The Blackmail Bride

Chapter 51 Part 1

Hi! *disappears again*

Ex-Lovers

Maybe it was my imagination going wild with Jace's story earlier in the day. But maybe it was just as I saw it. Tristan and Sierra stared at each other for what felt both like an eternity and a second in a disarray of time-telling.

I have never been involved with another person before getting married. And I wondered if the way Sierra completely hid all emotion in those face, while Tristan probably didn't know he let all and sundry see the shifting expressions was how ex-lovers were always around each other.

I don't remember how they were during the wedding, but I knew they sat in the same table. The ingrained upbringing made me avert my eyes to Jace, who looked down at me and winked. I wanted to pinch that smirk off his face.

My eyes narrowing into slits, I stared at him in warning.

'What?' he mouthed with that obnoxious expression.

Belatedly noticing how close his face was to mine, I pushed at him by the shoulder. With minimal resistance, Jace stood to his full height, still looking down at me. A chuckle from him made me realize that the two other people in the room were quiet.

I glanced at them to realize that Sierra had an indescribable expression pasted on her face. Her eyes were on Jace, and she wrinkled her nose before looking my way.

Noticing my attention on her, Sierra smiled brilliantly—a bit too brilliant from my standpoint. It didn't reach her eyes.

"We have a full house today, I see."

Maintaining my stare, I said "Hello, Sierra."

She completely ignored Tristan and fully faced Jace, a sarcastic smile in place, "I don't think this is a good day to be out of the office, Sir."

Jace placed a hand on my shoulder, "Unfortunately, I have a patient today."

Sierra's eyes followed the hand. Her lips twitched, and as if she couldn't help it.... she looked at my face. There was something off with that expression.

"I don't suppose... your parents have reached out due to your current condition—?"

"Sierra," Jace cut in, "Why don't you acknowledge the other person in the room as well?"

From the very much lighter note when only Tristan was here, the room completely changed. There was heavy silence as Sierra glanced at me, Jace then finally faced Tristan.

"Hello, Dr. Anderson." Sierra was nonplussed, "I know for a fact that the Porters have a family doctor. Should I really be seeing you here?"

For his part, Tristan seemed confused with Sierra's demeanor. He tilted his head to the side as if asking a question.

And for my part, whatever awkward scenario that I imagined in the morning had nothing on what I was currently seeing. It seemed the irritation that Sierra was displaying had something to do with Jace— another glance in my direction—and me.

Jace removed his hand from my shoulder and stood back, suddenly regaining a stoic composure of a businessman.

"Alright. Did you bring the papers?"

Sierra fixed her eyes to Jace and raised the suitcase in her hand, showing it to Jace.

"Why do you seem so calm? Is it really—"

Jace cut in, "We'll talk upstairs."

The sudden chill in his tone made me pause, and the rest of the room went quiet. Sierra's expression hardened.