âHilliard, try this.
Itâs delicious.
Donât worry about the fat while weâre here.
â
Hilliard chewed on the chicken and stayed quiet.
Nathan expertly prepared a piece of fish and fed it to Lucinda with a loving smile.
He said, âDarling, donât fret.
A little extra weight wonât change how beautiful you are.
I still adore you.
â
Catching sight of Hilliardâs grim expression, Lucinda bit her Lip to stifle a laugh and accepted the food with a nod.
Jennifer was visibly upset.
Since they boarded the plane, Hilliard had either been silent or made unpleasant remarks, lacking any tact.
Angered, she loaded Hilliardâs plate with fatty meat and said, âEat up.
Since I need to slim down, you can help me by finishing this.
Youâre skinny, so it wonât hurt you to eat more.
â
Hilliard didnât respond.
He just quietly accepted the meat Jennifer piled onto his plate.
After midnight, the night market buzzed with more activity as people flocked for late-night snacks.
Lucinda and the others nearly finished their meal and the half-carton of beer.
Not much of a drinker, Hilliard worried about embarrassing himself in front of Lucinda and Nathan, so he stuck to just one bottle.
Lucinda and Jennifer came back to the hotel with smiles on their faces.
The slight flush from the drinks made them look particularly radiant.
The four of them booked two spacious rooms next to each other.
Before entering her room, Jennifer embraced Lucinda and said, âYouâre beautiful and wonderful, Lucinda.
If I were a man, Iâd fall for you too.
â
With a stern look, Nathan reminded Hilliard, âSheâs drunk.
Take your fiancée to your room and get some rest.
â
As Hilliard approached, Jennifer clung to Lucinda, protesting, âNo, I wonât go.
I donât want to be in the same room as you, Hilliard.
I want to stay with Lucinda tonight.
Please, Lucinda.
â
Both Hilliard and Nathan were left speechless.
Nathan made a sour face and nudged Hilliard.
âPlease, take your fiancée with you.
Sheâs troubling my wife.
â
Hilliard let out a silent sigh, feeling powerless as he approached Jennifer.
âWe should head back to our room.
Lucinda⦠She has a husband.
You shouldnât be clinging to her.
â
Jennifer tightened her grip on Lucinda with a scowl.
Hilliard wore a bitter smile.
He didnât know what to do.
Nathan tried to hold back his irritation as Jennifer was soon to be his sister-in-law.
In her arms, Lucinda soothed Jennifer and cast a resigned look towards Nathan and Hilliard.
âHoney, Hilliard, maybe⦠could Jennifer stay with me tonight? You two could perhaps manage with each other just this once?â
âNo way!â