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."

crashing back in, like a tidal wave she didn't see coming.

she had left falling apart, she found herself curled up in a ball at the corner of the stairs, hugging her knees

*****

next day, Thea turned heads at the banquet with her choice of a

features were gentle and understated, yet this chilly, detached vibe came from her eyes. That mix of red lips with the green dress was bold. Only Thea could

with a bunch of noble ladies with Emmalie by her side, spotted a bold

it, someone gently grabbed her from behind,

no need to get on Thea's case. With so many people around today, it's only natural she'd want to spruce

spoils Thea in her

praising Emmalie

had two daughters and two

a rough start, getting kidnapped as a kid, but she bounced back incredibly, turning out super smart

the

the family's surprise packet, having set up a new

tension, sighed and said with a hint of irony, "Seems like Thea isn't too happy. Guess I should go and smooth

always on alert, had seen Emmalie approaching, set her glass down, and

"accidental" drama, like a mysterious fall or a "why did you push me?" scenario. Thea was heading to the restroom to freshen up her lipstick. It was only when she reached the restroom that she heard a strange wailing sound.

tumbling into a man's embrace. The lady's face was

stood with his back to Thea, his tall

then she overheard the woman's soft plea. "President Hendrix, I think I've hurt

Jake's enigmatic uncle, Nicolas Hendrix. 'Him, at a party like this? Unheard of. What's he doing here?' Thea

looking