Everyone stared at Erin as he started to space out.
He went out to have coffee with Lowen, Reese and Lizzy. With the latter joking their group is called the problematic wives club.
Because every time the four of them went out together for a coffee. All they talk about is their husbands and their problems with each.
When he noticed them. He merely spat the coffee that burned his tongue.
"Are you okay?" Reese handed him a tissue.
"You seem out of it, is there a problem? Lowen asked.
"I'm sure it has something to do with Marc again, is it?" Lizzy immediately pointed out the source of the problem as usual. Or maybe, she just doesn't like Marc in the first place.
"Are you two having problems again?" Reese seemed concerned. It's like he and Lizzy had changed roles in hating and siding against Marc.
Before, it was Reese who was against Marc so much. But now the latter stands as their mediator. While Lizzy who was once loved to tease him with Marc. Had a sudden distaste at the latter. Maybe because of the last incident, where Marc chooses to break up with him instead of being more honest with him about Lowen.
"It's not like that," he said hesitating to stare at everyone's anticipated reactions. "It's been a while since he proposed to me. And yet, he buries himself to work too much. That he might have forgotten of his promise of marrying me,"
Everyone almost rolled their eyeballs at home.
"Why not try and ask him then?" Lowen advised.
"I'm afraid that he would say that he's actually busy to even think about it right now," he finally admitted. "And besides, he's already having issues at the office. No one trusts that he can do better than his father," his head basically lowered. "And I'm probably to be blamed about it,"
"And what does that even mean?" Reese looked pissed this time. "Did anyone say that to you?"
He shook his head firmly.
"I heard it once when I went to visit Marc at the office. No one recognized me at the time in the elevator. And some board members got in as well,"
"And?" Lizzy was already a bit irritated. When he hasn't actually told the story. And so were Reese and Lowen, who had the same kind of wrinkling on their foreheads.
"They said that Marc isn't that reliable. Because of his unstable sexuality. And that no investors would trust him in the future as well. Because he takes another man as a lover instead of having a wife,"
Reese took his hand that rested on his lap. Firmly clasped at each other.
"Don't let them get to your head. I'm sure Marc is capable of handling things on his own. Just have faith in him, okay? He won't let anyone look down upon you especially because of him."
"He's right," Lowen seconded Reese's advice. "That's a long-standing issue ever since he and I are still together." the latter explained. "But come to think of it. It's just a lousy excuse to make Marc step down from his position. They're just too afraid that everything will change as soon as Marc takes the position of his father as chairman."
Lizzy glared at Lowen which made the latter flinch.
"What's wrong?"Lowen asked Lizzy.
"Should you really bring up the fact that you two used to be together?"
Lowen scoffed at Lizzy's remark.
"Hey, take it easy okay? I'm already married, remember?" he said waving the hand with his wedding ring on.
"Just don't go running away somewhere again like you did last time like it has to be you making the sacrifice all the time. You understand me?" Both Lizzy and Lowen had their attention back with Reese's words. "Promise me," the latter insisted.
Erin smiled gently.
"I won't do that again. I already promised Marc the same thing. And I don't plan on backing down on our relationship because of other people's opinions. I'm just worried that Marc won't be able to get the respect he deserves, even if he works very hard for it."
"Whatever happens, just keep in mind that it's never your fault nor Marc's for being in love," Lowen's words made sense.
Still, his problem isn't solved yet. The question still stands. When will Marc's plan fulfill his promise of marrying him?
***
Their meeting ended with Reese leaving for work. And Lizzy for taking care of his baby that he left with Dylan earlier.
"Would you like me to take you somewhere you'd appreciate?" asked Lowen as they started to walk towards the parking lot. He didn't bring a car with him like the others. And since Lowen presented to take him somewhere. He'd rather go with him than cook himself up at the house overthinking.
They ended up at a boutique that makes tailor-made gowns and suits for special occasions. But their specialty is mostly about weddings.
Lowen was right. He did feel good upon arriving there.
But mostly sad that he didn't go there with Marc as he always anticipated.
"Would you like to try some of our suits, sir?" a nice-looking man came to greet them. He can tell by his gestures that he is no different from him and Lowen. "Oh, it's you again, Sir?" he said glancing towards Lowen as if they had actually been acquainted before.
"Did you come to buy another set of suits?" the latter's eyes started to linger around them. "Is your partner also with you?"
"I actually came here with a friend, we want to see some of the new sets of wedding dresses?"
The young man was definitely surprised. But he didn't say anything and just smiled instead.
"This way please,"
"This is where Tennesey and I bought the suits for our wedding. The owner and designer of the shop are really talented. And also a very nice person. You should really meet him," Lowen explained to him as they followed Eron, the shop assistant at the La Femine Boutique inside a beautiful room.
Where a few wedding dresses were displayed and some hanging on a rack.
"Let me introduce myself first," said the assistant to Erin. "The name is Eron, at your service."
Erin glanced at Lowen with a surprised look. Aren't their names almost too identical to each other? Not only that, upon looking at the latter behind, he thought he was actually seeing himself walking in front of him. Having the same build and height, anyone might mistake Eron for him or vice versa.