Chapter 62

Chapter 62

-MILLIE-

A bride walking down the aisle in a princess–like white dress had become an eyesore since my engagement with Hunter ended. It’s ironic, I know. Being excited about attending and planning weddings was nothing but a distant memory.

Bitter, that’s what I am. I could hear Andrea saying, ‘Now you’re getting it. Weddings are nothing but a waste of money and time.

Yet here I was, drinking a glass of wine at Natasha and Jonah’s wedding reception, torturing myself by faking a cheerful smile every time Natasha would look my way. The bride was too sweet for me to decline her invitation. She almost teared up when I hesitated to answer her request.

Looking on the bright side, though, I don’t have the responsibility of making sure everything at this wedding was spot on. I got endless free drinks, and the food was great, too. That’s the perks of being a guest. I have the luxury of enjoying the beautiful arrangement and decorations their wedding planner’s team had done with the place.

This wedding was blessed with pleasant weather. They were able to execute a garden wedding without hassles. Lanterns float above the tables, circling a space in the middle of the garden, which they turned into a dance floor.

The newlyweds were the epitome of a joyous couple. The band played a rendition of Ed Sheeran’s Perfect for their first dance. Then guests approach them one by one, attaching dollar bills on Natasha’s wedding dress and Jonah’s tux. As the song ended, Benjamin Franklin’s face replaced the flower embroidery on Natasha’s signature gown. Jonah’s grandma even made a sash out of 100–dollar bills and draped it over Natasha’s shoulder like a Miss Universe sash.

“I was thinking of hiring an event organizer for the farm,” Dad said as we swayed to “The Way You Look Tonight. Natasha was dancing with her father, an arm’s length away from us.

“Are you asking for my opinion or informing me?” I narrowed my eyes on my father, There was a catch to his statement. I can feel it.

He lifted our joined hands and made me spin, catching me like he used to do every time we danced since I was three.

“Both,” he murmured, pulling me back into his arms. He lowered his voice and added, “It’s been a nightmare working with demanding event planners.” He looked at the buffet table. Vivian, the wedding planner, was speaking with one server; her hands were parked on her hips, and her mouth moved without pause. The server looked like she

Chapter 49

was about to empty the pitcher of water over Vivian’s head,

A giggle fell from my l*ps, Dad frowned at me, suppressing a smile.

“She’s a handful, isn’t she?” I commented.

I don’t personally know Vivian. From what I heard, she’s a freelance event planner. But witnessing how she’s micromanaging the event from the band to the server, I understood where Dad was coming from. I know Dad’s chef, and the food was nothing short of delicious, yet Vivian had so much to say about everything.

“But not all event planners are like that,” I mumbled.

Dad hummed, making me spin again. “I know someone sweet and smart and knows how to work with people.”

“Yeah?” I feigned interest, tilting my head to the side. “She sounds interesting.”

“Yep. She’s my daughter,” he chuckled. The vibration rippled through me. The little girl inside me will always feel elated to hear Dad’s praises, I guess.

I sighed, my shoulders falling a little. “I don’t know, Dad. I can’t just leave Effortless Events. Candice would kill me. It’s our baby, you know.”

“Your mom said you might say that, but hear out your old man.” This sounds more like a business proposal than a casual father–and–daughter conversation. “You don’t have to leave Effortless Events. We can be partners.”

I mulled over his words, considering all my options. Dad could be convincing if he wanted to be. How else would he win over the heart of this place?

“You don’t know how many bookings Sasha had turned down this year,” Dad added. Sasha was the villa’s manager. “Your mother had scolded me for letting the opportunity pass, said she could do the planning herself, but I want her to enjoy her time now. In fact, I was planning on taking her on a cruise next year.”

Ugh, he’s not using that card on me, is he? He knew how much I wanted them to enjoy their time together. I pushed them to focus on themselves ever since I graduated college.

“Really?” I shriek, excited for my mother nonetheless.

“Don’t tell her yet. I want to surprise her.” The song ended, and the guests on the dance floor moved back to their seats.

“So, what do you think?” Dad asked as we settled back to our table.

“You told her?” Mom asked. The two of them were clearly teaming up against me.

Chapter 62

Dad draped an arm on the back of Mom’s chair. “Yeah. She said she’ll think about it.” He winked at me.

I huffed and rolled my eyes at him.

Mom giggled, reaching over the table for my hand. “This place will be good for Hun.” Concern and hope sparkled in her eyes.

you,

Dad’s business offer was sincere, but Mom’s words revealed their true intentions. They wanted me out of Roslin City.

I smiled at Mom. “I’ll think about it,” I echoed Dad’s words and extracted myself from our table as soon as I got the chance.

They arranged a minibar in the corner, and I found an empty barstool at the end of the counter. Nursing a glass of vodka cranberry, I hid away from the crowd and got lost in my head in the dimly lit corner.

Will they ever stop worrying about me? I thought this weekend was a break from the constant ‘how are you doing,‘ ‘how are you holding up,‘ questions back in Roslin City. Mom and Dad’s hidden agenda intensified these doubts in my head.

I know where they were coming from, but do I really have to move cities just to get over everything? I am stronger than that, aren’t I? Hesitations slithered down my spine. Will I ever get past the ghost of my kidnapping?

“This was a wedding, right?”

My downcast mood took a tailspin as I heard the sarcasm in Xander’s voice. He inserted himself between the lady sitting on the bar stool next to mine and me, ordering a bottle

of beer for himself.

“Why does it feel like you’re at a funeral, Princess?” he faced me with his bottle of beer at hand, an elbow resting on the counter.

Rolling my eyes, I faced him, stunned to see how handsome he was in his dress shirt and pants. I would die first if a word got out of this, but he doesn’t look bad. His long hair was tied in a ponytail. I could smell his cologne and aftershave. He looked neat and smelled expensive.

He frowned at me. “Are you confused? You need help in sorting out your thoughts?”

My eyes slanted. If only he could keep that mouth shut. Maybe I could tolerate breathing the same air with him for Natasha’s wedding. “I was stunned to see you tonight, is all.”

He smirked. “Why? Haven’t seen a handsome guy before?”

BD

Chapter 62

The nerve of this man? My eyes twitched as I returned his taunting smile. “Nope. Just didn’t expect you to own a dress shirt. Did you steal that from a grave somewhere?”

He surprised me by laughing so loud; he invited attention in our direction. “Now that you’ve insulted me, would you care for a dance?”

This was the second time he offered that hand to me. It looked big and could fit my face in it.

I glowered at him. People were looking in our direction, waiting and watching us patiently. He intentionally drew attention to put me in the spotlight. I could decline his offer. I don’t mind being called a snob, but that would also reflect on my father’s image.

Tossing my drink down my throat, I placed my hand on his. Xander grinned from ear to ear, knowing he had won this round again.

A rendition of Can’t Help Falling in Love crooned in the air. Xander guided me to the middle of the dance floor, curled a hand around my waist, and yanked me closer to him, an ump sound tumbling from my l*ps. I placed a hand on his chest, feeling his drumming heartbeat as I pushed him away from me. The man was made of pure muscles. He wouldn’t budge and dragged me like I weighed nothing, swaying us around.

“Have you ever heard of personal space?” I groaned and pushed him away again.

He lowered his mouth to my ears. “You look beautiful, princess.” I froze and gazed up at him with wide eyes. A smirk slowly stretched on his l*ps. “But I like you better in jeans.”

My cheeks burned. I wore the only dress I brought with me. A floral off–shoulder floor- length dress with a long slit.

This isn’t the first time I received a compliment, but it’s the way Xander said it. He was blunt but sincere, like he really meant it, so I said, “Thanks.”

Through the song, it felt like I was dancing with a different person. No words were exchanged between us, but Xander blatantly watched me the entire time. I can’t say am comfortable dancing with Xander; but I no longer feel him crowing my personal space. Just one dance, I thought, so I settled on listening to the words the band was singing.

When the song ended, Xander kept his hold on me.

“The song is over,” I groaned, pushing him away.

I

He opened his mouth, a mischievous glint glowed in his eyes, but before he could utter a word, someone spoke behind him.

“Can I have this dance?”

My b*dy stilled. My heart galloped in my chest. I know that voice so well, and my b*dy

does, too.

Damian.