Chapter 32: Chapter 32

While I'm talking to Greyson, I suddenly feel like someone is staring at me.

I looked around, and my eyes landed on the table not far from us. There is a group of men sitting there. No one is suspicious among them, aside from this one guy sporting a grey polo shirt.

At first I thought I was just imagining things and he's only looking in my direction, but when he flashed a sinister smile, that's when my hair curled up.

"Cleo."

I quickly averted my gaze from that man and looked at Garren, who had just appeared out of nowhere and is now standing in front of me.

"Y-Yes?" I stuttered.

He scowled. "Are you okay? Your face is pale and you're sweating bullets."

I swallowed the lump in my throat and wiped the sweat on my forehead. "I'm fine, sir."

From my peripheral vision, I can see that man still staring at me. I thought he would stop his eerie behavior after I caught him, but he didn't.

What the hell is wrong with him? Isn't he ashamed at all?

"Are you sure?"

I don't know if my hearing was just playing with me, but I discerned worry in the tone of Garren's voice.

I drew a deep breath and feigned a smile. "Yes, Sir Garren."

He looked at me for a couple of seconds, as if he was assessing if I was telling the truth.

"If you say so."

He sat on the chair and pushed a plate at me. Much to my surprise, it's filled with barbecues!

"W-What's this?"

He huffed. "Haven't you seen barbecue before?"

I internally gritted my teeth. Sarcasm is really embedded in his system, and it's making my hackles rise.

I quelled my seething nerves. "That's not what I mean, sir. Why did you get this for me? I don't remember asking you to get me one."

This time, it was him who was caught off-guard and rendered speechless.

He cleared his throat. "Why don't you just be grateful and eat them?"

I was about to retort when Greyson laughed out of the blue.

"You guys look like a couple arguing over a petty matter."

My cheeks heat up. "W-What are you saying?"

His playful smile widened. "You and Dad look like a married-"

"Greyson," his father called his name threateningly.

His acted zipping his mouth, but the mischief in his smile is still there.

We resumed eating. But I can't look at Garren because of his son's remarks. I really need to tell him off for teasing us

Garren didn't eat anything, aside from a stick of barbecue that Greyson gave him, and the whiskey that he asked from the waiter. Greyson and I, on the other hand, have milkshake instead.

The light show started just in time for us to finish eating.

"Cleo, look!" Greyson is in awe while watching the spectacle of colored lights moving and playing in front of us. They are sparkling and changing into different patterns and forms.

Then, after that show ended, the staff lit a firework display.

"Awesome," I exclaimed as kaleidoscopic colors glistened on the night sky.

Now that I think of it, it's been a long time since I watched a fireworks display. Even during the last Christmas season, I couldn't do it because I still had to work my ass off inside the Oblivion.

"You adore fireworks, don't you?"

I averted my stare from the sky and looked at the person who spoke beside me. When I realized it was the guy who had been staring at me for a while, I was put on tenterhooks.

I cast a wary glance around. Garren and Greyson moved to a different spot, and I didn't even notice it. Now I'm stuck alone with this creepy man.

"I'm Cyrus Del Valle. May I know your name, pretty?"

I look at the man who's smiling all ears as he extends a hand at me. I ignored him and was planning to leave to avoid further interaction with this man—but he held my arms before I could take a step.

A shiver ran down my spine and I swiftly pulled my arm back.

I shot daggers at him. "Don't you ever touch me again."

Instead of getting scared, he flashed a disturbing grin.

"Ohhh, feisty. I like that. You're making me crave you even more."

My stomach churned in disgust. I turned my back and walked away from him without any preamble.

That stinker is giving me creeps.

I searched for Garren and Greyson in the crowd, and good thing that I immediately found them. The former must have noticed the look of discomfort in my face and asked me if I'm alright. I assured them that I'm fine, although I'm not.

I could still feel that man's touch on my skin, and it's putting the wind up on me.

The party resumed. There's a band playing in the stage right now, but I can't focus all my attention to them because I still feel anxious of my surrounding, although Cyrus is nowhere to be found.

"Are you guys having fun so far?" Hail, the lead vocalist of the band Zenith, asked as they finished singing the third song.

Everyone chanted "yes" in chorus.

"I'm glad to hear that. But for now, we gotta stop singing."

The crowd cried out, telling the band that they want them to continue singing.

I can't blame them, though. They are really exceptional. They've been a band for two years now, according to them.

"Calm down, fella." Hail laughed. "We'll stop singing for a while because we want to hear your voices too! So if you guys want to sing, don't be shy and go here in front!"

It became loud once again. They started pushing their friends to sing.

"My dad! He's great at singing!"

I was surprised when Greyson stood up all of a sudden and pointed at his father, who was as shocked as me.

"Greyson, stop that."

He ignored his father.

"My Dad wants to sing!"

The vocalist must have heard him and looked in our direction.

"Oh, our little fella here is pointing at his father."

Garren slapped his forehead. "This kid..."

"May I request you to come up here in front, sir?"

Greyson rejoiced. "Dad! Come up to the stage and sing for us!"

"Greyson... I'm warning you."

His son crossed his arms in front of his chest. "I'll be mad and won't talk to you ever again if you refuse my simple request."

I laughed. This kid really knows how to play his cards well.

"Please, dad?" He begged, his hands clasped together.

Garren let out a sigh of defeat. "Fine. Just this once. I'll give in."

Everyone cheered for him when he stood up from his seat and walked towards the stage, especially the girls from other tables.

I don't know if he notices, but they've been gawking over him since we arrived here.

"Go, dad!" Greyson shouted.

"You threatened your father to make him do what he wants," I said.

He grinned. "It's his fault for giving in anyway."

I shook my head. "You are one wicked kid."

We looked at the stage. Garren shakes hands with the band members.

"Before we proceed, may we know your name, sir?"

He got the mic  Hail. "I'm Garren Montreal." His voice was void of any emotion when he spoke.

The girls went crazy after hearing his name. They began shouting things that really shook me to the core.

"Please impregnate me, Garren!"

"I can be your son's mother if you want!"

"You're so freaking hot."

My cheeks flushed. I'm the one who feels embarrassed for them.

"Girls, hold your horses." Hail chuckled and looked in our direction. "Mr. Garren's wife is here, just in case you don't know."

And just like that, all the attention went to me and mumbles filled the air.

I bowed my head in embarrassment.  Why did he say that?! Just because I'm with them doesn't mean anything! I just want the sand to swallow me to the ground just to escape this humiliation.

"She's not my wife."

I breathed a sigh of relief when Garren announced that clarification.

"She's my son's nanny. And don't ask how she's here with us, because that's a long story. Let's just get this started, shall we?"

The vocalist seemed taken aback with how straight-forward he is, but still managed to pick himself up afterwards.

"Y-Yes, sir! Of course!"

They talked for a while before the band finally suited themselves up, while Garren sat on the chair in the middle.

"I'm warning everyone. I have a horrible singing voice," he said emotionlessly.

The song started with a strum of his guitar. I focused my attention on him when I recognized the song.

It's Incomplete by Backstreet boys.

Garren closed his eyes and started singing the first verse of the song. The surroundings went silent. I was surprised, not expecting that he has a beautiful voice.

He's definitely lying when he says he sucks at singing.

Our gaze was fixated on him, singing his heart out and feeling the rhythm of the song.

I felt shivers down my spine when he sang the lyrics, "Without you, within me, I can't find no rest."  He seems adrift of reality, his soul becomes one with the music.

His voice sounds like a lullaby, pulling me to a deep sleep. I couldn't tear my gaze off of him. He looks so ethereal at that very moment. The way his hair dances along the breeze as he sings his heart out, it screams perfection.

"But without you, all I'm going to be is incomplete."

Why do I feel like he's saying those lyrics to someone else? Suddenly, Garren's mother, Celestine, flashed in my mind. Could it be that Garren is still in love with that woman?

I shrugged my shoulders. Whatever the answer is, it is none of my business.

"I don't wanna make you face this world alone."

He suddenly opened his eyes, and our gaze accidentally met. I felt a twinge in my heart when I saw sadness on those pair of orbs.

I'm right. He's not just merely singing the song- he's also letting his heart speak.

"But without you, all I'm going to be is... incomplete."

Silence ruled the place. Even after he was done singing, everyone, including me, was still awestruck.

Gradually, claps erupted from the crowd. Soon after, people shouting and praising him broke the silence of that night.

Greyson is even jumping jovially, proud of his father.

I want to join the fun because Garren indeed sang that song beautifully, but I suddenly feel mother nature's calling.

"I need to use the bathroom. I'll be back in a while."

Greyson smiled. "Alright!"

I didn't wait for Garren to come down the stage and left the place. It's a good thing that I saw a staff so I asked if there's a nearby bathroom since it would be a hassle if I walked to our villa just to relieve myself.

"Just go to the left and walk straight ahead, ma'am."

I smiled and thanked the staff before I rushed towards the bathroom she was pointing at.

The place is quite silent and dark because the only illumination is the lightbulb, but I can still see the path.

I entered the bathroom and went to a cubicle. When I was done, I went to turn on the faucet.

While I'm washing my hands, the door behind me opened. I turned around, and I was horrified to see the person who entered- it's Cyrus.

The familiar terror that I felt because of him came back- and it's even worse. Damn it