Cheers To Alison!

Alison looked stunned, but who looked even more shocked was Ella.

"Mr Richard Harrison!" She screamed out,"it's such a pleasure to--"

But Richard wasn't having any of that. He walked straight to Alison and Mira. Brad and his mother along with Lily all just stared in surprise.

"Alison, are you alright?" He asked calmly.

Alison looked surprised he had called her by her name so casually like they'd been friends. Finally, a smile worked it's way over to her face.

"Um, yes. Thank you, Richard." There.

She said Richard too without any titles. This made everyone extra surprised. Some were muttering; "She knows him??"

"Great. Let's head in then." Richard said.

"B--but she's here without an invite!" Lily yelled out."And she brought someone extra. This party is strictly with inv--"

"--this party is strictly my party." Richard cut her off instantly.

Maria knew she had to do something, anything at all. "Lily here is not quite alright. She is...sick. She doesn't know this is your party and you have the right to come with your guests."

Lily's eyes bulged open but she knew she dared not say a word.

"Really?" Alison took a bold step to Maria. "I thought as much that she must be dealing with some sort of mental illness. It must be a common thing with you all, seeing how you mistreated me earlier."

With gritted teeth, Maria managed to respond. "Is that so? We are sorry we made you feel like that miss Alison. I hope you are not too startled."

Richard stretched a hand forward and held Alison's. This sent a tingling feeling to her and she almost shivered. It had been unexpected.

"Everyone's waiting for you, the greatest author in town." He said with a charming smile. Brad was handsome, but he was nothing compared to Richard. There was a natural way he carried himself like some sort of fantasy king. And made Alison felt like a powerful queen.

She liked it.

"Thank you. And I hope my sweet Kari is in there waiting for me as well?" Alison said a little loudly as they headed inside with Mira behind.

Maria could barely even wait for them to leave before she spat out! "What nonsense! I can't believe she's one move ahead of us already!"

Ella said through her nose, "she's free to do whatever the fuck she wants, but no one gets close to my man."

"You better act fast. And right." Maria warned.

Brad ignored everyone and stormed in. Before he knew it, his family had joined in too. They were seated on a high table now with Alison and Richard.

Lily muttered in Brad's ears. "How is she able to sit on the high table with Richard and his family??"

Brad ignored. He fixed Alison a hard stare, but she pretended he hadn't even existed! She smiled, chit chat with the lady beside her as well as Richard.

Finally, Brad couldn't take it anymore. He got up to his feet. They were on a long dining table with the rest of the guests on separate seats. But this particular one was like for special guests. Brad didn't need to take the mic to announce. These people were just enough.

"It's such a pleasure to meeting all of you, really." He began to say. Maria flashed a murderous stare but he went on anyway. "A lot of you may not know this, but that young lady beside Mr Richard is none other than my ex wife."

Alison wished the ground would open up now and swallow her! "What are you--"

"--but we've both moved on. Or have we? Seeing you today and my heart still skips a bit." He chuckled. Some people smiled too. Lily winced in pain but kept quiet.

"Is that why you reported me to the dark one

? Because your heart is still skipping a bit when you see me?" Alison frowned slightly.

"What? I would never do that!" Brad lied.

"It doesn't matter. Because the dark one happens to be a distant relative of mine. And from now on, I'd like to say all is forgiven." Richard's voice was loud and firm, filled with authority.

Mira smiled and gripped Alison's hand tight in excitement. The dark one had been giving her some serious headache. Alison wondered how she had not linked Richard to being the mystery texter! She needed to have some serious talk with him later!

But Brad, he took this as an opportunity. "This is why you are such a generous man. And we the Cambridge are blessed to have you as an in-law! My beautiful sister can't sleep at night, always thinking about you!"

Ella smiled, proud to have been mentioned.

In a strict tone, Richard cut him off instantly. He didn't like how his daughter groaned in disappointment or the way Alison stared at him. "Firstly, this is just a simple celebration of the Harrison household's many many victories."

"And secondly, I am not throwing this party as a means of betrothal. I don't know your sister and have no interest in getting married or becoming your in law."

Alison chuckled. She couldn't help it. Traces of wrinkle lines from anger delineated Maria and Ella's face. But neither of them said a word.

"It seems Brad is making a mistake of the idea for this celebration. You must mean to use that speech for a different party." Alison said. This raised some smiles from the guests in the room.

Brad swallowed. He didn't know what to say again.

Lily decided to be the brave one instead. "So Alison, you are very successful, so it seems. Who's the lucky man behind this success? Because three years ago, everyone knows you were just a simple poor lonely orphan."

Silence filled the room. Richard glanced at Alison, then his lips parted to speak but Alison didn't let him start. "I'm a successful romance author. In fact, I'd love to share my story with everyone.

"But before that, why don't you tell us the level of therapy you're currently going through? You know stealing your best friend's husband is not something easy to do. I know you must have had a lot of regret, despite me telling you I've forgiven you."

It was like a big bomb that was just bring dropped! Lily roared out in anger.."I have no regrets!"

"Wait, Mr Cambridge, you are presently married to this young lady? And you confidently talk about your heart skipping a bit. Geez, you are a proud flirt aren't you. Ha ha!" Richard said, then smiled at his daughter. "This is an interesting story."

"I don't think this child should be listening to adult stories like this." Maria said at last after being silent for so long.

"I might be a child. But I know the good people. And bad people of this story. Alison, you must have been through a lot." Little Maggie said.

"We're not bad people dear," Maria said."We--"

"Let's make a toast!" Richard said. "In fact, we're making a toast to my favorite author. Author Alison, cheers!"