MARRY ME, UNCLE DMITRI (ENGLISH)

7

Chapter Seven

He was staring at me again.

I could feel his gaze following my every move. No matter where I went in this room... Uncle Dmitri's eyes never left me.

I deliberately stood up because I couldn't bear having Susane cling to me any longer. Now I was standing beside a large decorative vase when Magnus walked over. He wrapped his arms around me, nuzzling against me as if trying to win back my affection.

Once upon a time, I would have loved it when he acted this clingy.

Now, it only disgusted me.

I tried to pull away, but his embrace only tightened.

"Louella, I love you," he whispered. "Please don't be like this. You're standing right beside me, yet it feels like there's an ocean separating us."

Only Magnus and I could hear each other, which was exactly why he had the audacity to say something like that.

"Who do you think put that distance between us?" I replied, still unable to free myself from his hold. "Don't start with me here, Magnus. I might lose control and say everything I've been dying to tell you."

The man fell silent before finally letting go.

I knew him well enough to recognize one thing—he hated being confronted.

We were never like this before.

We used to understand each other so effortlessly. That is why his behavior now genuinely shocks me.

Only now was I seeing who he truly was.

This man was far worse than I had ever imagined.

When Magnus glanced toward his uncle, he immediately flashed a warm smile before turning back to me. He hugged me again as if we were the perfect couple, even planting a kiss on my cheek before finally walking over to Uncle Dmitri.

Left standing alone in the corner, all I wanted was to go home and rest.

But the night was still far from over.

It was obvious Susane had no intention of leaving anytime soon. She was enjoying every bit of attention she was getting from Magnus's relatives.

"Louella, are you bored already? Come on! The night's just getting started. Come sit with us and join the conversation," Susane invited sweetly.

She had deliberately chosen those words to make it sound as though I was bored at a dinner hosted by the Miranov-Vash family.

Damn it.

Susane knew exactly how to corner me into awkward situations.

Magnus's relatives all turned to look at me, seemingly waiting for my response.

I had no choice but to sit on one of the couches and join their conversation.

After all, Magnus and Susane were the only ones who had wronged me.

His relatives had nothing to do with the mess between the three of us.

That made it easy enough to chat with them.

Before long, though, I had everyone's attention, and Susane seemed to be fading into the background.

"Louella, to be honest, I can already picture your wedding with Magnus," one of his aunts said with a smile. "Out of all the women my nephews have ever brought home, you're the one I adore the most. You're well-mannered, educated, and your parents raised you right. The only thing missing now is the wedding. Hasn't Magnus proposed to you yet?"

I stole a glance at Magnus.

But instead, I caught Uncle Dmitri watching me again.

I immediately looked away.

Why does he keep staring at me?

Did I do something wrong?

Have I somehow offended him, and this is his silent way of judging me?

"Louella?" Magnus's aunt called.

I hadn't answered because I'd been distracted by Uncle Dmitri's unwavering gaze.

"Yes?"

"We were asking if Magnus has proposed to you yet."

I bit the inside of my lip before forcing a smile.

"Not yet."

And if only I could tell them that even if the day ever came, I wouldn't accept his proposal...

I would have said it without hesitation.

But I couldn't.

Magnus would undoubtedly lose his temper.

If it weren't for my mother...

I wouldn't care if their reputation was ruined.

"That boy is unbelievably slow!" Aunt Claire rolled her eyes dramatically. "There's no one else I'd ever want as my daughter-in-law except you, Louella. Only you. If Magnus ever dares fool around and bring another woman into this house..." She clicked her tongue. "I'll shave both their heads myself. Darling, you're the only future daughter-in-law I will ever accept. Remember that."

My gaze shifted toward Susane.

There was no way she was happy hearing those words.

She hated seeing me praised.

She hated feeling like I was better than her.

"Tita Claire," Susane spoke with a polite smile, "What if someone more deserving comes into your son's life?"

Everyone turned to look at my sister.

"I mean... what if Louella isn't actually the one meant for Magnus? What if there's someone else... someone even bet—"

Aunt Claire immediately raised her hand, cutting her off. She shook her head without hesitation.

"Susane, Louella is already the best thing that's ever happened to my son. Why would I want someone better when the best is already by his side? Destiny?" She smiled confidently. "Those two are each other's destiny. And if another woman ever comes between them, she'll be nothing more than someone trying to destroy their relationship."

"Sorry, Tita," Susane replied with a stiff smile. "I was only speaking hypothetically."

"Susane, Magnus would have to be an absolute fool to throw away a woman like Louella. He's lucky Louella even gave him a chance.”

"Tita, you really treasure Louella, don't you?" Susane said with a light laugh, disguising the bitterness beneath her words.

"Of course I do! Louella is incredibly precious to me and to my family. We all adore your sister, Susane. She's such a wonderful young woman."

Susane cleared her throat before quickly steering the conversation in another direction.

I had no doubt she was growing increasingly irritated by the constant praise Magnus's family kept showering me with.

She began showing off her designer handbag collection instead. Only one of Magnus's aunts seemed interested in that topic. The others preferred talking to me.

Before long, the conversation shifted to business, and even Magnus's uncles joined in.

I could practically feel the anger simmering inside Susane.

As for me...

I secretly enjoyed every second of it.

I couldn't deny the satisfaction I felt. No matter how hard she tried, she still couldn't outshine me in their eyes.

Eventually, it was time for us to leave.

While I was saying goodbye to Magnus's family, Susane had already gone ahead and gotten into the car. Her mood had completely soured, and she simply blamed it on having had too much wine.

"Take care on your way home, dear," Aunt Claire said warmly.

"Thank you for inviting me, Aunt Claire. We'll be heading home now."

I shook hands with several of Magnus's relatives.

When I finally stood before Uncle Dmitri, Magnus slipped an arm around my shoulders.

"Uncle, Louella's heading home."

Uncle Dmitri extended his hand toward me.

I accepted it.

"It was a pleasure meeting you, Louella."

"Thank you for having me, Uncle Dmitri," I replied.

Then, as discreetly as I could, I eased my hand from his grasp.

"Travel safely," he said in his usual serious tone before turning and walking back toward the mansion.

Just before disappearing inside, he looked back at me one last time.

Moments later, Magnus guided me toward the car.

He opened the backseat door, but Susane immediately pulled it shut from the inside.

"I'm sitting in the front."

Without saying a word, I walked to the passenger side instead.

I didn't wait for Magnus to open the door for me.

The moment I got in, I fastened my seatbelt.

Magnus opened the passenger-side door.

As I adjusted my seatbelt, he suddenly reached across, yanked me toward him, and crushed his lips against mine.

I shoved him away immediately.

Deliberately, I wiped my lips with the back of my hand, making sure he saw every movement.

"Don't kiss me with the same lips you've been using to kiss another woman."

I looked him straight in the eye, unable to hide my disgust.

"It's revolting."