Damien had made a mistake in declining Ella's invitation to the company dinner.

As soon as he arrived at his mother's, his father kept throwing him petty glares. Damien knew that it was only because his mother had been hurt by Damien's constant neglect of spending time with her. Another factor that contributed to Damien regretting going was the fact that Selena was there again. He honestly did not want to deal with another episode like last time.

"I heard you guys are taking that psychology case." His father, Romano, spoke up during the tense dinner. The only people that would ever talk would be his mother, whose name was Celeste, and Selena with the additional comments Romano made occasionally. Damien didn't even bother participating much.

"Psychology?" Damien looked at his father in confusion. Going from Italian to English, especially with not having grown up here, was a task that proved itself difficult for his parents.

"That one woman who broke the couple's privacy and lied about their relationship. You know, the one who is getting sued." Romano tried to clarify, but Damien continued to stare at him blankly.

Selena laughed quietly. "Doesn't everyone get sued if they end up there?"

Celeste laughed, breaking the tension. "I think they said her name was Ellie Court or something like that."

Damien stilled, remembering the raven-haired girl that was always helping him and that was currently having a hard time due to that incident. He cleared his throat, his brows furrowing. "How did you guys get that information?"

"At the country club. You know those old geezers are always talking. That Vanders man seemed pretty upset. Honestly, I would be too if someone was going around saying I abused your mother. Lunatic." Romano said with obvious distaste, his mouth moving into a frown.

While Damien hadn't known Ella for too long, he hadn't gotten those conclusions from her. Ella didn't seem to manipulate or lie to people. He had known her for almost a month, and all that she displayed was tranquility, smiles even if she wasn't happy, and kindness.

"Forte parlatore," Damien said before taking another bite of his chicken parmesan. His mother rolled her eyes, but Selena sat quietly, not understanding Italian. (Loud talker)

"It means loud talker, dear." Celeste explained before turning her attention back to her family. "Just try to stay away from her, Damien. People are hard to trust these days, especially those who think they know how to read minds."

"While that man has been babbling about nonsense and dragging her name around, dirtying it, she's been struggling to regain her life back and saying nothing but positive things about the situation." Damien couldn't help but defend her.

All this time, she had been trying to understand where Mr.Vanders was coming from and thinking positively. Damien knew the only reason she had agreed to come to the office was for a distraction. Plus, it was obvious that she enjoyed helping people. She had not said one negative thing about the man, only smiling ruefully whenever he was mentioned. Meanwhile, that man had been dragging her name through the dirt. Ella didn't deserve that, and it angered him that his parents were cooperating in the grimey act.

"You're leaving?" His mother sputtered in disbelief as Damien stood up, leaving the dining room.

"Yes." He ignored his father's look of displeasure. Damien didn't even bother to pay attention to a stumbling Selena.

"I'll talk to him." She murmured to the couple before dashing out, rushing to Damien who was already on his merry way out. "Damien!"

Damien unlocked his car, throwing his things in since he hadn't even given himself the time to put on his coat. He slipped in, and just as he was about to close the door, Selena placed herself in between.

"Damien!" Selena exclaimed, baffled at his behavior. "What happened?"

Damien ignored her, grabbing his coat to push it against her abdomen. "It's cold. Go back in." He tried to gently push her back.

"No," Selena stumbled back anyway from the force, but enough to fall down. "Is it because of that woman?" She blinked rapidly, trying to understand. "Listen, we don't know her, and they shouldn't have said what they did, but we can't control that. That woman could or could not be found guilty, but you don't have to be so upset about something so trivial."

"Go away, Selena." Damien sighed, reaching to turn his engine on.

"Your parents, Damien..." she trailed off when Damien successfully pushed her farther, closing his car door.

Had he attended the company dinner, he probably wouldn't have gone through his spectacle, but he knew that that idea was even more outrageous. Instead, he just drove home and ended up in his personal office, doing more work to distract his mind from the raven-haired girl that smiled easily and who was being falsely accused of a crime she would never commit.

•••

Ella, who was blissfully unaware of what had happened at the Petrotti household, had taken it upon herself to plant a vegetable garden outside. Since her brother had been really busy at the hospital, he worried about Erica being alone a lot of the time. To ease his worry, Ella had picked up Erica, and she was now helping Ella plant. Well, she was mostly watching and chatting because Erica couldn't really bend down well now being three months pregnant.

"Your water is about to tip," Erica informed Ella, who quickly reached to catch it just as it almost spilled all over her recently planted seeds. "You were saying," Erica urged Ella to continue.

"Oh, about the vitamins," Ella paused to take a deep breath. The air smelled of fresh grass and pure water. It paired divinely with the sunny sky and cool breeze. "Make sure to remind me to give them to you. They help reduce the tension of the muscles."

"Will do." Erica laughed, staring at Ella who had fallen back on the lawn.

Erica had always admired the Cortesa family. When she first met them, she was afraid that they wouldn't want her in the family. It was obvious that the family was beautiful on the outside and inside, and she knew she didn't stand a chance. Years later, she married into the best family the world could give her. Having grown up alone in an orphanage really allowed her to see the value of the Cortesa's, and spending quality time with them like this only made her happier.

"This is nice." Erica sighed in content, her hand resting on her small baby bump. Ella hummed in agreement, basking in the brilliance of the sun while she took a break from being bent over. "It would be nice if you spent a lot of days like these over at ours."

Ella opened one eye, peaking at Erica. "No."

Erica laughed loudly at Ella's bluntness. "No, what?" She chuckled after having her fit of giggles.

"No, I won't move in with you guys." Ella lifted herself up from the floor, kneeling back in position at the dirt. "Fransisco already spoke to me last time we had dinner at yours."

"Think about it," Erica leaned forward, trying to persuade the Spanish girl.

"I have, and it wouldn't be a bad idea, but it's okay, Erica." Ella looked at her softly, smiling gratefully. "I'm really thankful that God sent us a sister-in-law like you, really. Moving in is just something unnecessary when I have a home, and I'm fine." Ella promised vehemently, and Erica sighed, her eyes wandering to where Rufus was standing, sniffing. Soon after, the fence gates opened, and lanky blonde entered.

"Hey, princess." It was Sam. He bent down to greet an excited Rufus while reaching behind him to shut the gate.

"Hey," Ella stood up, taking off her gardening, pink gloves to greet him with their signature hand gestures. "Erica, this is a good friend, Sam. Sam, this is my sister-in-law, Erica." Ella presented them.

The name Sam rang a bell in Erica's head. She had often heard Fransisco complaining about Ella's convict friends, especially one who's name began with an S. She had no doubt in her mind that this was the one.

"Hey, nice tats." Erica shook his hand, motioning to his arms that had every single inch covered in ink.

"Thanks." Sam smiled casually before catching sight of the garden Ella was planting. "What's up with you?"

"Oh, that?" Ella whirled around to begin naming off the various trees she had just planted. "Hopefully they grow to be strong enough to make it through the winter." Ella sat beside Sam who had already begun finishing the process of planting.

"Just make sure they're watered. These don't really require much attention." Erica suggested, checking the time on her watch. "I should probably go. It'll be dinnertime in a few, and I have yet to get started." Ella quickly stood up to help her.

"Are you sure you don't want to have dinner at my place? I can whip something up, and Fransisco can just come here." Ella offered, watching as Erica nodded.

"Actually, that sounds amazing. I'm not too sure of what good I am at the kitchen right now." Erica knew that if she stayed, then maybe she could convince Sam to do so too, and then Fransisco could actually get to know him.

She had seen the way Sam interacted with Ella and Rufus and vice versa. It was clear that they were both comfortable in each other's presence, and while there didn't seem to be any romantic sparks yet, Erica would make it her job to be the matchmaker. Ella deserved someone who would watch over her and care about her. While Sam didn't have the best record or reputation, Erica knew that reputation was just that, a reputation. Getting to know a person was the best and most effective way to learn about them rather than listening to others.

Luckily for her, Fransisco had agreed to have dinner at Ella's. He was just entering Ella's house when Rufus ran up to him, wagging his tail so hard that Fransisco winced when it smacked his hand. "Hey, I need that for work." Fransisco stood up, leaving the hyperactive and happy golden retriever to trail at his feet.

Upon entering the kitchen, he looked at Sam warily. Sam tensed, unaware of how Fransisco would react to him being there. They had already met, and Fransisco wasn't too happy about the idea of Ella befriending him. Sam had also heard Fransisco warn Ella to stay away, it just so happened that sweet Ella didn't really listen to him that well.

"Hey," Erica grabbed her husband's hand, pulling him to her. That relieved a bit of the tension in the room.

"Fransisco, you need to check this out." Ella's voice was heard from somewhere outside, and Fransico seemed wary to leave Erica alone with an ex-convict. Granted, that ex-convict was a harmless hacker, but he was imprisoned for a reason. "Fransisco, you're going to miss it!" Ella was laughing, and Erica pushed Fransisco to the back door.

"Go." She waved him off, and Fransisco left, throwing Sam one last cautious look. "Sorry about that." Erica sighed, watching as Sam shook his head, continuing his task of cutting up some vegetables.

"You get used to it after a while. Quite honestly, I don't blame him either."

"He's judging, and that's not right." Erica rejected his excuse for her husband. "How do you know Ella?"

"I stole her wallet."

Erica pursed her lips and blinked at him. "Okay, then." She drew out, watching as he laughed.

"Don't worry, I don't do it anymore." Sam moved to rinse off the knife he was using before drying it and placing it back in its drawer.

"You must come here a lot." Erica noted, leaning forward as Sam shrugged.

"Whenever she needs renovation mechanically or electronically, I'm around." He shrugged casually. He didn't blame Erica for questioning him; he was just glad she wasn't insulting him or threatening him.

"What type of help did she need today?" Erica jumped at the opportunity, and Sam quirked his pierced lips up, laughing.

"We're just friends, alright? That's all." He glanced up at Erica, and she shrugged, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"None of my business who she dates or doesn't." Erica denied, shrugging as if she really didn't care, but they both knew she was lying.

"None of mine, either." Sam agreed just as the back door was opening. In was entering Ella, Fransisco, and Stefanie.

"Whatever, that's what you always say, but I know you wish differently." Stefanie rolled her bright green eyes, flicking a piece of her blonde fringe away from her eyes before she caught sight of Sam. Sam quirked a brow in question towards Ella. He had never seen that chick before.

"Sam, meet my sister, Stefanie," Ella let her accent slip when saying her sister's name. "Stef, this is Sam. You remember the one who helped install my office, right?"

"Now I do." Stefanie reached forward to take his larger hand in hers, shaking firmly, "pleasure to meet you."

"Likewise," Sam smirked, his brown eyes glinting.

"I guess it really isn't any of his business who she dates." Erica whined, dropping her head onto her hands.

"What's wrong with you?" Ella tapped Erica's head before moving over to pick up a bowl of salad.

"Nothing, not at all." Erica mumbled into her hands. She would have to find someone else to match Ella up to.