Chapter 22
There were various instruments harmonizing in the auditorium violins, violas, clarinets, pianos… They all wove together to make an elegant symphony. But that was three seconds ago, before Aaron said those words. The world around me was quiet. I couldn’t hear anything over the sound of my brain exploding while my heart pounded in my chest.
“Excuse me?!” I turned to Aaron with wide eyes and tilted my head to look at him. I don’t think I’d ever looked so bewildered in my life.
He really had the nerve to say such complete and utter bullshit! Wasn’t he worried about what his aunt would think? What if his parents found out? I could already imagine his mother inviting me over one day just to offer me five million dollars to leave her son.
If word got out to Vincent, my plans for revenge will be absolutely ruined-permanently!
Aaron seemed completely oblivious as to how reckless his plan was, if he even had one. He gave me an innocent wink that told me he had no intention of correcting himself. If anything, he pretended to be even more intimate with me.
“Darling, this is my aunt. Jane Green.”
“Are you crazy?” I hissed in a hushed tone. I knew Aunt Jane would – still hear me, but I couldn’t control my reaction.
Maybe I shouldn’t have protested right away. After all, I still hadn’t greeted his aunt properly yet.
“It seems like the two of you haven’t reached a consensus on your relationship…” She mused with a good-natured expression. Her eyes wandered back and forth between me and Aaron.
Then her gentle smile became more mischievous. “Don’t get all worked up now, Aaron.”
Her demeanor wasn’t quite naughty-I wouldn’t disrespect her like that – but I’d describe it as impishly playful. Cute, even.
finger to her lips. Then she gave Aaron a wink of her own and whispered, “When it comes to marriage, it’s the woman who decides if you two are ready
I waved my hands about in denial. “We’re not engaged. He’s
before. And please, Jane is perfectly fine.”
when I felt her pinch
and shook my head. Did she think I
kind of relationship…” I kept
didn’t help that Aaron was still
now…” He wrapped his arms around my waist and kissed
amongst themselves, but my guilty conscience convinced me that every single one of them was gossiping about me and Aaron. Jane stood in front
remember Aaron’s chatty wit and relaxed attitude, not the taciturn woman next to him. I was nothing more than a decoration! An accessory! And I was perfectly content with that. I had
my embarrassment, because
does
myself from Aaron’s grasp
for cancer,” I replied.
she quickly regained her composure. “Then I’m sure you’ll get a lot out of tonight. My good friend David Ford will be at the auction this
know. I’d be happy to
David Ford?!
here? I remembered attending his lectures when I was an undergraduate. It was actually because of him that I decided on my career path
to apply for my PhD under his research team, but there
I asked excitedly. Originally, I thought I’d be Aaron’s puppet all
tell you the truth,