Dumping My Fiancé For His Uncle By Danielle Sayers

Chapter 2

"What is wrong with you to call off the marriage with the Hendrix family?" Ivy Rowland pointed at Thea, scolding, right after Thea got back to the Rowland mansion. "The Hendrix family is big league. Can't you just pretend nothing happened? Ditching the engagement will drag our name through the mud," Ivy continued.

Thea, feeling hot under the collar and as uncomfortable as ever, pulled a face and shot back, "Mum, if Emmalie was in my shoes, would you have made her stick it out?"

Ivy, slightly irked, retorted, "Always dragging Emmalie into this when you mess up. Do you think she'd be as lost as you? She even told me yesterday how much she missed you. What's with the attitude now?" Thea couldn't help but scoff, "That's all Emmalie's sweet talk to keep you in the dark."

Ivy, trying to cool down, snapped, "Enough. Pull yourself together. Emmalie will be back tonight, and you're not skipping the welcome-back banquet tomorrow. The Hendrix family's on the guest list, too."

Thea suddenly stared at Ivy, her eyes tinting red. "Mum, I think I'm sick. Can we go to the hospital?"

Ivy just gave her a cold stare, visibly annoyed. Thea managed a weak smile, fighting back tears, and hurried upstairs to be alone with her thoughts.

Ivy's voice trailed after her, filled with frustration. "I can't believe I raised a daughter who plays sick whenever things get tough. Why couldn't it have been her that got lost?

"My sweet Emmalie has been through so much, and here I've been, pouring my heart into raising Thea, only for her to turn out so selfish and moody. Anyway, Emmalie's coming back. Let's go check on the soup I made for her in the kitchen." Thea's limbs were numb and cold, just like her heart. Ever since that thing happened when she was sixteen, she had become the family's black sheep, always on the fringes.

There was a time when being sad wasn't really in her vocabulary because she had someone by her side, someone who'd smile at her like the sun breaking through the clouds. His eyes sparkled whenever he looked at her. He made her promises.

"Thea, I'm sticking by you forever."

"Think of me as your family now,"

"I'm going to love you for all my days, and I won't let anything hurt you, not even a little."

a way of crashing back in, like a tidal

a ball at the corner of the stairs, hugging her knees

*****

Thea turned heads at the banquet with her choice

seaweed, paired with these striking red lips that popped against her pale skin. Her features were gentle and understated, yet this chilly, detached vibe came from her eyes. That mix

by her side, spotted a bold figure lurking in the background,

lose it, someone gently grabbed

only

on her nose. "You're the only one who really spoils Thea in her moods.

everyone around chimed in, praising Emmalie for

Rowland family had two daughters and

getting kidnapped as a kid, but

the International Piano Association at a surprisingly young

way up to become a young vice president at the Rowland Group, while the other son was the family's surprise packet, having set up a new

irony, "Seems like Thea isn't

seen Emmalie approaching, set her glass down,

to freshen up her lipstick. It was only when she

lady's face was flushed red,

back to Thea, his tall and slender

ready to walk away, but then she overheard the woman's soft plea. "President Hendrix, I think I've hurt my

did a double-take. The only "President Hendrix" in the Hendrix family was Jake's enigmatic uncle, Nicolas Hendrix. 'Him, at a party like this? Unheard of. What's he doing here?' Thea wondered. Mulling over his known temper and dark reputation, Thea decided she wanted no

the call before looking up and locking