Chapter 149 BARBEQUE NIGHT

Chapter 149 BARBEQUE NIGHT
Eli's POV

I really didn't like Lovia.

That conclusion settled deeper into my soul with every passing minute. The barbecue continued, Julian and Anton remained near the grill while staff moved around setting up plates and drinks.

Lovia somehow managed to position herself right beside Julian.

A staff member arrived carrying a bottle of wine and several glasses.

"Perfect timing," Lovia said immediately. "Pour me one."

The staff nodded, and poured the drink for her. Before the man could pour mine, Julian looked over.

"Not for Eli."

I frowned. "Excuse me?"

Julian didn't even look guilty. "No wine, baby, you're not drinking tonight."

"I'm an adult."

"I didn't say you aren't."

Lovia laughed, like it was funny. "Oh, he's still treating you like a child?"

I wanted to call her a plastic doll, but I narrowed my eyes instead and swallowed my words.

Julian ignored both of us.

The staff continued pouring drinks… Lovia accepted hers, and I accepted my suffering. Or so everyone thought.

The evening continued… and somehow Lovia became more annoying. Every. Single. Minute.

"Julian, I still don't understand how you work so much, I know your money isn't just coming from that company."

"Oh, Julian, you haven't changed at all."

"Julian, remember that charity gala?"

"Julian, you're honestly impressive."

Julian this. Julian that.

What the heck is wrong with her?

Julian answered politely. Because Julian was unfortunately a civilized human being, which meant he wasn't telling her to shut up.

Meanwhile I was actively suffering.

Every few minutes Lovia would touch his arm, touch his shoulder, lean slightly closer than necessary, smile too brightly, laugh too much.

And somehow Julian didn't seem to notice. Or maybe he did.

Which was worse.

At one point she touched his wrist while speaking, and I nearly threw a fork at her. Why am I jealous? I'm not jealous, I just don't like her.

Anton glanced at me, a smile tugged at his lips. Fucking traitor. He knew what's going on in my head. He was enjoying this. I glared at him, and he looked away immediately.

The food was finally served, and everyone sat down.
Unfortunately Lovia chose the seat beside Julian, and I was forced to sit opposite them. Which gave me a perfect view of everything I didn't want to see.

Fantastic. Just fantastic.

The meal started peacefully, for about thirty seconds, then Lovia was back at her nonsense.

"Julian, you really cooked this yourself?" So original. Like she wasn't standing there when the food was being made. She's so fake.

"Partly."

"It's amazing."

Anton snorted. "Don't encourage him."

Lovia laughed, and I stabbed a piece of meat harder than necessary.

Nobody noticed.

After dinner, Julian finally brought out the DNA results, and the atmosphere changed immediately.

The joking stopped, the smiles faded… Julian handed the documents across the table.

Lovia accepted them. At first she looked confused, then shocked, then pale.

Her hands started trembling. "No."

Julian remained quiet.

"No." She flipped through the pages again. "No. It can't be. Maybe there's a mistake."

Anton's expression softened slightly. "The results are confirmed."

Lovia's quickly eyes filled with disbelief. "My father..." Nobody interrupted. "My father..." Her voice broke. "He lied to me. All these years."
She looked down at the papers, then at Julian, and back at the papers again.

"My entire life. He kept this secret my entire life?"

Julian nodded. "If Matteo is recognized legally, everything changes."

Lovia laughed, it sounded miserable. "Everything." She wiped her eyes. "My father broke my heart."

And then she started crying, actually crying, and for a second I almost felt bad. But then she leaned directly into Julian, and started sobbing against his shoulder.

My sympathy immediately died. A violent death.

Julian awkwardly patted her back, trying to comfort her. Trying, not succeeding, but kept trying.

And somehow that annoyed me even more. I wanted to glare at him, but unfortunately he wasn't even looking at me. His attention remained entirely on Lovia.

Wonderful. Absolutely wonderful.

Julian would pay for this later. I wasn't sure how yet, but he would. He would beg. I'll make him.

I silently picked up a glass of wine, Julian had told me not to drink, so naturally I drank.

One glass turned to two, and another, and even more. Anton didn't even try to stop me.

I didn't even want wine. I wasn't drinking because I liked it, I was drinking because Julian had told me not to.

Which felt like a perfectly reasonable reason, at least to me.

By the time the discussion ended, the night had become cooler. Lovia finally looked composed again.

The DNA results were packed away, plans were discussed; divorce plans, possible fallout, and time to tell Lovia's mother.

Then finally Lovia stood. "I should get going."

Thank God.

Julian nodded. "I'll have my driver take you."

She gave her doll like smile and said, "Could you drive me yourself?"

I almost cursed out loud, but I immediately sighed when Julian shook his head and said "No."

I almost applauded.

"My driver will take you." Julian added.

Lovia's smile faltered. "But— I mean, shouldn't you make sure I get home safe?"

"My driver will make sure you get home safe."

End of discussion. Finally. Finally!!

She accepted defeat, and a few minutes later she was escorted away.

I watched from as the car disappeared through the gate.

Good. Stay gone.

The moment the car disappeared, Anton stretched. "That was exhausting."

Julian nodded. "It was."

I said nothing.

Both men looked at me, and I rolled my eyes at them.

Julian narrowed his eyes. "Eli."

I looked away.

"Eli."

Still no answer from me. Anton immediately started laughing.

Julian looked confused. "What?"

Anton shook his head. "You don't know?"

"Know what?" Julian asked, still clueless.

Anton laughed harder.

I stood up. "I'm going upstairs."

Julian frowned. "Eli."

I ignored him.

"Eli." Still ignored.

I started walking away. Behind me I heard Anton say, "Oh, this is going to be fun."

I didn't turn around. Because if I did, I'd probably tell them exactly why I was angry.
And I absolutely refused to give Julian that satisfaction, especially after spending an entire evening watching Lovia throw herself at him while he sat there pretending not to notice.

No.

He could figure it out himself. Let him suffer.