I stood frozen in place, watching as Karl slowly stood upright and approached us.
Not once did his eyes settle on me.
He stood before Sébastien, and his lips slightly curved.
“Done?”
Sébastien nodded.
“I am.” His expression made it impossible to guess what he was thinking.
“How is he?”
My lips twitched.
“He’s better now.”
Karl’s smile deepened.
He hooked his arm around Sébastien’s and turned to look at me.
“I’m glad you’re alright now, Mr Elian.” His smile was as warm as usual.
I felt uncomfortable all over.
“Thank you.”
He shook his head lightly.
“It’s nothing.
Sébastien took good care of you.
That’s alright.”
My lips parted, but I was speechless.
I’d always hated being involved with couples.
No, I always stayed away from them.
Alphas in relationships were generally unattractive and boring; I would rather stay single than go near them.
Why had I made such a mistake now?
Lowly.
Disturbing.
It was anything but good.
I rubbed my thumb roughly, trying my best to suppress the guilt in my chest.
“I should take my leave now.”
“It’s getting late.”
Late.
It was my first time mentioning that word at night.
Especially when I knew it wasn’t even 12 yet.
But I didn’t want to stay here any longer.
The air felt stifling.
“Oh, alright,” Karl replied.
“Thanks for coming tonight.”
I trained my eyes on him, refusing to look up at Sébastien, whose eyes seemed to be on me.
“Thanks for inviting me, too.” I forced a smile.
Without another glance at them, I turned to leave.
“That’s the bathroom.”
I said to the lady with the cleaning tools.
“Sorry for the trouble.”
“It’s nothing.” She replied, bowed slightly, and walked past me.
I exhaled slowly.
Good.
It was time to leave.
I would never get myself involved with Sébastien again.
Ugh!
How crazy.
I shuddered, roughly rubbing my arms.
“Mr Elian,”
Karl.
My heart skipped a beat.
I paused.
“Sébastien and I are getting married.”
My breath hitched.
“We planned to announce it to the media after the signing process tomorrow.
The wedding is in two weeks.”
Wedding.
Two weeks.
That was so fast.
My lips moved slightly.
I turned around and smiled softly.
“Congratulations.
I’m so happy for you.” Anything for couples.
Marriage?
It was barely something to be happy about.
Why would anyone want to get married?
Tsk, only boring people would do that.
My smile remained as warm as it could.
“Blessings on your wedding.” My deepest prayer for them.
Karl raised his head, looking into Sébastien’s eyes.
“Yes.
It’s rushed, but we have a lot of plans for our future.”
“We can’t wait to let the world know about our feelings.
I can’t wait to marry him.”
Right.
That sounded good.
“Will you come?” He looked at me—the same smile.
Yet, for some reason, I felt weird.
“I guess?” Though I hated to attend weddings, I felt it would be wrong to turn him down after what just happened.
Whatever.
I would take my friends to the wedding and have as much fun as I could.
Karl’s eyes brightened.
He released his arm from Sébastien’s and brought out his phone.
“Can I add you then?
I can send you the wedding venue…” He paused.
His eyes flicked over me.
“You have great dressing sense. The source of this chapter is g.com.
Maybe we could pick the wedding suit together?”
Weariness washed over me.
“You’re wrong, Mr Karl.
My dressing sense is terrible.” Yeah.
Terrible.
Please, don’t say that again.
I’d rather faint than follow you to pick some wedding suits.
Why should I?
I tried my best to stop my eyes from rolling.
Karl chuckled.
“Let’s add each other.”
“Okay.”
He scanned my code.
“Done.”
I kept my phone.
“I’ll text you.”
“Alright.”
Still avoiding Sébastien’s gaze, I quickly left the place for them.
Wedding in two weeks…
Congratulations to them.
They looked really good together.
Stepping out of the restaurant, the night breeze hit my face, and I shivered.
Fortunately, it wasn’t too late, and a cab could easily be found.
I stepped closer to the junction.
A cab soon stopped before me.
I got in and gave him the address.
The car started.
I lowered my eyes, preparing to relax a little before we got to Noah’s house…
I froze.
My fingers…
they were on my belly.
My expression cracked slightly.
I quickly dropped my hand and sat upright.
Since when had I placed my hand on my belly?
My brows creased.
I hoped Karl hadn’t noticed anything…
The drive became uncomfortable again, and my chest felt stuffy.
I picked up my phone and turned it on.
“Hey, guys.”
“Baby, not clubbing tonight?”
“The As are waiting for you.
Leaving them hanging forever?”
“Kay’s been mixing your favorites.
Gonna miss this, too??”
I stared at the messages, and my lips pursed.
My eyes reddened.
For a moment, my gaze blurred.
I raised my head and blinked rapidly until my eyes were clear again.
“Meet me at Noah’s.
We party there tonight.”
“Noah’s?
Wait, was he kidnapped?”
“Oh no.
Is he safe?”
I laughed at their tactics.
“Come or not.
Twenty minutes.
Later than that, I’m locking you all out.”
“I’m in!”
“I’m on my way!”
“Wait for me!”
“Elian, you can’t lock me out!!!”
I lifted my eyes from the phone and smiled slightly.
Yeah, partying with friends was good.
Perhaps I might even be able to eat something with them without throwing up again.
I sighed heavily.
“We are here.”
The driver’s voice sounded in my ears.
So fast.
Right.
Noah’s place wasn’t far from the restaurant.
I paid the driver and got out of the car.
Knowing my friends would be here any moment, I didn’t dawdle outside.
I still needed to let Noah know.
“You’re back.
That’s so fast.”
“Yeah, right?”
My voice was weary.
Noah closed the door behind me and followed.
“You good?
You look down.”
I sighed for the umpteenth time.
“I threw up.”
“Ah?”
“Yes.
I really did.
Alpha’s bathroom.”
“It couldn’t be worse.”
Noah patted my back.
“It’s okay.
The tycoon would understand.”
Sébastien’s face flashed in my head.
His understanding, cold grey eyes.
His soothing pheromone.
The hand that steadied me, stopping me from falling.
Yeah.
He really did understand.
But that didn’t make it any less embarrassing.
Especially when Karl showed up at that moment.
Who knew what he saw or how long he was there?
Who knew if he heard me demanding Sébastien’s pheromone?
It was so embarrassing.
I really wanted to…
disappear.
I dragged my feet toward the couch and slumped on it, sprawling my feet like a dead fish.
Noah raised my leg, removing my shoes.
“Should I get you some snacks?
I got you some ginger biscuits.
They should soothe your stomach.”
“You haven’t been able to keep anything down all day.”
“Hm,” I responded lazily.
Even if it was difficult, I still needed to eat something.
It wouldn’t be nice to keep Noah worried all the time.
“Right.
I invited Lucien and the rest.
They should be here at any moment.”
“Okay.
I’ll order some wine then.”
“No.
They’ve got that sorted out.” None of them would show up without bringing what they wanted to drink.
Well, they dared not.
“Alright.”
He returned with a bag of snacks and a cup of warm water.
I sipped the water, feeling refreshed.
“Do we need to prepare anything?”
I raised my brows.
“Why are you nervous?”
My eyes slowly widened.
“Wait, do you like any of my friends?”
“Is it Kay?
Lyra?
Or…”
“Stop, Elian.”
I grinned hard.
“Don’t be shy.
All of them are single anyway.
I can help you get whoever you want among them.”
My eyes flicked over him.
Hmm, great in every sense.
Wonderful personality.
Tall, strong and fit.
He was the exact kind I would gladly drag home for a few months of pleasure.
None of my friends had as good taste as mine.
So, definitely, all of them would certainly fall for him.
“They would be glad.” Top alphas were hard to find these days.
They would certainly be glad.
Noah rolled his eyes.
He sat beside me, picked up a snack, and tore it open.
“Eat and shut up.”
“Alright.
I’ll think of who you like then.” I took the snack from him, smiling happily as I relaxed my back.
Who could it be, though?
Noah had never shown interest in anyone ever since we were kids.
He rarely even looked at omegas.
If he was really in love with any of my friends…
I hoped it was someone with at least a good habit and one who would appreciate his love.
Noah was too good to be hurt.
Knock.
“I guess they’re here.”
“Hm.
I’ll get the door.”
He stood and left.
Munching on the snacks, I checked my phone.
Seeing the endless messages on the group chat, I slammed the phone back on the sofa and continued eating.
Footsteps rang.
Not one.
Not two.
My lips slowly curved up.
Excitement bloomed in my chest.
Finally…
something I could relate to.