Raphael was stunned, his face slightly stiff as all his muscles tightened. Bringing his eyes, he continued to stare at the wedding invitations that were neatly placed on the work table not far from the laptop.
The lavish party held on the weekend is sure to be very lively. Even though he knew this marriage was part of Tristan’s plans, Raphael did not deny that the young man he had cared for in the last few years was so total in preparing everything.
As seen from the list of invitees who will attend, Tristan invited many important people from the business community. The media partners and representatives of several well-known vendors are also included in the man’s count. I don’t know what was going on in Tristan’s mind, but Raphael wasn’t entirely at ease.
He was afraid and worried that Tristan would falter in the middle of the road, and in the worst case, Alfonso might even be instigated by Alfonso’s words. For God’s sake, Raphael knew very well how his former best friend was doing. He can do anything to fulfill all his ambitions.
“If it’s dangerous, why don’t you just try to thwart it, sir?” Fabio’s voice jolted Raphael’s consciousness, which had wandered to and fro in an uncertain direction.
Turning towards the assistant, Raphael immediately gave him a flat look. Try so hard to look okay.
“I’ve tried it, Fabio. But, it’s useless. You know yourself that Tristan is a stubborn man. He will never stop until what his desire or ambition is realized.”
Fabio nodded. Agree with Mr. “Yes, I think Mr. Tristan’s character has been inherited from his father. From the beginning, if he wanted something, he would try very hard to make it happen immediately,” said the man later.
Raphael chuckled softly. Bringing his eyes, he looked straight at the skyscrapers outside the room’s window. His head was spinning now, thinking about all Tristan’s plans that could be disastrous for him. He had to anticipate all of this.
“That’s why the child can’t just be released. Hearing the news about Alfonso being involved in a big tender with Tristan, I was already very worried and thought about it. Especially now, they will have a relationship between in-laws and daughter-in-law. This is really dangerous,” complained the man. He was so pissed off.
Even though he believed Tristan was a typical calculating man, Raphael still couldn’t just sit back and accept the situation. He kept racking his brain to deal with all the bad possibilities that could happen in the future.
“Really, Fabio. If the memory from the dash camera we’ve been looking for up to this moment hasn’t been found, I’ll never be able to calm down. I’m very sure, it’s the only tool to stop Alfonso’s actions.”
Fabio nodded obediently. Since Raphael first gave him orders, he has been trying to search in various directions from the clues he has gathered. “I’ve tried my best, sir. The plan is that after attending Mr Tristan’s wedding reception, I will immediately head to Yorkshire to find Julio Grey.”
“Julio?” Raphael repeated, frowning. He looked unfamiliar with the name his assistant had just mentioned.
“Yes, sir. Julio is the real name of the driver who was driving Mr. Alfonso’s car when the accident happened to Mr. Quartararo. For some reason, I feel that the man seems to know where the memory that we have been looking for is,” said Fabio confidently.
“Are you sure you want to find the man first?” Raphael spoke expressionlessly, but there was hope in his eyes which the assistant read immediately.
“I am very sure, sir.”
Raphael nodded again. Staring at Fabio for a moment with an appreciative look, then after giving a signal that he permitted what his assistant was going to do.
“Please give me some good news as soon as possible, Fabio. Don’t let this plan I’ve been working on for a long time just fall apart. For God’s sake, I don’t want to give Alfonso the slightest gap.”
Meanwhile, Alfonso seemed to be smiling happily in another place, distributing the invite list to his assistant. It could be said that he was very enthusiastic about welcoming the moments of marriage between Tristan and his daughter, Sophia.
“Make sure the business relations on the list accept all these invitations. Just so you know, Adrian, I really can’t wait for that day to come,” he said with a meaningful smile.
Meanwhile, Andrian immediately grabbed the list of invitations that Alfonso had compiled. Please put it in a folder, ready to be distributed to each destination.
“I’ve been a bit surprised by Master recently,” said the man.
Lifting his face, Alfonso gave him a questioning look. “What do you wonder?”
“About your daughter’s marriage, sir. Sorry if I have to be honest, as an assistant who has served for a long time, I am sure that the late Andrew Quartararo’s son must not have fully married your daughter because he had sincere feelings let alone love. For some reason, I doubted that matter.”
Alfonso burst out laughing. Taking a slow sip of the cigar, he nodded, confirming his assistant’s guess.
“Of course, Adrian. I also think the same as you. It must not be easy for the young man to believe and then forgive me. Moreover, he must have been consumed by the words of Raphael, my best friend and rival. There must have been a certain purpose until Tristan approached my daughter and asked her to married like now.”
“If you already know that, why do you still agree to it? Isn’t that the same as endangering your daughter’s position, sir? Poor Miss Sophia if you have to suffer in the future,” amazed Adrian.
Alfonso laughed. He gently rubbed his chin, which seemed overgrown with fine hairs. Glancing briefly, the man returned his opinion.
“I’m not stupid, Adrian. You know I’m quite experienced with this kind of problem. Tristan’s plan has been read easily by me,” said the man proudly.
“Then what are you going to do after this, sir? I’m sure you can’t just sit around as a spectator.”
Laughter escaped from Alfonso’s lips again. Turning off his cigar, the man leaned back on the chair. Find a comfortable sitting position, then speak again.
“If all this time Raphael had been able to use Tristan as his puppet, I could do the same. I’ll make that man slowly shift his position to support me and attack Raphael back. For example, Tristan is really just pretending to love my daughter right now, then at a later date, I will bring that young man to his knees and unable to move one bit from Sophia.”
Alfonso lifted his chin with a sharp grin. His expression showed that he was ready at any moment to receive any attack that Raphael or Tristan would aim at him.
“We’ll see, Adrian. Who comes out the winner or loser in this game.”
***
Sophia seems to be sitting stiffly with her head bowed awkwardly. After she finished distributing invitations to her friends and colleagues, she ventured to visit Edward in person at the Alpha Beta building. Having felt afraid because her presence was not accepted, Sophia could breathe a sigh of relief.
As soon as the secretary announced his arrival, Edward immediately invited the woman into his study without hesitation.
“Sophia, what exactly do you want to talk about? Why have you been silent all this time?” rebuked Edward impatiently. His facial expression was regular. There was no longer the look of annoyance or disappointment that Sophia had seen before when she rejected the man’s proposal.
“Sorry if my arrival might interfere with your activities,” Sophia said with a bow. She didn’t even dare to look directly at the face of the man in front of him.
“Don’t mince words, Sophia,” Edward said sharply. “I’m sure you came here for a purpose. So, I beg you, just tell me what you mean. Don’t waste time.”
“Edward…” Sophia’s voice trailed off. Lifting her face, she looked into the beginning of the man who used to adorn her days. A sincere man who was loyal to accompany her long before Tristan came into her life. “Do you hate me that much?” she asked quietly. The two blue beads nailed Edward’s brown one.
While the man he was talking to seemed silent for a moment. Beyond expectations, the man smiled gently.
“Actually, I don’t hate you. I’m just really mad at you, Sophia.”
“I know that,” Sophia cut in quickly. She realized that what she had done to Edward must have caused great disappointment.
“Listen to me first,” Edward snorted then. Before the lips had finished speaking, Sophia hastily cut them off. “I’m really angry and disappointed with what you and Tristan did. But either way, my love for you two is greater than this. So I think I’ll slowly forgive you both.”
Sophia is taken aback. Slowly. returned the courage to look back at Edward. Trying to find loopholes for lies, but what she got was a look full of sincerity.
Edward didn’t go overboard with what he just said. Instead of harboring anger, he tried to act mature and let go of what had become the choice of the woman he once liked.
“There’s nothing wrong with me supporting your relationship, Sophia. I hope, later, you will be happy with your choice.” Edward prayed earnestly. The man smiled sincerely.
Seeing Edward’s expression, Sophia realized that she was shedding tears of emotion. She recited thousands of words of gratitude in her heart because in the end the man was no longer there. hate it.
“Thank you so much for your kind heart, Ed. For God’s sake, I’ll never forget this moment.”
Edward nodded. The smile on his lips didn’t fade one bit. “I hope that the two of us can still be friends after we get married.”
“Of course,” Sophia said quickly. The woman then got up. to approach the position where Edward was sitting. “Perhaps your friends have already given us our wedding invitations. But I’d like to give this to you in person and hope you’ll come to our wedding this weekend.”
Edward immediately accepted Sophia’s invitation. Nodding in agreement with the woman’s request. groomsman. You don’t have to worry about that.”
“Thank you, Edward. I owe you a lot.”
After talking for a while, Sophia chose to say goodbye. However, before leaving the room, Edward again called the woman and asked for one wish.
“Before you go home and before you officially become my best friend’s wife, may I hug you just once. Just this once, Sophia,” Edward pleaded earnestly. “Think of this as the last hug because once I’m officially married, I’ll never be able to hug you again.”
Without much thought, Sophia agreed to Edward’s request. Even seconds later, Edward immediately embraced Sophia. He hugged her tightly as if he didn’t want to be separated from her.
“Remember, Sophia,” Edward whispered in his arms. “After marriage, when something happens to you, don’t hesitate to tell or tell me. You need to know, I will always help if later you have trouble and need help. Don’t worry, my cell phone number hasn’t changed in the slightest, if you want to call me later.”
“Thank you, Ed,” Sophia replied as she broke their embrace.
Aurora did the same thing at home. After dinner, the woman seemed to invite Tristan to sit relaxing on the back porch of the house. While gazing at the stars, Aurora deliberately clung to Tristan’s body.
“Surely after you get married, you will never notice me again,” complained Aurora with a frown. Her expression was evident if she was showing jealousy.
“Said who?” Tristan argued, looking down. He pinched his cheeks. “Want to get married or not, I’ll still act the same, Aurora. You know, the wedding was nothing more than a part of the plan that I made.”
Aurora sighed. Leaning her head on Tristan’s chest, she then muttered quietly.
“No one knows what will happen in the future, Tristan. Really, I’m afraid that you will fall in love with that woman.”
Tristan chuckled softly. Tired of what Aurora was complaining about to him. “I’m tired of hearing these words Aurora. How else should I convince you that I won’t be able to fall in love with Sophia?”
“Marry me. That way, I will believe what you say. I don’t mind having to be a second wife even once,” she said confidently, without the slightest hesitation.
Instead of taking it seriously, Tristan laughed amusedly. He was intrigued by what he had just heard.
“Don’t be crazy, Aurora. Even if I pretended, I never thought of having two wives.” Straightening up suddenly, Aurora looked like she wanted to ask something.
“Are you planning to have children from Sophia after you get married?” I do not know what possessed Aurora. How could the woman even think so far?
“No. I won’t let Sophia bear my child. I don’t want Quartararo’s offspring to be born to the wrong woman.”
Aurora breathed a sigh of relief. That means that when Tristan gets married, he won’t be able to touch Sophia as he feared.
“Thank goodness. I’d go crazy if you got that woman pregnant.” Instead of responding to Aurora’s words, Tristan chose to smile. Without saying much, he immediately picked up Aurora to her room.