Heart Twisted

“GOOD EVENING! THANK you for this wonderful surprise. Actually, I’m planning to celebrate my birthday with my loved ones only,” he paused and glanced intensely at me.

I was out of breath because of what he said. I feel like he did not like the celebration I prepared based on his sharp stares at me.

“Thank you! You made my birthday extra special tonight,” he continued. His words make me blush so heavily, my heart’s doubts completely dissolved because of what he said.

“Thank you so much, Mr. Clarence Saavedra, our celebrant! Now let’s all welcome Mr. Samuel Saavedra!” introduced the emcee.

I followed him with my gaze as I descended the stage. He’s still with Elliesse. I also noticed him following Lawrence, who just walked straight to the few guests he met.

“Good evening, everyone! First of all, I would like to thank everyone who attended tonight, especially to all who organized and made this surprise for my eldest son’s birthday!” Samuel started.

He quickly caught my eye. The frown pulling on the corners of his lips was like acid to my stomach. But I tried to simply smiled back. I do not want to be rude, even though I know his vote is not for me.

“Let me greet my son Lawrence first. Happy birthday, son! You’re not getting any younger, so I’d better tell you all now. After all, we’re all here.” He glanced back at me and curled his lips upward.

My heart was throbbing in my chest as the cold night breeze was blowing right through my skin. I held my breath for what he was going to say next.

“I would like to announce the wedding of my son Lawrence and his fiancée Elliesse Del’Fierro next month. You are all invited to the wedding of the year!”

I soak up his words for a beat. I feel like I was a candle slowly fading from standing up because of what he said.

My eyes quickly searched for Lawrence. I saw him suddenly stand up in his chair. His eyes darkened, and the muscles in his neck flexed. Elliesse grabbed his arms tight to prevent him. I wanted to step in to approach him, to remind him of his promises to me. He promised to fight for me, and he will choose me.

I tried to step, but there was a firm hand over my arm. My lips quivered, and I lowered my head down.

Even though I didn’t look back, I knew it was Franco.

“Stay where you are.” His husky voice tried to tame my temper. I exhale loudly through my mouth. I restrained myself from doing anything.

But my heart skipped when I saw Lawrence’s piercing eyes darted on me. His gaze fell like an act of outrage, a glare to stop my heart completely. He quickly turned and stepped closer in my direction.

“Son!” The baritone voice of his father was rolling.

“Go back to your seat, son!” He has a strong command of the child.

He stopped for a moment. His features darkened, a muscle in his jaw started working. Eventually, he still walked straight towards me.

It was only then that I noticed that Franco still did not let me go. He was making a tight fist around my wrist. He almost hid me behind him as Lawrence approached us.

I held my breath when he stopped with Franco’s full attention. “I told you to do not go near her or even touch her, asshole!” he said in a cold rage.

If the stare were deadly, Franco would have stretched out on the floor because of Lawrence’s sharp gaze.

“Why? Are you jealous?” Franco uttered sarcasm to his brother. He didn’t leave my wrist until I pulled it myself from him, but he firmly restrained it.

“Shut the hell up!” he shouted with a trace of roughness.

We immediately caught the attention of a few guests. His father also came down from the stage, followed by Elliesse towards us.

“Why don’t you fix your problem with your girls first before you scold me?! You’re not a kid anymore.

Don’t let yourself be used and manipulated by Dad. You are not the Lawrence I know.”

“You’re not even in my position to say what I should do!” he fired back.

“Then act like a man, not a boy, my dear brother,” Franco said in a strident tone.

I almost broke my breath as he took his step to rock his brother.

“You’re nothing compared to me,” he said in a timbre of arrogance.

My whole body grew cold at what he said. The Lawrence I know will not say this, especially in the state of his brother Franco.

Franco chuckled lightly, then shook his head. “Yes! I’m nothing compared to you. You are a Saavedra!

And I’m lucky I haven’t had that name,” he said, and then a smirk lifted to his lips.

The siblings looked at each other for a moment before he violently released Franco. He then stared at me with his eyes completely blank. It was as if his heart was crushed because of the kind of look he gave.

“Get off your hands of her,” he ordered in a sharp tone.

I heard a soft grin coming from Franco before he finally released my wrist.

“What is happening here?” Samuel Saavedra’s low voice made us turned in his direction.

“You didn’t tell me you will come here tonight!” he told Franco with a laced of disgust. He turned his gaze sharply on me.

“You ruined the night again!” Elliesse spout. She was next to Samuel as a smirk appeared on his lips.

“As far as I remembered, you were not invited to the party. And last time I checked, I am his fianceé.” I raised my eyebrows in response to her.

“Bitch!” she shouted.

“I think you’re getting too much attention. It’s embarrassing for the guests. Just go back to your seat, boys!” Samuel firmly commanded his children.

I swallowed hard and fell my lashes down. I was the one who’s responsible for these, but it should not have happened if I had not insisted on approaching them.

I glanced around; we all had the guests’ attention. My face heats up. I never thought this would happen on Lawrence’s birthday.

“Let’s talk about this later. Lawrence, son, take care of your guests first and introduce Elliesse to them.”

Those lines sat precociously to my heart. It still hurts to hear that face to face from his father, and it also hurts to think that he doesn’t like me for his son Lawrence.

But instead of obeying his father’s command, he quickly confronted me. Before I knew it, his warm hand firmly clasped my wrist.

Julia’s screams and Cindy’s applause were all I heard as Lawrence pulled me out of the yard. He also quickly put me in his car. I even heard Samuel call his son, but Lawrence did not pay attention.

I feel sorry for his father. I know he just wants his child to get into a good life, and I can’t blame her if Elliesse is the woman he wants for him.

We don’t say anything for just a moment. My brain wasn’t entirely on board. I don’t know where he’s going to take me. His car was moving so fast that there seemed to be no direction to go.