"I wasn't taking him from you." Alia found Regina's insecurity amusing.
Regina raised her glass in the air, smiling sweetly as she gave a toast.
"My dear friends and families, let's raise our glasses in honour of an extraordinary man, a man I am proud to call my better half, a man of integrity and fairness, a man who is passionate about the affairs of his country, a man who puts family first above every other matter, a proud father to two beautiful young ladies and the pillar of the Shawls family..."
Cheers erupted in the air, almost drowning Regina's toast speech, as Gwen waved her hand smiling sweetly.
"Pillar my ass." Matt suppressed a snarl at Regina's remark and Gwen's euphoria. He imagined how Gwen would react when she finally learns that he is her biological father and her mother had been a renowned whore he rescued from the gutters before he polished her and fixed her up with his gullible brother. Would she be this excited?
Alia held back a scoff at Regina's hypocritical bullshit. If only her father knew the things she had been doing behind his back.
Regina continued wowing everyone with her beautiful toast.
"...He is an extrely handso, loving, compassionate and caring friend. You all know him. You all love him. He is no other than my own darling husband, Senator Gregory Shawls. Cheers to many more years of celebration, honey."
A thunderous cheers, followed by clicking of glasses drowned the air as Regina was showered with kisses by her proud husband.
"Thank you, darling."
"Anything for you, my love," Regina said sweetly while eying Alia, who was about to present her gift in other to take her leave.
"Dad, happy birthday once more," Alia said extending a beautifully wrapped black gift box to her father. "This is a token of my love for you."
"Wow!" Senator Gregory handed over his wine glass to his wife before accepting the gift from his daughter.
"This looks beautiful. I wonder what is inside. The latest Porsche car may be in miniaturized form." He shook the box, causing all those standing around him including Alia to burst into laughter.
"Thank you so much, my dear." He pulled Alia into his arms and kissed her fondly on the forehead before unwrapping the gift box.
"What is inside, Greg?" One of his friends asked, peering into the partly opened box
Alia missed her father's playful side as she watched him slowly open the box while making everybody second-guess what was inside.
"A pair of shoes"...
"Is the wristwatch..."
"An expensive bottle of perfu..."
"A designer belt...."
"A..."
Senator Gregory opened the box fully for everyone to see.
"I knew it. It is a wristwatch." One of the senator's six friends, who had guest correctly cheered happily.
"How thoughtful of you, Alia. You really are your father's daughter to know what he likes the most." One of the mature n standing close to the senator comnded her.
"A wristwatch?" Regina stifled a snort. "Your father has tons of them."
"That is your husband's vanity, Gina." The sa friend from earlier comnted.
"And it's not just any wristwatch my dear." The senator removed the leather watch on his wrist and strapped on the one Alia got him, beaming. "This is the latest edition of the Henderson Rolex wristwatch worth millions."
"Wow! That is very expensive, Alia." Gwen chid holding her dad's left hand to take a better look. "Was this procured by Mr Anderson or you?"
"Mr Anderson?" Senator Gregory raised his eyebrow in confusion looking at Gwen.
Alia shot Gwen a nasty glare. But before she could say anything Regina answered on her behalf.
"You are on point, Gwen. It definitely, Mr Anderson. Only a man with very expensive taste would pick up such a classy gift to make a good impression before his father-in-law."
So of the senator's friends who had no idea that Alia had remarried were shocked to hear that na.
"What nonsense are you two talking about?" A deep crease appeared on Senator Gregory's forehead.
"Oh...So sorry my dear, Alia hasn't told you that..."
"I think I can handle myself, Regina." Alia cut her off sharply before she ruined her father's birthday celebration in front of his friends.
"Of course. You have the floor." A sly grin played at the corner of Regina's lips.
"Dad, may I talk to you in private." Alia took hold of his hands, her gaze pleading.
Senator Gregory's heart sank. He didn't like that look on his daughter's face. Anyti she gave him that cute pout, it simply ant she had done sothing wrong. And so far, picking up the bots and pieces of Gwen and Regina's accusation, the na; Mr Anderson and the compound word; father-in-law all spelled trouble.
"Excuse , gentlen, I'll be right back." Senator Gregory said pleadingly to his guest before leaving with his daughter to the outdoor terrace, where there was less noise and more fresh air.
"Please I need you to sit down, Dad." Alia gestured to one of the empty white tube chair seats.
"Alia, I seriously do not like where this is going. It has better not be what I'm thinking."
Alia gulped down the lump that had ford inside her throat as she averted her father's gaze. Her heart was pounding inside her ears as she pulled another seat closer to her father and took his hand into hers.
"Dad, you know I love you so much and I will never do anything to deliberately hurt you."
Senator Gregory remained silent, observing her daughter's behaviour and expression. There was a mixture of guilt and anxiety lacing her expression, all the more reason to confirm his fears.
"Which of the Anderson was your sister referring to?" Senator Gregory asked in a slightly harsh tone.
Alia swallowed more saliva as she whispered the na. "Blaze Anderson."
"The son of Presley Anderson?" Senator Gregory's heart started pounding erratically.
"Uh-huh!" Alia nodded her head in response.
"Please tell whatever you have to say has nothing to do with that man being your husband."
Alia suddenly felt tongue tie, the thought of crushing her father's heart on his birthday heavy on her chest. She lowered her head and stared at her father's hands which were slowly withdrawing from hers
"Alia..." Senator stared at his daughter's partly illuminated face which gave off a soft glow under the light of the full moon. "Who is Blaze Anderson to you?"
Alia bit down on her inner lips as she replied. "He is my husband."
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