Chapter 5

LENNOX 

I am still taken aback by Ashford’s change of expression. At that moment, he looked nothing like the man who is all sunshine and golden retriever. 

He looked like the devil in suits.

“Let’s go downstairs. Your parents are getting worried.” He tugs at my wrist and I snap back to reality.

As soon as I nod in agreement, his huge hand wraps around my wrist, leading me downstairs to the dining room.

Mom looks tense as she watches us climb down the stairs, the atmosphere not exactly pleasant. Once we settle in our respective seats, Grandma Danny’s gaze falls on me and she flashes me a smile.

“Is everything okay, Lennox?” Her voice is soft and soothing, calming every raging nerve in my body.

I’m supposed to be mad at Liana for thinking I’m trying to get Joshua jealous by proposing a fake engagement with Ashford.

I hated how low she thinks of me.

“I’m fine, Granny. Ashford made sure I’m okay.” I reassure her with a smile.

Liana scoffs, glaring at me like I am the bane of her existence. “Sometimes, I wonder if I am adopted or something.” 

It isn’t the first time she says something like this. She tries to gaslight everyone into thinking she’s being mistreated, when in fact, she’s the wicked one.

“Don’t start, Liana.” Dad scolds, his voice low and angry.

“Let me be, Dad.” Liana shrugs. “We all know Lennox is everyone’s favorite, while I remain the evil child. The wayward one.” She sneers.

“Enough of this, Liana. We have guests over.” Mom snaps and that seems to shut her right up. “Your fiancé and your sister's man is here and you keep spilling private matters.” Mom leans into her seat and takes a deep breath. A second later, her mood changes and a smile stretches across her lips.

It’s surprising how she changes her moods faster than N*****x cancels shows I actually like. “But then again, I’m glad my girls are getting married soon. That means we’ve got two weddings to plan.” She throws her head back in excitement.

Her cheerful face instantly lifts the tension in the room.

Liana shifts in her seat like she has something to say. “But nothing changes.” Her voice has everyone turning to her, attentively, like she is about to drop another tension in the air.

“What do you mean?” Granny asks.

“I’m still getting married first. In two weeks' time, I’ll be Mrs. Liana Rufus. Who knows? You all might want your favorite daughter to get married first.”

Phew! Right. She does drop another tension, rising from an earlier issue Mom warned her about.

“And who says I’m getting married first?” I chirp in, unable to control my emotions. Liana finally succeeded in bringing out those buried emotions in me. 

“I don’t know.” She feigns ignorance. “There’s nothing impossible.” 

I wonder why she is so obsessed with getting married to Joshua.

“Unlike you, I have no intention to rush into marriage. The thought of getting married to the love of my life might be the best thing,” I pause and turn to Ashford, whose eyes are unreadable. This man….. Why can’t I read his thoughts? “But we’ve decided to take things slow.”

Grandma Danny is fast to intervene before Liana escalates the matter any further. “Liana Darling, you’re the oldest and so you’re getting married first.”

That seems to bring a smile to Liana’s face.

“So Ashford,” Dad turns to Ashford, a small smile on his lips. “Which date did you both choose for your wedding?”

Shit! Ashford and I didn’t discuss this beforehand! Why does dad have to bring it up now?

“Ahhh,” Ashford chuckles, looking at me, and I immediately presume he needs my help.

“Dad! We just got engaged two days ago. We haven’t discussed it yet.” I am fast to chirp in and save Ashford’s ass. “We will be taking our leave now. It’s getting late.” I am willing to do anything to leave already.

My parents are already putting Ashford in a tight corner. The poor man!

“Be rest assured, Mr. Damien, Lennox is in safe hands. I love her so much and I’d do anything to keep her safe.” He sounds so convincing. So true, I almost believed him for a second.

“Thank you for the reassurance. My daughters are my angels and I wouldn’t tolerate their men treating them like trash.” 

Ashford keeps indulging Mom and Dad, while I silently plot for an escape. He is making it hard to leave because he keeps replying and laughing at their jokes.

Finally seeing an opportunity, I waste no time before jumping into it. “It’s late, Ashford. Let’s go.” I tug at his arm and glare softly at him.

He smiles, taking in my signal as he also stands up. “Thank you for having us here, Mr. Damien. I really enjoyed the meal.”

   The second we reach Ashford’s car, I quickly turn to him, an apologetic look on my face. “I’m sincerely sorry for pulling you into my little game back there when I talked about attending Liana’s wedding with you.”

Ashford pauses, staring into my eyes, like he was trying to see through my soul. Goosebumps spread all over my body and I slam my lips shut. “You’re staring.” I point out.

“Why are you apologizing, Nox?” He asks and I open my mouth to speak, but no words fall out.

My head drops and I mutter. “I don’t know. I just know I’m sorry for pulling you into this mess of mine.”

“And what if I say I’m where I want to be?” His deep voice. That unreal confession. Instant whiplash.

This man must be kidding.

“What do you mean?” My brows furrow, confusion swirling in my head.

“I’ll accompany you to your sister’s wedding and play my role as your doting fiancé who is head over heels for his woman.” His response is almost unbelievable.

Why is he going to such great lengths for me?

I am nothing but a best friend to him. Nothing more. Nothing less.

I shake my head. “You don’t have to come with me. I can come up with a lie about you being busy and all.” I don’t want to force this on him. He has done more than enough.

Ashford reaches for my shoulders, holding them in place as he stares into my eyes. “I’m coming with you, Nox. This is final. No more arguments.”

Yeah. His words shut me right up.

“To your cafe, yeah?” He asks as he revs the car to life.

“Yes.” I mutter, curling into the seat.

 Ashford drives in silence, but the moment he pulls up in the driveway, my eyes fall on the engagement ring around my finger. I immediately take it off, pushing it towards him.

“Why are you giving it to me?” He asks, his lips curve into a smile.

“It was just an act, I don’t need it anymore, Ashford.” I shrug, urging him to take it, but instead, he pushes my hand back.

“Keep it,” he says and before I can argue, he adds, “when we decide to call this off, you can give it back.”

While I try to convince him to take the ring back, he has already made up his mind and I am left with no option but to keep the ring.

As soon as I enter the cafe, I meet Nara attending to a customer, but the moment she is done, she scurries to my side.

“Wow, the ring is beautiful!” She exclaims as she pulls out her phone.

“What are you doing?” I ask, obviously confused.

“Checking the price of that beautiful ring.” Her fingers type against the keyboard of her phone and in less than ten seconds, she shoves the phone in my face. “$150,000!”

“What?” I gasp, my gaze alternating between the ring and the screen of her phone.

“Why did he give me something so expensive?” I mutter, doing a mental calculation of how many hours I have to spend in the cafe each week to make just $25,000, yet, Ashford fucking Wilson gave me a ring worth $150,000 just for some faking.

“Ash is into you. I’m glad Josh dumped you.” Nara chipped, swirling around like a teletubby.