Mia’s POV
It has been close to a month since I last heard from Xander, Save for Leila’s constant report about his daily activity in the company, there was nothing else. At least nothing unusual. It was unlike Xander; I was certain that he was aware of what we had done. The winery was already in business and making sales. Why was he keeping quiet?
Getting a call that he was at my house was no place I expected our next meeting to be.
My initial thought was that he had come to demonstrate the extremes he was willing to go to and intimidate me into backing off. I thought his intention was to show that if I didn’t give in to his threats, my home would also suffer the consequences.
But when I went through the invite, every single muscle that had flexed in place to move him out of my home, came relaxing.
A sense of pride filled me up. Pride for my best friend who was finally achieving his dream. Kyle never had an interest in his father’s business, his dream was to be in the medical field. He always wanted to be a neurosurgeon and it was happening.
I picked up the invitation card on my vanity and stared at it with so much pride. Our friendship might be over but Kyle was someone I would never forget.
“Hey,” the door opened and Nathan entered. “Everything okay?”
I put the card away and faced him. Thankfully, I had managed to keep my tears in and save myself the e stress of redoing my makeup,
“Yup, I smiled at him. Is it time?”
The decor in the banquet hall was exquisite and when we walked in, our arms linked, we got a few stares our way. While we looked for an empty table. Aspen rushed up to us. I braced myself, expecting her trouble, but instead, she wore a smile on her face.
“Mia!” She exclaimed. “I didn’t think you’d make it. I was skeptical when Xander said you’d come. You look stunning.”
1 exchanged glances with Nathan, my brows furrowed in confusion. What was happening!
Just two days ago this same woman was barging into my office to threaten and try to buy me out of her son’s life.
“Come, your table is in front with the rest of us. You’re a part of this family after all. When she attempted to take my hand, I moved it out of her reach and she brushed off the humiliation with an awkward laugh.
“I’ll lead the way.”
As she walked, the rich fabric of her dress swayed behind her. She sashayed elegantly like she had rocks on her shoulders and she attempted to slide in small conversations. Conversation that I didn’t entertain nor try to hide my displeasure.
Instead, I tried to see through her. To break through the mask she was wearing and bare her motive. The most certain thing was that I shouldn’t trust her niceness or whatever this was supposed to he.
I was tempted to stop her, to demand from her what she was trying to do but Nathan’s firm yet gentle grip on my hand reminded me of why I shouldn’t. The only thing I needed to be was cautious and Aspen was far from the reason why I was here,
Our table was just beside Irene’s, and she waved at me in acknowledgment before diverting her gaze to Nathan, who didn’t spare her as much as a glance. I returned her smile with a watered–down one and looked around the hall because locking eyes with Aspen only bred evil ideas in my head. Like why I should reach over the table and smash her head on it until there was no sign of life left.
“Kyle will be here soon. Xander went to pick him up at the airport,” she resumed the light conversations again, but my eyes drifted and were now fixed on her neck. Not on the vibrant sapphires of her necklace, or the delicate capelet beautifully woven into her dress but on the flesh. My focus was on the soft, exposed flesh of her neck; My mind was calculating the estimated time it would take to wrap my finger around it and squeeze
“Mia,” Nathan shook me gently and I jolted. “Don’t,” he whispered.
I swallowed hard and slumped into my seat, taking quick breaths. Not today, devil. Not today.
“Kyle cannot wait to meet you again, Mia. We spoke last night and he kept talking about it,” Aspen went on. Even though she could clearly see my indifference, she seemed determined to tear a word out of me.
It worked. “Why is there an emcee if I’m not allowed to listen to what he’s saying? I find it quite rude that you keep talking over
2/2
6.23 AM
Chapter 27
“Oh,” the awkward laughter again. “That was not my intention, Mia, I just thought I’d clear the misunderstanding between us.”
“Misunderstanding I arched a brow
“Yes. What I did two days ago at your company was immature and I want to apologize formally for it. I should not have invaded your space and threatened you.”
I arched a brow. “You did more than threaten me. Mrs Schaeffer
“Everything wrong that I did to you, I apologize. I should have left what happened between us in the past and not brought it to the present. I’ve accepted you as family,” she said. “Now, that we’re cool-
“Who said we’re cool!” I scoffed.
just apologized to you,” she grimaced, sheer arrogance clouding her demeanor. No surprise there, like mother like son.
“And I’m not obligated to accept your apology, Mrs Schaeffer. Her jaw dropped. My smile remained, “Even the blind can see through your act. I’m here to stay, and I’ll be in your face and your son’s life for as long as you both live. I didn’t come back to be family with you or anyone; I came as a different person. I’m Mia Walton now, not the Mia you once knew, and I’ll never be a part of your family-
I wanted to go on, there was so much more that I wanted to say to this deceitful woman, so much I wanted to do, but Nathan quickly Intervened.
“Mia, let’s have a word outside,” he said and I nodded, knowing I needed the break too. He stood up and started to help me to my feet when the door opened and he walked in.
My best friend. A big banner reading “Welcome home‘ dropped beside him, and the hall went up in cheers. Amidst the chaos, his eyes scanned the hall, like he was searching for something or someone until our eyes met.
His jaw dropped, and shock flickered in his eyes as he took a step forward, as if he wanted to rush to me, but Irene suddenly appeared before him. His gaze diverted to her for a split second and then came back to meet mine.
I wasn’t bothered until she threw her arms around him and my heart dropped when he hugged her back
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