"Why are you here?"
Declan’s question, tinged with frost, was directed to Damien whose appearance was not expected by him at all. Scrunching his brows, he openly expressed his detest.
What was this bastard doing here?
Declan had just walked out of the main entrance of the manor, hoping to have a private talk with Lariette once she arrived. Seeing Damien outside surprised him.
Declan’s plain despising of him took Damien aback. Even though he had never been close to the forr, they were always civil to each other.
Standing awkwardly opposite the imposing figure of the Elsher family’s heir, Damien tried not to stamr, "I ca here under..."
"Declan, that’s our guest. How could you question him like that?"
Samantha’s sudden appearance saved Damien from being set ablaze by Declan’s fiery gaze. The gracefully beautiful middle-aged woman donned an olive green dress, the skirt billowing around her.
"Good evening, Mrs. Elsher," Damien gratefully nodded at Samantha, happy to see the older lady, "Thank you for your invitation. Well... I thought I couldn’t co here anymore."
"You’re always welco here. Our Lariette has troubled you so much. That child will co to her senses soon. Hurry, go inside."
Samantha patted Damien’s back, her lips curling into a smile. The young man turned around, intending to walk past the door.
"He doesn’t have any business here anymore," Declan’s voice rose to an octave, stopping Damien in his tracks. His dissatisfied gaze fell on Samantha, "Lari has broken up with him."
"It’s nonsense," Samantha glared at Declan, signaling him to shut up before looking at Damien, "Go inside. You should chat with the others first."
"Thank you, Mrs. Elsher."
Damien hurriedly left, afraid of being yanked back by Declan. A maid escorted him down the hallway, heading to where everyone gathered.
Damien wouldn’t ever leave before eting Lariette tonight. He had to get her back no matter what.
Earlier today, CEO Faulkner summoned him and his father to Faulkner Investnt. He almost collapsed under the aloof man’s intimidating aura.
CEO Faulkner gave his father until next week to kick him to a small branch abroad. Desperate, Damien knew he had to bow under Lariette and beg for her grandfather’s help.
The young CEO Faulkner would surely bow under Chairman Delaney’s demands!
With the delusional thoughts swirling in his mind, Damien anticipated eting Lariette tonight.
"Haa..."
Still standing outside, Declan let out an exasperated sigh, frustrated by how foolishly his mother acted. She was still adamant on forcing Lariette to get back to the cheating scumbag.
"Behave, Dec. Matthias and his parents will arrive soon. Your grandfather too. Don’t cause any ruckus."
Rolling her eyes, Samantha crossed her arms over her chest. Without waiting for her eldest son to answer, she returned inside while grumbling why Lariette hadn’t shown up.
Shaking his head, Declan raked his fingers through his chocolate brown hair. Wispy in its natural form, he purposely styled it slick back as usual.
"Worried about Lari?"
The feminine voice resonated in the air, pulling Declan’s attention to her.
"Cee..."
The black-haired beauty drew a helpless smile on her lips. Approaching her lover, she nudged Declan at his elbow.
"Your mom’s stubborn as always," comnted Celina straightforwardly, her brown eyes glinting with amusent, "But, I think your sister won’t easily succumb this ti."
"Because of how Lari has been acting this past week?" Declan arched an eyebrow, intrigued by what his girlfriend had to say.
Instead of entertaining Declan’s inquiry, Celina simply smiled. She recalled everything her boyfriend shared with her about Lariette recently.
Celina was surprised to know Lariette had broken up with Damien. Fortunately, Declan’s youngest sister didn’t let herself be blinded by love and forgive that cheating scumbag.
Still, learning about Lariette openly ignoring everyone in the Elsher family shocked Celina the most. This was the very first ti the younger lady did such a thing.
As if she was rebelling.
"Anyway, stand up for her tonight," Celina tilted her head, her wavy hair tousling behind her, "Your sister really needs it even though she doesn’t show it."
Declan had nothing to say aside from acknowledging the truth behind Celina’s words. He knew that he shouldn’t continue failing Lariette.
"Oh... that should be the Silveras."
Declan and Celina looked ahead, staring at the luxury black sedan speeding down the vast driveway. The bright garden lampposts bounced off the sleek tal surface.
While the lovers stood under the roofed porch, a few pairs of footsteps echoed from inside the manor, drawing closer with each passing second.
Jonathan, Samantha, Stephanie and the other two Elsher brothers appeared. Damien quietly followed from behind. All of them wanted to welco the Silveras.
"They’re here!"
Stephanie’s voice was imbued with excitent. She smiled shyly at Samantha when the latter gently patted her arm.
Declan and Celina exchanged a glance before retreating to where the Elsher family stood. Four figures erged from the sedan; the Silvera spouses, Matthias and his younger sister.
"Welco, our future in-laws."
"Thank you for having us here."
Jonathan and Samantha greeted Mr. and Mrs. Silvera while Stephanie rushed to Matthias’ side. She didn’t forget to briefly chat with Alana, her fiance’s only sister.
"Has Chairman Delaney arrived? I’m looking forward to seeing him today," Mr. Silvera chuckled as he added, "It’s hard to et your father-in-law now that he’s retired."
"He’s probably on his way here," Jonathan swiftly humored Mr. Silvera, knowing how much influence his father-in-law wielded, "He mostly spends his ti gardening."
While the n talked about work, Mrs. Silvera asked Samantha, "Where’s your other daughter? Is Lariette not here?"
Samantha’s smile stiffened. She was aware of Mrs. Silvera’s wish to have Lariette as Matthias’ wife because of the young lady’s blood.
"Well, she should be on..."
"Oh, is that the chairman?"
Mr. Silvera’s voice caught everyone’s attention. A few pairs of eyes stared at the driveway, expecting to see another luxury car, only to be surprised by a simple four-wheel drive truck.
"W-who?"
No one could answer Jonathan.
The navy blue truck appeared out of place beside the Silvera’s luxury vehicle. They barely saw the silhouette of its driver and two passengers through the tinted windows.
"...isn’t that Lari? Who’s that man?"
Rafael’s question surprised everyone, including the Silvera family. They stared blankly at the truck when a familiar slender figure climbed down, her white skirt billowing.
On the driver’s side, a man erged, the lights shining on his crimson hair. He rushed to the backseat before opening the door.
"T-that! That bast...?!"
Recognizing who that man was, Damien almost cursed out loud. Veins popped on his forehead, his whole body reignited the previous ache caused by the man’s beating.
Lariette walked away from the truck, her lips smiling yet her eyes didn’t. She stopped a few feet away from Samantha before cheerily saying, "Good evening, Mom~ And everyone."
"Lariette, who are you bring... Father?"
Samantha stopped midway once she, and everyone else, saw the thin and frail figure of Chairman Delaney coming out from the backseat. The elderly man was escorted by the crimson-haired young man.
Waving at his daughter, Chairman Delaney sighed in awe, "Wow~ The truck is so nice! Reminds of my younger days. My new grandson-in-law knows so much about trucks."
Samantha and Jonathan froze, followed by Stephanie and Damien. The others also couldn’t believe their ears.
"Father... what did you..."
Chairman Delaney swiftly cut Jonathan off, not giving his foolish son-in-law another mont to speak.
"My new grandson-in-law is knowledgeable about trucks. Do you hear ?"
"N-new... new grandson-in-law?"
Jonathan and Samantha exchanged a look before they collectively gazed at the crimson-haired young man. Declan, Alaric, Rafael and everyone else were as confused as the Elsher spouses.
"Good evening, Mr. Elsher, Mrs. Elsher," Ruediger stepped closer to Lariette, wrapping his arms around her waist, "I’m Ruediger Alvord, Lariette’s husband."
As if on cue, Lariette and Ruediger raised their hands, showing their matching wedding bands with blue gemstones.
"We’re married. This is my husband," exclaid Lariette cheerfully.
Chairman Delaney smiled at them aningfully while Samantha and Stephanie seed on the verge of fainting, including the enraged Damien.
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