Chapter 248: Chapter 248

Shelby held her head and grimaced. The world around her seemed to move and tilt suddenly. She staggered, trying to maintain her balance.

"Are you okay, dear?" Geneva asked, placing her hand gently on Shelby’s back. She peered at Shelby in concern. Shelby’s reaction had even drawn the attention of the few people around.

It took Shelby about a moment before she felt okay enough to raise her head.

"Yes, mum, I am. I just felt dizzy all of a sudden."

"Dizzy?" Geneva’s concern grew. Ava also joined them, trying to find out if Shelby was okay.

"You okay?" Ava whispered, and Shelby nodded, mouthing, "It’s nothing. Don’t worry."

It took all but a moment for Geneva’s ideas to click in place.

’Dizziness? Is it happening now?’ Geneva’s eyes widened as her concern reduced and her excitement increased instead. ’Am I going to become a grandma already? Oh my! I am the happiest person on earth now...’ Geneva’s thoughts ran so wild that she almost forgot where she was until she saw the faces of the madams around her.

’Ahem!’ Geneva cleared her throat. She did not want to be viewed as the ruthless mother-in-law who gloated at the sight of her daughter-in-law’s discomfort and health concerns.

Even Shelby and Ava could not understand what had made Geneva so happy; her eyes literally shone like stars from the little fact that Shelby felt dizzy which was absurd no matter how much one viewed it.

"I think you have had enough of these wines today...." Geneva added, taking Shelby’s empty wine glass.

’Let’s make sure that she takes no more alcohol.’ Geneva thought to herself.

"Yes, mum, I think you’re right."

Shelby only agreed because she thought that she had taken one too many glasses of wine, which was making her woozy. She had no idea of Geneva’s line of thoughts.

Geneva’s gaze fleeted onto Shelby’s flat stomach and that excitement threatened to spill. Shelby did not see this as her gaze was locked elsewhere but Ava saw this and pieced two and two together, smiling.

Shelby felt an intense gaze on her and turned to meet Ian’s eyes on her. Her gaze softened instantaneously.

’Are you okay?’ Ian asked, using his mind to link with her.

Shelby smiled at him and also asked, ’Is everything okay?’

They both stared at each other across the room, and Shelby smiled, making an okay sign. However, Ian frowned because this was not the response he was expecting; he was expecting a specific response from her.

’I’ll go out for a bit...’ Shelby added with a broader smile and then turned back to Geneva and the ladies.

Ian’s frown deepened.

"Did that happen again?" He muttered to himself. Since Ian found out that he had been able to ’talk’ to his wife through a mind link of a sort, Ian had experienced a few times when he could not read her mind nor communicate with her that way.

Those moments scared him a lot as did this time. He could hear nothing from Shelby, and that feeling was something that Ian detested. However, she was still within his line of sight, so Ian did not feel like freaking out then.... Or not.

Shelby turned to Geneva.

"I’m okay, mum. I just want to get to the restroom and rinse this wine from my hand."

"Sure, dear, take your time."

"I’ll come with you."

"It’s okay, Ava. I won’t be long."

"You sure? You didn’t look too good a moment ago."

"I’ll be fine. You worry too much. I just want to go to the restroom. Nothing will happen to the big old me."

The girls smiled at each other as if they were sharing a private joke, and Shelby walked off.

Shelby glanced around briefly as if looking for the person who had handed her the wine earlier, but with a room filled with people, she knew it was a wild goose chase.

"Forget it, Shelby. It’s nothing." She muttered to herself knowing perfectly well that she did not believe herself. Whatever that eerie sensation she had experienced after taking that gulp of wine had left her feeling uneasy, but she could not find out why.

’Also, Ian never responded to me earlier. Is it because he is in the middle of a conversation with them?’ Shelby asked herself. Ian never left her questions unanswered. With their newfound way of communicating, Shelby felt that Ian was with her 24/7, so this was disconcerting. She looked back once and could see Ian’s gaze still fixed on her.

This made her relax immediately. Shelby made a quick gesture with her fingers that she was going out and then headed out the venue’s door. ’At least, he’ll know.’

Around the same time, an infuriated Brianna was still fuming. With no one to direct her sentiments at, she used her parents as her outlet.

"What should I do now? My dress is all ruined!" Brianna stomped her feet, forgetting that she was not at home but with her parents’ business partners.

"It’s okay, my dear." Her father, Abram, coaxed her. Abram took off his long coat and then draped it over Brianna’s shoulders in an attempt to cover the stained dress.

"Here. This should do for now."

"I don’t want it, Daddy. It will ruin the presentation of my dress!"

’I know you don’t like it, my dear, but Daddy’s coat is the best of the best. Daddy just wants to help. I’ll buy you another more expensive dress later.’

"Whatever! I don’t want it!" Brianna shouted and removed the coat. Dumping it on the floor unceremoniously. Brianna turned and also left the room.

On Ian’s side, his eyes narrowed, and then he turned from the people around him, aiming to follow Shelby, but he was intercepted by the people around. He hardly took one step when another question was posed.

"So, Chairman Ian, tell us a little more about these new wines. I really love them."

"I-" Ian wanted to leave and follow Shelby, but he knew this tasting event’s importance. Also, considering the fact that Avril was not there to do her part, it meant that Ian had to stay at the event by hook or crook, but he could not feel Shelby in any way.

It was as if their connection to each other had been cut off in a way. If not for the fact that he had seen her in that room, he would have thought that she was not in the vicinity at all.

Ian was usually not that apprehensive, but Murray was not with them on this day. By a rule of thump, Murray had stayed back because Shelby was with him, Ian.

Looking to the side, Ian noticed that Currey was also busy with some people.

Ian understood from Shelby’s gesture that she would be right back so he decided to relax after, what could possibly happen to her in a whole building filled with many people?

In the restroom, Shelby stood in front of the large mirror. She was in no mood to admire anything as her head still felt slightly woozy.

Just then, the door pushed open, and Brianna entered.

Brianna just stormed in without looking at Shelby. It was clear that she was angry, which Shelby did not understand.

’Shouldn’t I be the one angry?’

What Shelby did not notice was that Brianna had her eyes on Shelby even though it did not appear so.

"Hey, Brianna." Gritting her teeth, Shelby started. She felt that she had to somehow try to reason with Brianna and maybe give her another chance.

"Is the high and mighty Mrs. Thornston speaking to a lowly girl like me?" Brianna mocked.

"Brianna don’t be like that. You know what you have done. I am trying here as I still want to maintain our friendship."

"Friendship? Shelby! You took the only man who meant anything to me!"

"I did not take anything or anyone from you, Brianna! You had him in your heart and in your mind. I know of your crush more than anyone, but he is my husband now.

I know of everything that you have been trying to do but have not said anything about that because I cherish this friendship, but why are you still behaving this way?" Shelby asked, running a hand through her hair.

"Why? You are asking me why?"

"Yes, Brianna, I really want to know!"

"....and she talks back now!" Brianna muttered scornfully.

"You have really changed, Shelby. Gone was that timid girl who was only known for her looks. Now that you have Ian, you think that the world should be at your feet?"

"What?! What are you talking about, Brianna?"

"Are you still going to feign ignorance?"

"I’m sorry, Brianna. I don’t know what I can do to make this right? I treasure our friendship and want to try and keep it."

Even as Shelby said this, she felt uncomfortable because she had seen what Brianna had tried to do. However, Shelby did not have many friends and wanted to give all the chances as best to keep this one.

Brianna rolled her eyes and studied Shelby for a while, picking her fingernails with one arm folded under her curvy breasts.

"You really will do anything?" Brianna skewed her head, and her eyes glinted. Without batting an eyelid. Shelby quickly replied,

"Only if it doesn’t involve my husband."

"Hahahahahhahaaa...." Brianna laughed and then added,

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