Chapter 5 Fear Of The Unknown

• Sienna.
• I saw the fear, the worry and the concern in Elizabeth’s eyes over my decision to leave home.
• But she didn't try to talk me out of it, she had been here to witness the favouritism, the disregard and the humiliation I endured all these years.
• It will be hard to survive in the streets with zero help but I'd choose it ten times over. I had long seen the ugliness of this family, with outsiders, I don't have to worry about being treated fair.
• Without expectations, I will remain unshaken, immune to the hardship of life.
• It wouldn't be so hard to survive. Back at my foster home, I toiled day and night to survive and make sure Claire had something to eat.
• Even when thrown among the most vicious criminals. I still managed to survive it all.
• Elizabeth nods, reaching to take my hands. “Please take care of yourself, Sienna. And if you ever need help, I'm more than willing to render it,”
• That was just enough for me.
• ****
• I came down for dinner, and everyone’s gaze is on me as I approached the table.
• “You were supposed to be here ten minutes ago,” it was Shawn who spoke sternly, his voice laced thick with coldness and from the look on each of their faces. It was clear they were just as displeased.
• I didn't want to have this dinner with them. What's the point of sitting in a table where I don't fit in?
• I had Claire in mind before stepping down here. I had asked Elizabeth if she has seen her in the past three years that I was away.
• “I have only seen her twice, first with Mister Lucas, and the last time, she was with Mrs Miller.” She had told me. Which made my anxiety grow even more.
• They had treated me like crap, I'm sure they must've extended that attitude to Claire, my heart clenches sadly as I think this.
• Leona frowns. “Talk to your sister nicely, Shawn.” she says but I could tell it was just an act. They all make me sick, really.
• She turns to me with a half smile. “Ignore your brother, please sit and eat with us, we are all family,” she says.
• And I merely resisted the urge to roll my eyes. Family?
• No true family will treat their own like this.
• Jimmy gives me that same bored look before turning to continue eating his food.
• Mason glared at me, he's been hostile from the moment I stepped foot into this house. He has once told me. “We might be related by blood but to me, I only have one sister and that's Elaine. Go back to the slum that's where you belong.” that night, I had cried myself to sleep but this time I met his gaze with equal intensity, fearing nothing.
• I peeled my gaze away from him and dragged a chair at the far end of the large dining table out.
• Lucas had said nothing, he seemed more interested in his phone and my so called father was absent.
• If I remember correctly, Elizabeth had mentioned that the Miller family has been put under the radar following the incident. I wonder what that means.
• I didn't let that thought linger on, I had no business in knowing about his affairs.
• Elaine cleared her throat, and flashes me that fake smile that makes my stomach churn badly. “I asked the chef to make your favorite, sis. Please eat a lot.” She retorts in a calm tone.
• I don't give a response to that, I had more pressing need than talking to a snake.
• I dig right into my food, it does feel good eating a more decent meal from the ones at the prison.
• I ate to my fill, after all it was the Miller family who I disliked, not the food.
• Pushing my plate aside, I didn't hesitate to ask. “Can I see Claire now?” I asked no one in particular but slowly my gaze fell on Lucas, he had said she was in safe hands.
• I notice Leona stiffen and she looks away, clearly avoiding my gaze.
• Mason clenches his jaw. “You always know how to ruin a moment, must you bring an outsider up at a family dinner?”
• Anger surged through every pore of my body. I hit my hands on the table, leaving a loud thud in its wake. “Claire's my family, my only family!” I hissed.
• “You're upset, Sienna. Let's talk about this some other time.” Lucas intervenes, his eyes darting at me like I've gone crazy.
• I look from him, to Leona, to Shawn, Mason, Jimmy and finally at Elaine.
• Shifting my gaze back to Lucas, I asked with rattled voice. “Is Claire okay?” I ask, fearing the unknown.
• I knew I could not trust leaving Claire in James’s care, he'd do anything for money, even if it means selling off his own daughter.
• Vivian, my foster mom is out of the question, she's way too obsessed with pleasing a man who has no regards for her than caring for her own child.
• When l don't get a response, I hit the table again, harder this time, the plates clattering. “Answer me!”
• “Okay, you definitely went to prison to grow a temper,” I hear Shawn hiss.
• Lucas speaks up almost immediately. “Claire's fine and you need to calm down, this isn't the time to talk about this, damnit.” He groaned frustratingly.