As his plates kept on be filled with shrimps, his smile grew proportionally, happiness feeling his heart. How could such a simple act could brought this amount of joy?
Without bothering to question his feelings, he dig in.
"She's right aunt, it's delicious. it has been long since I ate your food," Liam said after having a taste.
"It's because you completely forget about me, you even got engage but didn't thought of informing me," she loves him as her son, she saw him grows up to the man he was now, so it hurts to be left out by him.
"Sorry but I just couldn't aunt but I promise, I will come more often and for my engagement…"
"What is going on here?" Ivy interrupted him. She didn't want to hear anything about Shirley, but her question was genuine.
The house seems to have been decorated, and they're people constantly getting in and out. Something was being prepared.
Her mother lowered her head with a hand hiding her face, she shook her head, saying, not involved in all this. Ivy turned to her father.
"What's going on dad?" she already has an idea and hope it wasn't what she was thinking about.
"What else? It's your welcome party. My daughter is finally back. I want everyone to celebrate and rejoice with me," he said enthusiastic.
"But dad…" it was exactly what she thought and was weary of.
"Is not only him, I participated as well," Liam said. He didn't want his uncle to take all the praise when it was their idea.
"But I just arrived, I'm tired," plus I don't want to see all those hypocrite face so soon, she wanted to add.
"Don't worry, only friends will be present," her father reassured her.
'They are exactly the once I don't want to se,' she cried in her heart but they were nothing she could say that could stop it, so she chose to be silent.
"Aunt, Shirley will be present tonight, you will get to know her. She is beautiful and as gentle as you, I'm sure you would like her," as he spoke, his face brighten and his eyes glowed. Love…was the only thing seen in it. It was evident at first glance, he really loved the girl.
Ivy's parents glanced at their daughter, they both knew about her feelings for him. It hurts them to see her sad, even though she was hiding it, they could see above her facade.
She was used to have everything she wanted, but for once, she couldn't. For once, they couldn't give her what she wanted.
Liam went on talking about Shirley and how they met. How he proposed to her. Each of his words was painful sword going straight in to Ivy's heart.
Though in pain, she forced herself to harbored a neutral face as he spoke. They were no need to fake happiness since Liam himself knew she didn't carry Shirley in heart. What she should control and not let it be seen was her hatred and jealousy for Shirley.
"She seem to be a nice girl, I'm ecstatic to meet her," Sofia tried to make him stop. His words was hurting her daughter.
Liam glanced at his watch on his wrist.
"It's quite late. I need to go and check over Shirley." he said getting on his feet.
He originally took a day off today to spend it with Ivy but he couldn't stop worrying about Shirley even though she said it was nothing. He had to make sure she was ok. He could be with Ivy another day. Now, he should take care of his fiancée.
"I will see you off," Ivy said getting up.
'Shirley, Shirley, Shirley, it's all he thinks about!' she cried in.
Hate? An understatement to describe how she was feeling. It was meant to be their day but he threw it out of the window in profit of Shirley.
The worst thing happened. What she always feared, of no more having her place in Liam's heart was happening. She was watching in fear her position in Liam's life declining.
"I'm happy you are back Ivy." Ivy nodded. They silently walked to his car, enjoying each other presence.
"See you tonight." he softly kissed her forehead.
A kiss she wish was on her lips. She couldn't count the number of times she dreamed of it, the number of time she dreamed of him confessing his love for her.
"Drive safely." she waved.
Her eyes was fixed on his car, until it was out of her sight. A sad smile graced her face.
"And I wish I never returned." she loves being with her parents, be back home, to see him but the pain she felt was so big. At least, when far away from him, it was less painful.