Chapter 17
1031 Words
For a moment, I panicked. I didn’t know what to do, especially since I wasn’t sure when Kevin would return to see if our outfits would match. Now that I knew how much Kevin disliked his brother, I was worried that seeing us together would infuriate him and ruin my plans for the upcoming ceremony.
As Ronald tried to approach me, I took a step back, tightening the top of my dress.
“Where is Eline?” I asked, but Ronald just smiled at me.
“She had something to do, and I jumped in to help her out.”
What he told me was hard to believe, especially since his outfit was different from the one he wore at our welcoming. Ronald was dressed in formal attire, as if he were preparing for the ceremony. For a moment, I was confused, recalling that he had offered Kevin his help and said he would attend the ceremony happily.
Kevin clearly refused him, leaving me unsure of what he was thinking. Unfortunately, I believed he was trying to provoke his brother further, which was disrupting our gown fitting. He was aware that there wasn't enough time to find another boutique, so he thought he had the upper hand in the situation.
“I don’t think you can help me. Could you please call Eline back? I can wait.”
However, Ronald chuckled. “Even if that top were to slip down, I wouldn’t be surprised. I’ve seen everything by now.”
His words made my face blush, and I knew he realised how embarrassed I felt at that moment. He found the situation amusing, keeping a smile on his face as he stepped closer to me.
When his soft yet strong hands landed on my upper arm, I was taken aback. I recalled the night I spent with him, and the intoxicating scent of his cologne didn’t help control my feelings. He gently turned me around and slowly pulled the zipper up.
I closed my eyes, trying to calm myself down. His touch and cologne aroused me, reminding me of that night when I couldn’t control myself around him. I had no idea why the half-brothers hated each other so much; while I was intrigued, I didn’t dare to ask.
“Why did you leave so early that morning?” Ronald’s question snapped me back to reality.
I sighed and turned to meet his gaze. “Is that really a question?” I replied, referring to why I was in the shop.
“For a moment, I thought Kevin had finally changed. I thought he chose someone truly valuable. Not everyone deserves a clever, dedicated, well-skilled doctor as a partner.” He sighed, “But after our brief conversation, I realised that Kevin is just as much of a jerk as he was before.”
I chuckled at his statement. “How do you know so much about me?”
“We had that little chat. I know you had a bit to drink, but you seemed tipsy—not so drunk you couldn’t remember.”
My lips curled into a smile as I crossed my arms over my chest. “I only told you I’m a doctor.”
His smile widened. "Do you think I’m so dull that I wouldn't find out about the woman I spent a night with?"
"Why would I think you would be interested? An Alpha can usually get any woman he desires. Why would someone like you be interested in his one-night stand?"
"You’re right. I could have enjoyed a night with you and left it at that. Still, it took a great effort to find out about you."
I frowned. It was hard to believe that he had actually investigated my background. The worst part was that if he discovered my identity, my plan would be in jeopardy. Even though I had taken measures to keep my identity hidden, I worried that for an Alpha like him, finding out would be easy.
"Did you search for me?" I asked.
"Of course I did. Even if I can have any woman I desire, I rarely bring someone to my hotel room for s*x. Therefore, I was genuinely interested in the woman I spent a night with."
I tried to act like nothing about me was interesting, but inside, I was worried. There were only seventeen days left until the ceremony, and I really didn’t want him to ruin my chance for revenge. I needed to learn more about what he had discovered.
"Have you learned anything interesting?" I asked, pretending not to care.
"I found out enough," he sighed. His answer was unsatisfactory, so it was better to focus on the fitting before my plans were compromised. I intended to get Kevin and ensure that Ronald couldn’t contact him with any information about me.
"I think we should continue with the fitting. I don’t know where Eline is, but I want to find Kevin."
"I don’t think the gown fitting should be rushed. You want to look stunning at the ceremony, don’t you?" Ronald asked, surprised.
But I just wanted to escape the situation.
"I'm not rushing anything. I want to make a decision and move on. I'm tired; I had a long shift at the hospital." I explained, then turned and headed for the door.
However, I couldn’t reach it, as Ronald stepped in my path, still wearing that charming smile.
"Please, let me go," I sighed. Instead of answering or stepping aside, he gently held my waist with his strong hands and turned me to face the wall, where a large mirror hung.
He stood behind me, caressing my upper arms, before shifting to hold my waist again as he moved beside me. He looked into the mirror, examining us from head to toe, then lifted his chin before meeting my eyes in the reflection.
"Kevin is my blood, and even if he lacks the strength and intelligence to be a great leader, I have to admit he is handsome. However, I think you and I would be a better match. What do you think, Erin? Would you get rid of Kevin for me?"
- Writer
