The Uninvited Guest
1096 Words
On the weekend, Yvonne headed to Aaron’s exhibition as promised.
She’d chosen a soft cotton dress and a matching knit bag—elegant yet subtly distant.
Though Aaron had told her much about the show, Yvonne had never been deeply interested in fashion. She knew he was now a world-renowned designer, but seeing him again always made her compare the man he’d become with the gentle boy she’d grown up with.
The same person, different times—it felt like another lifetime.
Standing before the elegant, historic European-style building, Yvonne couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe.
Aaron’s return hadn’t been widely publicized; only a select few in the industry knew. Though the designs on display were priceless, the event was private—carefully curated, invitation only.
A light breeze lifted Yvonne’s loosely curled hair as she adjusted her bag. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a familiar figure.
Unlike the night he’d roared up in his sports car, Ezra stepped out of a sleek black sedan looking surprisingly polished. His hair was styled neatly with gel, soft and touchable. Dressed in a well-tailored black suit, he looked both refined and perfectly suited to the classic atmosphere of the venue.
Ignoring him was impossible. Yvonne walked over and waved lightly.
Ezra seemed dazed at first, his gaze drifting from her hand to her face. Then he flushed and turned away slightly, mumbling:
“You look... really beautiful today, Sis.”
He was so easily flustered—a few words from her and he’d blush crimson. Amused, Yvonne gave an elegant nod. “Are you here for the exhibition too?”
“Oh—yeah!”
As if suddenly remembering, Ezra carefully drew a slim, embossed invitation from his inner suit pocket. He still couldn’t bring himself to look directly at her.
He’d seen many sides of Yvonne—most often stern, commanding, and effortlessly dominant.
But today felt different. After a moment of silent thought, he finally met her eyes with sudden resolve.
“Sis… would you like to go in together?”
“Pardon?”
“I mean—may I be your escort for the evening?”
“I’d be delighted.”
Yvonne smiled faintly. When Ezra offered his arm, she lightly looped hers through his, and they stepped inside together.
He seemed to have dressed deliberately for the occasion. As they walked, Yvonne caught the clean, woody scent of his cologne—fresh and understated, fitting for the atmosphere of the exhibit.
She hadn’t expected to run into Aaron right at the entrance.
She was still arm-in-arm with Ezra, chatting softly, when she noticed him.
Aaron stood not far away, wearing a vintage-inspired white suit that contrasted sharply with his dark, flowing hair. He looked almost ethereal. The suit was clearly custom—minimalist in silhouette, but adorned with intricate, delicate embroidery at the collar, like butterflies in flight.
He stood greeting guests with polite detachment, yet he seemed set apart from the crowd—like a crane standing alone in still water, graceful and untouchable.
He was beautiful, like a painting. And Yvonne still felt the urge to disrupt that perfection.
She led Ezra straight to him. “Aaron. I made it.”
Aaron didn’t reply immediately. He raised a brow at one of the event staff near the door, then motioned for Yvonne to join him to the side.
Or rather, he tried to guide her by the hand. But since Ezra was still holding her other arm, Aaron’s gesture couldn’t fully unfold.
Ezra’s expression darkened. He’d disliked Aaron since the incident at the villa. He knew this man wasn’t as gentle as he seemed. Still, for Yvonne’s sake, he stayed polite.
“What are you trying to do?”
“If you don’t mind causing a scene,” Aaron replied coolly, “we can certainly have this conversation here.”
Then his voice softened only when he turned to Yvonne. “I’m glad you came, Yvonne. But I need to speak with you. Alone.”
Anyone could sense the tension. Not wanting to escalate things, Yvonne sighed and followed Aaron to a quieter corner.
Not far behind them, Ezra grumbled, “I was hoping to have a proper date with Sis tonight.”
“A date?” Aaron laughed lightly, leaning against a pillar. His fair skin stood out against the white of his suit. His eyes scanned Ezra critically. “I don’t recall seeing your name on the guest list.”
“I have an invitation. I belong here,” Ezra retorted, his voice tight. He pulled the invite from his pocket and held it out defiantly.
Aaron gave it a cursory glance, then turned his attention back to Yvonne. He remembered the type she used to like—and this wasn’t it. Had he ever truly understood her?
Shaking his head, Aaron produced the official guest registry. This was a private event—every name had been hand-selected. Ezra’s shouldn’t have been there. And yet the invitation… It did look authentic.
“Where did you get this?” Aaron’s voice turned cold.
“From the brand team. Why?”
“Which brand? I didn’t invite any brands to this exhibition.”
Aaron’s eyes narrowed. He knew every detail of this show—he’d planned it himself. Yet the invitation in Ezra’s hand seemed legitimate. Something wasn’t adding up.
Just as he was about to press further, Yvonne stepped between them. “It seems there’s been a misunderstanding,” she said smoothly. “Perhaps there was a mix-up between the brand and the organizers. He can use my invitation instead.”
She drew her own invite from her knit bag and offered it to Aaron. Side by side, the difference was clear: hers was custom—elegant, with a gold-foiled butterfly that seemed to flutter when tilted in the light. Ezra’s was standard.
Aaron sighed. He didn’t want to argue, not here. He knew Yvonne was protecting the young actor—but why?
“Yvonne, yours was made specially. His is generic. And his name isn’t on the list. I’ve worked too long on this exhibition to take risks.” His voice softened almost to a plea. “Could you visit the exhibition on your own today? Please?”
His tone was gentle, almost vulnerable. He didn’t want to scare her with how much he wanted to throw Ezra out.
“Alright, Aaron. I understand.”
With a faint smile, Yvonne turned and walked into the gallery alone—leaving both men behind.
- Writer
