His Sweet Mate

Chapter 5

ADRIANA'S POV

"Don't pretend to be a saint, Adriana. This is clearly a blatant way of telling Grandma to die," Maeve continued to curse and point fingers at her. However, Adriana remained calm and collected. She faced Maeve fully and gave her a smile.

"Maeve, wherever do you get the idea that I want our grandmother dead? This is simply a present for our beloved grandma. However, it's quite a curious thing that the first thing that comes to your mind when you see this present is that I wished her dead. Is killing the only thing in your mind, Maeve?"

Maeve paled and her mouth hung open, clearly not expecting what she just said. But Adriana's smile was unwavering even as she faced her grandmother again. Even simple gestures like this could trigger them. After all, they're the ones who did have ill intentions toward her and actually killed her.

"She's right, Maeve," said her father and it did not escape her eyes how Harris glared at Maeve. Then he faced her and then smiled at the guests.

"Everyone, this is truly a miracle. The gods have heard our prayers when my beloved daughter disappeared years ago. You all are right. This is indeed a very fortunate event and the gods have favored us once again. Adriana Roseinhart has returned!" he announced and everyone clapped their hands and cheered. Adriana tried her best not to scoff and smiled at the guests and at her father too.

Then Harris turned to her and said, "I believe you came a long way. You must be tired. Why don't you go downstairs and rest?"

However, Adriana doesn't plan on leaving and missing all the fun.

So said, "Father, I'm not tired at all. When I came back home, I felt like I returned to the warmest and safest place, and my whole body is full of strength. How could I be tired?" She looked up and glanced at Julian Terranova. She feigned to blush at the sight of him. She had to make them believe that she is still a lovesick fool to this man. As far as they know, she has forgotten her memories of how they betrayed her.

"I... I also have a gift to give to Julian," she said and cleared her throat before glancing in Maeve's direction. She could see the seething anger in her half-sister's face but she couldn't care less.

She walked past Maeve, deliberately brushing against her shoulder, and walked towards Julian, deliberately brushing against her shoulder.

When she was finally standing in front of Julian, she could see the face that made her swoon many years ago. However, she could also see the face that betrayed her. The face that killed her.

The guests have continued to mind their own business during the celebration and her father and grandma have taken their seats. She could still feel Maeve's glare piercing her back. She smiled at Julian.

"Julian, it's been so many years since we last met. How are you?" She feigned the embarrassment and the hint of blush on her face. As far as the guests know, she was supposed to be Julian's fiance. But when she died, Maeve became the one betrothed to Julian. But now that she's back, it will give people something to talk about. She knows this is going to be interesting.

Perhaps they're all wondering if she knows that Maeve is now Julian's betrothed.

Before Julian could even answer, Maeve was suddenly next to Julian and she linked her arms to him.

"It's been years since you disappeared so maybe you have no idea what changed when you were gone." Her hand that was holding Julian's arm suddenly slid down to hold his hand, clasping it tightly as though any moment Adriana would take it from her.

"Me and Julian are now engaged. So, Adriana, I'd like it if you stop shamelessly flirting with him," Maeve said, her mouth curving into a feline smile.

"What?" Adriana pretended to be shocked and looked at Maeve holding Julian's hand, taking two steps back and looking devastated. "What is this? Maeve, are you joking with me? My engagement with Julian was set when we were young, and no one ever told me it was canceled. How come you're the one marrying him now?"

Adriana gasped and covered her mouth with her two hands. "Could it be that you seized this opportunity to wed him while I was abroad?"

Julian's mood soured and guests started to look in their direction again, clearly curious of what was going to happen.

He instinctively stretched out his hand, pried open Maeve's hand, and stepped back a half step, creating some distance between him and Maeve. To avoid people talking, it was what he thought would be best.

Still a coward, I see. Adriana said in her mind.

"Addy, I...I didn't expect you to be alive. We...we all thought you were..." He looked at Adriana with sorrow in his eyes. He called her Addy. He was the only person who calls her Addy. She used to adore the nickname he gave her. But now it sounded like spitting poison.

A few years ago, he really looked down on Adriana. At that time, Adriana was just an ordinary young lady from a prestigious family, beautiful but rigid. Although she loved him with all her heart, she would pull away if he tried to touch her. She was never as gentle and charming as Maeve, who was willing to approach him actively. It was no surprise that Maeve would do anything to get Julian from her. She went as far as killing her.

And Julian, being a coward and not up for a challenge kind of man, choose to be with Maeve, who was easy and already all over him. They meet behind Adriana's back even though they were already engaged. Their relationship lasted for days until Jacinda, Adriana's mother discovered the affair.

Jacinda insisted to cancel the engagement. She couldn't let her daughter be the subject of treachery.

At that time, Julian had just been scolded by his father for doing odd jobs in the army. If he caused trouble again by being caught having an affair with his fiance's illegitimate sister, it would be extremely detrimental to him.

Julian's family cares more about power than their dignity. Julian realized that if Jacinda starts talking about his affair, it would affect the image of the Terranova family greatly. He will face the wrath of his father. So he took matters into his own hands. He planted a man in Jacinda's room just in time for Harris to see a naked man in Jacinda's bed. Adriana's mother was then accused of adultery and Lady Racquela poisoned her. When Adriana found out, they betrayed her the way they betrayed her mother.

And for that, she will never forgive them.

Julian secured their family's reputation and got engaged to Maeve Roseinhart, a woman who worshiped him, obeyed him, and satisfied him at any time and place. The Roseinhart family also took the lead in supporting the huge military spending of the Terranova family every year. All of these made Julian's father and the military very satisfied with him.

For the past three years, he had always thought that his decision back then was a good one, but now that Adriana is standing in front of him, he couldn't help but mutter a curse.

Adriana heard it and raised her brows.

"Is there something wrong, Julian?" she asked and Maeve looked at Julian too. However, Maeve saw how Julian looked at Adriana and how his eyes moved from her face to her dress. The adoration was evident on his face. Adriana, on the other hand, could only see the opportunistic bastard in front of her. She knows that since she's the legitimate Roseinhart heir, she poses a greater advantage to Julian.

"Adriana," Katherine, her stepmother said with a false smile on her face. "It's true that you have a marriage contract with Julian, but you disappeared for three years. Everyone in Westfall City knows that you...died an unfortunate death. Julian had no way of knowing if you were dead or alive but he can't just wait for you forever, can he?

"Julian and Maee have already set a date for their wedding. Do you really want to steal your younger sister's marriage opportunity? Don't you have any sense of shame?" Katherine gritted her teeth as she looked at Adriana. But Adriana is not fazed.

"I have no sense of shame?" Adriana faced her. "So, it's all my fault then? I shouldn't have fallen into the river? I shouldn't have come back late? And I can only accept the fact that my engagement has been taken over by my younger sister?"

Her eyes turned red as she looked at the people around her and choked out, "Katherine, you don't have to be so flustered. Before I came here, I already suspected that things might be different. After all, my mother is gone and there's no one to speak for me... So, I was mentally prepared."

"Of course, this marriage is all about building more power for each family, right? I understand if they pushed on the engagement for the sake of that. But..." She took a deep and shaky breath. "I just...I think I needed more time to digest everything."

She didn't need to directly accuse these people. As long as she turned herself into a pitiful victim, the spitting words of the guests would drown these people!

The people will think that the legitimate daughter of the Roseinhart family, without her own mother, was left without support. It was enough to gain the favor of the people.

They would start questioning her father, her grandma--basically, everyone in the Venderley manor will be questioned. Even the Terranovas. The thing with her family's power is that it came from the people. If the people started to question them, their power will be questioned too.

"We can talk about this in private--" Katherine said but then the guests started whispering.

"You're right, it's not good for Miss Maeve to be with anyone else, but why did she have to be with her older sister's fiancé? Isn't she the one who stole Miss Adriana's marriage opportunity?"

"They've been together for three years now, ever since Miss Adriana disappeared... This speed is indeed a bit... inappropriate."

"If Miss Adriana really had died, then their relationship would be fine. They're a match made in heaven. But now that she has come back, what about the engagement... are they going to engage the two of them again? I mean, she's the legitimate daughter, after all."

"What else can they do? I heard they've already received the betrothal gifts... But it's a pity that Miss Adriana and Lord Julian have to end that way. They have had a marriage contract since they were young, they're childhood sweethearts. It's just too bad..."

"So are we going to see a sisterly wedding drama today?"

"Looking at Miss Adriana's appearance, she seems quite sad, but as she said herself, without her mother to back her up, this marriage may not be in her favor... Alas, poor thing..."

Various discussions arose, making everyone from the family uncomfortable.

"Adriana, please don't misunderstand. I did think you were gone when I went to be with Maeve, but since you've returned, I need to go back and talk to my family about this marriage proposal," Julian said.

Indeed a coward. A man with no backbone. A man without principles. I wonder how I fell for this asshole. Adriana thought to herself.

Maeve suddenly looked at Julian, incredulous. "What do you mean, Julian? What is there to discuss about your engagement with my sister? Do you still want to marry her when you're engaged to me?"

As soon as she finished speaking, she added, "We're getting married on the 8th of next month. If you want Adriana, will you have her be your mistress?"

"Maeve, don't be ridiculous. Your sister is the eldest daughter of this family, how can she be my mistress?" Julian replied, not knowing why he had said that.

"If she doesn't become your mistress, then who will she become?" Maeve thought of a certain possibility, and her face became very ugly. She wanted to lose her temper, but something stopped her, and she suddenly vomited loudly, rushing into the arms of Katherine.

"What's wrong with Miss Maeve? Looking at her reaction, is she...pregnant?" A woman in the crowd spoke up, attracting the attention of many people.

"Pregnant?" Adriana trembled, looking extremely shocked.

"You...you're even pregnant?"