Invite Desmond for dinner

"No," Jethro shook his head. "He stayed because he has a good heart. Think about it. He was downgraded, insulted, and told to leave, but he didn’t. He stayed because he genuinely wanted to save Dad." Jethro stated, and Sir Orton finally spoke up again.

“Even though he hurt us, he did a good thing by saving my life. That’s something that can’t be ignored. So, he will be appreciated. But as Anabel said, that doesn’t mean he’s any less of a riffraff for breaking her heart.”

“But Desmond doesn’t want to be appreciated with anything,” she mumbled. “You should all forget about it. He said that thank you was enough. He rejected my money, and I know he rejected Jethro’s offer too.”

Jethro smirked slightly, glancing at his sister with an amused expression. “Yeah, but that doesn't mean he does not want anything. Maybe he wants something else that isn’t money.”

Anabel frowned. She already knew where Jethro was heading with this. She was the prize. She was what Desmond wanted, but she wasn’t going to let that happen.

"And what could that be?" She asked as if she didn't know what Jethro was talking about.

"I don't know." Jethro replied. "I'm not in his mind to know what he wants. You must know better than me. You know him more than me." Jethro added, and Anabel clenched her jaw and exhaled slowly. “Whatever it is, he won’t get it.” Jethro smirked knowingly, but he didn’t argue.

"I don't know what both of you are talking about, but one way or another, he will be appreciated." Sir Orton said and turned to Anabel. "So Anabel, I want you to invite Desmond over for dinner tomorrow."

The moment her father said that, her mood shifted, and she shook her head. "I don’t want to see Desmond in this house."

"Why will you say that? The dad asked. "He saved my life, sweetheart. I need to thank him personally. And I want to ask him how he wants to be appreciated, since he refuses to accept money. Let's keep what happened in the past aside and do the needful."

"I don't want him here. Just because he saved you doesn’t mean I need to bring him here. We already thanked him. What more do you want?" Anabel said.

"Anabel, Desmond isn’t coming here for you. This isn’t about you or your past with him. He’s coming for Dad." Jethro said, but Anabel stood on her ground. "That doesn’t change the fact that I don’t want him here."

Jethro let out a short chuckle and shook his head. "I don’t see why you are against this. Dad wants to appreciate the man who saved his life. What’s wrong with that?"

"Your brother is right. Desmond is coming to see me, not you. I’m not inviting him here to reconcile with you. I want him here so I can properly thank him for what he did. Or would it have been better if Desmond didn’t save me and I died?" The dad asked, and the question hitted her like a brick.

She didn't know what to say again. The past was taking a toll on her.

"No," she finally mumbled.

"Then this is the least we can do." Her father said, and Anabel sighed, accepting the decision, but still, she wasn't entirely comfortable with it.

"So, you will call him."

"I can't call him. I blocked and removed his number from my phone," Anabel replied, crossing her arms. "I don’t have his contact anymore."

"That’s fine. I have his number. I’ll call him." Jethro said, and Sir Orton gave a satisfied nod. "Good. Call him when we are done eating."

Anabel remained quiet, pushing her food around on her plate. She hated the idea of Desmond being in their home. She hated the thought of seeing him eating with her at the same table. But whether she liked it or not, he was coming.