Mismatched

Chapter 10

I didn't bother to look as Mark and his girl left the restaurant. I will never understand people like him. How can you get together with someone and dump them after one week without feeling bad? How does one even have the heart to have a fling with someone?

I looked up at Jace and saw him let out a breath. He was blushing. I retracted my hand immediately. What did I do that for? "So, he's gone," I muttered.

"Thanks," he said with a slight smile. "You didn't have to say I was your boyfriend. What he said was true. We aren't dating anymore. As much as I don't want to admit he's right, I don't want to tell lies."

"Some lies are meant to be told," I replied with a smirk.

"Naughty Belle," he chuckled.

I chuckled. Just then, our food arrived. I thanked the waiter and he left. Needless to say, the food was good. Why else would we eat here?

I thought back to the first time I came to La Masseria. It was my very first date with Jace as his girlfriend. It was the day I told him what my father did to my mother. It was the day I first told him about my concerns about our relationship.

He told me that there was nothing to worry about. He told me about his life with famous parents. He bore his heart to me like how I did to him. He followed me back on Instagram, something I wished he would do since I started liking him.

And I unfollowed and blocked him on Instagram without a second thought when he left me so suddenly five years ago.

"How's life with your parents now?" I asked.

He looked up and raised an eyebrow. "Oh, um, it's still the same as ever. Dad wants to train me to lead the company in future, though. I don't think I'm ready for that at the moment. I want to keep my personal life in order first."

"What do you mean by that?" I asked.

"I don't know how not to make it sound corny but I can't stop thinking about you. I feel bad about what I did and I want to make things right. Until I do that, I don't think I'm emotionally ready to take up such a big responsibility," he replied.

I nodded. He was thinking about me. He's willing to give up his birthright for me. No, stop thinking like that, Belinda! He will have to get the company sooner or later. He's the sole heir to his family's company. He has nothing to lose! My conscience was in a constant battle with my heart. What should I listen to?

"I'm sorry. Did I make things awkward again?" he asked.

"No, it's okay," I replied, shaking my head. "So... how's Mrs Leighton? Does she miss me? I haven't seen her in ages except on TV, of course. She dyed her hair brown, right? She looks good. She can pull off any hair colour. What an idol!"

"Yeah, she did," he chuckled. "She kind of misses you. She ghosted me for one month for hurting your feelings. She was like, 'How am I supposed to explain to her dead mother that my son broke her heart?' It was... scary."

I giggled. Mrs Leighton is a famous actress by the name of Avery Hudson, her maiden name. She's my mother's close friend when she was alive. When I was a child, she used to take me to have tea with Mrs Leighton because she couldn't possibly leave me at home alone.

I didn't even know I met Avery Hudson, a Hollywood star and my idol, so frequently when I was a kid. I met her again when I had dinner at Jace's house five years ago. It was amazing. Yvette was so jealous that I got a selfie with her.

"I think it'll be nice if you can come over for dinner again," he suggested.

"No... It doesn't feel right. I'm not your girlfriend. It's weird if I'm coming over to your house to have dinner with your family," I replied, pushing a lock of my hair behind my ear.