go up to your room."

"But daddy,i--"

"Get out now!" He thundered.

A sob burst through her lips as she got up and ran out of the dining room,crying all the way to the stairs.

William watch his sister leave the room. He pushed his chair back and got up too.

"I'm have had my fill."

"But you haven't eaten a thing." Arabella protested. "This dinner was called because of you."

"Then I cancel it."

William walked out of the room. He went straight to Ansela's room. His sister's room was just as he left it five years ago. It was decorated in pink and blue.

Ansela loved the two colours which was why she decided to decorate her room that way.

William found her on her bed,face buried in pink and blue pillows,sobbing as if she just lost someone dear to her.

"Annie." William sat down on the bed beside her. "Don't cry,you are breaking my heart you know."

"Go 'way." She said into the pillow.

"Only if you stop crying." He caressed her hair. "Come to me princess."

Ansela sat up in bed. She hugged William and buried her face in his blue tweed jacket.

"Shh." He dropped a kiss on her head. "What you said to Kaden and Skylar was rude you know that,don't you?"

Ansela nodded as her sob turned to hiccups.

"You have to apologize to Skylar,Kaden and father."

"I-i don't like her." Ansela sniffed.

"Kaden loves her."

"But--"

"You don't want daddy lashing out at you again, do you?" She shook her head. "So stay away from Skylar."

"'Kay." She sniffed again." Your phone is ringing."

William retrieved his phone from the back pocket of his jeans. He frowned at the unknown number on the large screen.

"An unknown number?" Ansela pushed away from him she fell back on her pillows.

"I don't know."

"And you won't if you keep staring at the phone without answering it." She reached for the novel on her pink foot mat which she was reading before she went down for dinner. She had borrowed it from the downtown library on her second visit there.

"Nora Roberts's The Witness?" He raised an eyebrow. "I never pegged you as the type to read romance and murder novel."

"I am a grown up." Ansela rolled her eyes as she removed the bookmark. "I told you that I am smarter now. Are you not going to answer that?"

William smirked at her. "Smart girl."

Her laugh followed him out of her room. He waited until he was outside her door before he picked the call.

"William." He said.

"Will,it's... Huh... Cassie."

His blood pumped at the mention of her name. "Cassie? I have been expecting your call."

She laughed nervously."I'm sorry. I just say your card when I was about to wash my jeans."

"Okay." He combed his finger through his hair. "So,when will I get to see you?"

"I will be in my shop tomorrow. Can you come there?"

"Sure. Just text the address to me." William pumped his left fist into the air.

"Okay,I would do so." She sighed." See you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow." He waited until she disconnected the line. It was then he pumped both his fist in the air with a loud "yes!"

"Just got yourself a date huh?" Ansela said from the door way.

William gathered her into his arms and placed a loud smacking kiss on her cheek.

"Eww." Ansela wiggled out of his arms. She wiped her cheek with the back of her hand. "I'm not a kid anymore,stop doing that."

"You would always be a kid to me." He ruffled her hair. Again.

Ansela huffed and blew a breath through her mouth. The several strands of hair in her face fluttered up when she exhaled through her mouth,but it settled back in her face.

William chuckled as he combed the hair out her face with his fingers.

"Don't. do. that. again." She huffed again. Then she beamed at him."who's the lucky girl?"

"Where you eavesdropping?."

"From that yucky look on your face,It's clear that it's a girl you have been dying to hear her voice just like Samson was always craving for Delilah. Am I r wrong?"

"About the Samson and Delilah part, yes." William didn't like the comparison. "And also the dying part."

"But I'm right about the rest." Her grin widened.

"Our little Annie has gotten wise in the space of five years." William stared at her as if seeing her for the first time.

"I learned."

"Come here." William pulled her to him. "I love you."

"I love you too."