Chapter 23: Chapter 23

“Miss Luna!” Estella exclaimed. “You’ve returned! “ Estella rushed over to me and welcomed me. Nana Sena was the next to come. They are the only ones here because I met grandfather Adelard outdoors gardening earlier. Because of the volume of Estella’s voice, it had been a little noisy earlier. The woman was the last to approach me.

“Where is Adonis?” I continue to ignore the lady in front of me and stare straight at Estella as if I don’t care who she is anymore. We’ll converse more than she does. I know Adonis is still in the office because it’s still early, but I’m not sure why I asked.

“Sir Adonis hasn’t returned yet. You know he’ll be returning home at night,” she remarked, and I felt like I wanted to be swallowed by dirt. Why did I ask her, knowing full well that she had an irrepressible mouth? I heard the woman standing behind me stifle her laughing. I raised an eyebrow as I stared at her. Is there anything amusing here? I’m tempted to slap her, but I keep my cool. Mark, on the other hand, has vanished from my view and is maybe still outdoors. When I came in here, he didn’t follow me.

“Miss Luna, do you already know her?” She ask and presented the woman to me even though I could see the woman. Who wouldn’t notice such beauty? But I have a vibe that she doesn’t have good manners. There was an aura around her that I was not comfortable with. My question was only answered when Estella said who the woman was. Shouldn’t the woman be the one introducing herself? Why does she let Estella introduce her?

“Miss Luna, this is Sir Adonis’ fiancee. Miss Wendy Whitlock. She could only return because she accompanied Sir Adonis’ uncle to seek medical treatment abroad. Did Sir Adonis tell you about her?” If there is only one definition of being clueless, it is Estella. She’s the type of person who doesn’t know how to read ambiance. Whether it is heavy or light. Whether awkward or not.

What I’ve been denying about my feelings for Adonis has surfaced. I rejected it to myself because I believed I might have been incorrect. Hearing the word fiancée come out of the mouth of someone who has known Adonis for a long time is devastating. It seemed as if the heavens had fallen on me, and I couldn’t stand the weight of the rain and lightning mingled with flesh. It felt as if my stomach butterflies had died. It seemed as if someone had passed away there. My heart was hammering with anguish from which I had no idea where it was coming from. I don’t want to cause any awkwardness between Adonis and myself; the support he has given me is enough to make me believe I should be grateful that I didn’t interfere with his relationship. I faked a grin even though it was difficult.

“Wow! Adonis kept his fiancée a secret from me!” I extended my hand to her, who appeared to be cold. “I’m Adonis’ friend.” I didn’t take my hand from in front of her and waited for her to receive it, but I removed it a few seconds later since I knew she wasn’t going to accept it.

“I know.”

I straightened up as a result of what she said. Because the letters were caught in my throat, I didn’t know what to say. I’m at a loss for words. I’m embarrassed by my entire self. If you’re the fiancee, of course, you will know who is your boyfriend’s friends? I’m afraid I won’t be able to look her in the eyes. I’ve never been envious of what others have that I don’t. I never aspired to things I wished I had as well. But right now, all I want is one.

Is it possible for me to take on the role of this woman?

Adonis walked in through the open door. His dark eyes locked on the woman in front of me. I turned to go upstairs while the woman walked over to him. I was the first to meet him months ago. I was the first person he looked at a few months ago. But now I’m being asked what exactly my role in Adonis was. His modest actions made sense to me. At the end of the day, I was the only one who assumed everything. He then called me as soon as I walked into the stairwell. I didn’t want to face him, so I stood up straight. I’m not interested in seeing the image they have. I talked even though I was not facing them.

“I did it,” I informed him, tears welling up in the corner of my eye. I dashed inside my room and slammed the door. In anguish, I leaned against the back of the door. I even overcome the sadness of being in excruciating agony. I believed I had nothing to depend on at the time, but when I saw Adonis as a person, I figured I’d be alright and move on with my life.

I sat down in my bed to get a feel for the chill in the room. What I refer to as emotion makes me laugh out loud. I’m no longer a teenager, but I’m broken. Is this what they mean when they say “broken-hearted”? I haven’t experienced it yet, so I can’t say for sure. I was completely unaware that I had dozed off.

I just woke up to a faint knock. I thought I was just dreaming, but that was followed by a second knock. When I looked at the time in my hand, it was only seven o’clock in the evening. Suddenly my stomach growls, too. I had no intention of eating and going down, but I hadn’t eaten lunch earlier. When I opened the door, it was Estella. She was already carrying food on a tray. She waited for me to open the door before she finally entered. She laid it on my side table while I was just watching her.

I don’t speak, and only the sound of the aircon can be heard. Soon she was the one who broke the silence. “Miss Luna, Sir Adonis left with Miss Wendy. He told me you just tell Mark or Raymond what you need.”

I didn’t speak, so she left as well. I’m not surprised that he leaves the house because his fiance is here. When I looked at the food, it was just simple soup with corn.

The days passed quickly. Neither Adonis nor even Wendy that Estella introduced to me came back. It wasn’t so quiet anymore because Nana Sena, Grandpa Adelard, and Estella were already there. Add Mark and Raymond, who talk a lot. I didn’t even think about how Adonis felt because I didn’t want to have any more conflict between us just because I couldn’t control how I felt for him. Next week, I will be going to a province to plan the facilities we will build.

I was sitting in the living room now when I heard my phone vibrate. When I looked, someone emailed me. Since the name of the emailer was unfamiliar, I immediately opened it and read it seriously. Everyone was still chatting as my attention was now focused on the email I had received.

“Good day, Ms. Luna,

Regarding the project you presented, this is Cole Dela Vega’s secretary. They even organized a gathering of business leaders to facilitate the building of hospitals and schools. The executives will go to the province by pair, as determined at the meeting. Mr. Cole Dela Vega will be with you in Zhejiang province to keep an eye on the province for you. You may talk to him about everything. Thank you very much.”

Kindly Regards

Judilyn Occam

I sprang up swiftly from my seat. What’s going on here? Why didn’t they tell me about it? I investigated the provinces since I intended to be the one to double-check everything while Cole was with me. Cole’s heart would be filled in no time if I merely touched one province.

Because I was already nervous, I bit my nail. I can’t contradict them since they could just back out if everything is in order. Finally, I had no choice but to accept the new plan. Isn’t that Zheijang? I only hope there’s enough time.

The days seemed to fly by. I’m not aware if today is the day of our departure, but I have yet to hear from Adonis. I haven’t spoken to him in a long time. Mark have no idea what Cole and I are planning right now; they are aware that we still need to plan everything. I didn’t tell them because I didn’t want to have to tell them everything for the rest of my life. I’ll have to learn to stand on my own two feet at some point, so I’d best start practicing now. I’ve already put on the last of the dresses I’ll be wearing. My stomach was already trembling at the prospect of being in the same place as Cole.

I was wearing a white, backless dress. This is the dress that Adonis doesn’t want because it’s too revealing. When I went downstairs, Mark and Raymond stood up at the same time when they saw me. They looked at each other and wondered why I was carrying a suitcase. Mark was the first to approach me.

“Miss Luna, sir Adonis did not tell us that you have a walk today. Can you wait a minute and I’ll just call him?” Just as he was about to press the chip, I restrained his hand. I shuddered as if tearing my heart apart as I wondered who Adonis was with now. I know Adonis is not aware of how I feel.

“Don’t, I already mentioned this to Adonis, he agreed.” I lied to them. I handed my suitcase to Raymond, then proceeded. “Come on, I might be late for where I’m going.”

I haven’t heard from them yet. Upon getting into the car, Mark still pressed his chip. I knew he would tell Adonis I was leaving. I just ignored that and turned a blind eye.