Chapter 348 Look Down

The Aniston family was large enough to require two dining tables for their gatherings.

As everyone settled in, Chandler and Meryl made their entrance, perfectly timed as always.

The family seemed accustomed to this routine, and no one batted an eye at their arrival.

As soon as they appeared, members from various branches of the family stepped forward to greet them, exchanging pleasantries and compliments.

But for Lydia, the situation felt uncomfortable.

She couldn’t even sit at the same table as Meryl, which stung more than she cared to admit.

To make matters worse, Cate decided to throw her weight around too.

“Lydia, why don’t you take my seat? I need to have a word with my brother,” Cate said innocently.

Lydia shot a pleading look at Dalton, hoping he would intervene.

The younger generation–Dylan’s second and third son’s children–were mostly teenagers, either just stepping into adulthood or still in high school.

Dalton said nothing.

With a heavy heart, she resigned herself to sitting among the kids.

Ethan soon joined them.

Upon seeing Lydia next to him, he shifted away, increasing the distance between them with a look of disdain.

Lydia frowned, wondering what his deal was.

She thought, “What’s his problem? Ethan’s mother is Sir Aniston’s adopted daughter who has married a long time ago, and he’s here as an outsider. Is he really looking down on me?”

Noticing Lydia’s gaze, Ethan smirked. “What’s with the look? Got a bone to pick with me?”

He shrugged innocently. “I heard you’re pregnant. I’m just keeping my distance, you know? Can’t risk getting caught up in any drama, especially since I’ve never gotten along with your husband. What’s wrong with that?”

As he spoke, Ethan casually grabbed a younger cousin with glasses and plopped him down. “Hey, Jeremy, come sit here.”

Jeremy Aniston, Halle’s eldest son at eighteen, was preparing for the SATs in just a few months.

He was quiet and reserved, and when Ethan pulled him over, he obediently took the seat between them.

Lydia instinctively glanced at Dalton. She thought, “Will he really remain silent while Ethan is being so provocative?”

To her surprise, Dalton didn’t budge. He and Cate were deep in conversation, heads bent close together, their voices hushed. Lydia couldn’t make out a word.

Frustrated, she clenched her fists under the table.

Cate had positioned herself between Dalton and Lydia because Dalton had sent her a text earlier, saying he didn’t want to sit too close to Lydia.

Cate might not know the specifics of their issues, but it was clear to anyone with half a brain that something was off between them. Dalton hadn’t returned to the villa in days.

Cate had always looked down on Lydia.

She believed that ever since her brother married Lydia, his fortunes had taken a turn for the worse. His name was losing its shine.

Cate was convinced Lydia was a jinx, dragging her brother down from his pedestal.

Her gaze fell on Lydia’s belly. “Bro, I support you in getting a divorce. Mom must be going through some kind of midlife crisis to be fooled by her pregnancy.”

She thought to herself, “In a family like ours, if Dalton wanted to, he could have any number of women lining up to have his child.”