Ethan’s POV
“I think this will be better,” Mel said enthusiastically as she thrust the silver ring on her ring finger. “Look at that,” she waved the ring which contracted with the bright light on my face, causing me to let out a low groan. “It fits me perfectly well, doesn’t it?”
I stifled a growl and nodded instead, trying to fake a smile.
Grandpa has forced me here… Out of my own will to come shopping for a stupid ring with my stupid to-be bride.
Nothing could be more irritating and frustrating than trying hard to please the ugly git before me
Thanks to Dawn, I got my attitude on the check because I’m going to hear her voice tonight.
Nothing keeps me going more than that, and nothing keeps me sane than her voice even knowing that I’m getting married to this git in two days.
“Should we take this?” Mel smiled at me.
“You did all…” I let out a low short yelp when Andre nudged me hard in the rib and stepped on my feet harshly.
“Be nice to her.” He gritted out, his voice loud enough for only me to hear.
I bit my tongue, stopping myself from releasing a couple of cuss at the tip of my tongue.
Right! Relax Ethan. Think about your kitten.
Yeah! About my kitten.
“What do you say?” Mel asked, brandishing the silver ring on my nose
“It’s nice,” I grinned. “It does look like on your finger.”
Her face turned a shader shade of red and she let out a breathy smile.
“I know,” she pouted.
Ah, she does. If she did, why did she have to ask me instead?
“We’re taking this then,” I said
It’s an uncomfortable shopping pit for a ring with this bloke. It makes me sick. And to think that Mel has become more clingy could not be more of a problem.
I mean, what happened to the one-night stand with her to cancel the wedding?
Even though she stopped mentioning that, I could not help but wonder if she still has that in mind.
As Mel tried linking her arm with mine, my phone gave a loud shrill noise that made me flinch.
Fetching it out of my pocket, my heart gave a loud jolt staring at the number flashing on the screen.
Right! I was supposed to get this call at night, not now.
Casting a side glance at Mel who’s staring at me with curiosity latched on her ugly face, I swiped to the receiver icon to listen to the voice I desperately always want to hear.
“Ethan…”
The smile on my lips slowly unfurled on hearing Dawn’s desperate and cowering voice.
She does not sound like the enthusiastic one, rather, she appears to be in a difficult and tight situation.
I clenched my fist around the phone, my heart thumping widely in my chest.
The thought of having no idea of what’s going on with her makes me mad and gets me sick.
“Help me… Ethan…”
She said desperately.
“Listen…”
I hissed lowly on hearing the loud bang of the door and angry feet slamming on the tiled floor.
“No… Don’t..!”
And the cut ended.
What the fuck is going on?
I redialed the number, but the phone is already switched off.
“Are you okay?” Andre mumbled beside me.
No! I’m not! Dawn is in danger with no idea of what’s going on with her. And that brings home this feeling of when she called me to save her the other time.
I clenched my fist, teeth gritted together as I tried to calm myself down.
No! I can’t! There’s nothing to be calm about this.
Dawn is in danger!
Pushing Andre out of the way, I jostled through the people and ran outside, ignoring their shrill call Mel.
I’d rather go out there and help Dawn out, than stay shopping for a stupid ring.
Fetching the car key out of my pocket, I headed for the car, but a strong arm held me back.
“Let it go, Andre!” I hissed.
“No!” Andre growled. “What are you going to do?”
“She’s fucking in danger!”
“In her own house?” He scoffed.
Oh yeah! In her own house. I won’t be surprised if she’s in danger in her own house. No! What kind of parents lock up their ward to force them into marriage?
That’s the stupidest thing to do.
But wait…
I creased my brows, slowly whirling around to face Andre.
I don’t remember telling him who I was going to meet, and come to think of it, why would Grandpa let Andre tag with us just for some stupid ring?
“What would you do, huh?” Andre continued, his hold on me firm and strong. “barge in their house and tell her Dad what?”
“I don’t care what her dad will do!” I snapped.
Hell! The worst he could do is to drag me out, but then, I’d have seen my kitten and make sure she’s fucking fine.
Tell me! It’s better than being here and knowing nothing about what’s fucking going on out there.
Andre sighed, passing his tongue over his lower lip.
“You’re going to ruin everything,” he sighed. “And Dawn will be forced to remove that baby if her Dad ever got a wind of it”
I stiffed a gasp, but my mouth came slightly drooped.
What? How did he… Know?
I narrowed my gaze, a frown building up on my face as I glared at Andre.
Ugh! What’s this? Are they having me taped or what?
“What’s your deal?”
“Let’s talk and I’ll tell you everything.” He said grimly
I ran a tongue over my lip, looking from Andre to my hand holding tightly to the car door.
I’m not sure what to choose, but Andre was quietly right that Dawn will be forced to do the unexpected if I let it slide off my mouth.
I sighed, desperately digging deep in my mind to decide. It seems like such a difficult thing to do, even if the answer is glaring right before me.
“C’mon,” Andre pulled me slightly, “I’m sure you don’t want her to be in more danger than this, do you?”
Of course, I don’t want to, but then, how would Andre sound so sure that Dawn is okay if he’s just here with me?
Releasing the car door handle, I faced Andre squarely, eyes slightly slanted, surveying him curiously.
A faint thought crept through my mind, but I don’t wanna believe it.
No! He won’t have betrayed me, would he?
“You’re going to tell everything,”
“As long as you agree to go in there with me” Andre replied, waving an impatient hand in the air. “And don’t worry about her, I’m sure she’s fine.”
“You sounded so sure.” I narrowed my gaze.
“Of course I am,” Andre replied. “Because I’m on speaking terms with her friend, Mia.” He grinned.
There’s something suspicious in his tone, and his face turned a brighter shade of pink, more than it normally has been.
I raised my brows, mouth opened to air out my thoughts, but Andre beat me to it.
“I’ll tell you everything inside.”
“Fine.”
****
I watched Andre take a great gulp of his coffee, wiped his mouth, and took another gulp.
Tell this man that my patience is running out.
No! If he thinks I’m foolish enough to believe his word to sit here with him just to watch how great he knows how to drink coffee.
“Their coffee is good here,” he grinned.
I cast him a harsh glare accompanied by a low growl.
Thank his star that was sitting among the crowd and a little far away from Mel.
And talking of Mel, I glanced sideways to see her still glaring at me over her glass of cocktail.
Right! I feel so sure that she has a vague idea of what’s going on even after being told by Andre that it’s some business partner who’s called earlier.
“Why can’t I sit with you if it’s truly a business partner?” Mel had demanded angrily, almost showering me with her spit.
I mean, what’s the point anyway, not like I’m gonna marry her or whatever, but Andre said it’s gonna ruin their plan if she knows.
Their plan? Is there anyone who knows about this other than him?
I sighed, my left hand balled in a cold fist, and my right-hand finger drumming the table at intervals.
My patience is ebbing away, but Andre is still not yet saying anything.
“You don’t want to spend an hour drinking that shit, are you?” I growled silently
“You know this is no shit,” Andre shot back, casting a side glance at Mel. “Mel is still looking.”
“And I don’t care!” I snapped.
“Well I do,” he replied simply.
I ran a frustrated hand through my hair. Right! Good for him, he fucking care.
Grabbing the coffee cup, I wrapped my hand around it tightly, venting my anger on it, almost spilling the content.
“If you’re done, do please inform me, will you? Sir?” I gritted out, trying to keep my voice as calm as I could.
Casting another glance at Mel who’s now half focused on her cocktail and half immersed with her phone.
“Listen,” Andre said hurriedly. “I know Dawn’s pregnant. Grandpa does too…”
“What?”
“Your voice down!” Andre threw me one reproachful look for people now have their heads turned to us, including Mel.
“I’m sorry,” I said apologetically.
Andre continued anyway when all heads turned away from us, including Mel.
I wondered why though, but I am by far grateful to have her eaglelike eyes off my body.
“How did you know?” I asked. “You did not have me taped, did you?”
“No,” he shook his head. “Not something like that.”
Andre fell forward, such that he’s now sitting at the edge of his chair. His eyes held mine. “He knows about your secret meeting too. The late-night calls too.”
I scoffed loudly. And he said they did not have me taped. Lame joke! As though I’m gonna believe their downright lie.
I folded both my hand and my gaze hardened as I glared at Andre.
Andre chortled nervously, gulping his empty cup of coffee.
“Well,” he ran a tongue over his lower lip. “We did put Cliff on your tail for that.”
“Thank you, Andre. A great job you’ve done” I said sarcastically
Andre let out another nervous smile, swiping a strand of his hair off his face.
“Not my fault,” he shrugged. “Grandpa.”
But wait, if Grandpa knows about this, why didn’t he stop me? No! If he doesn’t want to stop me, why then does he wants me to go ahead with the wedding with Mel when he fucking knows about Dawn’s pregnancy.
With my brows still cocked, I opened my mouth, but Andre beat me to it again
“I know what you’re thinking,”
Good, he does.
“What is Grandpa doing? No, what’s his deal?”
“Now you know, will you tell me now?”
“I have no idea myself,” he absently shrugged. “Whatever his idea is, I’ve got no idea. But…” Andre raised his voice slightly when I opened my mouth to talk again. “But, I believe he knows what he’s doing.”
I sighed. Slapped my temple softly. I can’t deny that I’m not shocked by this piece of news, and I’m not sure of what to do.
Believe Grandpa and wait for his next action?
What if… just what if everything goes down for me?
“C’mon,” Andre said quietly. “You know your Grandpa as much as I do. He’s not the one to make silly mistakes, you know. Can we do him this favor and have our arms crossed?”
“Fine!” I breathed out, “But I’ll only have these arms crossed till tonight. If I didn’t get Dawn’s call this night, I’m assuring you, that I’ll be the first guest at the front door of Shaw’s house.”