Nicole POV
I woke up with a banging headache on mine. My head is pounding so much like a beating drum.
Fluttering my eyes open, I closed them quickly when the sun streaming in from the curtain almost blind me.
Gosh! I drank so much yesterday… So unlike me! All because of a girl who also happens to be my brother’s girlfriend.
Ugh! Since when does Ethan start dating? Huh! Going out with a girl? Was he not a Playboy before?
I groaned, grabbing my pounding head.
Thinking of that makes my head pound and it makes my heart bleed too.
What a shame! I got rejected even before I professed.
Slowly, I slid my eyes open and sat bolt right, leaning my head against the headstand.
I groaned again.
Of course, alcohol is not for me! I just have no choice.
My phone ring beeped loudly and I let out a loud hiss before I fetched it from the bedside table.
I creased my brows when I saw Rose’s name glaring over her message on the phone.
Rose? How did she know about Dawn, and about me drinking?
“Are you fine now? You’re not drinking or crying again, right? And please do not call me again to watch how you cry… You kind of looked ugly when you cry”
I chuckled at her last word. Give it up for Rose to run her mouth everywhere trying to cheer you up.
Dropping my phone back on the bed, I sighed. I might have called her when I was feeling so down and hopeless.
Oh shit! I hope I didn’t run my mouth so much.
I closed my eyes, my hand on my head, trying to recall what took place yesterday, but nothing was coming forth. Everything is just blurred.
“Cole!”
Mum walked in with a saucepan in her hand, she edged closer to my bed and placed the saucepan on the bed before she sat on the bed.
“I made you some hangover soup,” she placed her palm on my forehead and I flinched.
Gee! The coldness of her hand made me recoil back. My stomach churned uncomfortably.
I quickly clapped my hand over my mouth and slid down the bed, rushing to the bathroom to let down the bile rising in me.
Goddamned it! This is why I hate drinking this much! You might have to vomit your intestines just because you had a drink.
I rinsed my mouth and splashed some water on my face.
“Are you okay, Cole?” Mum’s voice rang from the room.
“Yes,” I replied
I stared at my reflection in the mirror. My swollen face, puffy cheeks, dull eyes, and my pale lips.
Beat me! How can I go to work looking like a sick zombie?
All thanks to Dawn.
“Dawn…”
I muttered the name again and I smiled.
God knows how much I love calling that name, it flows freely and beautifully, and for some reason, saying her name gives me this kind of inner peace.
“Are you sure you don’t want me in there?” Mum called out again.
Okay! I had no idea that she was still there.
I grabbed a face towel and dabbed my face with it before I sauntered out of the bathroom.
Mum rushed to me, holding my arm tenderly as though she was afraid I might fall and break into pieces.
I mentally chuckled. Perhaps, my arm is not what she needs to hold but my heart that’s broken into many pieces.
If only I could travel back in time, then I’d want to meet Dawn first.
Mum walked me to the bed, she gently sat me down before she took her seat beside me.
“Here, open up and have some soup.”
“I can help myself.” I made to collect the spoon from her, but with just her glare, I parted my mouth for her spoon to fit into them.
Mum fed me more soup for a few minutes as though I were nothing but a seven years old kid.
“Why do you drink?” She demanded.
“Just because.” I shrugged.
“Just because?” She scowled. She wiped my mouth with the napkins and I sighed.
Okay! She doesn’t need to do that… For fuck sake, I am not a kid!
” Even when you know how your body reacted to it?” She glared at me.
I passed a tongue over my lips and looked away from her.
A moment ago, she was nice, and now she’s being the strict mother she is.
“You don’t want your dad to be mad at you, do you?”
“Mom!” I hissed.
Did she have to bring him up? I’m having a hard day already, and all she can do to help is to bring that man up.
Like I care! Mad at me? Over what exactly?
“He’s your dad, Cole.” Mum frowned. “You should stop this unnecessary hate…”
“I do not hate him,” I huffed. “I just did not like him that much”
Mum chuckled. She grabbed my hand in her and gilded her finger over the back of my hand.
“Cole,” she whispered.
Hey! I know that tone… She only uses it whenever she’s got something to request.
“You have to do what your dad wants, you know,” she mumbled…” You must… ”
“Take over the company, I know!” I mentally rolled my eyes. “Can I be alone now please?”
“Cole… You’re…”
I mentally sent a quick prayer up when my phone rang loudly, stopping mum from completing her sentence
I quickly swiped to the receiver icon without checking the caller ID.
“Cole?”
“Andre,” I greeted, casting a side glance at mum.
I wonder why Andre is calling me out of the blue.
“I’m in your office,” Andre said. “But you’re not in.”
“Have something you want to tell me?” I creased my brows. “I’m curious what that probably could be.”
“Are you?” Andre tutted. “Well, grandpa sent me to you.”
“He could have sent my secretary,” I sneered.
“Ah! Tell me what I don’t know,” I can imagine the smirk on his annoying handsome face.
For some reason, I did not fancy Andre.
“Since this is confidential, he wants me to pass the message.”
“And what message could that be?”
Andre sighed. “That, this Saturday, the family is having a friendly dinner with your to-be family inlaw.”
“What…?”
No! How come it’s this fast? A family dinner? All of us?
No! I thought I was going to meet my supposed fiancee first.
“See you on Saturday then, Cole.”
Before I could say anything more, Andre dropped the call.
Oh really? A goddamned family dinner with my freaking supposed to be in law.
Is this a joke?
“Mum…”
“This is for the best.” She said with a smile.
The best my ass. I’m getting married over my dead body
Unless it’s with Dawn