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CHAPTER-59 Secrets at the Dinner Table

AUTHOR'S POV

Estella and Charlotte were getting ready in their room. The whole place was filled with a sweet aroma, as they had spent the entire afternoon preparing a delicious dinner for everyone. The table was set, the candles were lit, and everything looked perfect for the evening.

Estella was fixing her dress in front of the mirror. She looked at Charlotte and smiled nervously.

"I just hope everything goes well tonight," Estella said, adjusting her hair.

Charlotte noticed her friend's worried face. "Hey, don't worry! Everything will be fine," she said with a smile. "You've planned this dinner perfectly. Vincent, Ian, and Alaric will have a great time."

Estella took a deep breath. "I just hope Vincent doesn't bring up anything about Alaric not liking us dating. I feel a little worried about how Alaric will react tonight. I really want everyone to get along. I hope Alaric, Ian, and Vincent can be polite and enjoy the evening together," she confessed.

Charlotte put her hand on Estella's shoulder. "Estella, everything will be fine. Just be yourself, and let's see how the night goes. We'll handle whatever comes up, okay?"

Estella nodded, trying to calm her nerves. Suddenly, the doorbell rang.

"They're here!" Charlotte exclaimed, a big smile on her face.

Estella took a deep breath and nodded. "Let's go," she said.

They both hurried to the door, and when they opened it, they found Ian and Alaric standing there.

"Hey, Ian!" Charlotte beamed, giving him a quick kiss.

Alaric, on the other hand, felt a little nervous. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. He had to keep his feelings in check tonight. After all, he didn't want anyone, especially Estella, to know how he truly felt about her. And he didn't want to seem unfriendly toward Dr. Vincent. But his heart raced just thinking about it.

Ian noticed Alaric's quietness and gently patted him on the back. "Relax, Alaric. Everything will be fine tonight."

Alaric forced a smile. "Yeah, I hope so."

After a few minutes, the doorbell rang again. Estella opened the door and saw Dr. Vincent standing there, holding a lovely bouquet of red roses and a bottle of champagne. He smiled warmly at her.

"For you, Estella," he said, handing her the flowers. Then he turned to Charlotte, offering her the champagne. "And this is for you, Charlotte."

Charlotte's eyes sparkled. "Thank you, Vincent! This is perfect for the evening."

They all moved to the living room, where everyone settled down with some snacks and drinks. The atmosphere was light and cheerful, with everyone laughing and sharing stories.

Vincent seemed to enjoy the company, but Alaric was struggling to keep a smile on his face. He felt a mix of jealousy and frustration seeing Vincent being so friendly and comfortable around Estella.

Vincent looked around the table, then joked, "So, Alaric, when are you going to find someone special like Estella did with me?"

Alaric felt his chest tighten. He forced a smile and replied, "Who knows, maybe someday."

Ian quickly jumped in, trying to ease the tension. "Vincent, leave Alaric alone. He's just enjoying his freedom right now," Ian laughed.

"Yeah, exactly," Alaric added, taking a sip of his drink, trying to hide his frustration.

"Hey, dude, you're doing great," Ian said gently. "Just hang on a bit more. Please don't get angry. We need this dinner to go smoothly."

Alaric turned to Ian, his face red with anger. "I can't control it, Ian!" he shouted. "Did you see how he's flirting with Estella? And then he jokes around with me like we're friends. I feel like shouting at him and saying, 'Yes, I hate you, Vincent! and I don't like you dating Estella because I love her!'"