Fate in Captivity

Chapter 23- Shame Gallery

(Aubrey)

We are currently here at the gallery that my grandma was talking about, Julius and his mother is still here and currently looking at the other masterpieces hang on the wall of this art space. I also noticed that Zy's mom was here so I was expecting that she also attended but until now, I haven't seen her. I just decided to greet her mom, then noticed that Ken and his mother actually came and greet everyone like she is the star of the night, or should I say day? I just crossed my arms and scoffed as she kisses every women she encounters as she made her way towards me and my grandma. 

"This place looks exquisite, Ma'am." she greeted and complimented to grandma. 

"Thank you for liking it." as she was great in acting, my grandma won't just stand still and do nothing. 

"Right, where is that piece made by the anonymous one?" Ken's mother asked and we walked towards it. 

I was an art of motherhood, you cannot actually see a person but with those colors, you could still see a woman hugging her son. I know that it was a masterpiece explaining how she greatly love Julius, so being a rude one, I stared on Ken's mother, checking if she could understand the art. It was entitled as 'come here', I asked his mom a while ago and she said that whenever Julius would cry when he was a child, she would tell him to come to her, thus, the words 'come here', would always be heard during those days. 

"What a great art, the colors are beautiful and it keeps on comforting me." she proudly said and I just nodded, maybe she really got the idea of the art, maybe I should not judge her, if she still have that motherhood inside of her. 

"This art must be about dreams, you must do everything do get your dreams in life, ahh that is why it is called 'come here'. That was a witty one." she continued and I stared at her. 

"Do you seriously understand to that extent?" I heard Julius' mom asked and she grinned at her. 

"Of course, people who could not see it is a fool." she answered and the people at the hall became silent. 

"You all must be shocked on my art understanding, maybe I should start making too. I keep getting inspirations." she continued and walked towards the drinks table and got a glass of wine. 

"Mom, what are you saying?" I heard Ken asked to her mom. 

"What do you mean?" she answered and the people are still looking at her. 

"Oh my God! Sorry I cannot contain my laughter!" I heard someone yelled and when I looked back it was Cheen with the three sitting at the inner part of the hall, they are sitting on the couch and lounging together. I just scoffed and biting my lips for me to stop laughing but I also cannot help it, I burst out laughing and the last time I checked, the four of us were laughing loudly. 

"Why are you laughing?" his mom asked and the people started chuckling now. 

"Your humor still don't fail me to laugh." I heard Zy's mom said to her.

"What are you saying? I am serious!" she exclaimed and now a silent came in, people don't expect that she was really serious at this time. 

"Ken, just tell her." I plainly said while stopping myself to c***k up again. I saw Ken let out a deep sigh and looked at his mom. 

"Mom, this exhibit is for honoring mothers, not about dreams." Ken said and massaging his forehead. I saw his mom was shocked but quickly smiled to all of us. 

"Really? Then the painter did not shows the real meaning behind it. That person must be good enough to show the art to everyone especially to a new one like me." his mom explained and I just nodded. Well, she has the point but she looked like a fool earlier, the leaflets and even the banners outside already stated that this hall is for celebrating mother's month and that is the reason why mainly of the people who attended this event are mothers. 

"Aubrey!" I heard someone called at me and the three were waving their hands on me. I just smiled and say my farewell to grandma. I walked towards them when I felt someone held my hand, I looked and it was Julius again. I was removing my hand to his but of course as the usual one, he was stronger than me so I just awkwardly smiled at them. 

"What is that? Showing that being arranged is better than a forced inheritance?" Zy said and I just chuckles. 

"Don't ever forget that woman would also inherit their company, greedy witch." Cheen said and they just rolled their eyes. 

"I did not say that I would actually marry him, though." I started and he looked at me confused. 

"Did you know, I discovered a controversial truth." I continued and I saw them being interested. 

"Come on, I am definitely locking my ears for this." Camilla said and even pulled out her phone and its pencil. 

"Oops, no reporters please." I said and she glared at me so I just chuckles. She kept her phone so I waited for her to finish. 

"Come on, spill it!" Zy exclaimed. 

"Did you know that Julius do have a stepmother?" I started and I felt my hand was being tightly held by him. I just smirked and held his hand tightly but at the same time hurtful. 

"What?! Are you serious?" Cheen exclaimed and I just nodded aggressively. 

"Yeah! You see that woman who talked earlier, she is his father's mistress and not only that!" I exclaimed but of course not as loud as that woman's voice earlier. 

"That woman? I knew it, her aura is different from the moms here." Camilla said and we all agreed to her. 

"So, who is that man beside her?" Zy asked and we all looked at her. She shrugged her shoulders and smiled. 

"Don't tell me you was smitten by him?" Cheen asked and just let out a deep sigh, it was always like this. 

"What? He looks cool, though." Zy answered and we just avoided her and trying to calm ourselves. 

"He is her son, his name is Ken and he was working in my company as an Intern, of course under my command." I answered and this time they looked at me. 

"Tsk." I heard Julius and he was scoffing in disbelief. 

"You were always with a gorgeous man? How come I did not saw him when we went there?" Zy asked and I just shrugged my shoulders. 

"Maybe, you were just occupied by the fact that Julius was also there working." I answered. 

"So, you are also saying that the two brothers were working under you, and at the same time you have to marry Julius? Whose mom did you met that night?" Camilla was bombarding me with questions, typical reporter I could say. 

 "Uhh, there was another truth." I said and they acted still interested. 

"I should choose which one of them should I marry." I confessed and their shoulders flopped down in disbelief, they were staring blankly and I can feel that Julius was now feeling uncomfortable here. 

"You should definitely choose Julius." we were surprised when Zy said that. And now I can see Julius' smile like he already won the lottery. 

"Why would I?" I asked and the four of them looked at me seriously. 

"Are you seriously asking that? When he was now holding your hand tight? No one could ever snatch you out!" Cheen said and I just laughed. 

"This? It was nothing." I plainly said as I pull up our hands together. 

"You are such a player." Camilla mumbled and I just chuckles. 

"So, how is that Ken guy?" Zy asked and we just let out a deep sigh again. 

"Are you serious with him?" Cheen asked and she nodded. 

"You must be kidding me." Camilla said. 

"He is great." I looked at Julius who said that. 

"He was sweet since he was a kid, always the curious and the one who have the kind smile. He is a great kid." this is the first time I saw him compliment him something like that. 

"Really? Then can you introduce me to him?" Zy excitedly asked and I just smiled. How would I tell her that everything she is not might not be the truth?

"Aubrey, your mom is here. She wants to talk to you." we all looked back to the person wo said those to me and as the fate permits, it was Ken. Who is the center of the conversation, just personally walked by his own feet and approached us. 

"Really? Then I should go." I said, then I realized that I was really cuffed with someone. I just rolled my eyes and dragged him out. 

"Oh! Ken you should meet my friends especially that girl over there, she fell in love with you." I whispered to him and winked. Julius forcedly sat him on the couch and he was about to complain when I just smiled at him, a bid of good luck and farewell. 

"Are you sure he will be okay?" I heard Julius said to me and I just scoffed.

"Of course, my friends are behaved in front of guys. Don't worry, they won't bite." I answered and I started walking towards mom and grandma. They saw them and mom waved at me. 

"Julius! It's good to see you, again." mom said and she paused when she saw our hands. Oh right, mom don't know our history and probably wondering if her boyish daughter was now starting to feel feminine and be a flirty one. 

"Yes, mom. It was nice to see you too." Julius answered and smiled huge and much polite. It was not that signature smirk, it was a well-behaved one if I would describe it. 

"I met this kid, and he was a great one. He looks good with Aubrey." grandma said like we are not here standing in front of them.

"Right? I always thought of having a good looking in law and now I don't have to find it anywhere anymore." mom said as he stare at Julius. 

"Mom? Grandma? Excuse me?" I said and they just chuckles. 

"Oh daughter, I did not notice you would be here." mom sarcastically said and I just rolled my eyes. 

"Did you now forget that you have a daughter? You like him that much?" I said and grabbed some bites on the table served for them. 

"Not that when I heard something that happened a while ago." Mom said and started grinning at me like she was teasing and embarrassing me until my soul. 

"What happened?" I innocently asked while still munching the egg pie I got. 

"I heard you practically confessed to him?" Mom asked, not just asked but all of the people around us heard what she said.   

"Mom! What are you saying? I did not do that!" I answered to her and she started laughing. 

"Hi everyone, this is my daughter Aubrey, and she would marry the son of Diear." mom announced and people started to clap their hands. I just looked at her in disbelief and with my mouth hanged out open. 

"You are so embarrassing, mom." I whispered to her but of course smiling to those people who are greeting and offering with their clap and congratulatory words. 

"I heard something at the company earlier, I should talk to you after." she whispered back to me and I just became curious about it. What did she heard that she have to announce to everyone about the marriage that is not made out of love, but for only some business formalities. 

"Should I fell fear about it?" I asked and she looked at me. 

"Why would you feel scared when you have me and your father? Just smile and we will go home together." she answered while still smiling at those people. 

The event ended after some social interactions and now the people are one by one leaving, I saw my friends were now leaving and they just smiled at me, I nodded and let them go first. I see Zy giving her farewell with Ken and looks like the conversation went well as I could see his smile from here where I was standing. Well, if their meeting went well and I should wish for their great relationship. 

"Let's go, Aubrey." I heard mom said and I was about to leave when of course Julius grabbed my wrist. 

"Uh, I think I do have the right to go home." I sarcastically said to him and he chuckles. 

"Meet later for dinner?" he offered. 

"Nah, looks like I would be with my parents. Will see you tomorrow at work, come early." I said to him and he smiled. 

"Is there something I should look forward to?" he playfully asked and I scoffed. 

"Yeah, work pile. It's been waiting for you since this morning." I answered. 

"I should go." I said and walked ahead. 

"I'll call you!" he yelled.

"No, don't ever do it!" I answered and showed him my fist, he was just laughing. 

Does he think that I am only joking? Tsk. 

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