At the view of her always enemy, should could do nothing except faking love. She plastered a fake smile on her face and slowly walked to her. She did prefer to act as though she was nonexistence but she was real. Liam has no idea of her true feeling towards his girlfriend. All he knew was she doesn't like her not that in fact, she hates her. She prefer that to stay as such.
"I didn't see you earlier. Glad to see you are good," Ivy said went she got closer to Shirley. Shirley hugged her, taking Ivy by surprise.
"I'm happy to see you. Liam was so sad since you left," she beamed.
Ivy froze at her sudden action. She didn't know where to put her hands, she kept by her side. She was ready to act as though there were no hate among them but don't push the button.
The strange look giving to them by the passing by and the discomfort she was feeling, made her pulled Shirley away from her with the less physical touch possible.
"Yeah, happy," she tried to pull out a friendly smile but it was hard when the person standing in front of you was the person you tried to get kill.
At the beginning they could be considered friends but since Shirley start dating Liam, they became estrange and only hang out together because of their common friends.
"She has no ideas just how her absence affected me. Hopefully you were by my side," he placed his hand around Shirley's waist, pulling her to him.
His small action of his shattered Ivy heart into pieces. Seeing how close they were made her regret her decision to leave and let them leave their love. She regrets of not killing her back then when she had the opportunity. If only she didn't retract herself in the past, then Shirley will have been a past memory and Liam would have been hers.
She shook her head, she should not think that way. There were no guarantee Liam would have been hers if Shirley has died and what if he ever got knowledge of it? He would have hate her. She couldn't risk it.
Her emotions and rationality as usual once again enter in conflict, they always desire different things but as always, Ivy choose to be rational. Emotions didn't lead anywhere. She made the right decision but it didn't stop her heart to squeeze at their sight, she felt like crying. She found it difficult to breath.
Shirley left out a soft laugh at Liam's gesture. Head down, she pushed a lock of hair behind her ears. Her eyes giving quick glance to her surround, her cheek red.
Ivy eyes narrowed at the sight of the stone on her fingers. Her hope and delusion felt off. The strand of hope she had was destroy.
She may have left with the resolution to give them space and let go of Liam but she still had hope. She thought maybe during these years he would have realize just how different they were from each other and fall apart but it seems not be the case, he instead asked her to marry him.
They were never engaged nor in a relation, but Ivy always knew she would end with him. It was the natural way of thing for her. They were perfect for each other. Friends since young, their family had good relation and they were both wealthy. She knew when the question of marriage will be brought up, she would be the perfect choice as Liam showed no interest in other girls, but it all change when Shirley appeared. She saw him falling with her and could do nothing about it. All her attempts to separate them seems to have the opposite effect, it instead brought them closer
Scheming to humiliate Shirley?
Creating misunderstanding between them?
Menacing her?
What had she not try? Nothing worked and their relationship turned out stronger.
"It seem I owe you guys some congratulations," she said with a bitter smile, those words find it difficult to leave her mouth. Congratulation? All she wants was to pull them apart, to have their relationship destroy.
"Huh?" confusion filled their faces.
"For the marriage," she explained, pointing at the pink stone on Shirley finger. At the sight of it, she could say it was of high quality. Of course, she was getting married to just anyone.
"It's an engagement ring right?" It hurt her that Liam didn't think of informing her. Here she thought they were friends.
The couple exchanged glances, and a bright smile appeared on Liam face.
"Crazy right? I ask her to marry me and she said yes!!" he said all excited and embraced Shirley.
"I wanted to tell you when you arrive, it was supposed to be a surprise but you ruin it," he continued.
For a surprise it was! It was an electroshock for Ivy. She has been slapped across the face. She clenched her fist, tried to bottle the anger built in her, she couldn't let him know how she truly felt.
The dream of hers. One she was never able to let go has just be shattered, the silent promise she made with herself, to become madam Black in future has been broken. It would never happen.
"I was on phone with aunty yesterday but she didn't tell me a things about that," she wondered why.
She was really close to Liam's mother and the latter always wish to have her as her daughter in law but neither of them got what they were wishing for.
"You talk to mother?" he asked, surprise he didn't think they were in contact.
"Yeah…we talk a least twice a month," Ivy said.
She didn't miss how Shirley face sadden when she said it. And Liam softly rubbed her back as if comforting her.
Ivy raised her eyebrow at the sudden action,
'It seems like the female lead wasn't accepted in the family,'
The thought made her happy, at least the universe was fair enough to bring some misery in her life.
But why though? Even if she hates Shirley she has to be honest, Shirley was perfect. They were no reason for them not to agree to their marriage. She was beautiful, kind, gentle, and innocent. She come from a wealthy family not as rich as Liam's but their fortune couldn't be ignore. She has all the characteristic of the perfect wife, why were they rejecting her?
"Is there a problem?" she asked.
Shirley shook her head "Nothing," she said.
"We need to head back or else uncle would have me death. We were supposed to be at your house by now," Liam said, obviously changing the topic.
He went to take her big blue luggage which was some distance away from them, and trailed it to join them back.
"Mr. Black is serving me? I'm honored," She decided let it slide, she had all the time to know what was going on anyway.
She really appreciate his action, he could have leave it to the driver to carry it but he chose to do it himself. It showed he care for her.
"Liam!" Shirley meek voice called from beside Ivy.
Liam turned to her, giving her his full attention.
"I'm not feeling well, I will head back," she added.
At her words, Liam was quick by her side and place his palm on her forehead to check if her fever was still acting up. She was just from recovering from a cold. He breathe out noticing no rise in her body temperature.
"How are you feeling?" he questioned joining his forehead with hers to make sure she didn't have fever.
Shirley immediately pulled away after their forehead met. Her face all red.
"I'm fine just a bit dizzy," she said in a low voice, her eyes staring her feet.
Liam face fell, guilt eating him up. He was the one who insisted for her to come even though she said she wasn't feeling well.
"Ok, let me drive you back then,"
"No need, I already call for a car. He will arrive soon and beside you have Ivy to drive home," she reasoned him. Though she would have preferred to have him by her side and not alone with Ivy, she also understood ivy importance to him. She couldn't just disregard his feelings in profit of hers.
"Sure?" he placed a hand on her arm and stroked it, " I can drop you first home." He insisted , not liking the idea of leaving her alone while sick.
"It's not a problem right?" he questioned Ivy who nodded.
"It's okay, really," Shirley insisted. "Go with Ivy," more like stay with me, she wanted to say but knew better.
Liam nodded with a soft smile, seeing he would not win. He also really wanted to be with Ivy on this day. It had been weeks since they were last together.
"Ok, take care," he kissed her.
Ivy turned her head away, it was way too much for her to take. Their display of affection was already too much, no need to add salt in the wound with a kiss. Breaking her heart was already enough, no need to shattered it into pieces which may never be able to mend together.