Love, Left Too Late

"Nyssa, I don't know who you've kept hidden for the past five years, but you can't just marry some random guy because of one piece of trash!"

I smiled. "I'm not that delicate, alright? This marriage is something I've thought through carefully. And he's not just some random guy. He's…well, an old family connection. We just haven't seen each other in years."

I was not lying. It was not so much an arranged marriage with Scott as it was fulfilling the childhood promise our parents once made for us half-jokingly.

If Gerald had not come into the picture halfway, I probably would have become Mrs. Henderson years ago.

The worry in Elena's eyes did not fade. She really was concerned about me.

I reached over and pinched her cheek. "Alright, don't be upset. You're going to be my bridesmaid."

"Bridesmaid?"

The private room door swung open. Gerald strolled in carelessly with another new date.

Just like he had always claimed, anyone could be his girlfriend. Well, anyone but me.

He stopped in the middle of the room, scanning the faces until his gaze landed on mine.

"Who's getting married?" he asked.

I caught Elena before she could answer and brushed it off. "It's nothing, Gerald. What brings you here?"

The woman behind him piped up innocently, "I asked Gerald to bring me. I wanted to meet his family and friends. I'm Belinda Campbell. Nice to meet you."

Maybe it was just me, but her glance at me carried a sharp, unspoken challenge.

Elena, oblivious as ever, grabbed Belinda and pulled her over to pick songs for the karaoke.

Meanwhile, Gerald sank into the seat beside me. In the dim light, his glass of liquor swirled lazily in his hand. "Starting to date now?"

I shot him a side glance. "Since when do you care about my love life?"

He chuckled under his breath, then leaned closer and studied me with an amused look.

"Think of it as a follow-up service. If you can't find a boyfriend, I can help scout one out for you. Don't worry, he won't be like me.

"At the very least, he won't make you deliver condoms while running a fever or drag an endless parade of women in front of you. He'll actually be faithful. How does that sound?"

My hand tightened around the glass.

So, it was not that he did not know those things hurt me. He just did not care. Or maybe he only thought of me as a joke.

I tipped back the drink in one gulp, then turned to him with a bright smile.

"It's okay, Gerald. I'm getting married."

…

The room went silent as awkwardness permeated every corner.

Gerald's brows knitted, his dark eyes stormy.

In a disgruntled tone, he said, "Nyssa Bennett, I don't like that kind of joke."

I smiled at him. I was in no rush to explain anything to him.

Just then, Belinda walked over with a drink. Whether on purpose or not, she stumbled, spilling the entire glass down my front.

She covered her mouth in mock horror, voice dripping with sweetness as she said, "Oh, no! I'm so clumsy! Are you alright?"

Gerald's face darkened, and he shot me a cold glare. "It's not your fault. She's the one in the way."

"Gerald, what are you even saying? How is this Nyssa's fault?"

Elena stepped in front of me, shielding me with her body.