Chapter 9

CHAPTER 9: THE FIANCEE

Cars were already parked in front of my sister’s house when I arrived. I could hear the laughter of the children coming from the garden of the mansion.  

I get out of the car after grabbing the large paper bag from the back seat. A maid from Rocc's family greeted me and led me to where the celebration was. The birthday celebrant, Sevi, excitedly ran towards me.

“Auntie!” Sevi gleefully clung to my legs and looked up to me with his innocent green eyes. 

“Happy birthday.” I greeted and kissed my nephew’s forehead. 

He hugged the paper bag I was holding and smiled at me. “Is this for me?”

I nodded and finally gave it to him. 

“Sevi, you’ll open your gifts later. Put it on the table with other gifts.” 

My sister let me sit at one of the tables when Sevi placed the paper bag with other gifts. 

“Dad is overacting,” I said, almost whining. 

“I told you, maybe this is a second chance for you and Nix.”

“There’s no second chance,” I emphasized every word. 

Neshara laughed and placed her hand on my arm. “Why don’t you try, Stephanie? I believe in second chances. Look at me and Sebastian. We broke up but we had a second chance and now we’re happily married.”

“We’re not the same. He has a valid reason and Sebastian knew how to keep his promises.”

My sister got pregnant by her schoolmate when they were in college. Sebastian Rocc was the only son of a wealthy pharma tycoon. I remembered how jerk Sebastian was back then but Neshara changed him. However, he turned out to be an asshole when he left my sister without any explanation. Years later, he came back and explained himself to my sister. 

“Nix doesn’t?”

“No. He doesn’t know how to keep his promises.”

“Not even once?”

I breathed a sigh of relief when Sebastian came and told my sister that the cake had already arrived. My sister was forced to stop and leave me alone. 

I took my cell phone and checked if there was any message from Nexus, Ali, or even from Rex. But just like the past two months, I didn’t receive anything from them. 

Two months have passed since Nexus left the Hacienda for his therapy in Manila. In the first two weeks, we were on phone calls regularly whether I was working or even ‘til I slept. But after three weeks, we were only communicating through text messages and eventually stopped. 

Like many times before, I typed a message but only to delete it before I could press the ‘send’ button. In the end, I decided to turn off my phone. I looked at the two men who were bringing in a three-layered cake, followed by my sister and her husband and another man I am familiar with. 

F ucking hell! He was the waiter at the bar. The one who gave me the drink that put me in danger. 

With big steps, I walked towards them. My sister was surprised when I blocked them and looked at the man with my deadly glare. His eyes turned wide. Obviously freaking guilty!

“Steph, the party was about to start. Where are you going?”

“I’ll talk to him,” I replied and grabbed the man’s collar. 

Sebastian and Neshara didn’t have time to react when I forcefully dragged him out of the garden. I pushed him against the wall and pressed my elbow against his throat. 

“Remember me?” I asked harshly. 

When he didn’t budge to answer, I pressed my knee against his groin. I would crush his testicles if he gave me the wrong answer. 

“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

My elbow pressed harder against his throat, planning to choke him to death. 

“My life was ruined because of you! Tell me, who ordered you to give me that drink?”

“N-No one,” he stuttered, struggling to breathe, his lips almost turning purple. 

“Wrong answer,” I growled through gritted teeth and punched him in the stomach. He winced in pain. 

“Auntie!” Sevi called, running towards me. I turned to him and the man took the opportunity to remove my hand from his throat. He pushed me away which made me angrier. 

“Don’t push my Auntie! 

I grabbed the jerk’s hand and twisted it before punching him in the gut again. 

“Sevi, go back to your mom.”

“Are you in trouble? I’ll call Daddy.” My nephew ran away. Seconds later, I saw Sebastian approaching, so I let go of the man and he fell to the ground. 

“We’re not yet done,” I threatened and kicked him again. 

“Is there a problem, Steph?” Sebastian asked like he was ready to defend me from anyone.  

I shook my head and pulled him back to the garden. My eyes automatically looked for my sister. She was with her in-laws. 

Happiness was evident on her face while watching Sevi’s eyes sparkle with joy as my nephew looked at his cake. I breathed deeply and decided not to ruin the mood. I could wait for the information I needed. The party continues and there’s no trace of that waiter. 

After the children’s party, invited businessmen filled the venue. I volunteered to watch over the sleeping Sevi in his room because this little boy’s parents were busy entertaining their important guests. 

I took off Sevi’s shoes and stroked his hair. My eyes welled with tears as I stared at my nephew. Sevi and my child would have been close if my baby didn’t die. 

After making sure my nephew was comfortable, I went back to the garden. Well-known businessmen were the Rocc’s guests. They looked respectable with their expensive suits and dresses. 

But one caught my attention. 

The woman in the red dress was smiling at the man beside her. Her right hand was wrapped around the man. 

My lips raised for a disdainful smirk when the woman looked in my direction. 

Angel Love Sedeno, Nexus’ fiancee.