Owned By My Ex-Fiancé’s Uncle

10: Unsettling Phone Call

SERENE’S POV

Even though I slept late, I managed to wake up early. After taking a shower and getting dressed, I went down to our dining room to eat.

"How was your plan, Serene?" Dad greeted me with a smile. I approached him and kissed him on the cheek as a greeting.

"Actually, Dad, I've decided to postpone my wedding with Aiden for one week," I said. He raised an eyebrow at my statement, and even Mom furrowed her brow and looked at me.

Even though I still didn't know if I would go through with the wedding with Aiden, I couldn't tell them yet. I didn't have solid evidence, and I didn't want them to worry about me.

"Why? What are you thinking, Serene?" Mom couldn't help but ask.

"Well, Mom, I received an invitation from Erstonia Fashion Week. They're planning to have me as one of their jurors, and I don't want to turn down that opportunity. It's also part of my plan to expand Pristine Panache," I explained to them.

"That's a good idea, and it's just a one-week delay. What's important is that your wedding is still happening this November," Dad sided with me, which made me smile.

"Oh, Serene, you've been prolonging your wedding with Aiden, so I wouldn't be surprised if he's getting impatient," Mom said while sipping her coffee.

I was used to it because none of my plans had received support from Mom. Ever since I couldn't fulfill her dream of becoming a doctor, her treatment of me has changed.

"Let's just leave Serene to her plans for now, and she's still young at twenty-seven to get married," Dad defended me. "You should talk to Alison about her lack of direction in life."

"Why is Alison being brought up in the conversation again?" Mom responded with a hint of annoyance. "Our topic here is Serene's wedding."

"I'm just saying, Brenda. Your eldest has dreams and aspirations, unlike your youngest, who seems to bring us nothing but headaches."

"Dad, if you don't have any new lines, just keep them to yourself because I already know them, and I'm not affected anymore," Alison interjected. We all fell silent when Alison said that, and she plopped down at the dining table, glaring at me.

I didn't like being compared to her, but there was nothing I could do because Dad always did it. Mom, on the other hand, constantly defended Alison. But I also knew that Alison had her faults because she had taken almost every course, but she hadn't completed any of them.

"Alright, Dad, Mom, I'll leave now. I still have a few things to take care of for my wedding with Aiden before our flight to Erstonia," I said before standing up to leave.

I only said that because I didn't want any more conflicts between Alison and me or even with my parents. I was getting tired of the family dynamic.

I drove to my shop, which was currently closed as our flight was scheduled for tomorrow, so I let my designers take the day off to prepare.

As I entered my office, my unfinished wedding gown greeted me, a constant reminder of the numerous problems that Aiden and I had been facing. I sighed and looked at the gown, wondering if I would ever finish it.

I was startled when my phone suddenly rang, so I reached into my bag and answered it. My eyebrows furrowed when I saw that it was our wedding organizer.

"Hello, Ms. Astley?"

"Yes, speaking," I replied.

"We just wanted to inform you that Mr. David called us and requested to adjust the wedding date to November 18."

"What?" I couldn't believe what I was hearing. That was the day after I returned from Erstonia. "Wait, I will clarify it with him," I said, and then I ended the call and dialed Aiden's number.

"What is it now?" he answered with an irritated tone, clearly just having woken up.

"The wedding organizer called me, and you set the date for November 18 as the wedding day. Why did you decide without even discussing it with me?"

"Why, Serene? When you decided to go to that fashion week, did you even ask me? Now, if the wedding won't happen on November 18, we might as well call it off."

"I have a lot to do, Aiden, and I can't arrange everything within a day."

"That's why we hired a wedding organizer. Let them handle everything you need to arrange, and that's it, Serene. I'm tired of arguing with you." He ended the call after saying that.

I sighed and slumped into my swivel chair. I knew deep down that I loved Aiden, which is why I couldn't bring myself to leave him despite the current issues between us.

Fine. I will decide whether to proceed with the wedding or not after I return. For now, I need to focus my mind on Fashion Week.

---

Today was the day of our flight to Erstonia, and as expected, Aiden didn't accompany me to the airport. My mind remained scattered as we made our way to Erstonia.

I knew I had to focus on the fashion week, but it was harder than I thought when you had other things on your mind.

When I entered my suite, I flopped onto the bed. I could feel the exhaustion weighing on me.

My train of thought was disrupted when there was a knock on the door to my suite. Despite my weariness, I had no choice but to stand up and answer the door. I opened it to find my designers standing outside.

"Come in," I invited them before holding the door wide open. "Have you all settled your things already?" I asked as I returned to the bed, where I sat down. I hadn't even changed, and I needed to rest.

"We're all set, madam. We were actually hoping to go out with you," Jenny replied.

"Yes, Madam, come on, the fashion week doesn't start until tomorrow. Let's enjoy this night! It's beautiful outside, and you can see the Eris Tower perfectly," Patrish said with excitement, gazing at the Eris Tower's lights through the window. "My gosh, Madam, I've only seen this in dramas, but it's real, and it's beautiful here in Erstonia! You really made my dream come true, Madam!" She seemed on the verge of tears, and I couldn't help but smile.

"Yezzz, Madam, instead of sulking here and waiting for Sir Aiden's call, let's enjoy it for now. I really want to try that thing here, the...” Pola glanced at her friends. “What were we talking about yesterday? Is it bimby?"

"Bibimbap, right?" Jenny corrected him with a hearty laugh.

"You don't have to correct our food, you witch! Hilarious!" Pola retorted, rolling her eyes at her two friends before turning back to me. "Come on, Madam, I'm sure these two will just laugh at me all night! And I'm sure the food they make here is better than what we get in Aberdeen," Pola insisted.

"Alright, guys, go ahead and enjoy the night. I'm sure I'd just be a source of amusement if I joined you. Besides, I have a bit of a headache, probably jet lag as well. And the fashion week starts early tomorrow, being the first day," I said while massaging my temples. "I'll make it up to you after the fashion show tomorrow."

"Sige, Madam, just rest for now; we'll make the most of our stay here," Pola said before she and the others walked out of my suite.

"Sure, take care, but don't go too far, and make sure to layer up since it's still chilly outside, even though it's spring," I reminded them before finally leaving the room.

"Goodbye, Madam!" Patrish bids farewell.

After they closed the door, I lay down again, trying to get some rest since I wasn't feeling well. I wasn't sure how long I had been asleep when I heard my TopChat app ring, an online messaging app.

When I saw that it was Aiden, I immediately answered the call.

"Hello?"

"Do you know, Serene, how many times you've hurt me because you never chose me?" he said, and I could tell from his tone that he was drunk.

"I told you, Aiden, I did this for the sake of our future too. I'm tired of arguing with you. We'll continue with the wedding when I come back," I replied, not wanting to engage in an argument.

"Hey, Aiden, who are you talking to?" I furrowed my brow when I heard a woman's voice nearby.

"Oh, her? It's just the woman who keeps breaking my heart," Aiden replied to the woman.

"Aiden, are you at a bar again?" I asked.

"Nope! I'm at the condo, and why would I go out to drink?" He answered, and I could tell he was extremely drunk.

"Turn off that call; you ruined the night!" The woman shouted angrily, and it sounded like she intentionally raised her voice for me to hear better. I couldn't help but feel a strong pounding in my chest because her voice seemed so familiar.

"Okay, fine. Sorry..." Aiden apologized, and then I heard the end call sound.

My hands were trembling as I stared at my phone, and I tried calling Aiden multiple times through the app, but he was already offline.