“We shouldn’t choose black costumes. It’s like being in mourning,” Gabriella mumbled as she noticed the bright colors on the other guests’ clothes. “Look, everyone is looking at us.”
The man walking beside her smiled. “They’re not looking at us, but you.”
“Me? Why?” the woman said with round eyes, pausing in her steps.
“Because you are so beautiful tonight.”
Gabriella’s face suddenly turned stiff. Her husband’s seduction was tasteless to her.
“I’m willing to come here doesn’t mean I have forgiven your mistake.”
Hearing that firmness, the curve of the man’s lips suddenly shrunk. With a serious expression, he approached the woman’s ear.
“We’re in the middle of a crowd. Can’t you delay your annoyance? You can beat me as much as you want when we get home.”
“Is it true? I won’t hesitate to put all my strength into it,” the woman threatened, successfully bringing a smile back on Max’s face.
“Yes,” the man nodded. A second later, he held out an elbow. “So, are you still reluctant to accept my polite treatment?”
With mouth clenched tightly, Gabriella placed her fingers in the crook of the burly arm.
Wasting no time, the man led the way. The corners of his lips secretly lifted higher. The hand he had longed for was in his.
“Look, Julian! Who’s coming with your dear brother,” Amber exclaimed as her eyes caught Gabriella’s face. As if not wanting to lose, she wrapped her hands around her fiance’s arm.
“Oh, the popular Miss Gabriella. Thank you for being willing to come here,” Julian said, offering his greetings.
A second later, the guest welcomed her brother-in-law’s palm. “Congratulations on your engagement,” she said with a sweet smile.
Suddenly, Amber approached and embraced Gabriella. With a fake laugh, she patted the woman’s stiff back.
“I’m so glad you’re here to witness an important moment in my life,” she said, successfully making a frown on the CEO’s brows.
“Did you hit your head with something?” Max asked without changing his expression.
“Hey, don’t say that to your future sister-in-law,” Julian said, placing his hand behind the lady’s waist who was standing beside him.
“I’m just telling the truth,” Max implied as if he didn’t care.
Silently, Gabriella jerked her husband’s arm. “Shouldn’t you congratulate your brother?” she asked in a voice that the partner could hear. Surprisingly, Julian and even Amber didn’t comment at all.
“That’s true. Thanks for reminding me, Honey,” Max said, smiling at his brother.
“Congratulations Julian. I hope your marriage goes well.”
After a small grunt, the man who was also wearing a black suit, put his arm around his brother.
“Thank you, Max. I hope you catch up quickly,” Julian said, adding emphasis at the end of the sentence.
“Don’t worry. I’m not a man who needs orders to act,” he said sarcastically.
Before his brother could protest, Max’s index finger was pointed at a table. “I want to say hello to Papa. You don’t have to welcome us too long. Please take care of the other guests.”
After flashing a formal smile, Gabriella followed in her husband’s footsteps. However, as soon as her face was off Amber’s radar, a cold look was immediately attached.
“Why did you call me ‘Honey’, huh? You’re looking for another chance.”
Max’s laughter immediately sounded crisp. “You are very sensitive. It’s a part of the play. Can’t you tell the difference from reality?” the man asked right into Gabriella’s ear, making the the woman hold her breath.
“Please don’t get too close. People can get the wrong idea,” she whispered back.
“Why? We are lovers, and this is a natural distance.”
After a faint sigh, Gabriella no longer spoke. Her focus was on the table at the end of their stride. An old man with an even face was sitting in one of the chairs.
“Good evening, Dad,” Max greeted as the woman raised the corners of her lips.
“Good evening, Mr. Herbert.”
“You come together?” the old man who had just raised an eyebrow, asked.
“Yes. You must have heard about our relationship. Gabriella is my lover.”
The woman who was called also widened a smile.
Unexpectedly, Herbert snorted while shrugging his shoulders briefly. “Why would I follow such unimportant gossip? It’s just a waste of time.”
Gabriella’s face suddenly turned stiff. Out of the corner of her worried eyes, she watched her husband’s reaction. However, upon seeing the expression that was still the same, the woman was stunned.
“Is Max used to this kind of treatment?” she thought in a slow blink.
Suddenly, Max’s voice broke the newly built compassion in his wife’s heart. “It’s not just gossip, Dad, but the truth about your son. Now, since you aren’t interested in our romance, let me take Gaby around.”
The small curve was back on the woman’s face. “Auntie is right. Max gets over his dad,” Gabriella thought with relief.
“Wait a minute!” Herbert exclaimed spontaneously, startling the couple who were about to walk away. “If this girl really is your lover, shouldn’t you introduce her to me?”
The CEO’s face suddenly froze. “Since when did you care about the people around me?” he muttered with a faint nod.
“Since I saw the girl who has a very close relationship with Quebracha,” Herbert replied as he glanced at Gabriella. After a blink of an eye, his hand reached out to point to an empty chair at the same table.
“Shall we talk for a while, Miss? Do you mind?”
Without thinking, the woman shook her head and forced a smile. “Of course not, Sir.”
Within seconds, the woman and her husband were sitting opposite Herbert.
“So, your name ….”
“Gabriella, Sir,” the woman replied with a cheerful expression.
“That’s a very pretty name. Then, your last name?”
The woman’s face slowly turned tense. “I … don’t have a last name,” she answered, blinking dryly.
“Why so?”
Watching his wife fall silent, Max spoke up. “Dad, it’s unusual for you to be curious about something as insignificant as this.”
“This is important, Max. From the last name, we can find out the family background.”
Gabriella’s fingers began to squeeze under each other under the table. The shaking just got worse. Witnessing that, Max no longer cared about the boundaries between them. Sincerely, the man reached out and gave courage through a grip.
“You don’t have to tell, Gaby,” he said softly.
Unexpectedly, the woman shook her head and spread a stiff smile. “The thing is … I don’t know why I don’t have a last name. Mom always said we’re special, so we only took one word.”
“That reminds me of one of the employees who also doesn’t have a last name,” Herbert interrupted, successfully grabbing attention. “Too bad he’s gone. I can’t ask why.”
The atmosphere suddenly fell awkward at the old man’s words. Max and Gabriella didn’t know how to respond. Why was Herbert talking about someone they had absolutely nothing to do with?
“Then, where are your parents, Miss? Perhaps, you can ask them.”
“Dad!” Max said in a controlled voice. “Didn’t you know that Gabriella’s parents have passed away? Why bring it up?”
Herbert’s mouth suddenly opened without a word. “Oh, that’s right. Sorry, Miss. As we age, this brain begins to lose its function.”
“It’s all right, Sir,” the woman said, trying to control the tension.
“Would you mind if I want to know the reason for their death?”
Gabriella’s face froze for a moment.
“Dad!”
In a flash, the woman grabbed her husband’s hand. “It’s all right, Max.”
After taking a deep breath, she started the story.
“My father used to work in a construction company. An accident at work took his life. As far as I know, my father wasn’t in any pain because it happened so fast.”
Max’s heart suddenly broke when he saw the sadness in his wife’s eyes.
“You don’t have to continue,” he whispered to the woman who then shook her head weakly. The story was still not enough to overcome the curiosity of the father-in-law.
“Since becoming a single parent, my mother worked harder. She didn’t want to use the compensation money. In one day, I don’t know how many times Mama moved from house to house, teaching piano lessons. Until one day, she … she ….”
“Enough! Don’t continue anymore,” Max cut as he pulled his wife’s hand to stand up. “I want to take Gabriella around. Excuse me.”
Ignoring the faint smile on Herbert’s face, Max led his wife away from his father.
“What a useless question. It turns out that he is not satisfied with disturbing my composure,” the CEO grumbled as he walked up the stairs.
Arriving at the deserted upstairs balcony, Max finally checked his wife’s face.
“Are you okay?” he asked, bending down, leveling his gaze.
Gabriella nodded before laughing dryly. “Am I crybaby? Sorry.”
“You don’t have to answer my dad’s questions, Gaby. He’s not trying to get to know you.”
“But still, she’s my father-in-law. I can’t possibly ignore the question,” the woman said as she dried her eyes.
Getting that unexpected answer, the corners of the man’s lips automatically lifted up. Stiffness had faded from the air.
“Apparently, you still consider me as your husband?”
The sadness suddenly disappeared from Gabriella’s face. With a tense blink, the woman gave an awkward look.
“We’re not divorced,” she answered stiffly. A second later, the woman rolled her eyes, avoiding the stares that could have reddened her cheeks. “Even though I know this marriage could end at any moment.”
Looking at the adorable response, Max couldn’t hold back the turmoil in his heart anymore. “May I touch you?” he asked with a crooked smile that held a mystery.
“Didn’t you already touch me?”
Happiness instantly lit up Max’s face. Without wasting a second, the man grabbed his wife and took a sip of the sweet lips. He didn’t care if he had to deal with the woman’s anger later. Max couldn’t help himself anymore.