LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 7: Loyal Friends
Ethan's POV
"Wow! You looked dashing as ever, my love," Sylvia seductively said after I put on my suit.
"Do you want me to tie it for you?" She asked referring to my neck tie.
"No, I can manage," I replied as I drape the fabric around my neck. I cross one end over the other, looping, folding, and pulling it through with precision. I adjust the knot to sit neatly against my collar before I finally smooth the tie down to my chest as finishing touch that signifies my readiness to face my ex.
Sylvia came closer and adjusted my necktie even if it has been perfectly tied.
"Are you ready?" I asked, and she sweetly smiled at me showing her pearly white teeth.
"Of course, I am ready, and I couldn't wait to meet your ex-girlfriend," she replied as she linked her arm with mine.
"Please, don't start," I said, and her face darkened.
"What is wrong with that? Aren't you going to introduce me to Meliza? I had heard enough about her, and I couldn't stop from feeling jealous." She replied.
"Sylvia, I didn't bring you her to have a fight with you. We are here to enjoy ourselves. Don't mention her name again because it only irritates me. You don't need to be jealous of my ex; you are way too beautiful compared with her." I softly said, and her face lit up.
Almost everyone was in the garden when we arrived except Meliza. I shook my head as I remembered how many times she showed up late during our dates, and I hate to remember those moments, especially now.
After I greeted my aunt and uncle, I said, "We should start eating dinner; I am starving. "
"We should wait for Meliza," Ruby responded, and I looked at her with a crinkled forehead.
"If you want the food to get cold, we should wait for her, but she is always late. Ruby, I think your best friend will never change," I responded.
"We can't let everyone wait for her, Ruby," I added before she could counter me. Her face fell as she mumbled the word "okay," and I smiled as I sat in my seat feeling victorious.
Ruby was looking at the back door every now and then while I was having great conversations with our friends until Iza showed up. As usual, all eyes were on her, including the girls, but the moment Iza joined us, I had to control myself not to scan her luscious body and stare at her lovely face.
She really knew how to steal the spotlight. This was Vince and Ruby's pre-wedding celebration, but suddenly, everyone was looking at my ex and wanted to know how she was doing except the girls who had always been envious of her.
I couldn't stop myself from insulting her, and she countered using her charm. Her sweet voice irritated me to the highest level since all the men at the table were looking at her with amusement. I was thankful for Sylvia's intervention and glad she came with me.
I could see how Meliza's face turned sour when she saw my date curl her arm around mine and whispered something into my ear. I faked a laugh to make Iza think Sylvia was saying something funny, and I loved the expression on Iza's face.
I am sure Ruby already informed my ex who I am. Iza is definitely now interested in me. She didn't want me before because of my status. She thought I was an ordinary boy who came from a low-income family.
In her eyes, I was just a farmhand. Meliza's words haunted me until now, and I want to see her beg me and make her suffer in my hands. I was insulted, and I had never been humiliated in my life until she slapped me in front of our friends.
For five years, I devoted my whole time working for our company. I became one of the youngest CEOs in the country, but it never gave me complete happiness. I never felt happy with all the awards I received. I made my father proud, but not myself.
Now that I am back on Adriana's farm and have met Iza again, I realize she was the reason I wasn't happy. She was my worst nightmare, and I will do everything I can to get back at her.
For now, all I need to do is to keep my distance from Meliza. I will make a move after the wedding. I don't want Vince and Ruby to hate me for ruining their special day. But it didn't stop me from throwing insults at Iza. I just couldn't help
myself, even if Ruby was looking daggers at me.
I hated to see my ex enjoying the night, laughing as if she still belonged with us. She didn't show up for how many years during our yearly reunions. I had been hoping she would show up one day, but she didn't, and my animosity for her grew as the years passed.
I watched her talk with Jonathan, and I felt irritated that she was smiling at him seductively. I hated her for being a flirt until now. I wished to look away, but I couldn't take my eyes away from her as she took her wine, and I shook my head when she requested margaritas.
Iza's face turned red because of the liquor she drank, but she didn't stop. She continued asking for more drinks. I stood up, walked straight to the kitchen, and instructed the staff to stop giving Meliza anything.
"You still care about your ex?" Sylvia asked with raise eyebrows as she stood in front of the kitchen door with her arms crossed.
"I don't want Meliza to make a mess; you don't know what she is capable of. I don't want my cousin to have a problem later. I will interfere if I have to; the couple is too lenient with her." I responded, and I could see the doubts and hurt in her eyes.
"Hey, I already told you it was over between us. You don't need to look at me that way, Sylvia. I asked you to come with me to give me your full support as my girfriend, not to judge me. " I softly added as I came closer to her.
"I didn't judge you, Ethan. It felt like you don't need me here. I can tell by your gestures that you are still in love with your ex." She declared, and I laughed as I closed the distance between us.
"That is the craziest thing you could ever say to me, Sylvia. You looked jealous. Stop doubting me, if I still wanted my ex, I wouldn't bring you here." I responded as I put my arm around her shoulders.
"I am not jealous. I chose to believe in you, but your actions were talking differently. You can be honest with me, Ethan. I knew exactly where I stood in your life." She responded with worries and pain on her face.
"We've been dating for months, but I didn't know your friends except Vince." She complained, and I kissed her forehead.
"I didn't have the time; you knew how busy I am with my job," I replied.
"Of course," she replied as she tried to smile at me, but I knew she was hurting.
"You don't have enough time to be alone with me. We don't date. Maybe it is better for us to break up. You should marry your job, Ethan." She added, and I looked at her.
"Are you serious?" I asked.
"Of course not. I am not that shallow. I have been dying to have you as my boyfriend since college, and now that you are mine, I will do everything I can to have you as my husband." She said, and I tried to control myself.
I don't have any plans to get married as of now, and not in the near future. I can't picture myself being married. Sylvia is beautiful and comes from a wealthy family. But sad to say, one of the reasons I dated her is because my parents adore and approve of her, but marriage is not part of my plan yet.
And I don't think I am ready for marriage. After what happened with Iza and me, it seemed like I was traumatized. She threw the wedding ring I gave her on my face, and all I want is to have my revenge on her.
Sylvia was the only woman who didn't demand anything from me, but now that she mentioned it, I felt a little alarmed. But I can't show her I don't like what she said. I am here with her on a mission.
I can't ruin my plan yet; Sylvia is part of the game. I felt a little guilty using her, but she is currently my girlfriend. It is only fair to bring her and be my date.
"I think we should get back to the garden," I changed the subject. I could see the pain she was trying to hide before she beamed and nodded her head.
Sylvia clung to me, and I knew she was threatened by Meliza's presence, and I made sure to comfort her by caressing her face in front of everyone. Iza was laughing at what Jonathan had said, but her laughter died when she witnessed my public display of affection to my girlfriend.
I smiled as I realized Iza was hurt that I had brought a girlfriend, and she couldn't make her move. I will let her swoon me, but not yet. I was beaming as I looked at the disappointment on her face as she stood up from her seat.
But there was a part of me that felt worried since I could tell she drank more liquor than she could take. I knew she couldn't handle alcohol, or I used to believe in her lies.
She toyed with my heart by flirting with other boys behind my back while we were still in a relationship. I just couldn't believe I was crazy about her, and there was a point in my life where I thought she was my world and everything.
I snapped back to the present and excused myself. I followed Iza as she got inside the house. She was sauntering, and I knew she felt dizzy. And I wanted to laugh at her, but she still looked adorable even in her drunk state.
It was a mistake when I got closer to her since her familiar, intoxicating scent made me feel like I was back in time when I was in love with her. I closed my eyes and focused.
Instead of reminiscing about the past, I insulted and humiliated Meliza, but she didn't try to fight back or say a word. I felt like a fool talking to a drunk woman. I am sure she won't remember a thing of what I said tomorrow.
"You don't need to look after her, Jonathan; Iza could take care of herself. Don't tell me you didn't outgrow your love for her." I said when I met Jonathan at the back door.
"Ethan, I knew how much you hated Meliza after she left, but Meliza has always been honest with her feelings about me, and I don't hate her. We are friends, and I am here for her as a friend." He responded.
"I don't care if it pisses you off," he added and walked past me before I could react.
I became angrier as I made my way back to the party and realized Meliza has loyal friends who are willing to protect her, and I have to watch out for them to fulfill my plans.
Sylvia was giving me a hard stare as I sat beside her, but I was not in the mood to explain myself to her or anyone. When I couldn't take it anymore, I excused myself after I told my friends I needed to sleep after a long day.
But the truth is, I needed to think about what to do with Meliza Lizondra. I didn't go to my room, but instead, I went straight to the roof deck since I couldn't stop thinking about Iza.
As I raised my head and looked at the starry night, no matter how much I wanted to forget the past, I couldn't stop myself from remembering everything. And it came back to me like a flash of lightning.