Chapter 363: Chapter 363

"What is going on in that head of yours, first brat?"

Brad steadied Samatha and poked at her forehead. This made the few people who were looking on snicker in amusement. It was clear that the relationship between uncle and niece was cordial. It was such fun to watch, except for the person on the receiving end.

Samantha lowered her voice to a whisper, for only Brad’s ears: "You should stay away from such women, Uncle Brad. I can help you filter out such undeserving women-"

Brad shook in amusement his head and asked,

"When did you become so nosey? I prefer the quiet, brooding Samantha to this one!"

"Come on.... Uncle Brad, do you not want me to progress in life? Why would you wish such on me? I-"

On the other hand, Natasha longed to stomp her feet in anger, but she had presented herself as a young, well-bred girl, so how could she do that?

She looked down at the bottom of her red-wine-stained dress and bit her lip. Her eyes scrunched in an apparent ’I have been wronged’ attitude, but the person she was doing this to was engaged in a mused conversation with her nemesis, Samantha. At this time, Natasha could not afford to offend either party.

"What did she say that her dad told her?"

"I don’t believe it’s any of your business. How can a fourteen-year-old be so interested in adults’ relationships?"

Brad set off from the dancefloor without another glance at the other little girl who had thought that she was old enough to make passes at him. The funny thing was that her equally stupid father was onboard with this and had plans to merge with their family.

Brad shook his head, wondering what qualifications that the man had to even dream of this?

Brad had no plans to settle with anyone at that moment. Brad could not help but glance at his sister-in-law again and then sighed.

Brad gestured to Samantha, and the two walked off with Samantha feeling so proud of herself.

Natasha stared, mouth agape, at the retreating backs.

"What just happened? Did he leave me here alone? In the middle of dancing? Why?"

A few onlookers sighed. Natasha was still too young to play such adult-related games. None pitied her, though.

Natasha turned at that, ready to snap at whoever had called her, but immediately set on a forced smile as her eyes met that of the maid that had been by Samatha’s stepmother throughout the evening. She had engaged with big households long enough to understand the worth of such people.

"Sorry for the mishap; please come with me to change your clothes."

Suzie slightly bowed her head, with just enough smile to be considered polite, and led Natasha out of the hall. Natasha was confused,

’What did he mean by that?’ At the back of her mind, she knew that she had been rejected before she could do anything. Just before they exited the room, Suzie paused and turned to look back at Brad,

"Master Brad has such refined taste, and I must say, these women gathered have good bearings to admire from afar simply."

Suzie smiled at Natasha, "Never mind."

It took Natasha a few more seconds for the meaning of the words to sink in. She gasped.

"Ian, did you put your daughter up to this?!"

Brad snapped as he came up to the table.

"What do you mean by that? I only saw that she ’saved’ you from a precarious situation. You should be rewarding her instead of asking useless questions."

Samantha beamed with pride at the fact that her father was defending her. She smiled widely and opened her palm wide for Brad.

"The reward, Uncle Brad?" She said sweetly, blinking twice with her little face upturned to him, making Brad cringe.

’What have I gotten myself into?’

At the corner of Brad’s eyes, he saw Rocky staggering out of the room, and Brad frowned. However, Brad was stuck with a little devil, in the form of Samantha and soon dismissed this from his mind.

All evening, Rocky felt satisfied, watching how Shelby had take up the mantle and as everything went on without a hitch.

Even though Rocky had been with his new girlfriend for the past few days, he had talked to his sister at least once. So, Rocky knew more than anyone gathered, about some of the inner doubts that Shelby had. Of all gathered, one could say that Rocky also knew his sister the most. He had watched Shelby all through their home, her insecurities and her inferiority complex, among others.

Watching the ever-so-confident Shelby that evening, Rocky felt truly happy. So happy that he let go completely but he did heed his girlfriend’s last advice to him.

Rocky stumbled out of the grand banquet hall, the echo of laughter and clinking glasses trailing behind him as he stepped into the cool, quiet night.

Ava was nowhere to be found; she had slipped back into her duties somewhere along the lines as the dinner progressed. Ava was not mandated to do that, as she was at the dinner as family but she just preferred to.

The chill in the outside air hit his face like a splash of icy water, but it did nothing to clear the haze clouding his mind. The sudden drop in temperature sent a shiver through him, yet the strange heat pulsing under his skin persisted, making him tug at his collar as though loosening it might ease the restlessness stirring within him.

Rocky shook his head vigorously and staggered forward. The garden was quiet- a calm welcome to the hatter he had just left. His steps were unsteady, weaving slightly as he moved down the path toward the garden, his vision swimming slightly.

’What is going on? I only took non-alcoholic juice throughout the night... so why?’

Rocky asked himself, remembering the instructions that Ava had given him,

’Don’t drink again!’ Ava had told him, and he had teased her by replying,

’Yes, dear! I obey every single command from my future wife!’

Rocky robbed his eyes, growing tired by the minute. The garden, then dimly lit by the moon, seemed to sway and blur at the edges as he tried to steady his breath, the quiet pressing around him with an eerie intensity.

Rocky’s heart pounded faster than he wanted it to, frustration bubbling up as he fought to ground himself, but the dizzy warmth was trying to tell him something that his foggy mind could not grasp.

Something that he couldn’t shake, lingering in his thoughts like an unsettling whisper.

Rocky used all of his focus to walk to the nearest wall, trampling some of the beautiful flowers that were in full bloom. He leaned against the wall and started to take deep breaths. His medical training duly informed him that something was amiss.

Rocky used his last willpower to send a message just as a person appeared in his peripheral vision.

"Rocky?" The female voice called out to him.

"Rocky? Is that you?"

The light footsteps barely made their way to Rocky’s ears. He could feel himself sinking, but Rocky was fighting the daze with all of his will. He had been drugged. Nothing else could explain what he was feeling in that moment. Rocky knew that Terry being there at that exact time, was no coincidence and this made him upset.

Rocky’s irritation seemed to ignite whatever was coursing through his veins, accelerating its effect. Suddenly, a rush of heat spread through his body, from the roots of his hair to his toes. It was intense and relentless, like fire beneath his skin. Beads of sweat broke out across his forehead, dampening his collar, and his breaths grew shallow as the world around him seemed to blur and sway in shadowed hues.

’This isn’t right,’ he thought, alarm flickering through his mind just before his knees buckled. His vision went dark, the garden’s night sounds fading into silence as he collapsed onto the cool stone pathway.

’No, no!’ Rocky’s last thought could not make it fully, but he did catch a glimpse of Terry’s wry smile just as he lost consciousness.

This did not last long, though, a much-sorted coolness enveloped his body, bringing Rocky back to his surroundings. He borrowed deeper into the source of it, relishing it.

"Anything for you, my Rock!"

One can say that Rocky’s self-will was strong because the voice instantly got him to move back even though, his whole being was screaming for that cool embrace. He longed to bury himself in her.

When that thought manifested, that was when Rocky finally pieced everything together. He tried to move back and create some distance, but his body was not listening. Dread settled into the depths of his stomach. Rocky did not want to betray his love for Ava, but from what he was experiencing, he knew that he was fighting a losing game. He watched on as Terry smiled gleefully and started to drop her clothes. Her touch repulsed him.

Just then, "Get off my man, bitch!"

These words were like heaven to Rocky’s ears. He had no idea what had happened to Terry, nor did he care. He had not even heard Ava’s approach, but Rocky was in no frame of mind to mind that.

"Are you okay? What is wrong with you, Rocky?"

Ava peered at his half-closed lids and then placed the back of her hand on his forehead to check his temperature.

"Hmmmm.... Let’s get you some help. Okay?"

Ava moved to help Rocky stand, but he suddenly pounced on her and whipped her around, with her back against the wall. Rocky’s sudden strength took Ava by surprise, so by the time she reacted, his mouth was already on hers.

He kissed her deep as his hands roamed her dress, slipping underneath her top.

Ava froze for just a second before understanding dawned on her, and she responded with equal intensity, only to stop short.

"What the hell is going on here!"

Ava’s blood ran cold, for the voice belonged to no other than her best friend, Shelby!

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