Chapter 16 Forced Date
Elodie's POV
In Taryn's eyes, I was never her daughter, just a tool she used to get wealth and status.
"Mom, I don't want to be your tool anymore." My voice turned cold.
"What nonsense are you talking about!" Taryn flew into a rage. "I'm doing this for your own good! Let me tell you, I've already talked to Alex. He's a generous kid who's willing to forgive your little tantrum. He's made reservations for 8 PM tonight, and you have to go! Apologize to him properly and beg him to get back together with you!"
"I'm not going!" The words burst out of me.
"You dare!" Taryn's voice turned icy. "Elodie, don't forget your brother still needs money for his treatment. Alex has already promised me that as long as you behave, he'll cover all the medical expenses. If you don't go, just wait to collect your brother's body!"
Before I could argue back, she hung up on me.
I held my phone, my whole body cold, shaking with anger.
Before I could even recover from my fury, an unknown number called.
I answered, and Alex's disgusting voice came through.
"Elodie, your mom should have told you everything, right? Tonight at 8 PM, I'll be waiting for you."
"Alex, you're really shameless."
He sneered. "I'm just using what your mom cares about most to make a deal with you. You'd better come, otherwise I wouldn't mind telling your mom about your 'exciting' life in New York, like how you're being kept by some old man."
The naked threat left me speechless with anger. He only dared to act tough in front of me.
"Don't even think about standing me up, or you'll face the consequences." With that, he hung up too.
I returned to the living room. Nelson was still sitting at the dining table, his deep blue eyes staring at me without blinking. He'd obviously heard the whole phone conversation.
"Going?" he asked.
I bit my lip, nodded, then quickly shook my head.
I didn't want to go, but I had no choice. I couldn't gamble with my brother Edward's illness.
Nelson stood up and walked over to me, his tall figure bringing an invisible sense of pressure.
"I'll go with you."
I stared at him blankly. After a long moment, he patted my head. "Stunned?"
My heart ached. "Okay."
At 8 PM sharp, I appeared at the restaurant entrance.
Alex had obviously rented out the place. The huge restaurant only had a few scattered tables of customers, and they all looked like plants he'd arranged.
He wore a white suit, his hair slicked back and shiny. When he saw me, he immediately smiled and, for once, pulled out my chair for me. "Elodie, you came. I knew you still had feelings for me."
I ignored him and sat down directly, scanning the restaurant. I didn't see Nelson anywhere.
He'd dropped me off at the door and left, saying he'd wait nearby.
"What would you like to drink?" Alex attentively picked up a wine bottle and poured me a glass of red wine. "This is your favorite, 1982 Lafite."
He served me food. "Try this, your favorite black truffle escargot."
Watching his clumsy performance, I just found it ridiculous.
I'd only gotten together with him because he looked a bit like Nelson. I really had no emotional support and was desperate, so I chased after him.
"Alex, let's get to the point." I put down my knife and fork, looking at him coldly. "Why did you call me here? What do you really want?"
"Don't rush," Alex smiled mysteriously and snapped his fingers. "I've prepared a surprise for you."
As soon as he finished speaking, all the restaurant lights went out with a sudden snap, plunging everything into darkness.
My heart tightened, and I instinctively stood up to leave.
Just then, a spotlight suddenly beamed down from the ceiling, landing precisely in front of me.
The melodious sound of a violin started playing in my ears. Alex emerged slowly from the darkness, holding a large bouquet of bright red roses, his face wearing a deeply affectionate smile.
To the soft music, he walked up to me, knelt on one knee, and held the flowers high.
"Elodie, marry me, be my wife. I'll make you the happiest woman in the world."
I got goosebumps all over.
Had this guy lost his mind?
"Alex, what are you playing at now?" I asked.
The deep affection on his face instantly froze. "Elodie, what do you mean?"
What did I mean? I wanted to ask what he meant, suddenly performing this deep affection act. Hadn't he said he'd rather marry a stripper than marry me in this lifetime?
Ridiculous!
"Where did you put Samantha?" I crossed my arms, looking at him coldly. "A few days ago you were making out with her in front of the whole school at the hockey rink, and today you're kneeling here proposing to me. Do you change women faster than you change clothes?"
My words completely shattered the romantic atmosphere he'd carefully created.
Alex's face looked ugly. He stood up, shoved the roses at a nearby waiter, and waved for the music to stop.
"I was just playing around with her." He tried to explain. "Elodie, I've finally figured it out during this time. I don't like women like her at all. My head is full of you, thinking about how good you were to me before, thinking about how cold you are to me now... I admit it, I'm a masochist, I'm completely under your spell."
He moved closer to me step by step. "I was a jerk before, I didn't know how to cherish you. Now I get it. Just say yes, and I'll make Samantha disappear from New York immediately."
I was about to speak when I suddenly noticed Alex's friend in the corner secretly recording with his phone.
My face turned cold. Sure enough, the same old trick.
I was afraid I'd throw up if I stayed any longer, so I got up to leave.
The guy who'd been secretly recording came over laughing. He stuffed his phone in his pocket and whistled at Alex. "Alex, you lost. Get ready to pay up."
Alex's face looked terrible.
"Stop!" Alex grabbed my wrist. "I'm not done talking. You dare leave?"
I tried hard to shake him off, but his grip was too strong. I couldn't break free.
"Elodie!" Completely enraged by my attitude, his face became twisted. "Don't be so ungrateful! Let me tell you, if you dare walk out that door today, I'll call your mom right away. Your brother's medical expenses—don't expect to get a single penny!"
The same old threat again!