Chapter twenty-three

AYANNA 

Alex said his parents wanted to have lunch with us. So here I was dressed in a kneel length, off-shoulder white dress and white shoes to match. My hair, neatly styled in a low bun then I wore gold earrings to match the gold necklace Rain had given to me.

Though we had our chauffeur driving us, I still felt suffocated seated beside Alex. 

"Your necklace, I've never seen it before," Alex finally broke the awkward silence that hung between us.

"Oh, I got it recently,"I said gently touching the necklace. Alex nodded though his gaze lingered suspiciously on the necklace for a while before he looked away with a sigh.

"Babe, I feel like things have been awkward between us lately. Ever since the accident, you've pulled yourself away from me, what's wrong? Did I do something wrong?"

The pained expression he showed afterwards looked so real the old Ayanna would have fallen for it.

"You've done nothing wrong hubby, I just... I trailed off, cooking up my own believable lies in my head. "I've just been on the edge, since the police are still yet to find the person trying to kill me. It means the person is still out there what if he targets me again or worse the people I care about. Like you Alex, my main concern is you. I wouldn't be able to bare it if you're hurt, that's why I've being keeping my distance."

Alex's eyes lit up with satisfaction immediately. I inwardly snarled as he pulled me closer to him, wrapping an arm around my shoulder whilst my head rested against his shoulder.

"I'll never let any harm befall you my love. I'll make Jeffrey pay for his crime."

"But the police said, it wasn't Jeffrey. It was someone else. They haven't caught the real culprit. I believe them because if Jeffrey wanted to hurt me, he'd have done it a long time ago."

Since my head was rested upon his shoulder, I couldn't see his expression but from the way his muscles clenched I could tell he was anxious. He said nothing afterwards until we got to his parents house. Alex helped me out of the car like a doting husband.

His Mother Melissa came to welcome us. She beamed at Alex, hugging him and caressing his face tenderly. Then she turn to me hugging me also. 

"I'm glad you're both alright. I haven't been well since I heard of Alex's incident and yours also."

She held our hands and walked us into the house as she spoke, 

I quickly glanced around a bit nervous. It's been a while since I was at Alex's house. The last time I was here, I was still in the dark about his affair. I acted eager around his mother and tried to please her always. Nevertheless, today I felt reluctant and guarded.

I couldn't help but think that perhaps even his family had been playing me. They probably knew about his affair and secretly laughed at me for been a fool.

"We made both your favorites meal_ Alex, Ayanna," Melissa said as soon as we arrived at the dinning hall. His father was already seated. Mr.Greyford met my gaze briefly then his son's.  Then he waved at us in the usual way he does whenever we visited.

"Alexander, Ayanna how have you been?"

"We've been good Father," both of us replied in unison.

 He nodded then gestured for us to take our sits.  Alex sat beside me, pretending to be the ever loving husband he was. Instead of eating, he opt for feeding me instead. 

"Have this Aya, it's your favorite. You should try this also."

His parents watched us silently, Mr.Greyford expressionless while Melissa had a huge smile on her face.

"Don't they remind you of our young self," she mumbled to her husband. Nonetheless he brushed it off eating his meal in silence. When lunch ended, he finally spoke. "Ayanna the speculation of your death still remains when do you intend to make a public appearance to ease the rumors."

We were seated in the living room, Alex's hand which rested on my thighs went numb for few seconds then he turned to me curiously.

"You don't have to appear in public yet if you don't want to. I can make the announcement."

I shook my head in refusal as I spoke "I'm attending the highway fashion show as the lead model. it is going to be livestreamed so it would put an end to the rumors."

"Highway fashion?" Said Melissa. "Isn't your cousin Kate also walking the runway? I heard she was the leading model."

Alex's fake smile dropped instantly, his gaze moved from his mother to me, his features hardening as he spoke"You're the one who replaced Kate?" 

It sound more of an accusation than a question though he didn't seem to notice.

My brow furrowed in confusion. " What do you mean replace Kate?" I asked confused. I wasn't aware Kate was modeling for highway fashion. 

"Is Kate walking the runway?" I asked to be sure.

"Not anymore." It was Mr. Greyford who spoke. "She was supposed to replace you after the news of you accident however the show got postponed and Kate got caught up in a  scandal. Perhaps someone must have tipped highway fashion that you were alright because they quickly put you as the leading model again."

Though he quickly put on an indifferent expression his hand was still clenched tightly beside him. Alex looked absent minded but seem to regained himself when his mother spoke.

"They shouldn't have replaced you in the first place. But I'm glad they came to their senses."

***

Alex had insisted coming with me to the show in the name of protecting me and I couldn't refuse it.

As I sat in front of the mirror where the hairstylist styled my hair, I scrolled through the internet, mostly Kate's scandal my lips unconsciously curving into a smirk.

"Hubby," I called out to Alex where he sat, raising my tablet and showing him a particular photo of him and Kate. Though his face was blurred. 

"Who do you think the man is? The man Kate is having an affair with. For some reason he feels familiar."

.