Chapter Nine: Tea Party

I grabbed two chipped cups from my cupholder and started brewing black earl tea in the kitchen. I looked at the two sitting on my couch in the living room, intensely looking at each other with their hands clasped in front of them while they’re leaning forward each other. I rolled my eyes at them and continued my work on the tea.

I grabbed a tray and a rubber mat and put the mugs on the tray after a few minutes and grabbed the sugar container and a couple of teaspoons with it before grabbing it and putting it in the center table of the living room.

They just watched me go back and forth the kitchen and living room like children and after a while, I finally sat on the single couch in between the two long couch they’re sitting on.

“There’s sugar if you want it sweet, let me just grab the things.”

I stood once again and was about to head to my room but Nathan held my hand while I was passing in front of him.

“What? Is there anything you need? Mr. Whitmore?” I asked and he just stared at me before letting my hand go.

I went to my room and looked for the jewelry box I had taken care well of during our marriage and was able to find it in the corner of my closet. I dusted off the dirt and cobwebs on it and opened it to check what’s inside.

Then there I saw all the gifts Nathan had given me, whenever he missed my birthdays, events that I need his company, times that he promised me things then broke it.

I decided to go through it and saw the bracelet made of beads and held it with a bitter smile. It was the first thing Nathan gave me, and it was with a promise of love and loyalty.

I put it back inside and closed the box before going out and walking back to the living room, then sat on my seat after placing the jewelry box on the table beside the tray. They already started drinking their tea, noticing only Damien’s the only one who used sugar.

I looked at Nathan with a sigh and pushed the box towards him.

“Here is it. Please leave after finishing up,” I said.

“But, can I have confirmation on your attendance? I’m already desperate here you know.”

“I’ll go, but I won’t assure you that I’ll act out like a loving couple with you. For your father’s health. Also remember what you said a while ago. But I’m asking you to break it to him already, and if you won’t, I won’t mind telling him myself.”

I raised my eyebrows.

“Alright,” he responded.

“As for you,” I said and glanced at Damien, pointing my fore finger at him.

He was dumbfounded by it and looked at me with confusion filled eyes while stopping himself from sipping on the cup in such class.

“Yes?”

I looked at him and felt like I was actually the one who’s wanting his audience, not the other way around.

“You—"

“Am I the guest, or you are?” I asked.

“I am, what is going on?” he fired back.

I closed my eyes, dropped the sharpest inhale and said, “You leave too when he does.” I pointed at Nathan.

“But why?” He looked like he was about to frown.

“You don’t exactly have a purpose on staying so better leave or I’ll call the cops on you,” I said.

“I have!”

“Then tell me what is it?” I asked.

“I don’t know!” He looked like a child sulking as he answered me.

“Who are you? I don’t seem to know you,” Nathan jumped in the conversation with a crunched forehead and a set of suspicious eyes that landed on Damien.

“She said my identity is none of your business, and I am not here to introduce myself to you.” Damien spoke and in a very different tone than what he used when talking to me, like he is ready to throw hands.

“You must be a kept man to not have the guts, ain’t it?” Nathan probed.

“Being her kept man is better than being the ex, ain’t it?” Damien fired back.

I hissed at the both of them and they at the same time folded.

“Damien is my guest, Nathan. If you can’t stand that fact, feel free to leave. And Damien, not because you are, you should stoop down with the rudeness thrown at you. I let you both in, and I expect enough respect at least to my home.”

Damien then nodded and asked for the comfort room leaving us both alone in the living room with silence and awkward aura embracing us.

I stood up and grabbed the box of dress Nathan brought with him and opened it with a distressed sight. I held the hem of the fabric and pulled it out to check it, but then I smelled something from it. I sniffed lightly on it and gritted my teeth confirming that there’s a lycopodium powder in it.

I immediately put it back in the box and closed it with a smile, acting unaware in front of Nathan. He looked unaware of what’s going on when he smiled back at me wide enough like there’s no problem with the dress. Then I remembered he said that he picked it out with his mother.

Definitely the one behind this is not him.

“Did you really buy this with your mother? I don’t think this fashion sense isn’t really your thing,” I queried and he started sweating bullets.

“Alright, alright. I did not, okay? Mom bought it and had me send it to you. We still care about you enough to send you a expensive dress. So don’t embarrass us in the celebration. Someone important would attend the event, be thankful.”

Ridiculous. Planning to trick me into my own grave? Not a chance.

I was about to throw the box at him when a hand suddenly appeared the stop me, putting his hand on the box with huge pressure and I instantly put my gaze upon the man.

There I saw Damien’s straight from heaven face a few inches away from me.

“Don’t. Play accordingly.”

I followed his gaze and looked at Nathan on his phone with a cup of tea left untouched on his hand and back at Damien who I didn’t notice was behind me out of nowhere.

“Oh, I remember, Rosalie had her eyes on this right?” I asked Nathan.

“H-how do you know?” he stuttered.

“What do you think about me letting her use this instead?” I gestured at the box of haute couture dress sitting on my lap.

And smirked.