Chapter 8: Won't matter

Adi bought me a champagne- colored cocktail dress. As I expected, Adelaine, she really has good taste. I looked elegant and regal. The dress has a long cut in the chest and back area. It exposed too much of my skin, but I don't mind as long as I can attract Miguel.

I only put on light make-up and my long hair was in a ponytail. I didn’t put on anything other than a pair of long hook earrings. Raymond picked me up at the cottage and guided me to my seat first before joining his other cousins ​​for the shoot before the wedding started. The wedding soon began. I silently searched for someone in the crowd.

My eyes stopped at a man sitting not far from me. The deep line on his forehead and sides of the eyes says he is getting older, but the body is still the same. Still handsome at his age.

Rodulfo Castroverde.

I gritt my teeth. I knew he would recognize me right away. If he ever sees and recognizes me, Miguel should be with me and not Raymond. But how can I get close to Miguel? I have a feeling that he lost his interest in me after he saw that I was with his cousin.

I am no longer attentive at the wedding ceremony because of my deep thought. I also can’t take my eyes off Rodolfo Castroverde. I counted his every move until the wedding reception. Even the people he talked to and interacted with, I was very attentive to every person he talked to to see if I had an acquaintance who could help me make my plan to be close to their father even easier. I stopped thinking when I felt a gentle pull on me from behind.

I immediately recognized the man who pulled me out of the reception area. He held my wrist tightly as we drove down the hallway to the cottages near the beach.

"I haven't been good enough so you flirt with my cousin. Then... I'll see you watching someone intently... why? Do you prefer a bigger fish?" He coldly said.

I frowned at what he said. I forcefully removed his hand holding my wrist. He stopped walking and faced me. Dark-faced and sharp-eyed, he looked at my hand missing from his grasp.

I shook my head with disgust as i managed to distanced myelf to him.

"If that's how you think of me, why did you pull me away from there? And mind you I just come here with your playful cousin because I'm hoping to see you here. I didn't expect that I'll just hear insults from you."

He was slightly taken aback by what I said. He licked his lower lips.

"What do you mean?"

I rolled my eyes. "You dummy-"

"Miguel,"

I couldn't finish what I was going to say when I heard the baritone voice behind me. I don't have to look back to know who it was, because I know that even as years pass by, I will never forget that voice.

"Dad,"

I kept my eyes to Miguel whose facial expression was slowly changing.

"What are you doing out here? Who's with you?"

I gritted my teeth and slowly turned to the man behind me. His eyebrows met as he looked at me sharply. I tried to smile, but I couldn’t. Anger slowly enveloped my system. His brows furrowed and then I could see the shock on Rodulfo Castroverde's face when he finally remembered who I am.

"You..."

Rodulfo angrily pointed me. His face become dark and the way he looked at me sharply makes me want to smirked. He looked back and forth at me and Miguel. I couldn’t stop grinning. At these times I already knew what was running through his mind.

"Why are you with her, Miguel?"

I felt Miguel's palm on my back. I smiled even more when Miguel stood next to me and pressed me to his body.

"She's Shintarra, Dad-"

"I'm not asking her name! Why is she here? Did you..." He sighed heavily. "Did you bring her here?!"

I could feel Rodulfo's fury as he looked at me. Miguel's hand dropped to my palm and he intertwined our fingers. Rodulfo's eyes widened even more at what Miguel had done. I had to leave before Rodulfo exploded in anger and told Miguel everything.

"She's with me, Uncle." Raymond interrupt us.

I sighed in relief when Raymond showed up. We need to leave these two and go on with my plan. I may not be ready for it, but what can I do if Rodulfo warned Miguel about me? It's my only way, but now I need to leave them.

"With you?! Then why is she talking with Miguel? This woman-"

"Stop interfering with my life, Dad!" I almost choked my breath when Miguel cut his father's word. "I'm the reason why she's here, Raymond, so she's with me."

"Are you two fighting over this woman?!"

I flinched when Rodulfo's voice roared. I panicky bit my lower lip. I removed my hands from Miguel's and started to walk where Raymond was. I tried not to look back, but why am I suddenly feeling nervous? My hands trembled like my anxiety would attack any moment now.

"I said stop interfering with my life!" Miguel yelled.

I stopped walking and looked back. I saw how he darkly looked at Raymond and then his father. My heart hurts and I suddenly felt out of breath? Is it because I suppress my anger? Is it because everything happened too fast? Why am I feeling uncomfortable?

I can't hear what Rodulfo is trying to say to Miguel while Raymond is trying to calm me. I didn't know that I trembled so much. Why? I shouldn't be the one who should feel this way! I'm not the one who committed sins. I'm not the murderer here, but why am I trembling?

"You're trembling. Let's leave them, Shin. I'll take you back to our cottage." Raymond held my hand and helped me walk.

"Damn it, Raymond!" Miguel's voiced thundered.

I felt Miguel drape his arm around me. I raised my gaze on him as we walked, leaving Raymond and his father.

"Miguel!" Rodulfo yelled.

We quietly walked away. I no longer bothered myself to turn around, because my attention was more focused on Miguel's dark face. He seems displeased with everything.

"Where's your cottage?" Miguel asked after a few seconds of silence.

"H-Huh?"

He looked at me seriously while waiting for the answer to his question. I pointed to the left side of the hotel where the cottage Raymond and I were occupying. He intertwined our fingers and walked again in the direction I pointed.

I felt at ease when he intertwined our fingers again. My eyes became tear-stained as I looked at our hands. We walked towards the cottage without saying any words.

He looked around inside the cottage, and when he finally saw what he'd been looking for, he immediately removed his hands on mine. I suddenly felt cold when he left me near the door and minded his own business with my things.

"W-What are you doing?" I asked when he carelessly grabbed my things and put it in my travel bag.

"You're not staying here. I know how naughty Raymond is, so it will be good for you to stay in my cottage."

I laughed at what he said. "How can I be sure you're not like your cousin?" I tried to hide my trembling by teasing him.

He raised an eyebrow at me. He dropped my travel bag on the floor and sat on the far side of the bed. He reached for me and let me sit on his lap.

"I'm not a slave of my own libido. If I had no control over my body something would have happened to us when we were in your condo," He said huskily.

"Almost," I whispered.

"You're still trembling." He caressed my hand slowly. "Do you happen to know my father?"

I was caught off guard with his question. I didn't know how to answer it, so I wrapped my arms around his neck, and lowered my lips to his. Today was great. It may not have worked as planned and I got nervous with Rodulfo's presence, but I must admit that everything fell into places. I just need to overcome my anger and anxiety attacks.

I can't let him know everything now. Not until I already finished my mission. I know I will leave him brokenhearted, but that's not my concern anymore. His feelings will be my least priority. As long as I carried out my mission everything about Miguel won't matter in the end.

Everything about him won't matter.