The Blackmail Bride

Chapter 24

Let's all pray for the world to heal, okay? Coronavirus, go away!

Actor

A splitting silence bubbled the hallway as they continued to stare at me.

I quickly hid all my feelings behind a serene smile and walked towards them. I stopped two meters away from the men, my shoulders back.

"Jace," I enunciated his name slowly, "While I do not have a say on your... interesting choice of friends, I would appreciate never having to associate myself with them again."

His gray eyes blanked for a second as he absorbed my words, "what?"

My smile stayed smoothly in place, "You heard me."

I waited for his reply. Quietly returning his stare, my eyes dared him to negate me. And I watched, as his eyes dilated as he digressed my words.

He cursed, "Tristan, what the hell?"

Tristan jumped, laughing nervously at Jace's side. The doctor put his hands into the pockets of his long coat, stepping partly in front of Jace as he looked at me. He tried to dispel the mood, "D-did Vinn say something weird? Why is he always like that?"

Vinn stepped out into the hallway at the mention of his name, and it was the four of us again.

He crossed his arms in front of him, "So quick to toss me into the fire, Tristan? Bro, this was your idea." there was a sudden shift in his personality. The earlier malice was gone and in its place was panicked sheepishness.

Tristan let out his own expletives, as he smacked a palm on his forehead. "I said distract her while I worked on Jace! What idiot offends a girl five minutes into meeting her?"

Vinn raised his hands, surrendering. And he looked at me with open fear, "I thought I was going to cry! You gave me no warning. Do you know what she called me—?"

Tristan looked at his friend in exasperation, "I specifically picked you because you're a professional actor—"

"I know, I know! But if you saw her earlier, you'd know what I mean. She talks like—"

"You played tricks on Isla?"

The cold tone seemed to freeze the two guys who turned to Jace. His eyes were still on me, trying to get a read on my emotions, "Vinn, what the hell did you tell her?"

Hold that smile, I told myself.

This should've been comforting to me, that Jace was obviously not part of whatever it was that these two guys were doing. That for some reason, he seemed to be on my side. I should be relieved, but instead it was giving me a prickling sensation on my skin.

So these two were doing this on their own? Why?

I let go of the smile, opting for a blank expression that I knew I could maintain.

"I apologize. I admit, my mistake." Vinn recited hastily, lifting an open palm to us, "But it's not like we haven't done this to your previous wom—"

"Vinn," Tristan was suddenly beside him and clamping a hand on Vinn's mouth, "Shut up, bro."

Jace was dead silent. But it was as if his friends were the least of his thoughts now. His undivided attention was on me and he looked somewhat... worried. Legitimately worried.

Strange. Why was there a building lump in my throat? Was I going to cry? Again?

This behavior had started since Jace came into the picture. Since this engagement. Since Anyna's disappearance.