Chapter 333: A voluntary grandfather
The tribal police arrived first to Sienna’s office, under Wayo’s guidance. They separated Mija from Icona and injected Harley with something to make him calm down. The enforcers arrived just then, and the chaos which had been boiling over moments before, cooled into complete uneasy silence.
Icona and Harley were handed over to the enforcers who would overseeing the case going forward. Bonnie was brought into the office and she imemdiately rushed to her mother’s side, crying softly.
As they were led out, Elias followed, his fury barely contained. He insisted on going with them to ensure the case was properly handled right from the beginning. His presence was a promise of accountability, and the enforcers did not dare refuse.
Sienna remained behind, her body sinking into the comfortable chair that had witnessed too many storms. One by one, people left her office until only Mija remained. Sienna exhaled deeply, her gaze falling on her friend whose temper had ignited the chaos.
"When will you learn to control your temper?" She asked, her voice weary but firm.
Mija huffed, swinging at the air as if striking invisible enemies. "Do you remember the story I told you about the girl from my tribe, the deformed one who---"
"I remember." Sienna jumped in quickly. "The one who was discovered to be pregnant one day and nobody knew who impregnated her."
Mija groaned. "This is just like that. Icona...she let it happen. She let her daughter suffer because she didn’t want to do the hard job. There are many hospices and centers for the disabled all over the empire, supported by tribes and the royal family. These people can send their children there if they cannot personally care them in every way. Bonnie should have been visiting doctors regularly for mental and physical check ups.
Her parents slipped up. They allowed that monster to have access to their daughter and look where it has got them. Icona let her daughter suffer. She is a stay at home mom! What the hell was she doing that she could not take an hour or thirty minutes to take her daughter to the hospital? This is on her I can’t forgive that." Her growl reverberated through the office, sharp and raw.
Without another word, she stormed out, muttering something about needing to hit something to calm down.
Sienna’s eyes followed her, noting with quiet dismay that Mija had not even spared a glance at Wayo today because she was enraged. That omission spoke volumes. Sienna rubbed her temples, closing her eyes against a pounding headache that was in the beginning of arrival. What had begun as a simple day had twisted into a maze of complications. Hopefully, it did not end with another murder.
The office was finally quiet. Everyone had left and there was no other case scheduled. The rest of the time was for her to wrap up and head home. Alone, Sienna allowed herself to ponder on the affairs of the day. Her thoughts circled the tangled knot of law and morality.
The case has exposed glaring contradictions in the laws on marriage and the disabled which were colliding in ways that left vulnerable people unprotected. One law claimed that once a disabled woman was married, her husband had instant authority over her. She couldn’t even make decisions concerning anything important. Why such a law still existed was a myth! Sienna knew this wasn’t just about one family, it was about a larger group of people in the empire.
Her mind turned to the queen. If she were to propose the amendment of some of these laws, she would need Serenya’s influence. Only the king or queen could authorize sweeping changes needed to reconcile these laws.
So, Sienna invited the lawyers again, and asked for their advise. It was if they had already anticipated her next move because they came ready with proposed new laws.
Sienna imagined the fuss some people would stir when the proposal reached the king’s court. If it meant going in person to make them understand the importance of the new laws, she would do so. If she needed to bring witnesses, she would take them. And she would not flinch, even if the king himself tested her resolve.
It was 6 p.m, when Sienna finally closed her office with a weary sigh. She intended to head straight to the day care to collect the cubs, but halfway down the corridor, she remembered that their paternal grandparents had taken them home after lunch. The realization left her both relived and faintly disappointed; she had been looking forward to Ali’s chatter and Eli’s sarcastic comments after a stormy afternoon.
As she turned toward the exit, she nearly collided with Lord Grace Twindell. The man appeared to be waiting for her. His smile was polished, practiced, the kind that suggested both warmth and calculation. Behind him, attendants carried two ornate ages, each holding a parrot. One was white, with feather the color of snow and the other was vivid red, fiery and restless.
"Granddaughter, I have brought your parrots as promised," Grace said smoothly, gesturing towards the birds. "I will walk you home. As your elder it is only natural that I worry about you walking home alone in the dark."
Sienna’s brows furrowed. The man was very presumptuous. Yes, her mother was going on a blind date with his son, but the result was not yet known. Wasn’t it too soon for him to be acting like the devoted grandfather? She didn’t approve of the date. The thought of her mother entangled with Cadelaria’s family made her stomach tighten.
She walked ahead, and Grace followed her, lowering his voice but keeping his smile. "I know you have issues with Cadelaria. I have issues with her too. Think of it this way, when your mother marries my son, she will be considered Cadelaria’s elder. Your mother-in-law will be forced to respect your mother. Your background will be polished again. Your father’s past will no longer be used against your mother or you and your brother. You may not see me as your grandfather, but I have always considered you my family. The noble Twindell name will be a layer of protection for you and Soren."
Sienna scoffed. "I think the Veythar name is already doing this for us.