Chapter 15
Chapter 15
The day of Nathaniel’s party had finally come. The venue which was a well–known luxury hotel downtown became busy with staff making final preparations for this event. It was the perfect backdrop for his big announcement. Not only was he back home for good, but he was also going to reveal the woman he intended to marry–a woman no one in the family had known
yet, maybe…
Meanwhile back at home, the energy was electric. Their parents had been up since dawn, making sure everything would go
smoothly. Even though the hotel had its own team of event planners, they couldn’t help but double–check every detail. Tabitha, as well, was still in her room, struggling with which dress to wear. She rifled through her wardrobe, tossing gowns
aside, too excited to settle on anything. Her curiosity was getting the best of her–after her brother’s secrecy, today was the
day they’d finally meet the mysterious fiancée.
3
But while the rest of the house was feeling excited with anticipation, Jonathan stayed locked in his room, detached from the excitement. He sat on the edge of his bed with phone in hand, staring at the screen where Laura’s name sat. His thumb hovered over the call button, but he couldn’t bring himself to press it.
The idea of attending Nathaniel’s party–surrounded by family, friends, and all the people who’d line up to congratulate his brother–felt suffocating. Nathaniel had always been the center of attention, the one with everything figured out. Jonathan wasn’t jealous, not really. But the thought of another night where Nathaniel was the star and Jonathan was just there, in the background, made him want to disappear.
Laura, though. Laura was different.
She had always been able to pull him out of that dark space. Whenever things got too heavy or he felt like he was sinking under his own family’s expectations, she knew exactly how to lighten the load. Her laugh, her way of making everything seem less complicated–that’s what he needed right now.
His thumb hovered over her name on the screen with the call button just a press away.
But before he could make the decision, a knock came at the door.
“Jonathan, are you dressed?” His father’s voice echoed through the wood, firm but with that usual edge of expectation. “Make sure you’re presentable–we’re meeting your brother’s future in–laws today. And it is a formal occasion.”
Jonathan closed his eyes and let out a quiet groan of frustration. Of course. He rolled his eyes, barely managing to keep the irritation from surfacing too much. “Yeah, whatever,” he muttered under his breath.
So he threw his phone onto the bed as he stood up reluctantly.
So much for escaping. He thought.
He headed to his closet, rifling through shirts, trying to find something that would meet his father’s standards. The idea of dressing up, of shaking hands and pretending to care about the people Nathaniel had charmed into his life, made his skin crawl. But he knew there was no way out of it. Not today.
As he yanked a shirt off the hanger, he couldn’t help but think about Laura again. A quiet afternoon with her somewhere- anywhere but here was what he really wanted. But that wasn’t in the cards. Today wasn’t about him. It never was.
With a resigned sigh, Jonathan began to get dressed–but then an idea sparked. If he was going to survive this event, why not bring Laura along? She was the only person who could make the day bearable, maybe even enjoyable.
Suddenly, the task of getting ready didn’t seem so tedious. He actually wanted to look his best now. He rummaged through his closet, pulling out one of his nicer shirts, something he knew would meet his father’s standards but also catch everyone’s
attention.
As he buttoned up, he glanced at his phone again. If she agreed to come, she’d be the perfect distraction from all the family chaos. Plus, having her by his side would take the edge off the inevitable comparisons between him and Nathaniel
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Chapter 15
“Yeah, this’ll work,” he muttered to himself, straightening his collar and smoothing his hair. With one last glance in the mirror, Jonathan grabbed his phone.
+25 BONUS
wouldn’t feel so heavy after all.
He was going to invite Laura. And this time, maybe the dashan
and made his way toward Laura’s. The idea of having her with
Jonathan felt somehow excited as he stepped out of the hous
him today made everything feel lighter. But when he arrived, something was off.
Their gate was closed and the house was eerily quiet. He glanced up to where her bedroom window was, but the curtains
were drawn. The whole place looked deserted. His brows furrowed in confusion. Laura’s family often traveled for business,
but she usually told him if they were going somewhere.
And so he pulled out his phone, checking for a message. But there was nothing. No explanation, no heads–up, not even a casual text like she usually sent. That nagging feeling of uncertainty started creeping in. She had never just disappeared like
this before.
Jonathan lingered at the gate for a moment, feeling unsettled. He didn’t want to jump to conclusions, but something wasn’t right.
Just as he was about to call her, his family’s voices carried from behind him.
“Jonathan! Come on, we’re going
to
be late!” Tabitha called out, waving her hand dramatically from the gate. “The party’s
about to start!”
He glanced back toward Laura’s empty house. A part of him still wanted to reach out, to figure out why she hadn’t told him anything. But his family was waiting, and there was no time to linger.
With a frustrated sigh, he shoved the phone back into his pocket. “Yeah, I’m coming,” he muttered, turning on his heel and walking back toward his family.
1
Meanwhile, at the venue, Nathaniel adjusted his suit one last time as a confident smile tugged at his lips when the Levine family arrived. The room seemed to quiet, at least in his mind, when his eyes landed on Laura. She was stunning in her elegant white dress as the soft fabric hugged her figure and her flawless skin glowed under the chandeliers. His heart skipped a beat, then another, as if it were about to leap out of his chest.
“Laura…” he breathed out of relief as gratitude washed over him. In that moment, he silently thanked the heavens for giving him the chance to be with her. She was more than he ever thought he deserved.
Then, Laura’s soft giggle brought him back to reality. “Nathaniel,” she said, her voice light and teasing as she approached him, clearly enjoying his feaction.
Nathaniel quickly composed himself and turned to shake hands with Laura’s parents, his movements respectful, his gratitude clear. “Thank you,” he said earnestly, his voice steady but full of emotion. “Thank you for giving me the privilege of having Laura’s hand in marriage. I promise you, sir, I’ll spend my life making her happy.”
Mr. Levine chuckled, clearly amused by Nathaniel’s formality. He placed a firm hand on Nathaniel’s shoulder and smiled warmly. “We know you will, son. You don’t have to convince us,” he said, his voice lighthearted but sincere.
“Welcome to the family, Nathaniel,” Mrs. Levine added with a kind smile.
“Thank you, ma’am,” Nathaniel replied, still feeling the weight of the moment.
Mrs. Levine waved a hand in the air, shaking her head with a soft laugh. “Oh hush, no more of that. Call me ‘mother,” she insisted in her affectionate tone.
Nathaniel smiled as he felt a rush of warmth. “Thank you… Mother,” he said, the word feeling strange but comforting on his lips, as if this was exactly where he was supposed to be.
