He Sent Me Home With His Buddy. Bad Idea, Ex! Chapter 04
I was surprised to see Evander at the Ashford estate.
So much for Dorian’s promise. It hadn’t lasted long at all.
I left with Evander and joined his family for another dinner.
After his parents departed, he walked me toward the exit at an unhurried pace.
Before we reached the door, Conrad Ashford greeted him warmly.
“Evander, I didn’t expect to see you here.”
Mr. Ashford,” Evander replied politely. “I’m having dinner
with my girlfriend and my parents.”
Conrad stood across from us with his wife, Blythe Ashford.
Dorian and Celeste were behind them.
Dorian’s jaw tightened as he stared at me.
His parents also looked uncomfortable, probably
remembering all the times they had called me unsuitable for
their family. Still, they forced themselves to appear cordial.
Perfect timing.” Blythe said. “Dorian brought his fiancée to
dinner too. Why don’t you two join us?”
Evander smiled and accepted the invitation.
Dorian looked furious.
The dishes at the Thornes‘ table had been mild, while the Ashfords had ordered everything heavily spiced.
I couldn’t handle much heat, and early in our relationship.
Dorian had always eaten milder food for my sake.
After Celeste moved in, every meal was made to suit her tastes instead.
As I pushed the sliced chilies aside, Evander turned to Dorian.
Mr. Ashford, is that the black onyx prayer bracelet from St. Aldwyn Abbey?”
I had given Dorian that bracelet for his birthday several. years earlier. At the time, he promised he would wear it for the rest of his life.
Now he gave a cold laugh.
Some cheap trinket. I don’t even remember where it came from. You can have it if you want.”
No, thanks.”
Evander placed an herb–and–Parmesan shrimp on my plate.
The next moment, Dorian emptied the entire plate into the trash.
“It’s too rich. Have the kitchen make another one.”
An awkward silence fell over the table.
Evander smiled as he asked. “I’m starting to think you have a
problem with my girlfriend, Mr. Ashford.”
Dorian’s expression hardened.
Why would I? I don’t even know her.”
Conrad stepped in to smooth things over.
“Exactly. Evander, make sure you bring your girlfriend to Dorian and Celeste’s wedding.”
The food tasted like sawdust, yet I felt strangely calm, as
though everything inside me had finally gone numb. The hurt and resentment were gone.
After dinner, Evander offered to drive me home, but Dorian stormed after us.
Evander, don’t let her fool you. You’ve heard she’s been
running around with another man, haven’t you?”
Disgust filled his voice.
What Dorian didn’t know was that the man everyone accused
me of seeing was Evander himself,
Evander started to explain, but I put my hand over his to stop him.
“You should go. I’ll be fine.”
Once he left, I turned to face Dorian.
“Aren’t you the one who chose to marry someone else?”
I was only stating a fact, but Dorian frowned as though I were
being unreasonable.
“I’m only doing it to keep my parents happy.”
It was the same excuse he had used countless times. He sent
me home with his friends to satisfy their families, then brought Celeste home to satisfy his own.
gave a humorless laugh.
Dorian stared at me.
You actually think you can marry into the Thorne family? Even if Evander were willing to marry an ordinary woman, he would choose someone respectable with a clean reputation,
someone like Celeste. She’s far better than you.”
His voice turned cutting.
“Stop dreaming, Seren.”
I nodded.
“You were the one who sent me to Evander.”
Dorian gave a sharp, humorless laugh. “Fine,” he said through
clenched teeth. “Fine.”
Three days later, Gideon called me.
“What did you do now? The Ashfords stopped paying for
Mom’s targeted therapy.”
My hands shook as I called Dorian again and again, but he never answered.
Not long afterward, Gideon called back.
Mom’s in the ICU! Go apologize to Dorian. Beg him if you have to!”
finally managed to get through, but Celeste answered his phone.
Sorry. Dorian took me overseas to Solmere Cay, and he isn’t checking his phone.”
I swallowed my pride and begged her.
*Please let me speak to him. Celeste, I’m begging you…”
She ended the call, taking my last hope with it.
Celeste turned around and nearly ran into Dorian.
“Who was that?” he asked.
“Someone from the company. Didn’t you say we weren’t going to talk about work on this trip?”
Celeste tucked his phone behind her back with a playful smile.
Dorian nodded, though a faint sense of unease stayed with him. Celeste kept the phone out of his reach. It wasn’t until she went swimming that he managed to get it back.
The screen was flooded with hundreds of missed calls, all from Seren.
His inbox was just as full.
The first read: [I’m sorry. I was wrong. Please don’t take this
out on my mother.]
The later ones were even more desperate.
(Dorian, I’m begging you. I’ll do anything you ask. You can let
anyone hurt me again if that’s what you want.]
His pulse raced faster with every message he read.
But Seren had stopped contacting him three hours earlier,
The final message wasn’t from her,
It was from Evander.
[Thank you, Mr. Ashford.]