In the banquet hall, guests were already crowded around a long table stuffed with food. The sound of people laughing, knife and forks clattering echoed around the vaulted ceiling. The smell of gravy and roast chicken wafted past them.
Alex was confronted with the scene as Ambrose walked inside with him on his shoulders, and his eyes opened widely and his jaw dropped in wonder. Why wasn't he invited to this party although he was made to dress for it?!
" Why wasn't I invited? " His voice came out low and sounded shocked.
" Can you recognize your mum in the midst of this people? " Ambrose asked.
" Yes, my mum is the one sitting down beside Uncle Andrew. "
Ambrose followed to where his hands were pointed at and his entire nervous system froze. His mother was Nova!?
Nova was sitting down between Andrew and an empty chair. And there, at the table, was Mr Clifford. He was larger than life, laughing and drinking with everyone who would talk to him. Nova wasn't sure if she should be thankful to him or not for adopting her. How come a man as lively as him have such an illness?! She thought. He smiled at her and raised a glass which she returned by raising her glass back and smiled.
His brow furrowed and shouted over to Nova. " Where's Alexander? "
Nova chocked back the lump at the back of her throat. Why did he have to bring him up in front of this people? But it was good that Ambrose wasn't here. She swallowed hard then answered.
" He is with his nanny in the garden."
" Good. " He said. " What of your husband? " The question was directed to Adriana.
" He went outside to get some fresh air away from the noise. " Adriana simply said.
Talking about Ambrose, Nova realised after that time he had excused himself she hadn't seen him and it kind of seemed strange to her. Not strange anyway but it kind of raise an alarm in her head.
She raised her head up then her eyes fixated on Ambrose walking into the hall with Alex on his shoulders smiling. What...does he think he is doing? How did they get to meet? She turned to look at Andrew who had the same expression as her. This was exactly what she was avoiding but it seems fate wasn't on her side this time because Alex seemed happy with him. Although she couldn't hear what they were talking about but the look on her son's face was priceless.
A mixture of excitement and anger churned inside her, and then, to make it worse, Adriana spoke, " My husband is here. " She announced and stood up from her seat to meet him.
She always loved attention and that is what she must be getting. After all, she is the wife of Ambrose Grey.
" Where have you been? We've been waiting for you. " Adriana said to Ambrose. " Whose child is this? " She asked as soon as her eyes landed on the boy on his shoulders.
Nova shuddered with rage.
When she learned seven years ago that the man who had deceived her was the father of her unborn child, all she could think about was how hateful she felt toward him. She'd attempt to forget about him and the pain he had caused her, but the more she tried, the more he resurfaced in her thoughts and her pain, hatred and vengeance only grew stronger when she became so obsessed with his life. Despite the distance between them, that didn't stop her from watching him appear on practically every TV program for an interview with Adriana by his side.
She knew the instant that the result showed positive, revealing that she was indeed pregnant and carrying his child that she wasn't going to keep it. Ambrose's child was in her womb. She couldn't keep it.
Nova slowly got up from her seat and walked towards Ambrose.
" Alex, " She called with a smile trying not to let her rage overcome her. " What are you doing? "
Adriana's face froze. She wasn't sure yet if she should be angry, be paranoid or not, so she probed a little, voice wracked with tension. " He is your son? " She asked, her eyes glanced up to look at Alex once again. He looked so much like Ambrose.
She batted her lashes, trying to tell herself that it's not what she was thinking and the resemblance was just a mere coincidence but her guts tells her otherwise.
She was seized by a murderous rage as she tightened her knuckles and her eyes met with Nova's.
Was she trying to make her go crazy? What is really this woman's agenda? Why did she come back?
First, she arrived at the company during a board meeting as Arabella's look alike and an adopted daughter of a shareholder in her husband's company and now she has a son that looks so much like the little version of Ambrose. Should she freak out or what?
If she isn't Arabella, then who the hell is she?
Adriana's thoughts were indeed ravaging her and at that point, even her own skin felt as if it was suffocating her.
" Yes he is. " Nova replied with a sneering grin as she glanced at Adriana.
" Mummy, why wasn't I brought to the party? " Alex countered, looking at his mother and unaware of the tension between the three adults before him.
" Because children aren't allowed in the party. " She replied smiling.
" You never told us you had a child. Why? " She interjected again even though she was feeling angry.
" Sorry but I like to keep my personal life 'personal' " Nova replied, putting a heavy stress on the word 'personal'.
Adrianna gulped and narrowed her eyes. " How old is he? "
" He is six. "
" Hmm, are you six years old? " She asked, the question directed to Alex.
Alex didn't know why but he didn't like this woman. She looked like an evil villain in one of his cartoons.
" My mum already answered you. " Alex said, batting his eyelashes innocently. " Mummy, meet my friend Ambrose. Can I also join the party, pleaseeee? "
" I've already met him. " She replied, glancing up to look at Ambrose and her eyes met with his, holding them for a moment before dropping her gaze to look at Alex. " It is the time for you to sleep, is it not? " Nova asked and Alex nodded slowly.
" Alex, where did you go? I've been looking for you. " A woman in her fifties walked in immediately after Alex came down from Ambrose's shoulders.
" Mrs Parloma, please take Alex to his room. " Nova said with a kind smile as she watched her son leave after bading her and Ambrose goodnight.
***
Nova took her seat between Andrew, Ambrose and Adriana. A sinister smile spread across the face of Nova as she watched Adriana's fuming face from the corner of her eyes.
It's about time for the game to begin.
She slowly raised her glass of red wine to her lips, didn't drink it, but instead brought it down slowly with shaky hands to the table and let it spill over Ambrose's tuxedo.
The people at the table gasped as they watched Ambrose abruptly stand up from his chair. They didn't see what had just happened.
" I'm so sorry!! " Nova said and quickly took out some tissue paper and tried to wipe but Ambrose stopped her. " I didn't mean to spill the wine on you. "
" Darling, are you okay? " Adriana asked worriedly.
" It's okay. I just need to go to the restroom to remove the stain. " He said. Although it was a black tuxedo, the wine still left a stain.
" I feel guilty. I will show you the way to the restroom. " She hurriedly suggested. Her expression filled with guilt.
" You don't have to. I will take him myself. " Adriana interrupted with a stern expression.
" You don't know the way to the restroom, Adriana. I said I would take him. It is the least I can do for accidentally spilling the wine on him. " Nova said, tilting her head with a coy smile.
" I apologise, Ambrose. Nova would show you the way to the restroom. " Mr Clifford said to Ambrose from across the table.
***
Nova showed him the way to a room and they entered.
" Let me help you take off your shirt. " She muttered huskily, taking slow steps towards him as she brought her hands forward and slowly removed his shirt button by button, locking her eyes in his that they reflected her soul, gently tracing the tip of her fingers across his broad chest, lightly stroking them and staring into his eyes for a few seconds, before dropping her gaze to his chest that rose and fell. He shivered violently at her touch. She raised her chin up so that his face would be very close to hers. His breathing turned wild and husky as his dark eyes never left hers.
Ambrose's eyebrows flinched, at such a close distance from her, he could smell Nova's intoxicating fragrance. The enticing scent was pulling him towards her. He moved closer, trying to distinguish the scent by inhaling it deeply while closing his eyes. He bent a little, bringing his face to her level that it was now only an inch left for their lips to meet.
" What's that scent? " He whispered, leaning closer to her neck and sniffed her.
Nova's lips curled up into a smirk. This was the reaction she wanted from him. She moved her hands down his abdomen, leaving it there for some seconds before moving them slowly back up to his chest and removed his shirt completely, making sure her thumb rubbed his arm.
He got a strong and muscular arm that any woman wanted to touch and feel with their bare hands.
" What the hell are you doing? " He rasped, eyes still closed and sniffing in her scent. She smelt so heavenly!, So he thought.
" What do you think I'm doing? " She faintly voiced out.
" I.. can't think…" He stopped himself from completing his statement as he suddenly straightened himself. " Are you fucking with me? "
" I don't understand what you mean. " Nova asked innocently, biting her lower lip in the process.
" I'm not a fool. What were you doing? "
" I was just helping you pull off your shirt. " She plainly said, stepping backwards.
Ambrose's eyes narrowed at her and said, " I think I should leave. "
" You can't get out like that. " Nova said and allowed her gaze to rest on his shirtless body and she felt heat spread through her body just by staring at them.
What was wrong with her? She understood it was normal but she had seen him shirtless several times but she had to remind herself that it was seven years ago and now he was a mature man.
Her eyes wandered down from his powerful, manly-built muscles down to his waist. His strong waist is just perfect to wrap the thighs around it.
" Are you done drooling? " He scoffed.
Nova cleared her throat, her cheeks flushing in embarrassment on getting caught drooling at his naked chest.
" I wasn't. You… "
" Ambrose! " They both heard Adriana's voice calling out from the hallway.
Nova cursed her in her head. She really doesn't want to let him go. She's afraid of leaving him alone with her which means she feels inferior to her and considers her a competition. Nova chuckled in her head.
Ambrose turned to open the door and allowed Adriana to come in. She was holding a white nylon.
" I brought you some clothes because I was sure you would need one. " She said with a sweet smile. She knew that there was another reason she came here although it wasn't hard locating this room in the house but a maid had innocently told her where she could find them.
" I should leave. " Nova said. She already got what she needed.
" Yes, you should. " Adriana replied.
***
" According to Mr Clifford, your biological parents didn't attend the party due to some reasons still unknown. " Andrew said to Nova.
The party had ended and everyone had departed to their houses even Mr Clifford had left them in the garden to go to his room to get some rest.
" I really don't care about them. I achieved something today. "
" So, you got the reaction you were expecting. "
" He fell for it. I just need him to go so crazy that he'll give up everything. "
" Ambrose could appear like an ice statue, quiet and all that stuff but he is smart. " Andrew mumbled to her.
" I know. " She smiled.
" But your look to Ambrose still shows you've a soft spot for him. Your eyes sparkle when you look at him as if you're still… "
" Those sparkles you saw in my eyes? It's just a flame of revenge. Any woman in my position would have the same emotion. It's just hatred. "She sternly said.
" And what if this hatred eventually turns into love again? " Andrew interjected.
" One day, Ambrose would give up his mother, wife and company. And the woman whom he will sacrifice them for, will be Nova Clifford. "
To be continued...