Chapter 23 Dinner
In the evening, Draven came along with his wife to meet Alyssa and their exuberance was seriously questionable, treating it like an actual marriage.
But not wanting to ruin their mood, I decided to play along and greeted them.
“Hey, welcome,” I gave Draven a side hug, patting his back.
He grinned, raising his brows, “So, where is my sister-in-law?”
“Are you here for your brother or her?” I faked sadness to which he shrugged.
“Her, obviously,”
“Okay, let me call her. She must be getting ready,” Chuckling feebly, I nodded and went to check up on her.
“Okay,”
I went to her room and knocked on the door, “Alyssa? Are you ready? Draven and Cynthia are here already,”
“Y-Yeah, just a second,”
Not thinking too much, I decided to enter, wondering what she was doing for a casual dinner or perhaps didn’t want to see them.
“What’s taking so long? Do you not want to come down-”
Pushing the door open, my steps froze to the ground, words disappearing from my tongue because my eyes greeted the most exquisite woman I had ever laid my eyes upon.
Scrutinizing the angelic woman in a black sundress, suiting her well. It was simple but enhanced her features.
“Is this okay? Do I look alright?” She questioned, checking herself again and again, unsure about her appearance, rubbing the dress, causing it to crinkle.
Ruining her charm by her insecurity, she checked her face, looking distressed.
“Maybe I should change to my pjs-”
“Alyssa,” Calling her sternly, I came closer.
Biting her bottom lip, she looked down nervously.
“Hmm?”
I had a lot of compliments but was uncertain if they would be appropriate or not so I used the most basic one.
But with my uttermost sincere smile, whispering honestly.
“You look alright,”
Apparently that was enough, her gaze lifted, greeting mine with a returned glimmer.
“Really?”
“Yes, look at yourself,”
Humming, I gently shifted her towards the mirror, pointing at her reflection with a simple question.
“Don’t you think you look pretty?”
When I asked this question, her eyes widened as if she was struck by some realization that soon faded.
A flood of sorrow flickering, causing her lips to quiver, inducing a gloom I failed to fathom.
Her hands trembled, steps stumbling back as she sat back on the couch, covering her mouth with her hand.
“Hey, what happened? Did I say something wrong?”
Bewildered, sitting on the farthest corner, my compassionate gaze met hers depressed ones.
“No-” She sniffled, swallowing hard to control her poster.
“I almost forgot how it feels to be complimented. To find confidence in yourself,”
“Was it because of Ken?”
“Mhm.”
My jaw clenched but now wasn’t the time to turn her against him and turned my head away, curling my hand in a fist.
“I began to hate my appearance at some point. I forgot I could find my pretty too and today…”
Taking a brief pause, her gentle gaze met mine with a faint smile that induced a strange tingle.
“You make me remember that. Thank you, Vince,” She whispered.
It soothed me too, returning the same look, I whispered back, “I am here for you,”
“I know,”
Before I could submerge further, I cleared my throat, gesturing to her to get up as we had guests downstairs.
“Come on, let’s go. Draven and Cynthia are waiting for us,”
“Sure,”
We both came down, Alyssa waved at them.
“Hey Guys,”
Forming a graceful smile to forge a good impression for me that caused me to lock my eyes on her.
She didn’t have to do that for me but it felt good when she did.
Maybe because of the marriage, I guess.
“My, my, you guys look better than I imagined.” Draven complimented.
I glared at him to not speak something that could make her distress yet he kept the teasing countenance.
“Uh, but, what about Astrid?” Alyssa asked innocently.
“Astrid? Do you even know that Mister agreed for the engagement just for a business contract?” Draven sighed.
“Of course, we worried if he will ever find someone he truly wants to marry or marry Astrid out of some obligation,” Cynthia added.
“Really?” Alyssa was taken aback.
“Can we not talk about her?” I groaned.
Draven chuckled at my annoyance, giving my shoulder a pat, indulging in my reaction.
Keeping a stoic lool when a brief silence came between us, I was staring at Alyssa.
Checking if she was comfortable or not, which was noticed by Draven who smirked and decided to comment.
“Well, I am glad my brother chose to be with someone his heart wanted to.”
“Wait- what?”
We both reacted with shock, staring at the lively man who gave us a sweet look.
But he had interpreted wrongly, things weren’t as beautiful as he thought.
It was just to save her from the same outcome as Lucia's, and to avoid stupid matters of love.
“You shouldn’t judge so early,” Alyssa spoke my thoughts aloud, folding her arms at her chest sternly.
None of us liked how it sounded.
“I know the real reason, Alyssa. But, I think maybe you guys were meant to be,” Draven teased her.
She smirked emptily, challenging him, “You think so?”
“Maybe you faced heartbreaks so all your paths could lead to your true soulmate?”
Sighing at his dreamy talks, she waved her hand, disregarding them.
“I have stopped believing in this shit, Draven.”
“So have I, love has no place in our lives anymore,” I shook my head in approval.
None of us had any intention of falling in love, especially after knowing how it shatters one's soul.
We will never fall in love.
“We will see about it.”
Still he continued. Rolling my eyes, I motioned to Alyssa to ignore him and not take his words to her heart.
“Leave him, he is spouting nonsense.”
“Of course, the only reason we got married is so that both of us don’t have to love and experience heartache,” Alyssa enunciated, making this fact transparent.
He winked, “Another sign that you are made for each other,”
“Whatever. Let’s go, Vince,”
“Yeah, ignore him,”
Cynthia sighed when we were bickering, “If you guys are done with your challenges, let’s go, I am starving.”
Forgetting about us instantly, that man walked away the moment his woman called, leaving us alone.
“Coming, Darling,”
The rest of the dinner went well, thankfully he didn’t pester Alyssa again and after a mellow dinner, they left.
Still I could help but to ponder about his words…. ‘Someone my heart wanted… huh?’ Like hell!
At least, not anymore.