In This Love

Chapter 12

Rhys

I gripped onto the wheel as she just sighed trying to make things seem less awkward.

I forced myself not to be affected by her beauty. 

Her red hair that resembled the paradise sunset were braided into a beautiful crown. She wore the deepest shade of blue, darker than tonight. Her crimson red lips that shaped into a cupid bow that awakened something inside of me.

What the hell is going on?

Why do I have to admire her when she's a life ruiner? I hadn't seen her for a couple of days because I was avoiding any interactions with her. Everytime we interacted. We fought. But there was a little bit guilt inside of me. The moment when my mother had called her a s**t. The hurt that flashed in her eyes for a moment and all of it was gone. She had put a mask on. I shouldn't have felt guilty when she defended herself against my mother. I didn't know what to feel when she stood up against her surprisingly in a calm tone. I expected her to be disrespectful and snap at my mother like she does with me. But she didn't.

Could she be a good person at heart or was she just pretending?

"Really? God! I will kill him for this!" She exclaimed and I turned my head towards her. Who was she sending death threats? Avery had her phone next to her ear completely forgetting that I was there.

Even I had forgot that she was there when I was over thinking everything that was happening to me in this life. 

"Don't worry. Maybe he's taking his time? Or maybe he's going to propose in Chicago?" She pinched her fingers while she had a frown on her face.

Propose? Chicago? Who?

"I know that Paris was our dream place to get proposed. But hey! Look at the bright side. At least you might marry the man you love. Right? Sarah?" She heaved a sigh when she didn't hear a response from the other line.

Sarah....her best friend. That girl who kept glaring at me as if she wanted to bury me alive on the wedding day. And the girl who had come on the dinner with the Stark family. 

Paris is her dream place to get married. I didn't know what I could do with this piece of information but deep on the inside I felt a little shift in my heart.

Everybody has the right to marry the person they love. Or even fall in love. But her and I - we were both robbed from that right. 

"Okay. You know what? If you don't want to answer me then that's fine! I'll hang up on you!" She warned her best friend on the other line. But I didn't dare look at her this time. 

I heard her groan out of frustration and murmur "Men. Can't even take a hint! Damnit!" She dialed a number on her phone and held it to her ear. Once again she pinched the pad on her fingers.

"Just listen to me. Go to a corner . Don't let her see you!" She glanced towards me and her posture slumped when she realised that I was right next to her.

She cleared her throat and her voice wobbled "Why the hell didn't you propose to her? I mean that's why you took her to Paris right?" I realised that she was talking to the boyfriend "She wanted to get proposed there. Two years. Two f*****g years and you still don't know her likes and dislikes!" She went silent as the person on the other line told her something. It was a surprise to hear her curse like it was nothing.

Her frown suddenly turned into excitement. She smiled cheek to cheek at they started to burn red. I was in a haze now. The happiness. The satisfaction married to her face as if it belonged there forever.

"Oh my God. You are the best! This is perfect! You really thought about this didn't you? Oh my God. I can't believe this! Have a great time proposing her. I - uh - I have to go now. I'm going to a party with - uh" I was the one who was frowning now. She couldn't say my name? But why? Did she hate me that much that she didn't even want to say my f*****g name. It was just a name! For the love of-

"Rhys" she finally said it. And now I wanted to hear her saying my name. Again. I don't know why but there is an urge.

Her voice was sweet and happy from the news the guys had just told her. 

"Bye Ryan. Have a great time" she mumbled again and cut the call. She heaved a sigh and I felt her gaze on me.

I parked the car in front of the hotel and the paparazzis had already started to swarm around the car. I looked at her when she became all nervous.

What is it? I wanted to ask. My question was answered when she looked down at her leg and then back at me. She flinched a little when she saw me already looking at her.

I don't know what is wrong with me tonight. I don't know why I feel pity for her. I couldn't imagine myself in the same situation as her. But if she knew what I was feeling right now. She would get angry. Or worse...hurt. 

But she won't let anyone see it.

I had only seen a little glimpse of what it looks like when hurt itches on that beautiful face and it felt bad.

"Are we supposed to pretend that we are in love?" She said with a calm low voice. She had put effort into it. I felt it.

Her question was the right one. The tabloids had believed that we weren't in love and all. And that was what triggered my mother in the first place. 

"I guess so. It's for the best" I said feeling stupid for no reason at all.

She shook her head in a "no" and let out a gloomy chuckle. Her eyes locked into mine as she said with with blazing fire in them "No. It's for your best" her passengers door was  opened by a bodyguard. She squinted her eyes under the assult of camera flash. And left me there - alone - with guilt clenching my heart.

It took me a minute to realise what had happened. I brushed all of it off and the bodyguard opened my door now. I put on a smirk as the paparazzis screamed their question and I bowed my head to shield myself from the cameras flashing. I looked to my left and saw that she was already gone with my bodyguards surrounding her to protect her.

I only stopped for a minute to take pictures and then left as soon as possible.

Rage filled me. She was supposed to stay with me. Not leave me. I mean - we were supposed to go together.

After fighting through the storm of light. I finally had managed to reach the hall without looking like a sailor standing in a typhoon.

I searched through the crowd to look for one person. Avery. 

She stood there right next to my father. They both talked to each other as if they were father and daughter. My tightened nerves soothed a little to find my whole family there. Standing in groups talking, laughing.  I found Avery's family there too. But that family was scattered around the hall talking to the people they like.

No sign of her brother though.

Someone yelled my name making everybody look at the entrance of the hall. I smiled as there was a round of applause for me. But my eyes were fixed on a group of two.

I walked with my head down. I saw Avery go stiff like rock when she saw me coming towards them. 

"Hello Dad" I said as I looked at the man who gave me this life. Even if he made this life ruining decision for me but still he had given me the life that I wanted.

The thing you want the most will cost you alot. He used to say to me when I wanted expensive things to spoil myself with. 

And now I know how much it has cost me.

A year with the woman I can't stand.

A woman with a charisma.

A woman who might not be the person who she pretends to be.

"Hello son. So...tonight's the night? The day you officially become the CEO and I can retire in peace" he chuckled and Avery smiled a little but not as much as before.

"You have given me all of this" I said with honesty as I admired the place. I felt her gaze watching my every action.

"I have given you all of this because I love you and....I wanted this off my old shoulders now" he joked once again.

I was about to say something but my eyes caught a glimpse of a blonde haired girl who was smirking at me evily. I groaned out loud causing Dad to laugh out loud. Avery's eyebrows raised in surprise.

"Oh! Don't frown Rhys. It's just your cousin. Cassy Holt" he then looked towards a confused Avery "She's always pulling his leg, whenever they meet. You might remember her form your wedding day" Avery looked at the woman whose focus was on Avery now. When Cassy came to us she pulled Avery into a bone crushing hug. Avery almost lost her balance. 

For a moment I forgot that she had a foul leg. She could fall and get hurt. Dad noticed my little panic and said "Cassy let her go. You'll make her fall" he pulled Cassy away from her and I let out a little sigh.

"Oh hi cousin! I didn't see you there" she pretended to be annoying I knew that "Oh please. Everybody saw me when I made that entrance. If you didn't then I'm sure your level of observation is extremely low. As always" I said I I pinched her cheeks so hard that she slapped my hands away and growled at me. 

"You two are really close. Like siblings" I heard Avery talk this time. Making me realise that I hadn't heard her the moment I came here. 

❤

"All my life. My parents have taught me nothing but to work hard. Make a name for myself in this world. And on the way to this stage of my life I realised. Everything you do....You shouldn't do it to satisfy this world just to satisfy yourself. You don't owe it to the world. It hasn't given you anything so why should you. Your parents? They have given you this life. They sacrifice their happiness to give you yours. The one you deserve when you are little. But as you grow up...you have to return it to them. And the people around you. Who love you no matter where you stand. In your worst and at your best. You owe it to them too. So this....award I have been rewarded. Is not just for me but it is for my parents, my friends, my family and my-" I paused for a moment as I searched through the crowd so that people had their full attention towards me. 

Avery's eyes locked with mine when I saw her sip her wine.

And then I said "My wife" with a wink causing everyone to either gasp or stand there in awe.

But Avery gripped onto the wine glass and fought an inner turmoil not to smash it into someone's head. 

I still smiled as the sound of claps roared around us.