CHAPTER 4: DAD

The ride did not take too long, they arrived in a very lavish subdivision. She saw Eleanor’s house across the street they had just stopped at. Evander guided her inside; these billionaires did not even knock on the door and just barged in. Tsk perks of being rich.

She could already hear chattering and laughter from the doorstep. They continued walking until they reached the back yard. Gwen saw nine strikingly handsome men along with three ladies with them. There were also kids running around the park. When Eleanor saw her, she quickly ran to Gwen’s place and checked if she was okay.

" Are you okay? How did they know you were both there? "She asked continuously.

Gwen sighed and massaged her temples. "Don’t start, Eleanor, I don't even know. Do you have water? My head is splitting, " she said and walked along with Eleanor.

After she drank water, she sat down and rested her head on Eleanor’s shoulder. "This is Adrianna and Evergrace and that’s Callista, Clyde’s acquaintance, " Eleanor said as she introduced me to the ladies.

Adrianna was the first one to get close to her since she shared how the same thing happened to her long ago and Azul was also the person who saved them. Eleanor said that Azul was the sort of person who helps everyone with what they need. After a long chitchat with the girls, Gwen felt herself relaxed so they decided to join the boys at the other table.

"I think all of us should introduce ourselves next to you since you look like your acquainted with our wives already, " the man who looked so familiar said. Gwen faked a smile and just went with the flow. The boys started lining up except for Evander, who stayed seated.

But before they could even start, her phone rang. Her father was calling. She wondered why? Her father had not contacted her for a long time. Gwendolyn excused herself and answered the call.

"Dad? "She answered nervously.

(Gwendolyn Zosia Lopez! What is this I am seeing in the news? Why is your face here along with Vasquez’ bastard son?) her father asked furiously, but her fear dropped when she heard what her father called Evander.

"Don’t call him that dad, you don’t even know him, "she defended. Gwendolyn heard a sigh on the other line.

(Whatever, I want you to come home right now. We will talk properly face to face. And do not you dare defy my orders Zosia!) that was the last thing she heard from her dad because he suddenly hanged up on her.

Gwendolyn massaged her temples and sighed in defeat. When her father uses that tone, she has no other choice but to obey it. Gwen went back to the yard and told Evander about what was up. "Should I drive you home? " He asked, concerned.

But Gwendolyn shook her head and told him that she could manage. With that, Gwendolyn went back home. And by home she means her birthplace. Gwen booked a flight to Greece and traveled across the sea just so she could talk properly with her dad. It took about a couple of hours and another hour for the connecting flight. She arrived almost past midnight and she was jetlagged, but her first goal was to greet her father.

Gwendolyn went to his office and knocked three times before opening the big doors. She once feared entering this place of the house when she was little, because she only had to enter if she had a great sin. Gwendolyn saw her father at his desk working on a stack of papers. When he noticed she was in, he stopped what he was doing and looked at her like an emotionless rock. She felt the same fear she experienced as a child, but she maintained her composure and faced her father head on.

"What’s your relationship with that Vasquez kid? "Her father asked.

"We’re just friends, dad, "she said. But her dad muffled a chuckle before throwing an envelope full of photos of her and Evander at a bar the night of Eleanor’s wedding. Gwen was confused by how her father got those photos but, considering her father, he must have hired someone to put tabs on her every move again. And with that it was now clear that her father already knew that something had happened that night as well.

"I’m so disappointed in you, Zosia. You said you wanted to be alone, and I respected your wish. But now you are doing this? Tell me, I want it to come from your mouth. Did something happen to you and Vasquez that night? "Her father asked.

Gwendolyn squeezed her hands together, contemplating whether she would tell the truth or not, but her father’s words were absolute. She knows that the moment she says yes he will use his wealth and power in any means just so Evander can pay. And she did not want his hospitals to get tangled up with her father’s ruthlessness.

"GWENDOLYN ZOSIA, "her father articulated in his warning tone. Gwendolyn shivered when her father’s voice echoed around the room. She squeezed her eyes shut and slowly nodded her head in fear of her father’s punishment.

She heard her father sigh, so she opened her eyes and saw him smiling like he had just won the lottery. Gwen wondered why he was smiling like that, when his eyes diverted to her he suddenly stood up and patted her shoulder.

"Good job for once Zosia, you really are my daughter HAHAHAHA! Now this is what I want you to do, you doll yourself up and we will have dinner with Vasquez’s “, her father said in bliss. All she could do was nod her head to his every command.

Gwendolyn does not know why her father was delighted by the truth, but she does not feel good about his reaction. She is sure he is planning something again. That day, Gwendolyn stayed in Greece for a night. They went back home the next day with her dad on their private jet. She may have come from a wealthy family, but the whole idea of being Lopez’s only daughter vexed her. Especially when her father always set her up on a blind date. That is mostly the reason why she moved out.

They went their separate ways when the plane landed, but her father strictly reminded her about the dinner later with the Vasquez’s. She nodded her head and stormed away from her father, she went home and dropped herself on her bed.

‘Should I call Evander and tell him about what was going to happen later?’ Gwendolyn thought to herself. But the night for the dinner came but she did not have the chance to tell him about it. Why? Because just when she thought she could finally rest her body a bit from stress and jetlag, when her father’s secretary, Mr. Daniel knocked on her door as per his dad’s commands. Her father prepared everything for her from head to toe, she could not refuse and just went along with it all.

Gwendolyn had just got to the restaurant but she could already see reporters swarming around the entrance. How is she supposed to enter in that crowd? She was hiding behind her car and finding the right moment to enter when a hand grabbed her wrist. She looked back and saw Evander with a confused expression. Well, if I were him, I would be surprised to see him here too.

"What are you doing here? "He said with his eyebrows furrowed.

Gwendolyn was about to open her mouth when one of the reporters shouted and saw them hiding behind the car. So, they had no choice but to run inside hand by hand.

"Evander? " a woman’s voice said from behind.

Gwendolyn’s eyes grew big when she saw Cataleya along with Ervin. Not just that, but her father and a man in his mid-forties who she thinks was Mr. Vasquez. All their eyes landed on our intertwined hands, my father’s expression was ecstatic, Cataleya was glaring at her, Ervin was grinning at his brother and Mr. Vasquez’s was expressionless. Gwendolyn gulped in worry about how she could explain this but she felt Evander squeeze her hand.

She looked up at him but he was already looking at her, and he was smiling. When she remembered their deal there all came to light, Evander was telling her to proceed with the plan because Cataleya and Ervin are here. So, she calmed herself and functioned as if she was not nervous earlier. They walked towards them and greeted the bunch. Evander pulled a seat for her and sat next to her while his hands were on her waist. Evander faced the elders and ignored the couple on his side.

" I never knew you had a girlfriend, Evander, " Mr. Vasquez said calmly.

"Don’t be too hard on your son Emilio, they’re young. Let them be, isn’t that right, Zosia? " Her father turned to her so she had no chance but to go along with what he said.

"Let’s not take this dinner for too long, Gregorio. Tell me, what was the great news you ought to tell me that you came your way here when you are better be staying at your fortress in Greece? " Mr. Vasquez said while drinking her coffee.

Gwendolyn’s father looked in their direction and smiled. "It concerns our children, Emilio, "her father said.

Mr. Vasquez’s eyebrows furrowed and looked at us in confusion. Evander was clueless as well. Cataleya was already looking in their direction with an unexplainable expression, while Ervin looked like he was having fun.

"I don’t really want to spring this on you, Emilio, but when my daughter is involved, I would go my way and do what I should, " her father said, sounding upset.

"What do you mean, Gregorio? What happened? " Mr. Vasquez asked.

Gwendolyn’s father did not speak but he pulled out an envelope and placed it on the table. Gwendolyn recognized that envelope, it was the same thing her father threw at her. She moved closer to Evander and told him she was sorry. He looked at her in question but it all made sense when Mr. Vasquez roared furiously.

Gwendolyn’s eyes landed on Cataleya, who looked like she was about to cry. Her father, on the other hand, was wearing a triumphant smile. Gwendolyn was worried about Mr. Vasquez would do something to Evander, so she defended him.

" Mr. Vasquez, please calm down, there is no need to be mad about it. We are already adults, and Evander is one too. We are able to make our own decisions, please do not hurt him, " she said.

Mr. Vasquez’s expression softened and eventually sighed in defeat. She eyed Evander like she had been saying she would tell him about this later, so he should just go with the flow. Evander closed his eyes and composed himself. "I’ll take responsibility, Mr. Lopez, Dad. I will oversee this, "Evander said calmly.

Gwendolyn felt like a thorn was pulled out from her chest. "No, you’ll marry Gregorio’s daughter and that’s final. "Gwendolyn’s eyes widened when she heard that.

She looked at her father and he was eyeing her to sit still and take whatever the verdict was. Evander was left silent when his father said that. He had no problem with the idea, but he was thinking about Zosia. He knew she would not want that.

"What’s wrong? Marrying her would not be a problem, yes? She is your girlfriend, not unless you are just pretending? "

Gwendolyn’s eyes diverted to Cataleya and she was glaring at her whilst waiting for Evander’s response. This was not good, Gwendolyn thought. She needs to say something, Mr. Vasquez was wary of their relationship. If they find out that this was all fake, they are both dead. They still need each other so they can proceed with their plan, so they have to resolve this somehow.

" I want to talk this out with Zosia-" Gwendolyn cut off Evander’s words because she knew they would not buy his excuse. "I’ll accept. I will marry Evander if that is what would suffice your worries, "she said.

Gwendolyn’s father was smiling in all ears, Cataleya walked out and Ervin was amused with her answer. Moreover, Evander was one of the people who was surprised by her sudden resolve. But Gwendolyn clenched her heart and stood tall, for the success of their plan.