Alia should’ve been at ho hiding from the press and waiting for Matteo to return. Or at least, that was what her rational mind would’ve wanted her to do, and what she thought Matteo would’ve preferred. However, when Cherry dropped by and offered to bring her shopping, she quickly learned that Cherry was a very convincing person.
"That won’t do," Cherry said, eyeing the lace in distaste. "We need sothing bolder, brighter― do you have this in red?"
"Cherry!" Alia hissed. Her face was the reddest thing available in this lingerie store, and Cherry didn’t seem to care two hoots about it.
"Of course, Miss Montgory," the sales assistant said, and she quickly scampered off to attend to Cherry’s request.
"I thought we were shopping for furniture," Alia muttered, careful to keep her voice down.
She didn’t recognize anyone here, but they all seed to recognize her. Ever since she and Cherry had set foot into the mall, Alia could feel the lingering gazes cast upon them. Needless to say, they were definitely from people who had already seen the news of Matteo’s engagent and had recognized her from the photos.
"We are," Cherry cheerily said. She then gestured to the racks upon racks of luxury innerwear, a bright smile on her face. "But what is the use of furniture when you have nothing to wear on your wedding night? You just need a bed, after all, and Matteo already has one. Until you break the mattress, there’s no need to get a replacent."
Alia’s eye twitched. Cherry didn’t know that they weren’t actually engaged― for all she knew, Alia and Matteo were supposed to be a young couple deeply in love. Why wouldn’t Alia want to get sothing that could spice up their wedding night, if that were the case?
Because of that, Alia couldn’t tell Cherry the truth as well― her cousin didn’t love her like that, and they weren’t a typical romantic couple. This lingerie was not going to co of use.
"Lingerie is part of the intrigue," Cherry said. A sly smirk curved her lips. "It will make ripping it off even more fun―"
"Cherry!" Alia had her face buried in her hands at this point. Her cheeks felt hot and she would rather dig a hole and bury herself in it than stand right here right now.
Seeing her reaction, Cherry chuckled. "You are adorable," she said. "It’s no wonder Matteo is so whipped for you. Quite frankly, from the mont you walked in through the club doors, I knew."
"Knew?" Alia echoed, raising an eyebrow. "Knew what?"
"Knew why he is so in love with you, silly," Cherry said.
Alia bit her bottom lip. Only, Matteo Montgory was not in love with her. If Cherry knew, she would realize how delusional her sixth sense was. However, Alia could only smile and nod, trying her best to pretend to be an in-love youth as well.
"In love?"
A scoff of disbelief forced Alia and Cherry to turn their heads. Alia, however, didn’t need to turn to know who it was who spoke. After all, if it ca to the subject of love, this man held all of hers for years, only to throw it down the drain and spit on it.
"I can hardly believe that Matteo Montgory is in love with her," Caleb seethed right as he t Alia’s eyes.
She steeled her gaze as Cherry scowled, raising an eyebrow at the man.
"Caleb Walton," Cherry said, her tone cool. "Has your mother never taught you not to talk to won who are lingerie shopping, especially if they aren’t your significant other?"
"Oh, but I am talking to my significant other," Caleb said pointedly before looking at Alia. "Isn’t that right, Alia?"
"Alia?" Cherry echoed, turning to look at the woman in question, only to realize that her face had turned pale, her lips even more so. The thin layer of lip gloss was doing nothing to help her complexion. There was even a shiny layer of perspiration across her forehead. "I didn’t realize you two were acquainted."
"Acquainted?" Caleb said, before letting out a cold bark of laughter. "We’re more than acquainted. Co on, Alia, that’s enough, don’t you think? Let’s go."
He reached forward and grabbed Alia before any of them could react, and Alia hurriedly shrugged out of his hold.
"I’m not following you anywhere," she said, her voice shaky. Her fists trembled by her sides as anger coursed through her.
The nerve of this man! Alia had no clue what she had done to offend the gods to warrant this, but it seed like Caleb was a phantom that wouldn’t leave her alone. No matter where she went, he seed to show up just right after, and Alia was starting to see a pattern she did not like.
Worst of all, Matteo wasn’t here with her right now, and she didn’t know how well this would go.
"That’s enough fooling around, Alia," Caleb said with a laugh, one that didn’t really reach his eyes. For a split second, he sounded just like the Caleb Alia was familiar with, but the look in his eyes sent shivers down Alia’s spine. "We should get ho."
"Ho?" Cherry looked back and forth between Caleb and Alia. "What is going on?"
"Did Alia not tell you?" Caleb said with a smile. "She’s my―"
"Ex-girlfriend," Alia hurriedly threw out.
That wasn’t exactly a lie― before they got married, they had indeed dated for a period of ti. Cherry didn’t need to know right now that she had a different status as well for the last couple of years.
Or at least, if Alia was going to properly explain, it should be sowhere private. A quick glance at the store and Alia could catch many curious eyes watching them in the middle of their shopping.
She gritted her teeth, willing herself to calm down before turning to Cherry. "He’s apparently not over the break-up just yet."
Alia reached out and tugged at Cherry’s arm. There was nothing she wanted more than to leave this shop right now, and possibly the mall. The only safe place right now would be Matteo’s apartnt.
She wasn’t sure what she would do if left here with Caleb for extended periods of ti. There was just too much overwhelming her right now― fear of what would happen when the press found out that Matteo’s new fiancée was freshly divorced, and anger due to the way Caleb had treated her and was treating her right now.
However, Caleb reached forward once more, and his hands soon found her wrist. With one sharp yank, he tugged her right to her side, her body nearly fully plastered against him due to the force.
Reviews
All reviews (0)