Veiled Echoes

C H A P T E R 5

HANA 

If anyone had predicted that I'd share a table with my ex and his fiancee, I would've dismissed it without a second thought.

But if they'd foretold that I'd ask Aiden to fake being my boyfriend for the night, I'd have undoubtedly given them a smack across the shoulder. It would've sounded like a ludicrous proposition that I knew would never happen.

However, sitting beside the man made me believe nothing is truly impossible. Granted, I knew he had a crush on me and I was practically using that fact to work my way. Yet it was slightly unsettling to realise he had so easily agreed to my request without a second thought.

I was grateful he had picked up my call and came on the first call though. Otherwise, I would've had to find a way to sneak out of the dinner and possibly move to another country because the embarrassment of being stood up in front of your ex was not an ideal situation.

As soon as Justin began to display his overly affectionate side to Kahlani, something he had never once portrayed to me, it made me want to throw the wine I was drinking at his face. However, I had to be a woman of elegance and maintain my composure by keeping a strained smile on my face.

Yet, as minutes slowly ticked and their light chuckles echoed in my ear, I imagined all the worst possible things I could do to this man in front of me. Starting with swinging my hand across the cheek Kahlani had kissed for the past fifteen times. It got to a point where I had to look behind me to admire the bland portraits as they were sitting right in front of me.

Fuck my life.

My father's expectant glance as he mentioned the annual charity event before Christmas only added to my irritation. Justin and Kahlani, meanwhile, had stepped away from the table to attend to vague business matters that held no particular interest to me.

"We hoped you had someone you could bring to the event, sweetheart," my mother had spoken softly with a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Given that our entire family will be in attendance at this event, we didn't want you to appear as the only person there. Considering Justin is invited and we know how you feel about him, we'd rather you not seem like you're feeling isolated and dejected."

I was stunned to silence by her statement. So much so that it took me a moment to find my voice as I looked at her. "So you're saying your daughter is a damsel in distress without a man by her side?"

"Of course not!" She exclaimed, looking at me like I had offended her. "I know how capable you are, Hana. But you cannot ignore the fact your grandparents are going to be there, and they want you to be nothing but settled."

A feeling lodged in my throat, and I scoffed, drowning the glass of wine.

That was just another way to hint at the career I had chosen by going against my parents, especially my Korean grandparents, will and applying to forensic science. They had wanted me to be the successor to Atelier and carry on this family business. However, I had no interest in linking my name with the wine company.

That idea had left a sour aftertaste among most of my relatives. On top of being the black sheep, I was the only woman in my mid-twenties in my family who was still studying and hadn't found a partner. My only hope was now engaged and might even be having a sneak preview of his honeymoon in the restaurant's bathroom.

"This is unbelievable," I had hissed.

My voice was unheard of as my father continued speaking, "Your mother has lined up some blind dates for you, so be sure to attend them and find a respectable partner. We don't need any more commotions regarding your commitment."