Chapter 62


    -MILLIE-


    A bride walking down the aisle in a princess–like white dress had be an eyesore since my


    engagement with Hunter ended. It’s ironic, I know. Being excited about attending and nning


    weddings was nothing but a distant memory.


    Bitter, that’s what I am. I could hear Andrea saying, ‘Now you’re getting it. Weddings are nothing but a


    waste of money and time.


    Yet here I was, drinking a ss of wine at Natasha and Jonah’s wedding reception, torturing myself by


    faking a cheerful smile every time Natasha would look my way. The bride was too sweet for me to


    decline her invitation. She almost teared up when I hesitated to answer her request.


    Looking on the bright side, though, I don’t have the responsibility of making sure everything at this


    wedding was spot on. I got endless free drinks, and the food was great, too. That’s the perks of being a


    guest. I have the luxury of enjoying the beautiful arrangement and decorations their wedding nner’s


    team had done with the ce.


    This wedding was blessed with pleasant weather. They were able to execute a garden wedding without


    hassles. Lanterns float above the tables, circling a space in the middle of the garden, which they turned


    into a dance floor.


    The newlyweds were the epitome of a joyous couple. The band yed a rendition of Ed Sheeran’s


    Perfect for their first dance. Then guests approach them one by one, attaching dor bills on Natasha’s


    wedding dress and Jonah’s tux. As the song ended, Benjamin Franklin’s face reced the flower


    embroidery on Natasha’s signature gown. Jonah’s grandma even made a sash out of 100–dor bills


    and draped it over Natasha’s shoulder like a Miss Universe sash.


    “I was thinking of hiring an event organizer for the farm,” Dad said as we swayed to “The Way You Look


    Tonight. Natasha was dancing with her father, an arm’s length away from us.


    “Are you asking for my opinion or informing me?” I narrowed my eyes on my father, There was a catch


    to his statement. I can feel it.


    He lifted our joined hands and made me spin, catching me like he used to do every time we danced


    since I was three.


    “Both,” he murmured, pulling me back into his arms. He lowered his voice and added, “It’s been a


    nightmare working with demanding event nners.” He looked at the buffet table. Vivian, the wedding


    nner, was speaking with one server; her hands were parked on her hips, and her mouth moved


    without pause. The server looked like she


    was about to empty the pitcher of water over Vivian’s head,


    A giggle fell from my lips, Dad frowned at me, suppressing a smile.


    “She’s a handful, isn’t she?” Imented.


    I don’t personally know Vivian. From what I heard, she’s a frence event nner. But witnessing how


    she’s micromanaging the event from the band to the server, I understood where Dad wasing from.


    I know Dad’s chef, and the food was nothing short of delicious, yet Vivian had so much to say about


    everything.


    “But not all event nners are like that,” I mumbled.


    Dad hummed, making me spin again. “I know someone sweet and smart and knows how to work with


    people.”


    “Yeah?” I feigned interest, tilting my head to the side. “She sounds interesting.”


    “Yep. She’s my daughter,” he chuckled. The vibration rippled through me. The little girl inside me will


    always feel ted to hear Dad’s praises, I guess.


    I sighed, my shoulders falling a little. “I don’t know, Dad. I can’t just leave Effortless Events. Candice


    would kill me. It’s our baby, you know.”


    “Your mom said you might say that, but hear out your old man.” This sounds more like a business


    proposal than a casual father–and–daughter conversation. “You don’t have to leave Effortless Events.


    We can be partners.”


    I mulled over his words, considering all my options. Dad could be convincing if he wanted to be. How


    else would he win over the heart of this ce?


    “You don’t know how many bookings Sasha had turned down this year,” Dad added. Sasha was the


    vi’s manager. “Your mother had scolded me for letting the opportunity pass, said she could do the


    nning herself, but I want her to enjoy her time now. In fact, I was nning on taking her on a cruise


    next year.”


    Ugh, he’s not using that card on me, is he? He knew how much I wanted them to enjoy their time


    together. I pushed them to focus on themselves ever since I graduated college.


    “Really?” I shriek, excited for my mother nheless.


    “Don’t tell her yet. I want to surprise her.” The song ended, and the guests on the dance floor moved


    back to their seats.


    “So, what do you think?” Dad asked as we settled back to our table.


    “You told her?” Mom asked. The two of them were clearly teaming up against me.


    Dad draped an arm on the back of Mom’s chair. “Yeah. She said she’ll think about it.” He winked at


    me.


    I huffed and rolled my eyes at him.


    Mom giggled, reaching over the table for my hand. “This ce will be good for Hun.” Concern and hope


    sparkled in her eyes.


    you,


    Dad’s business offer was sincere, but Mom’s words revealed their true intentions. They wanted me out


    of Roslin City.


    I smiled at Mom. “I’ll think about it,” I echoed Dad’s words and extracted myself from our table as soon


    as I got the chance.


    They arranged a minibar in the corner, and I found an empty barstool at the end of the counter. Nursing


    a ss of vodka cranberry, I hid away from the crowd and got lost in my head in the dimly lit corner.


    Will they ever stop worrying about me? I thought this weekend was a break from the constant ‘how are


    you doing,‘ ‘how are you holding up,‘ questions back in Roslin City. Mom and Dad’s hidden agenda


    intensified these doubts in my head.


    I know where they wereing from, but do I really have to move cities just to get over everything? I


    am stronger than that, aren’t I? Hesitations slithered down my spine. Will I ever get past the ghost of


    my kidnapping?


    “This was a wedding, right?”


    My downcast mood took a tailspin as I heard the sarcasm in Xander’s voice. He inserted himself


    between thedy sitting on the bar stool next to mine and me, ordering a bottle


    of beer for himself.


    “Why does it feel like you’re at a funeral, Princess?” he faced me with his bottle of beer at hand, an


    elbow resting on the counter.


    Rolling my eyes, I faced him, stunned to see how handsome he was in his dress shirt and pants. I


    would die first if a word got out of this, but he doesn’t look bad. His long hair was tied in a ponytail. I


    could smell his cologne and aftershave. He looked neat and smelled expensive.


    He frowned at me. “Are you confused? You need help in sorting out your thoughts?”


    My eyes nted. If only he could keep that mouth shut. Maybe I could tolerate breathing the same air


    with him for Natasha’s wedding. “I was stunned to see you tonight, is all.”


    He smirked. “Why? Haven’t seen a handsome guy before?”


    BD


    The nerve of this man? My eyes twitched as I returned his taunting smile. “Nope. Just didn’t expect you


    to own a dress shirt. Did you steal that from a grave somewhere?”


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    He surprised me byughing so loud; he invited attention in our direction. “Now that you’ve insulted me,


    would you care for a dance?”


    This was the second time he offered that hand to me. It looked big and could fit my face in it.


    I glowered at him. People were looking in our direction, waiting and watching us patiently. He


    intentionally drew attention to put me in the spotlight. I could decline his offer. I don’t mind being called


    a snob, but that would also reflect on my father’s image.


    Tossing my drink down my throat, I ced my hand on his. Xander grinned from ear to ear, knowing he


    had won this round again.


    A rendition of Can’t Help Falling in Love crooned in the air. Xander guided me to the middle of the


    dance floor, curled a hand around my waist, and yanked me closer to him, an ump sound tumbling from


    my lips. I ced a hand on his chest, feeling his drumming heartbeat as I pushed him away from me.


    The man was made of pure muscles. He wouldn’t budge and dragged me like I weighed nothing,


    swaying us around.


    “Have you ever heard of personal space?” I groaned and pushed him away again.


    He lowered his mouth to my ears. “You look beautiful, princess.” I froze and gazed up at him with wide


    eyes. A smirk slowly stretched on his lips. “But I like you better in jeans.”


    My cheeks burned. I wore the only dress I brought with me. A floral off–shoulder floor- length dress with


    a long slit.


    This isn’t the first time I received apliment, but it’s the way Xander said it. He was blunt but


    sincere, like he really meant it, so I said, “Thanks.”


    Through the song, it felt like I was dancing with a different person. No words were exchanged between


    us, but Xander tantly watched me the entire time. I can’t say amfortable dancing with Xander;


    but I no longer feel him crowing my personal space. Just one dance, I thought, so I settled on listening


    to the words the band was singing.


    When the song ended, Xander kept his hold on me.


    “The song is over,” I groaned, pushing him away.


    I


    He opened his mouth, a mischievous glint glowed in his eyes, but before he could utter a word,


    someone spoke behind him.


    “Can I have this dance?”


    My b*dy stilled. My heart galloped in my chest. I know that voice so well, and my b*dy


    does, too.


    Damian.