ROWAN'S POV
Being the bystander in this drama, I've done more behind the scenes.
Last night, George stayed in this suite to keep an eye on Krishna. At the same time, he wanted to draw a wedge between her and Florian.
George wanted to see what Florian would do after he learned he was with Krishna.
But to George's disappointment, Florian did not show up last night, like the scene playing in his mind that our cousin would come in a rage, banging on the door of this suite and taking Krishna away, leaving Stella like trash.
Then George will be there to comfort her. That was what he imagined. For George, things will go perfectly as he plans.
But it confused not only George but also me. Florian's feelings for Krishna did not seem as deep as we thought. The reports I read tell differently.
A few months ago, George discovered that Florian secretly bought properties without Stella's knowledge. Although it is usual for Florian to keep his business matters private from Stella, he is suspicious of traveling more than he should have. He used the excuse of working and expanding his business when several competitive teams could be assigned to do the job.
Recently, Stella finally noticed that Florian treated her more coldly than he already was. Moreover, women's instincts are too strong.
Stella arrived in the city all of a sudden yesterday. It was apparent she wanted to catch Florian in the act. However, Florian is so good at hiding his affair that he can stand seeing his mistress with someone else.
George is stirring so much trouble. Fortunately, his plan failed last night. But then he came up with something again.
He ordered me to prepare a sumptuous breakfast and invited Stella over.
George plans to do something; he intends to reveal Florian's affair.
To our surprise, Stella made the wrong assumption after she heard about my brother spending time with a woman in the same suite.
She misunderstands the entire situation, leaving her oblivious to what is happening. Now, she thought that meeting Krishna meant what this breakfast was about.
As the bystander of this drama, I observed Krishna's reaction to this misunderstanding and waited for Florian's response.
Yet Florian was unaffected. He appeared even more lost and in deep thought. To be precise, he didn't pay attention to his surroundings at all. Nor spares a glance at Krishna, but he is more attentive when checking his phone, and that impenetrable expression on his face means something.
Perhaps the two of them communicate with their phones?
However, when I glanced at Krishna and checked her out, I noticed she didn't have her phone. So I wondered who the person Florian was in contact with was.
'I thought he was madly in love with Krishna. Then is it true that she is only a pastime for him?'
It was George who told me this. And I had this tinge of aggravation spouting in my chest with the thought.
If Krishna has no special place in his heart, Florian should free her.
Florian is only making all of our lives chaotic. George was so attached to Stella. And often, I was the one George asked to work on something for her.
I am not complaining, by the way. Relatively, I am ready to do everything for this family. So, it saddened me to see everyone was hurting because of love, including myself. Each of us could not love someone freely. But the elders must approve of our relationship.
The elders were delighted with George, as he did not fool around when countless women worked hard to seduce him.
But now that George is thirty and Florian has no son yet. The elders keep bugging the former to settle down and have children.
Thus, they attempt to arrange a marriage for George several times. However, George found a way to escape from it every time.
It was the reason he was often away in Europe and deliberately missed attending those gatherings of the noble families.
But I suspected one of his reasons was to stay away from Stella. So George pursued investing in the Asian and US markets, busying himself with meetings with his business partners. His favorite place to stay is here in Mainland City.
Hence, he trained me personally after I got my MBA. He wanted to entrust me with the management of the European headquarters.
My brother had plans for our future, but I knew the elder would likely intervene to ensure the rightful heir's succession.
I am not the direct heir of the Graham but the last in line. George and Florian, whom they expect to give them the future Head of the Household.
It is why I am mainly on the sidelines of George and Florian's life and love story. The situation between the two was actually similar.
George was jealous because Florian had the woman he loved. The woman he believes will complete his life.
On the other hand, Florian envied George because he had the freedom he dreamed of. He was against being married to Stella.
I feel pity for both of them. Regardless, that is the reality of living in a family and society where status is based on wealth and power.
We don't have the freedom we want, but the elders always manipulate our lives.
Even though I am less pitiful among us, I still have to live for my brother's and my adopted parent's expectations. Either way, I don't want to disappoint them.
And the present issue... I anticipated what George would do now. I wondered if he would correct Stella's wrong speculation. Or will he aggravate Florian by riding in the flow and claiming Krishna as his girlfriend?
Having this thought, my eyes never left George's mouth when he formed the words on his lips. He said,
"She's not my girlfriend. She's only my newly hired assistant."
George denies it in the end.
'He got to be kidding me.'
Standing in the corner, I watched the drama unfold with keen eyes. Even so, I could not fathom what was running through George's mind when he said that.
We both knew Krishna was Florian's mistress. Now, why is he keeping her by his side?
Is it better to chase her away before Stella learns the truth?
Besides, what would Florian say about it? I am sure he would not allow his girlfriend to have a hard time under George's oversight. Everyone knew how difficult it was to work with my brother.
But it baffled me when Florian just scrutinized Krishna, and he didn't say a word. Between us, I was the only one who was shocked.
I looked at Krishna and studied her reaction. At first, she seemed relieved, but after she realized George had said something outrageous, she gave him a threatening stare.
Meanwhile, Stella was most confused.
"What is going on? I thought the rumor was true."
Stella appeared disappointed, and it hurt George that the woman he was in love with wished for him to get a girlfriend. Moreover, to settle down.
I could feel George's exuding a grim aura. But it was just a mere second. He quickly concealed his actual feelings and flashed a bright smile instead. He dropped the subject and invited Stella to the table.
"Let's have some breakfast, Stella. Rowan made your favorite pancake with raspberry jelly toppings."
Hearing this, Stella beamed.
"Hmm... No wonder my nostril caught a pleasant aroma of my favorite raspberry jelly when I entered the door." Stella uttered with glee as George pulled a chair for her.
As for Florian, he sat down and started eating his breakfast, showing no concern for his wife or mistress.
I feel sorry for Stella as well as for Krishna. I want to figure out what Florian is trying to prove.
On the one hand, I can't blame him. He asked Stella for divorce several times, but the latter did not agree.
Florian wanted Stella to be happy because he could not give that to her. However, Stella was stubborn. Instead, she wants their marriage to become a mess rather than let Florian go.
I knew this because I had witnessed their fight not only a few times.
Yet I could not intervene. Nor was I in the position to advise Stella.
If I were to have the chance to discuss it with her, I want Stella to love herself by freeing herself from the loveless marriage with Florian, who only thinks of himself and his work in the family.
This is the reality, though...
We lived in chateaus and drove supercars.
But deep down, we were all lonely.