Chapter 31

Writer's POV

Ethan opened his eyes and tried stretching his arms but a weight on his shoulder held him back.

Turning towards his side he watched Lauren sleeping peacefully on his arm. They were sleeping on the small couch in the living room.

Last night after talking, they were tired and didn't know when they slipped to sleep.

He carefully faced her not to disturb her sleep but to get a better view of her beautiful face.

She is stunning even when she is doing nothing. Her even more beautiful heart wins over her beautiful face.

She is like the warm sunshine. When you've been in dark for so long and step in sun out of blue, the bright light kind of irritates you.

Maybe that's why I hated her at the beginning, she was full of light and life completely in contrast to my life. He thought.

Telling her about everything which he had never done before, calmed his heart.

It felt like a huge invisible burden he'd been carrying for a long time is taken.

He smiled when she groaned and shifted closer towards his chest wrapping her arm around his waist.

Tucking her strand of hair behind her ear, Ethan traced his finger down to her jaw.

She moaned slightly and Ethan chuckled when she smiled in her sleep.

"Good morning" he whispered facing her and she just groaned going back to sleep.

Not moments later, she went back to sleep again.

How could someone sleep so quick?

Shaking his head, Ethan tried not to wake her up while getting up but she woke up.

She slightly opened her eyes and looked around confused.

"Good morning." Ethan greeted her again and this time she returned the greeting.

"Morning." she gave him a smile staring at Ethan for a good minute before her eyes widened.

She jolted up and sat on the couch in a quick motion. As Ethan was lying on the edge, he didn't have any time to react and lost his balance, ending up falling on the ground from the couch.

He groaned and Lauren quickly got down from the couch concerned.

"Are you okay? I'm so sorry, Ethan." she quickly apologised looking at his body for any visible injuries.

"I think I broke my back." Ethan groaned and Lauren's eyes couldn't widen anymore.

"What? Oh my god." Lauren helped him sit up and Ethan tried hiding his smile.

"My leg hurts.... Ow, what is this? I think I broke my arm too." Ethan feigned pain and Lauren felt horrible and was almost ready to spill waterworks from her eyes.

"I'm so sorry, Ethan. I'm sorry."

She apologized a few times more but stopped when Ethan smiled at her creepily.

"You are good?" Lauren asked him suspiciously.

"I fell from a couch, Lauren. not from a building." Ethan answered her and Lauren smacked his arm hard.

"Ow."

"I was worried sick." Lauren glared at him.

Ethan continued snickering recalling her priceless expressions before. When he observed Lauren's frown, his laugh slowly died.

"I'm sorry." he ran his thumb on her cheek but she swatted it away. When he did it again, she didn't stop him this time.

When he gave her his puppy eyes, Lauren tried keeping the frown but of course who could win against those ocean-blue eyes?

"Why did you wake up so suddenly?" Ethan asked her.

"I was surprised to see you that close. Also, I remembered I didn't brush my teeth yet." She mumbled slowly.

Ethan just smiled at her.

"What's the time?" she asked Ethan.

"Eight."

Lauren nodded at him casually until she realised what he said and their eyes widened at the same time.

Ethan never slept past five let alone eight.

Well, Lauren usually wakes up at eight before joining the office but now seven. If she doesn't have any obligations, she can sleep till the afternoon too.

Lauren literally sprinted to her room to take a quick shower and get ready for the office. As they also have a project demo at the party, they have a lot of work to do.

Ethan chuckled at her sprinting form for a good minute before walking to his room to get ready for the office.

After thirty minutes, Lauren walked out of her room and Ethan was chatting with Kate.

She walked and sat beside him and Kate didn't waste time setting her plate in front of her.

"Good morning, Lauren," Kate spoke.

"Morning, Kate." Lauren greeted back and started eating her pancakes. They looked tasty.

After taking two bites, Lauren searched for the maple syrup but it was placed at Ethan's side.

She tried reaching it but Ethan just pushed it a bit far away from her.

She glared at him and reached again for the syrup but he did the same.

"Ethan!" Lauren whisper-yelled.

"Lauren." he sang.

Lauren closed her eyes controlling her annoyance.

"Please pass the syrup," Lauren fake smiled at him and he smirked.

"No," he answered with a full smiling face.

She shook her head at his childish behaviour, but inwardly she knew she is enjoying his childish antics.

Rolling her eyes, she got up moving towards his side to get the syrup but he shifted it to the other side before she could reach it.

They played the cat and mouse with the syrup for a few more moments, till Lauren got annoyed and sat back at her place munching her pancakes angrily.

Ethan stopped teasing her when he saw her eyes throwing glares at him. he gave her a cheeky smile but she just rolled her eyes. He poured the syrup for her and only after he poured, Lauren smiled at him.

Lauren is not even as possessive about Ethan as she is about her food.

Kate observed them and a warm smile graced her lips.

She was happy with how far they have come from where they began. She always thought they complement each other well and are meant for each other. Now that she looked at them, she is definitely right.

***

Alice groaned and tried searching for something to hide from the sun which is trying to burn her face down.

When she found nothing, she groaned and stretched her hands slowly waking up from her uncomfortable sleeping position on the floor.

She looked around with her eyes half closed and winced when her head hurt like someone is banging a drum inside.

Slowly, pieces of last night flashed in front of her making her eyes and mouth open wide in shock.

Wait-

No...

She didn't do it...

She wished it was just a dream.

No, more like nightmare.

She wished she just got drunk last night and slept peacefully after reaching home.

But no, why Alice would do normal girl things.

She needs complications in her life.

She was sad last night that nothing is going her way in her life. And her deadline to get the sign from Chris was nearing and if that doesn't happen, she is sure that Mrs Lee is ready to give her hell at work.

She was sad and angry at Chris for always avoiding her, so she did the only easy thing she could.

She got drunk.

She could just stop it there, at least.

But no, she called Chris.

Alice groaned and banged her head on the floor she was sleeping before.

She recalled the whole event that happened last night.

"Emily, do you by any chance have that Christian Hudson's number?" Alice asked her colleague trying not to slur.

"Why?" Emily asked suspiciously.

"Just give me, Emily." Alice snapped.

"I'll see," Emily answered before hanging up.

Alice didn't stop drinking her wine sitting in her apartment.

Five minutes later, her phone chimed with a text from Emily.

Alice had three more glasses of wine and dialled the number Emily sent her.

She waited, drinking her wine and at this point, she is totally drunk.

"Idiot." She swore when Chris answered her call.

Chris frowned at the unusual word he heard from the call.

Is this the new hello? Chris wondered.

"Son of a bitch" Alice spoke again and Chris frowned.

"Sorry?" he wondered.

"Asshole." Alice spoke again but her anger is evident in her voice.

She continued using all the colourful words on Chris she had heard since birth.

Chris had enough of this anonymous crazy woman and was about to hang up.

"I swear I'll die and haunt you forever if you hang up." Alice rushed out her drunken words when he didn't speak for a moment.

"Excuse me?" Chris demanded in his deep voice and Alice simply giggled at his intimidating voice.

"What? Should I be afraid of you?" Alice demanded back.

"Excuse me?" Alice repeated Chris' words deepening her voice and mocking Chris.

Chris didn't know why he was still tolerating her. Maybe he was amused with her?

"Guess what? I'm not afraid of you." Alice continued.

She is not only amusing but also irritating. Chris thought.

"Who the hell are you?" Chris sighed trying to not yell at Alice.

"Queen of England. Why do you care?" Alice snapped and Chris didn't know if he should laugh or cry at the situation, he was in.

He is sure that she is drunk right now with her slurring and sudden giggles.

But he is also curious about who this stranger might be. He has many enemies in business and personal life. He is no saint, after all. But who is this woman, that he angered to this point?

His anger is slowly dissolving, and his curiosity to know her increased.

"Why won't you tell me your name? Scared?" he played along with her to get her name from herself.

"I'm not an idiot like you to tell my name." Alice scoffed finishing off her wine and pouring another one.

"Did you just call me an idiot?" Chris scoffed at her.

"Yes, didn't you hear it the first time, Goblin?" Alice scoffed at him and her eyes slowly started feeling heavy.

Chris' anger resurfaced again at the name she called him.

A Goblin? Seriously?

Chris wasn't even sure what that creature actually looked like.

Alice slowly laid back on her bedroom floor as her eyes felt drowsy and her brain was fogged.

Chris was about to speak again when her blabbering continued.

"I hope your favourite character in a show never gets a happy ending." Chris frowned.

"A-and al-also hope your fashion sense suck and never find a perfect outfit to go out on a date." she stuttered and Chris closed his eyes shaking his head.

Was she cursing him? She is so dramatic.

"And I hope you end up with a person you hate the most and never be happy. Blood goblin." Alice snapped and her eyes slowly closed slipping into darkness.

That name again. That damn name again.

"A goblin? I swear I'll make you pay for everything you said." Chris yelled holding his phone tight.

"Hello?"

"Hey?" Chris repeated when didn't hear anything from the other side.

"You..." Chris's angry words were the last thing she heard.

Alice's eyes widened when she realised what she did last night.

She didn't know what to do, so she quickly took her phone from her bag on the side and tried searching for how to die quickly.

A humourless chuckle escaped her lips at her ridiculous thought of escaping.

She quickly thought of ways to control the damage.

"Emily..." she spoke after dialling her colleague's number.

"What is it now, Alice." She could hear her annoyance in her voice.

"Emily, you said something about a party tonight, what is it? Where is it?" Alice blurted out as she didn't have much time.

"Ah, the party? I heard It's about a company merge or a product launch. I think a deal with Kingston industries for-"

"Kingston industries?" Alice stopped Emily and she hoped she didn't hear it wrong.

"Yes?" Emily didn't understand why Alice was so keen.

"You mean Ethan Kingston?" Alice asked just wanting to be sure.

"Yes. I heard they are good friends. I am not sure about that because they didn't have a single picture of them together on the Internet..." Alice zoned out at Emily's conversation.

Alice didn't know how happy and ecstatic she is right now. Emily is slowly becoming Alice's personal google. Alice doesn't know how but Emily knew everything.

Also, Lauren was always Alice's knight in shining armour. One way or the other.

She wasn't sure even if Lauren knows that.

Alice could just ask Lauren for an invitation to the party. Then maybe she could just try to convince the goblin.

Alice smacked herself at the name she used. She will be dead meat if she said that in front of the goblin himself. Alice quickly dialled Lauren's number and waited for her to pick up.

"Lauren!" Alice spoke after she answered the call.

***

The day passed in a blur, and the party's time finally arrived.

Ryan buttoned his blue suit staring at his reflection in the mirror with an I-know-I-am-handsome face.

To say, that he isn't excited to meet eva would be a lie.

Eva was so different. At least to him. She didn't treat him like any popular celebrity.

During Ryan's court case, Eva and he had to meet frequently. Thanks to her introverted nature, she was mysterious to him as she never talked much except relating to the case. He was amused with her.

And her beautiful looks just spiked his interest even more in her.

He was sure he is not in love with her, of course, who would fall in love that quickly without knowing the other person at all?

But he knew he was interested in her. He appreciated the time spent with her.

He wasn't sure if there is any hope of him and Eva together, but Ryan liked the thought.

A simple date would hurt no one.

But the potential of them getting together might hurt them both. Their worlds are different. He thought his celebrity life wouldn't match her world well. But strangely, he wasn't afraid of the obstacles between them.

He sighed picking up his watch from the table and clasping it around his wrist.

He is already late for the party.

Glancing at his reflection for the final time, Ryan unlocked his phone, looking for Eva's address that she texted him.

***

It hasn't been long since Chris arrived at the party and currently was waiting for Ethan.

Chris knew he is the only one who would come early to a party. Old habits die hard.

He was always on time for everything. Chris likes punctuality more than oxygen.

But of course, his friends are completely opposite of him. Ethan can be occasional, but Ryan was never on time.

Chris hated that about them.

When he saw Mr Giovanni, the Italian investor with his family, approaching him, he was ready to greet him.

"Mr Giovanni," He shook his hands.

"Mr Hudson, it was nice seeing you again." He chuckled at Chris and Chris just gave him a fake smile hoping he wouldn't notice. He didn't.

They both fell into a conversation but Chris didn't miss the flirtatious looks Mr Giovanni's daughter is giving him.

Chris tried not to roll his eyes at her. She is annoying.

"And this is my daughter, Gianna. She has been modelling for two years now. You know she is single right now and you know you are..." Giovanni trailed off and Gianna smiled at him offering her hand.

She would have looked pretty if she wasn't trying so hard to get his attention.

When Chris understood that Mr Giovanni is trying to set up them both, he ignored her hand turning towards him.

"Mr Giovanni, I have some other more important things to discuss rather than this. So..." Chris trailed off leaving the father and daughter fuming.

He took a champagne glass and sipped his drink.

The drink in his hand reminded him of certain someone. A crazy drunk woman.

Alice Miller.

She was annoying, irritating and whatnot.

The girl used all those swears, that he didn't even know before, on him in less than a minute.

He would do anything in the world to get back at her.

***

Ethan was ready to give Lauren an earful as they are already late for the product demo at the party and Lauren decided it was the best time to take time for herself to get ready.

Usually, he wouldn't be mad at these things, but he can't be late for his own party.

He glanced at his wristwatch and exhaled loudly.

When he heard footsteps, he turned around anger evident on his face.

Ethan forgot what he wanted to say to her when his eyes landed on the stunning woman standing in front of him.

Lauren had a big smile on her lips dressed in a scarlet red mermaid dress that hugged her figure, enhancing her curves.

Lauren never wore these types of dresses which enhance curves as she was always insecure about how she looked in them. She always went for baggy clothes. But for tonight, she gave herself a chance with the dress and Ethan's stare gave her the answer.

She was excited but also anxious about going to the party.

Yes, Lauren overthinks but is not paranoid. But tonight, she has been having this ill dull feeling for some reason.

She was afraid to see what the night is waiting to offer her or for them.

Ethan cleared his throat and averted his eyes when he realized he was gawking at her.

He exhaled and had to take a deep breath as he felt the heat in the room have increased.

He always knew she looked beautiful but damn tonight she looked sexy. Red is definitely her colour.

He had to avert his eyes from her with difficulty.

"Shall we?" Lauren smiled at him and waited for him to say something to her.

"What?" he asked dumbfounded.

"We're late." She continued but he had nothing to say except stare at her.

He is already thinking of ways to protect her from creepy desire stares she is going to get from men at the party.

"Ethan," she called him and when he came to his senses, he glanced at his watch and sighed.

He wished he could just stare at her and do nothing. To admire her look a bit more.

The moment felt too perfect to break.

Her red dress went well with his grey suit. They looked perfect together.

He walked towards her and she held her breath when he stood in front of her. Her heart stammered crazily inside when he rested his hand on her cheek.

She closed her eyes when she saw him tilt his head to kiss her. she waited for him to do that.

But surprisingly, Lauren opened her eyes when she felt his soft lips on her forehead. He stayed in the same position for a good minute and she couldn't suppress her smile. That action was heart-warming for some reason.

It spoke so much without any words.

When he moved back and smiled at her, her eyes sparkled looking at him.

They had the same unspoken words screaming in their brain.

Lauren tried ignoring the strong ill feeling she has been getting to not ruin the moment. The ill feeling can wait to ruin her mood later.

"Shall we, Mrs Kingston?" Ethan raised his eyebrow at her.

"Sure, Mr Kingston." Lauren smiled at him and hooked her arm with his.

***

Eva was surprised at the lavish decorations in the party hall. Everything felt surreal. But what was even more astonishing is, she is with Ryan.

He was a gentleman to her. He was funny, charming, smart. Everything she would look for in a man.

Winning a man or going on a date is not an achievement. But having what everyone want gives you a different high. Eva was tasting it right now. The looks she has been getting from all the jealous women at the party felt good to her.

Ryan stared at Eva who is walking beside him hand in hand. He couldn't take his eyes away from her. Her white dress playing with the wind looked worth capturing a picture.

Ryan thought she looked like an angel in her white dress. Eva is a perfect example of beauty with brains. Anyone could say that looking at her instant new arguments or loopholes she finds in a case.

When Eva felt Ryan stare at her, she turned towards him and raised her eyebrow at him.

He shook his head and softly smiled at her. The sight of him softly smiling at her gave her butterflies. His eyes had a different glint every time he looks at her.

Now that she is here at the party, she realises that Ryan took the long route from her home which takes up an hour when they could reach the party in twenty minutes by taking a short route.

They talked endlessly in the car while they are on their way to the party. Although at first, the conversation didn't flow smoothly, Ryan can bring anyone to ease.

They talked about random things like laws, books, movies and the continuous blabber continued with Ryan's endless stories and Eva's endless questions.

Ryan had a lot of stories to share and Eva has always been a listener. She likes asking questions because that way she could know them even more.

They shared laughs together and Eva couldn't ignore the butterflies she felt whenever they share eye contact. He had intense and expressive eyes. No wonder girls go crazy over him.

They reached the party hall only minutes back.

"I'll get you something to drink." Ryan spoke and Eva nodded.

He walked away about two steps but returned taking her hand and bringing it closer to his lips.

Her eyes widened and her face turned rosy pink at the action.

It wasn't the single kiss on her hand that made her blush.

It was the intense eye contact Ryan gave Eva when he placed his lips on her hand. The eyes expressed a raw feeling she understood but also confused her to the bits. He knew what he was doing.

He gave her a final smile before walking away and Eva had to take deep breaths to control her erratic heartbeat and her blushing face.

***

Alice was waiting anxiously for Lauren at the party and hoped she wouldn't stumble into Chris at all. She is thankful that she hadn't seen Chris yet.

Alice was dressed in a black party dress that reached her ankles.

When she caught a glimpse of Ethan and Lauren together, she made a beeline towards them.

"Lauren, you're here." Alice walked toward Lauren and hugged her.

"Yes," Lauren spoke unsure of how to react.

Alice hates physical touch. Hugging is not even in her dictionary. To see Alice herself hugging her is surprising to Lauren.

But Lauren also knows Alice well, she does all weird things when she wants something from someone or wants them to do something for her.

Lauren already knew how Alice messed up everything with Chris as Alice told her everything.

"Let's go. I have something to say-" Alice was dragging Lauren away but stopped when Ethan stopped Lauren.

"Hello, Mr Kingston. Now let's go Lauren." Alice greeted Ethan and tried dragging again but Ethan stopped them again.

"Hell to you too, Miss Miller, but Lauren has to meet people with me." Ethan gave Alice a fake smile.

"But Lauren, I'm all alone. Let's go." Alice gave puppy eyes to Lauren before dragging her.

"Lauren." Ethan stopped them again.

"Mr Kingston." Alice snapped at Ethan.

Ethan rolled his eyes at her.

"Yes, Miss Miller."

Alice fumed and Lauren tried not to smile at their childish game. They hardly know each other but here they are being childish.

"Leave her, Kingston," Alice demanded.

"No, Miller," Ethan spoke back.

Alice scoffed and was about to continue when she heard a voice, she would never want to listen.

"Alice Miller," Chris called the woman standing with Ethan and Lauren.

Last night after ending the call, Chris got all the details about her on his table within minutes. But he was surprised that he would be meeting her this soon.

He didn't even know how she would get an invitation to this intimate party.

Alice was about to run away when she saw Chris in front of them but Lauren stopped her.

"Chris, Hi. You look good." Lauren smiled at him and Ryan and Ethan shared a smile with a handshake.

"Also meet my friend, Alice. She has something to talk to you about." Lauren pushed Alice in front of Chris and Alice wanted nothing more than earth to swallow her whole.

"We'll go and meet Mr Giovanni," Ethan spoke to Chris and he nodded.

"Don't worry, Alice," Lauren spoke.

"Don't go." Alice pleaded.

"Be strong," Lauren spoke before walking away giving an unapologetic smile.

"Traitor," Alice mumbled glaring at Lauren.

She turned around and gulped looking at Chris' smirk. His face screamed you-are-dead-in-my-hands.

"Alice miller, right?" he started walking and she had no other option except to follow him.

"Yes." She mumbled slowly.

"It was you last night, Isn't it?" Alice wanted to deny but realised it will not do her any good.

"Mr Hudson, I'm so sorry. I was drunk and wasn't in my right mind. I didn't know what I was talking. I'm so sorry for calling you that late. Also-" Alice's rant stopped when Chris interrupted.

"Goblin?" Alice's eyes widened listening to him. Why did he have to remember that?

"I'm so sorry, Mr Hudson. I apologise for everything." She wished he would just accept her apology and continue with his life.

She wished he would forgive her and sign the fashion show contract.

And then he did.

"Ok, Miss miller. I'll sign the deal." Chris agreed.

"I'm sorry, Mr Hudson. I'm really –" Alice realised she thought out loud.

"wait- what?" Alice hoped she didn't mistake.

"I'll sign the deal," Chris smirked looking at Alice's widened eyes.

That was the reaction he expected from her.

When he saw her picture last night, he thought she was average looking. but Somewhere, she still has that cuteness creeping up. Now looking at her in reality, the photo looked better. She is below average in reality. Except for her eyes and maybe her smile.

And this dwarf had the audacity to call him a goblin? Chris scoffed.

"You do?" Alice had a hopeful face.

"Yes." He accepted and Alice's lips stretched into a big smile.

It would be a lie If Chris still said that she is below average when she smiled. Her smile was the most beautiful and perfect thing and not to mention how her green eyes sparkled when she smiled. It could take anyone's breath away.

But Chris didn't forget last night.

"Thanks a lot, Mr Hudson. I was afraid of how you would react and all that. but you are such a good man. I don't know-" Chris interrupted her.

"On one condition." Just like that Alice's smile disappeared.

She jumped in front of him with a frown.

"What is it, Mr Hudson?"

Chris resumed walking and she walked backwards facing him.

"I can't say it right now, Miss Miller." Chris shrugged and Alice's frown deepened.

"But-"

When Chris saw that she was about to crash into another woman he looped his hand around her waist and pulled her closer to him.

Alice groaned when she fell into Chris' arms.

She blinked shifting back to look at Chris and her breath stuck at how close they are. Not to mention his arm around her waist didn't help at all.

His jaw is sharp enough to cut something, anything. And that describes only a little amount of his handsomeness. With his subtle beard and silver eyes, he looked like a handsome devil.

She could stare at his face forever.

Chris found it hard to escape her green eyes trance. They are hypnotising. And her green eyes enhanced her caramel complexion more beautifully. Her forest green eyes are wild, refreshing, grounding, everything. He could get used to her face forever. Too bad he hates her more.

"Alice." When they both heard another voice, they pulled away from each maintaining distance between themselves.

Alice frowned when she saw Eva in front of them.

"Eva," she spoke.

Chris was confused.

"What are you doing here?" Alice asked Eva surprised to see her.

"She is with me." When Chris heard a familiar voice, they all turned towards the source.

Ryan came carrying two champagne glasses and Alice had a big smile looking at him.

"Ryan, Hi." Alice suddenly had the sweetest smile looking at Ryan and Chris scoffed at how easily she changed her entire face when Ryan came.

"Alice, Hi. what are you doing here?" Ryan asked Alice.

"You two know each other?" Eva asked no one in particular.

"Yes, but how do you know her?" Ryan asked Eva.

"We are roommates," Alice answered Ryan before Eva could.

"And you two know each other because?" Eva asked Ryan and Alice.

"She is my friend Lauren's friend." Ryan answered her and Alice nodded.

"You know Lauren?" Eva asked Ryan surprised.

"Wait, you know her too?" Ryan asked back.

"Yes. I've met her." Eva answered.

"Don't tell me I'm the only one confused here?" Chris spoke for the first time.

Chris had a frown and didn't understand what the hell is happening around him. He felt so out of the circle.

"Yes, you are the only one," Alice mumbled under her breath and Chris glared at her.

"Wait a second, you are with him? Like on a date or something?" Alice whisper-yelled quite shocked.

"Remember, I took up an actor's case once. It was him." Eva answered.

"You are that attorney he talked about?" Chris smirked at Ryan's red face and Eva just looked confused.

"Hi, I'm Chris. Christian Hudson. It was pleasure meeting you. You look beautiful." He spoke giving Eva a charming smile with a kiss on her knuckles.

Alice roller her eyes and silently glared at Chris. she didn't get any kind of treatment like this from Chris but Eva got. She knew she shouldn't expect that after last night.

"So, are you two couple?" Alice looked excited because Eva could be happy with Ryan.

"She is my date for tonight." Ryan answered.

"That doesn't answer my question. Are you two a couple?" Alice asked them.

"Yes," Ryan answered.

"No," Eva answered at the same time.

Ryan and Eva exchanged a look before staring straight.

"How do you know Chris?" Ryan changed the topic and Eva was grateful for that.

It's a long story, but I know him." Alice smiled at him quite turning red and Chris for some reason didn't like the attention she is giving Ryan. Chris also didn't know another person named Eva was feeling the same way.

"Eva now that you're here. Why don't you come with me? There are many food items. We can-" Alice continued and Eva looked confused.

She didn't want to reject Alice but she can't just abondon Ryan and go with her.

Ryan widened his eyes listening to Alice and moved two steps behind and gestured to Chris to take Alice away with him. Chris ignored Ryan initially but when he practically begged he had to oblige.

But before he could do it, Eva spoke.

"Alice, I'm so sorry. but I'm with Ryan right now. Why don't you tag along with us? It will be fun."

Alice sighed when she realised what she is doing. What is she doing?

"It's fine, Eva. I'll just meet you later." Eva felt guilty for some reason when Alice spoke.

Alice quickly walked away from them muttering I'm so single.

When she saw Chris standing in front of her, she gave him a sly smile as she didn't know anyone else in the party  but he just rolled his eyes at her. she followed him when he stared walking and for some reason he didn't stop her.

***

The product demo finished a few minutes before and it was applauded by everyone. The party was inside but Ethan and Lauren decided to get some fresh air in the garden after the product demo. They didn't realise they are here for so long.

They stayed outside watching the dark night and randomly talking about stars, the moon, and food items and their tastes. Food comes automatically when Lauren is involved.

They just entered the party hall again and Ethan turned towards Lauren.

"I'll get some champagne." He spoke to her.

"For me too?" Lauren asked him surprised. Well, it's no surprise Lauren becomes a lunatic when she drinks.

"Only one glass, darling." Ethan tried speaking with an accent. Let's just say it didn't sound that horrible.

Lauren laughed at his words and he left to bring drinks. Lauren was humming waiting for Ethan to come back.

she was looking around and saw everyone are either chatting, dancing, drinking. She tried searching for Alice to check if she is alright and when she saw Alice with Chris, she sighed with a smile. Alice was following Chris like a stubborn child who follows her father to buy a toy. They kind of looked cute.

She laughed and looked around but here eyes stopped when she saw a familiar face.

"Eva..." Lauren's face paled looking at Eva and the name slipped off her tongue.

Eva was sipping her champagne when she looked up from her phone and saw Lauren.

Eva had a full smile looking at Lauren but the emotions aren't mirrored on Lauren's face.

Lauren had a mini heart attack looking at Eva standing in front of her and she unknowingly gulped.

"E-eva, wh-what are you d-doing here?" Eva frowned at Lauren's stutter.

Lauren was about to ask more when her eyes fell behind Eva and her heart dropped to her stomach.

No...

He can't-

No.

Why is this happening?

Is this a good thing or bad thing?

Lauren closed her eyes feeling suffocated at what is about to happen when the voice behind Eva spoke.

"Eva?" Ethan trailed off with a frown staring at the person talking to his wife like they'd known each other forever.

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