Chapter 107

At Matthew's home, Melvin, David, Matthew, and Ryan sat down, staring at each other and saying nothing.

"How long are we going to stay quiet?" Ryan asked. "I still have some places to go."

They stared at one another wondering who would start. Melvin decided to speak up. "Does anyone want to start first or should I?"

They nodded. "You should."

"As you all know," Melvin began. "We are here to talk about ourselves. A lot has happened with us and I think we are keeping secrets from ourselves which have caused a rift between us." They nodded and he continued. "So I hope we will trust each other again and open up as we used to."

Ryan stared at Melvin. Does that include him?

"We also have a wedding to plan," Melvin added. "I hope we won't let whatever is going on with us, affect planning Ryan's wedding."

Ryan was surprised they would plan his wedding too.

Melvin went on to tell them about what he had been going through in the past few months. From him almost losing his marriage, to the current stage they are in. He also told them how his business had not been moving as it should lately.

"Why did you not tell us about it?" Matthew asked.

Melvin explained why he couldn't speak to anyone because he knew everyone had one or two things going on with them.

"You should have spoken to us irrespective of what is going on," Matthew answered.

"You weren't even in the country," Melvin answered. "And you refused to pick up our calls."

Matthew sighed. Melvin was right. He was so angry with David that he did not pick up Ryan and Melvin's call; he did not want them begging him.

"I was angry," he mumbled. "That he broke his promise to me."

"I am sorry," David answered. "I love your sister and would not do anything to hurt her."

Matthew sighed. David had explained everything to him. His sister did too and he had decided to forgive him.

"I am no longer holding grudges," he answered.

"Thank you," David mumbled. "I never meant for that to happen," he continued. "The pregnancy wasn't the only thing we lost. I lost a contract worth millions of dollars."

Ryan furrowed his brows. "Y-you did?"

David nodded. "I never knew there was a spy in the company. He leaked a company's secret which led to the company losing a lot of money."

"Y-you never said this to anybody," Melvin said.

"Because I did not want to bother anyone," David answered.

The rest said nothing. They had all made one mistake; not talking to each other.

Ryan sighed. He is the only one who hasn't spoken yet.

He took a deep breath again. "I know you all see me as a playboy and you think I might not be serious about this wedding but I am." He stared at them before he continued. "A month ago, after everything had happened. I mean Melissa losing her pregnancy, Matthew leaving the country, and Charlotte leaving the house, my company was attacked. I lost a lot of money, and investors began to withdraw their investments."

Ryan was quiet, his mind reminiscing about what had happened.

"I couldn't speak to any of you. You were all going through a lot and I did not want to bother you. I tried all I could and was on the verge of giving up when I met her..." He smiled. "Catherine Anderson."

"C-Catherine Anderson?" David asked.

"The same Anderson that we all know?" Matthew asked and Ryan nodded.

"Yes, she is the daughter of Arden Anderson, the business mogul. She saved my company, got me new investors. We got talking and I realized we had a lot in common; I couldn't help but fall in love with her. She rejected my love and disappeared into thin air."

"You must have been sad," Matthew said, looking so worried.

He has always been an ambassador for love; for as long as both are genuine to each other, he would root for them.

Seeing the look on Ryan's face, he could tell that he really loves her.

Ryan nodded. "I was."

"So you find a new love?" Melvin asked.

Ryan shook his head. "No, she came back, a week ago. This time to marry me in two weeks."

Silence invaded the room; they all weren't sure of what to say anymore.

Melvin wondered why the wedding was taking place in two weeks. David is worried that Catherine's father would not accept Ryan as his son-in-law. Matthew on the other hand, wants to know more about their love story.

Ryan... He is wondering what is going on in the minds of his friends.

Are they still going to plan his wedding? Why are they not asking questions anymore?

"I am glad you are back on your feet," Matthew finally broke the silence. "I am also happy you found true love."

Melvin and David nodded. They are happy too.

"I am sorry I left, and did not return until last week," Matthew continued. "I also ignored your calls. I am sorry."

Melvin sighed. Matthew had every right to be angry; after all, Melissa is his sister. David also promised to take care of her and he failed.

He smiled. "But you are back now. And that is what matters."

"So is anyone still holding grudges?" Ryan asked and they all shook their heads.

"How is your business now, Ryan?" Matthew asked. "I know Catherine helped you. Have you been able to find out who betrayed you and why?"

Ryan nodded. "I did. It was my manager. He was paid by my rival."

"You mean Peter?" Melvin asked and Ryan nodded. "I did not expect that from him."

"I did not either," Ryan answered. "I am just happy I've been able to pay off all my debt and my business is back on track. What about you Melvin? How is the company?"

"Back on track I guess. I started a new project a week ago and it's doing pretty well."

Ryan smiled. It's good to hear that.

"David, how is the company?" Matthew asked. "The contract lost..."

David smiled. "I did not get it back but I got something better."

"You won a bigger contract?" Matthew's eyes beam.

Ryan and Melvin were also happy and interested.

David shook his head. "It's not a contract. The last few weeks I spent with Melissa have been awesome. I've been able to know my heart and we agree to go on a trip in a few days." He stared at Ryan who looked sad and smiled. "But with Ryan's wedding on the way, we agreed we would go after the wedding."

Ryan smiled. "Really?"

David nodded. "You don't think I will miss your wedding for a thing, do you?"

"Thank you, David," Ryan mumbled.

"Well," Matthew began. "Now that we are done talking about ourselves, shouldn't Ryan tell us more about him and his newfound love. I really want to know about them."

"We should be planning a wedding and not gossiping," Melvin answered.

Mathew smiled. "We will, but now, we need to know more about them."