Chapter 32: CHAPTER THIRTY TWO: TANGLED LOYALTIES

Though I had given up on Jamie and everything he ever held against me. It still felt quite restraining to see him with Bella as a couple. 

At first I thought it was acting, but she shut that thought off my mind when she kissed him on the lips, watching him groan a bit as he stared deep into her eyes. 

Alexander didn't bother to speak immediately when he saw them. His eyes spoke to me consecutively, telling me how wary I should be next to them. 

"How is Jamie your boyfriend?" I asked. 

She giggled a bit, placing her hand on Jamie's chest as she romanced it a bit. 

"Can you please stop that? We're dining here. This isn't some soda bar club that you guys would be playing couples all around." I huffed. 

"Your boyfriend is right next to you. Don't tell me you guys don't play  love." She said in a playful tone. 

"I and the Prince of Heights have dining etiquette that must be followed as noble men and women. We don't play love next to the food." 

I could hear her curse beneath her breath, anger building up inside as she gazed at me. Jamie, on the other hand, seemed unbothered by all that was happening. He could only just fix his gaze on me, words lying flat on his tongue with no way of getting out. 

"It's nice to see that both our kids have men they want to spend their lives with. I mean, they all look so cute together, especially Artemis and Alexander." Mom said. 

Alexander flashed her a smile. "Thank you, Mom."

He has begun calling her Mom ever since he arrived. I called his technique trying to make an impression that could only work on my mom. 

"Mom… Don't we look cute together?" Bella wrapped her arms around Jamie's left arm, leaning towards him like a true girlfriend. 

"I must say, darling, you have a wonderful set of eyes. The both of you fit perfectly. Just look at the way the both of you speak without using words. Your connection is the best I've seen in years. No offense, Alexander." Dad said in a playful tone. 

Alexander said nothing in response; he could only let out a smile and pretend he was enjoying their company. He had developed a sudden hatred for Jamie after the gala, and I hadn't tried to talk him out of it. 

"So Bella, when did you meet Jamie?" I asked. 

Usually they'd bite my ears off for even attempting to ask such a question, but they were all interested in how Jamie and she had met. 

Jamie began, "We met last week..."

"I and Jamie have been together since our college days. We got in touch last week, and things continued the right way. I shouldn't have left you, babe." Bella romanced his hand, making it seem like they had fallen for each other for a long time. 

"So Jamie, tell us… Why aren't you back in your company at this particular hour? I mean, you're always very busy each day; that means you barely have time for each other." Alexander said, readjusting into his seat. 

Jamie's lips curled into a smirk. "I couldn't miss this dinner for the world, and most especially, I couldn't let my little princess down."

"Your princess is really the charm. Tell me, how much do you love her?" I questioned. 

He clutched his hand, staring at me as I kept throwing numerous questions at him. 

Speak up!

"Artemis You're just too rowdy. Can't you just pretend to be happy for me for once?" Bella let out. 

"Congratulations, Bella. I'm so happy you got the best partner ever." I faked a smile. 

"Much better." She held up a smile. At this moment, the only thing I could think of was getting rid of her as quickly as I could. 

My parents had already begun to feel I was the problem. To them I was the insecure chick who couldn't get over the fact that I had an only sister who was trying to protect me from the unknown. Little did they know I had been back fighting with the one thing that brought my past crashing into little bits. 

"Thanks for the dinner, Mrs. Mercedes." Alexander had said before leaving. 

He didn't bother showing any affection to me. I could tell he was pissed by the way I acted at dinner. He was left hanging severely, along with Jamie, who did nothing but stare at him like the enemy he believed they were. 

I couldn't think of what would happen if we were to have another dinner with her. She literally said she had her ways of destroying things while pretending to be the darling adopted daughter of my parents. 

Mom wouldn't listen even if I confessed that she was the bimbo who stole my boyfriend from me and made me suffer the brunt of being with Jamie; she would probably say I was just insecure. Bella had already made sure she doubted every single word that came out of my mouth. 

"So what do you think about my new boyfriend, Artemis?" Her voice crept into my ears. 

I tilted my head, staring at the sheepish pose she had taken. "I don't give a fuck about you and your boyfriend. If you don't mind, I have to get to bed early."

"I know you still love him, Artemis. Why don't you just say it? Stop pushing Alexander's feelings for that little space you believe you saved for him." 

"What did you just say?" 

"Yes, Artemis. Anyone can see that you don't give two fucks about Alexander. You're literally just using him to get what you want … You don't know how to love. That's your fucking problem, Artemis. You always lose them to me, and I gladly accept them into my arms."

I clutched my hands, holding back the urge to smash my fist onto her face. 

"I'll give you the luxury of time you need, Artemis. My goal is Alexander, and I'm going to get him."