Chapter 4

NELLY:

Amid the large crowd gathered for Elena and Rowan's engagement ceremony, I caught Rowan staring in my direction. Our gazes locked for a moment, but I stared away and grasped Maeve's hand, as she was also in awe of meeting Rowan.

"Come on, Maeve. Let's find somewhere to sit down before everyone takes the seats," I muttered into her ear, pulling her away.

"Oh. Elena is so lucky. I cannot believe she's going to become my new boss's wife," Maeve said, her tone sincere and full of admiration for Elena.

However, my ears burned when I heard her comment.

"Maeve, I don't want to discuss them," I told her straightforwardly, and she stiffened as she met my eyes.

"What's wrong, Nelly? Don't tell me Elena is still picking on you, even now that you're both going to become family," Maeve said, her tone sad as she sighed.

"You speak as though you think Elena will change. That bitch doesn't change. She won't. Even now, I'm considering moving out of the house," I said softly to Maeve to avoid anyone hearing our conversation, as all eyes were fixed on Elena and Rowan.

Some photographers were taking pictures, and I knew they would appear on the magazine's front page by tomorrow. The thought of it made my chest tighten.

I bit my lip and looked back at Maeve's face. Her eyes met mine after we sat at a safe distance from the crowd.

"You don't mean it, Nelly. Where do you plan to move to? Will your family allow it?" Maeve asked, her tone filled with concern, and I sighed.

"I don't know. I haven't brought that up. But Rowan still lives with his father. He hasn't moved out yet, even though he has the money to purchase any grand mansion he wants. I don't know why he hasn't left. I cannot stand the thought of Elena moving into the house. Now that they're officially engaged, there's no telling what that two-faced bitch will do to me. She could harm herself and claim that I'm the one who hurt her just to get me kicked out. So I have to move out first."

Maeve's jaw dropped at my reasoning.

"You're right. How did I not think of this? But your mother won't side with Elena. She will support you, and Rowan, I'm certain, will figure out the type of woman he's engaged to soon," Maeve said firmly, and I chuckled darkly.

I filled Maeve in on what had happened at the engagement ceremony at the Raphaels' mansion, including how my mother had taken Elena's side over mine. There was no telling she wouldn't do the same when Elena moved in with them.

"How could your mother support Elena over you? How dare Elena mock you like that?" Maeve fumed. She was slightly chubby like me, but I was fuller than her.

"Let it slide." I gently squeezed Maeve's hand across the table as we sat together.

Just then, Elena's loud voice rang through the microphone, silencing the crowd's hushed mutterings and whispers.

"Thank you, everyone, for coming to my engagement ceremony today. I'm highly honoured to have you all. There are lots of food and drinks for your merriment," she said sweetly, her face beaming under the moonlight as we sat across the pool.

"So, I would love to have one dance with my fiancé. Then we'll call it a day, and you can all leave," Elena finished before handing the microphone away.

I hadn't seen Rowan dance since I'd known him. Everyone seemed eager to watch Elena and her fiancé dance on the stage set up at the front for everyone present, including those seated beside the pool, to see.

I looked away, taking out my phone to distract myself, as I wanted to disappear from there.

Just then, the music changed to soft, melodic romantic music. Elena stepped forward with hopeful eyes as she peered at Rowan's face.

Even under the soft beam of light and the moonlight glittering over the place, Rowan's sharp features attracted more women, who gushed over him. His high cheekbones, full brows, thin lips, and piercing blue eyes were captivating.

His expression didn't soften. He looked as if he wanted to call off the dance, but seeing Elena's eager face, he had to comply.

Rowan circled his arm around Elena's slim waist, and my brows furrowed as I watched them.

I wasn't supposed to feel jealous, but I couldn't wrap my mind around the fact that he had disliked me from the first day we met, when my whole heart and body felt the opposite.

I lowered my head, avoiding staring at them, as I knew Elena wanted me to see this. She wanted to rub her relationship in my face, and she was doing it perfectly.

"Hi, miss," a gentle voice whispered in my ear, and I raised my head to see who it was.

A female staff member, dressed neatly in a black-and-white uniform, approached us with a tray of drinks and served us at the table between Maeve and me.

"Here are your food and drinks, miss," she said, setting the tray down before stepping back.

I looked at the tray. Two plates of pepper soup were there, one for me and the other for Maeve, since we were the only two seated there. But I eyed the glass of red wine suspiciously.

My appetite vanished, and I refused to eat or touch anything. The delicious aroma of the pepper soup wafted through the air and into my nostrils, making my stomach growl with hunger. But I refused to eat anything.

Maeve quickly picked up a plate of pepper soup and started digging into it. She picked up her spoon and ate faster, like a starving lion.

"Oh! This is so delicious, Nelly. You should try it," Maeve said, urging me to eat. But I didn't want to.

"I'm not famished," I replied, refusing her warm gesture.

"Why? If this is about Elena, don't let her ruin your happiness. If you don't have anywhere to go, you can come and stay with me, alright?"

My lips curled into a warm smile. "Thank you, Maeve. I'll look into it."

The music stopped playing, and everyone erupted into a round of applause for Elena and Rowan.

"They look like a perfect pair," Maeve said, but I didn't utter a word.

She sighed and continued eating.

Just then, Elena dismissed the guests and strode towards my table to meet me.

"Nelly," she called my name loudly, attracting a few people who stopped to stare at us.

"What do you want, Elena?" I asked, growing bored and getting ready to leave as the night grew darker.

"I'm hosting a private celebration. Rowan insists you should come."

"Rowan?" My heart skipped a beat at the thought that he had mentioned to her that I should come.

"Are you sure?" I asked Elena suspiciously as I stood up immediately, the chair scraping against the floor behind me.

Elena scowled, but smirked before replying, "Of course."

Maeve, sensing the tension between us, inquired, "Elena, can I come, too?"

Elena rolled her eyes and looked Maeve up and down.

"Sure. I'd love for you to be there. It's only a few friends and close relations who are permitted into the VIP booth."

"Alright. Let's go." Maeve quickly grasped her black handbag and pulled me along before I could object.

"Maeve," I hissed, clearly disappointed by her behaviour.

Ever since she learned that Elena was truly engaged to Rowan Santiago, one of the big shots in Suncrest City, she had been trying to put herself in a good light so she wouldn't lose her job opportunity at Santiago Group.

Maeve wasn't from a wealthy family, but her family lived a comfortable life.

"Please, Nelly. Let's just go. Don't forget Rowan is going to be my boss, so I don't want to lose the job." Maeve stepped closer to me and whispered in my left ear.

I knew she didn't like Elena either, but she had no other option.

"Fine," I muttered, grabbing my handbag as I followed Elena into the magnificent building.

The rest of the guests left since Elena hadn't invited them. Only Elena's best friend, Gianna Carlos, remained. She glared at me as though she wanted to kill me on the spot.

Gianna hailed from one of the wealthy families in Suncrest. She was 24, a year older than me and the same age as Elena.

They mostly loved to wear matching outfits, but since tonight was Elena's engagement, Gianna wore a strapless blue dress that clung firmly to her body like a second skin. She had small breasts, and she was slim, too.

She wasn't our classmate. She was a year ahead of Elena and me, though they remained close.

I sighed, standing a few distances away from them as we rode the elevator up to the fifth floor.

Once the elevator stopped, Elena and Gianna stepped out first, followed by Maeve and me. We trailed behind them and went to the VIP room to join the rest.