"Oh, is this your son?" Ferdinand seems to be very much better at acting, as he uttered those words cheerfully, wearing a bright smile on the outside. "Come, little boy. Come greet your granduncle."
Herzl was hesitant as he cautiously stares at his mother, and she nudged approvingly at him before went towards Ferdinand, who wrapped him in his arms.
Ferdinand's smiles doesn't seem like it's fading soon as he flashed his smiles at Herzl. "It's a good thing you are here, I brought you and your mother a surprise, I bet you will love it." He told Herzl, drawing his words in an emotionless tone that was hard for a child like him to detect its meaning.
Ciara was certain it wasn'tjust any type of surprise, judging from his tone and the way he emphasized on the word 'surprise'. This made her wondered what the so-called surprise was all about, and it made her curiosity to rise to its peak.
"Mom said it's improper to take things from strangers." Herzl smartly told him in disapproval, even without knowing what the surprised was.
Dwayne chuckled lightly under his breath and Ferdinand, on the other hand, was taken aback by his intelligent reply. "Is this what you've been teaching the boy? Eh, Ciara?" He asked Ciara as he turned his attention towards him, wearing a disapproving frown on his face.
Instead of a reply, Ciara only shrugged her shoulders lightly, without uttering any words at all.
******
Ferdinand's stay was longer than expected and when the siblings were starting to think he wouldn't be leaving that day and might be sleeping over, he announced his departure with the excuse of having important things against the next day.
The siblings did not bother to argue words with him, as they let him do as said.
Throughout Ferdinand's stay, Ciara couldn't help but feel suspicious, even though she tried very hard to shake that feelings off, itwouldn't just leave her, and it seemed glued to her like a trauma -she knows it wouldn't be better to shake off such feelings and the best thing for her at that moment was to work towards it.
She took her son, Herzl, to his room and sang him to sleep. She went back to the living room as she patiently waits for Dwayne's return. He had seen their youngest uncle off and would be back at any moment, Ciara decided to use the few minutes to recollects every of her thoughts slowly. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to push away the worries that had been troubling her all day.
That's what she felt she badly needed at the moment due to her jumbled thoughts and clouded mind, which seems fuzzy. As she exhaled, she wished she could feel a wave of calmness wash over her, and likewise that feelings that would tell everything would eventually turn out fine.
Seeing her uncle earlier, when she had visited, was not a shock or surprise to her, but the fact that it's Ferdinand among the rest of the three was what took her speech away -she hasn't thought she'll see him; at least, not this sooner.
Uncle Ferdinand was never and has never been the most reliable and level-headed amongst her relatives, he seems too toxic and was always the one to spark things up among the four brothers -he is usually the cause of their unending fights and arguments.
Not that she did not expect to see any of her uncles, but Ferdinand has never come visiting, since she could remember. The last time she saw him was five years ago before her parent's death -and as usual, it was after a heated argument; he left and never stepped foot in their home since then.
Gerald had told her two of her uncles has been constantly meeting with each other's lately, she could guess who they are since Uncle Kent was bedridden at the moment, he wouldn't have been included in their constant scheme.
The more Ciara tried to think about the reason behind his sudden visit, the more confusion she finds herself in. Has he come to try another murder attempt of his? Or is he here for something more lethal but holding less suspicions?
She wished she could doubt that he hasn't come with another foxy moves of his because he was more calmer than he's used to and knowing is far from that kind of person is enough to grow her suspicions.
She would have asked Gerald about his discussion with Brandon on his visit, but he wouldn't know either, he's only been watching them both from afar the past few days since Herzl is always on his neck.
The soft bang of the door cutting her off her train of thoughts, snapping her to consciousness. It was Dwayne, he must have returned from seeing uncle Ferdinand off.
Dwayne heaved out a sigh of relief. "Where is Herzl?" He asked, strutting towards Ciara.
"I put him to sleep already, we'll be staying here to pass the night." Ciara told him flatly. "It's too late to drive home with Herzl -as you advised, I'm trying to be considerate this time."
Dwayne chuckled lightly before replying. "Are you trying to use my words against me, eh?" He uttered.
"I guess so..."She shrugged her shoulders lightly. "I'll go to sleep now, I have loads of work on my desk tomorrow and I don't want to go late." Ciara was tempted to tell her brother about the escapades going on between her and Ryan but swallowed it in, he would possibly freak out if he learns about it.
She shouldn't tell him yet about it when there is lot to learn within their family -until the moment, Dwayne was still in the dark and was yet to learn the truth she learned from her uncles years ago. She knew her brother was too fragile, and his heart couldn't contain such, besides, she needed lots of proof and evidence before telling him about it.
"Sure, you can..."He cited simply with a positive nod.
Ciara had wanted to stand from her seat but hesitated a little, opening her mouth to speak. "I know I shouldn't be saying this now, but soon enough, big brother, you will be in for a huge shock and surprise." She said in a flat, finally rising to her feet.
Dwayne creased his brows, unable to digest what his sister had just said. "What surprise?" He anxiously asked, not wanting to be left in the dark. "Is it about the company?"
"If I should tell you now, it'll no longer be a surprise when the time comes." Her voice was void and emotionless, and she was wearing a blank expression as well. "You'll learn about it soon enough." With that, she left his presence and did not bother to wait for his reply.
Ciara got to her room and picked up her phone to call Gerald. She had enough hide and seek with her uncles, and it's the right time for her to jump into action -this time, she's ready to repay them with the same coin or more, if possible.