His Shy Bride (series*2)

-28- Family Dinner/ Farewell dinner

Natasha's point of view:

The family dinner is taking place in Xander's garden.
I stood beside the window as I watched how the decoration was taking place.
The garden was lightly decorated by the people he hired. A long table was placed in the middle of the garden and the chairs were arranged along with it. I think Xander's friends are joining us as well.

I walked away from the window side and made my way to the closet. I picked up a sapphire evening dress. I selected my jewel ties and heels. It was just five in the evening and the event was starting by seven that night so I still had two hours to get ready. I went out of my room and made my way downstairs. I halted on my track when I heard grunts coming from Xander's room.

Is he okay?

I heard whimpers. I rushed to his door in concern.

Why should I be concerned about what happened to him or what's happening to him? He isn't someone I should care for. I turned around to leave but I was interrupted by my inner voice.

What if he is in a terrible condition? What if he is in a terrible medical condition?

I rushed inside his room. I know I might get scolded because of this.

I entered the room and to my surprise, I saw blood on the floor while Xander was on the bed grunting in pain. I gasped in shock.

"Are you okay? What's happening?" I asked him in fear. I couldn't stand the sight of little blood let alone this much.

He held his left hand as he closed his eyes.

"I cut myself unintentionally with scissors." He whimpered in pain.

"What? How?" I asked him.

"Can you just get the first aid box?" He asked me.

"Sure. Where is it?" I asked him.

"In my drawer." He responded. I rushed to his drawer and brought out the first aid box. I ran back to his side and sat beside him. I opened the first aid box and brought out ointment and cotton wool.

"Can you stretch your hand forward? Let me see the injury." I said to him.
He brought his hand forward for me to see the wound. I examined the wound and it was just a small cut. Like not so small though but it's a normal cut a man can bear.

Why was he so dramatic about this cut?

I didn't know when I let out a hiss.

"What?" He asked.

"It's just a small cut and you are being dramatic about it." I snarled at him.

He stared at me with unknown emotion.

"What?" I asked him with a frown plastered on my face.

"Did you realize how much blood I lost within seconds?" He poured like he was a baby. I sighed in frustration. He is surely a baby.

I dipped the wool inside the ointment and put it on the cut. He made a wailing sound as it stung him.

"I can't believe this little cut can make a man whimper." I let out in mockery.

"It's because you don't know how it feels anyway." He replied. I took out the plaster and pasted it on his hand. I more of pressed it in the wound.
After I was done with treating the wound, I arranged the kit back and cleaned his floor. I threw the napkin in his garbage bin. I could feel his stare on me while I was cleaning up.

"You should rest a little," I said to him as I made my way out of his room.

"Thank you." He voiced out. Even though it was more like a mutter.

I made my way to my room again and the first thing I did was wash my hands in the toilet, then I started to dress up. After I was done dressing, seven passed with 10 minutes.

I heard a knock on my door.

"Come in," I said as I put on my wristwatch. The knob twisted and the door cracked open. It was Xander dressed in his Armani suit, serving a hot look like the runaway models. The suit covered his injury. I averted my gaze before he caught me.

"Are you ready?" He asked.

"Yes, but I will be down in five minutes," I said to him.

"We have to go to the garden now before the guests start to come so that we can welcome them." He said to me.

"Oh! I didn't know. Please give me a few seconds." I said to him as I rushed to my closet to use my spray. After I was done, I took a matching purse and went out of the closet.

"I am done now. Can we go?" I asked him.

"Sure," he led the way as we descended the stairs. We made our way to the garden. The decoration was already done and the whole setting screamed of perfection.

There are scented candles placed on the tables and the whole garden. They are bulbs above the long table that brighten the whole garden.

The first car to arrive was Mr and Mrs Winslow's car. They got out of the car and walked up to us.

"Oh, my girl. You look beautiful this night." Mrs Winslow complimented me.

"Thank you. You look nice yourself. Welcome." I smiled at her. She engulfed me in a hug. That's so typical of her. I hugged her back. We pulled away seconds later.

"How have you been coping with him?" She asked me as she eyed her son.

I smiled at her unable to get the right answer for her question.

"Tell us, Natasha, so that I can know if he needs beatings this night." Mr. Winslow said to me.

"We've been good," I replied curtly.

"That's nice. That's what I want to hear. I am happy." The fifty-year-old lady said with a smile on her face. We escorted them to their seats. I took out the chair for Alex to sit and Xander took his father's chair out for him to sit. We went back to our position in silence and waited for the next guest to come. My parent arrived along with Tina. Tina engulfed me in a bone-crushing hug and I didn't mind it. I wanted it too. I missed the girl so much.

We exchanged pleasantries after we pulled apart and I hugged my parents. Tina and Xander ignored themselves.

"Let's go and have our seat," Tina said to me.

"Xander and I are welcoming the guests," I said to her.

"Nah, he can manage that. He is capable of doing that alone. Let's go and have our seats. There is a lot to catch up with, trust me." She giggled at the end of her statement. I felt bad for Xander but Tina is right, the remaining guests are his friends and siblings so he should be able to handle that alone.

"Let me escort you to your seats and mother." He faced my parents with a smile on his face.

Father? Mother? I know he has a good relationship with my parents especially my dad but those titles sound weird coming from his mouth.

"Sure, Xander. " my mom said to him.

Tina snorted.

We escorted my parents to their seats and pulled out chairs for them like we did to his parents. Tina purposely held my hand so that I could sit next to her. She didn't want me to follow Xander back. I know she is doing this purposely. My parents and Xander shared long pleasantries among themselves. They started a conversation among themselves immediately. The conversation was cut short when the remaking guests arrived.

Amelia, Piper, Neil, Covey, and Surprisingly, Bailey.

What's she doing here?

They all sat down as they greeted us all. Xander made his way to sit across from me. It was so evident that he was angry right now.

"I thought the dinner was meant to be family and friends, Amelia?" Mrs. Winslow faced her daughter.

"Yes, mom. What's wrong?" She feigned ignorance like she didn't know what she had done.

"Bailey shouldn't be here, sweetheart." Her father burst the bubble.