GOD OF DEVOTION

7.

I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting my shirt for what felt like the hundredth time, unable to shake off the feeling of unease. My phone buzzed on the dresser, displaying a new message from my mom:

"Hey, don’t be late to the family gathering tonight! Everyone's excited to see you."

Everyone, including Edward and his girlfriend, Ari. They had been together for two years now, and even though I tried to ignore it, the thought of seeing them together still made my stomach twist into knots. Ari once wanted to be with me, and I had broken her heart before she ever had the chance. Now, she is with my cousin, and it shouldn't bother me, but it did.

I took a deep breath and reminded myself that Ari deserved happiness, and if she found it with Edward, who was I to stand in the way? It was my choice that led us here, but logic rarely had any sway over the heart.

With one last glance in the mirror, I grabbed my keys. It was time to face the music. Maybe tonight would be the closure I needed, or maybe it would confirm the doubts that had been gnawing at me since I heard the news. Either way, I knew I had to go and confront whatever lay ahead.

As I walked into the bustling house, filled with the familiar sounds of laughter and clinking glasses, I plastered on a smile and made my way inside. I could already see Edward and Ari across the room, their heads close together as they chatted with my aunt.

They looked happy, and it struck me just how right they seemed for each other. Ari's laughter rang out, genuine and carefree, and it was a stark reminder of what could have been. I couldn’t help but wonder if I’d made a mistake all those years ago.

Steeling myself, I headed over, determined to play the part of the gracious family member. Perhaps tonight I would finally find a way to reconcile the past with the present and let go of the regret that lingered like a shadow.

But before I could take another step, I decided that if I was going to do this, I'd do it my way—with a bit of flair and fun. Taking a deep breath, I threw open my arms and announced my arrival in a voice that carried above the din.

"Alright, who's ready for some fun?" I exclaimed, a wide grin spreading across my face.

Heads turned, and a wave of laughter rippled through the room. My entrance had done its job, breaking the ice and drawing attention. As I continued towards Edward and Ari, I noticed their smiles had grown even brighter. Their heads turned towards me, and for a moment, I saw a flicker of surprise in Ari's eyes before she quickly masked it with a friendly smile.

I approached them with an upbeat demeanor, determined to keep the energy light and positive.

"Hey, Edward, Ari," I greeted them warmly, pulling Edward into a quick hug and giving Ari a friendly nod. "Great to see you both."

As the evening progressed, I found myself mingling with family and friends, cracking jokes and telling stories. Every now and then, I'd catch a glimpse of Ari and Edward, their easy camaraderie and affectionate gestures stirring something deep inside me. It was like a constant, dull ache that wouldn't go away.

At one point, my uncle roped me into a lively game of charades. I threw myself into it with gusto, drawing laughs and applause from the room. But even as I acted out ridiculous scenarios, my eyes kept drifting back to Ari. She was leaning into Edward, her hand resting on his arm as they watched the game. Her smile, so radiant and genuine, was directed at him.

My heart felt heavy, the weight of my own choices pressing down on me. Despite the fun and laughter around me, I couldn't shake the feeling of loss. Seeing her so happy with Edward was a bittersweet reminder of what I had let slip through my fingers.

I plastered on a smile and kept going, determined not to let my feelings show. After all, this was a family gathering, and I owed it to everyone to keep the mood light. But as I watched Ari and Edward share a private laugh, I couldn't help but feel like the joke was on me.

As the evening wore on, I kept the energy up, laughing and joking with family members, trying to distract myself from the growing knot in my chest. But no matter how hard I tried, my eyes kept finding their way back to Ari and Edward.

At one point, I noticed them slipping away from the crowd, heading towards a quieter corner of the room. Ari's expression had softened, and there was something in the way she looked at Edward that made my chest tighten. I tried to ignore it, tried to stay where I was, but my feet seemed to move on their own.

Before I knew it, I was following them, even though every logical part of me screamed not to. But my heart wouldn't let me stay back. It was like an invisible force pulling me closer, even as a sinking feeling grew in the pit of my stomach.

I wasn’t sure what I was hoping to find or hear, but I knew I had to see it for myself.

As I followed them into the quieter part of the house, I could hear their hushed voices, the laughter and chatter from the main room fading into the background. I stopped just around the corner, out of sight but close enough to catch their conversation.

"This whole fake relationship thing worked out fine for a while," Edward was saying, his tone calm and measured. "But now that you’re heading back to London, it’s time to call it off. There’s no point in dragging this out when we both know long distance won’t work."

Ari nodded in agreement. "Yeah, we both knew this was temporary. It made things easier for a bit, but there’s no reason to keep it going. We can just tell everyone that we’re breaking up because of the distance. No one will question it."

"Exactly," Edward replied. "It’s a clean excuse, and it saves us from having to make up anything complicated. We just say we’re better off ending things now."

Ari sighed, though her voice remained steady. "I’m just glad we’re on the same page. This has been fine, but it’s time to move on."

Listening to them, I felt a wave of confusion, followed by a spark of something I hadn’t allowed myself to feel in a long time—hope. They’d been faking it all along, and now they were planning to end it. The idea that Ari might not be as attached to Edward as I’d thought sent a rush of possibilities through my mind.

I stood there for a moment, processing what I’d just overheard. If their relationship had been an act, then maybe, just maybe, I hadn’t lost my chance with her after all. The knot that had been tightening in my chest all evening began to loosen, replaced by a sense of determination.

A plan started forming in my head. I wasn’t going to let this opportunity slip by. If Ari was about to become single again, I had to be ready. I’d made a mistake once by pushing her away, but now I had a second chance to make things right. I just needed to find the right moment to let her know how I really felt.

With a renewed sense of purpose, I quietly slipped back into the main room, my mind already racing with ways to win her back.

************
Sorry for the late update but I lost someone very close. She was a second mother to me and I was too heartbroken to be able to write but I took some time out because I needed to take my mind of things.

Anyway how do you feel about the chapter? Remi knows that Ari and Edward was fake. What do you think he'll do next???
Let me know in comments

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