Ruined With Me

CHAPTER 28

N O V A

"Mrs. Nova Alexander Laurent" Reyna said, her tone dripping with a kind of mockery that made my skin crawl. I dug my nails into my palms to control the surge of anger.

I really wanted to slap her across the face, but I controlled myself. It's not that I dislike my name with Alexander's surname, but the condescending way she pronounced it just grated on my nerves.

"Ohhh, you got married and didn't invite us." Gael chimed in, her voice equally irritating. I dug my nails even deeper into my palms, the sharp pain grounding me. Elisha, noticing my distress, grabbed my hand and tried to gently pry my fingers apart, silently urging me to relax.

"Girls" Elisha interjected, her voice calm yet firm, trying to diffuse the tension. Both Reyna and Gael scoffed, rolling their eyes. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath to calm my racing heart, and opened them again.

"I didn't know you two were interested in coming to my wedding; otherwise, I would have sent you both invitations." I said, my voice dripping with faux sweetness. The smiles vanished from their faces, replaced by annoyance.

"Guys, leave it. How have you been?" Elisha asked, trying to steer the conversation to a more pleasant topic. She hugged me again, and I smiled, feeling her warmth and support. I rubbed her back, grateful for her presence.

"I'm doing fine. What about you?" I asked, noticing a faint blush creeping up her cheeks.

"Wait... wait... Is there any good news?" I asked, my curiosity piqued by her unusual shyness. Her face turned an even deeper shade of red as she leaned in closer to me and whispered.

"I am getting married to Oscar in two weeks." She confided, her voice filled with excitement and a hint of nervousness.

"No way! So, you're finally marrying your crush of three years." I exclaimed, thrilled for her. She nodded, a shy smile spreading across her face.

"Congratulations" someone said from behind us, causing both Elisha and me to flinch. We turned around, and my mouth fell open when I saw who it was.

"Alexander" Reyna murmured, clearly surprised. But I heard it. My pout deepened when I saw him giving them a friendly smile. It was a rare sight since he seldom smiled in front of me.

"Stella, aren't you going to introduce your friends to me?" He asked, wrapping his arm around my waist possessively. I controlled myself, trying to breathe normally despite the sudden proximity.

"Sure! Xan, meet my bestie Elisha Borra, and these are Reyna and Gael." I said, but froze when I realized what I had called him. The nickname 'Xan' slipped out unintentionally.

"Xan, right?" Elisha murmured, catching onto the slip, and winked at me, making my cheeks flush even more. I tried to control my blush, but I couldn't.

"Mrs. Laurent, are you in a good mood today?" Alexander asked, his tone teasing. I gulped hard and turned to face him, nodding.

"I met my friend after a long time." I said, my voice steady despite the fluttering in my chest. He nodded in understanding, his eyes softening slightly.

"How about we have a small dinner at a nearby restaurant?" Alexander asked, but I shook my head. The day had already stretched longer than expected, and by now, my son must have taken over the entire house with his antics.

"Baby" I whispered softly, and Alexander's grip on me tightened in response. I pleaded with my eyes, communicating the urgency of our situation. He sighed, understanding my unspoken words.

"I'm sorry, guys, but we have to go home now." I announced to our friends. Elisha nodded in understanding.

"It's okay! But you both have to come to my bachelorette party." She said, her eyes lighting up with excitement. For a moment, I felt a surge of excitement too, but it quickly faded when reality set in.