I Swear, Let Me Love You Again

3RD POV:

THAT NIGHT:

Everyone was seated at the rooftop of Miller’s restaurant, eating, drinking and having a good time. Nathaniel just smiled and kept stealing glances at Lydia, he barely said three words all night, those three words were ‘Congratulations’ and ‘I’m okay.’

Kelvin, Liam and Liam’s fiancée had opted out of the dinner Ariana had invited them to as they had plans of their own but Jacob and Melissa had come with Nathaniel and Rachel. Rachel was looking for a means to talk to Lydia all night but couldn’t seem to find a chance.

The minute they arrived Lydia grinned from ear to ear seeing Andrew was already seated waiting for them and talking with the waiters making sure everything was in order for the beautiful dinner he had curated.

Lorena’s mum and father, Patricia who felt uninvited because Andrew had literally forgotten about her, Mr Miller, Lorena and Darren, Rachel and Nathaniel, Macy who had been staring at the expecting couple with scorn the entire night and Lydia were the people present at the table, celebrating until Lorena’s mum utter her observation.

“So Lydia, you’ve been going out with your ex-husband despite everything he has put you through? Like who even invited them here?” Lorena’s mum questioned with a frown on her face, making everyone on the table halt in their discussion and the joyful atmosphere at the table dropped.

“Mum.” Lorena cautioned but she felt in the place to care for Lydia, everyone was super attentive towards her after reading the clapback.

“What? Lydia and everyone here knows I will always look out for her and Andrew. As I love them as if they were my own.” She responded back to her daughter who sighed deeply turning her head to stare at her father who was conversing with Mr Miller in hush yet amused tones.

“It’s fine, Lorena. I love you as if you were a mother to me as well. Nathaniel and I are just friends. If it goes further then it will be my business and I will handle it.” Lydia responded calmly then regretted it after as she didn’t want to give Nathaniel the idea that she hoped for them to ever get back together. Members present just kept staring at Nathaniel watching to see his facial expression and reaction to this but he remained calm and collected, his facial expression was unreadable and blank masking his true feelings.

Nathaniel was just as curious as Lorena’s mum, he didn’t even know if he deserved Lydia’s affection after everything he and his family put her through. He spent the whole night reading the clapback and Rachel literally dragged him to the event. He thought he had stopped feeling this guilt, but it still lingered in times when he thought about how nonchalant and wrong he was.

He knew he wanted to be with Lydia and no one else, so if she didn’t want to be with him then he would rather be alone or just might continue the fight.

“Focusing on why we are here tonight.” Andrew began, speaking sternly, reverting his attention to Lorena’s mum who raised her hand up in surrender. He slowly stood up from the chair and Ari, who was sitting on his left hand side, with a smile handed him a walking stick and everyone on the table was filled with happiness and excitement seeing his progress.

“O My God.” Lydia gasped and Andrew instantly waved her off.

“You all this is not about me yet, please let’s not focus on that, yet. I want to use this to make a toast to the most hardworking, dedicated, beautiful, annoying, lovely, caring, attentive woman I know. You’re so strong and we have all seen you rise despite everything you have been through….”  It was too much, Nathaniel excused himself and Rachel wasn’t too far behind. Lydia looked at them leave through the corner of her eye while Andrew continued.

“We are all so proud of you for selling almost a million copies all over the country. So now, let’s make a toast to Lydia. Our super writer.” They raised their glasses, congratulating Lydia.

“To our super Writer.” They chorused and Lydia debated whether to go after Nathaniel or not but thought against it. It was her night and she was happy for herself. She would deal with any other thing the next day.

“Thank you.” She smiled as they all applauded and celebrated her.

“Ohh and Princess, your new car is at the mansion with a few goodies. I had to beat Andrew to it.” Their father spoke and Andrew rolled his eyes playfully at his father. They all chuckled meanwhile Lydia’s excitement turned up from an 80 to 110. She was genuinely happy.

“Thank you, thank you.” She stood up from her seat and kissed her father’s cheek repeatedly, it was a wholesome moment and the photographer Andrew had employed caught it all. After Andrew’s near death experience, he concluded that every moment was precious. Which is why he decided to take pictures of every important moment.

“Oh…wow.” Andrew scoffed and Lydia and her father rolled their eyes at him.

Few minutes later, Jacob and Melissa had to go as they needed to go back to their child plus it was beginning to feel like a family moment. They hugged Lydia goodbye and bid the rest of the family bye before exiting there.Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.

“They seem lovely. She’s a lawyer right?” Lorena’s father commented and Lydia nodded as she swallowed her drink.

As the dinner began to die down and they were slowly preparing to go after dessert, there came in an August guest.

“How come we were not invited?” A man who was tall and muscular, he seemed like he was in early fifties. He was bald but he had full beards and his skin was just like Arianna’s skin tone plus he had the same accent as she did. He had a tattoo on his arm that looked like a black band. He was an overall handsome man for his age.

“Dad, what are you doing here?” Ari stood up and her father along with his bodyguards of about three hefty men followed behind him.

“What do you mean what am I doing here? I’m here to meet the family and see the man you got pregnant for. You know I don’t play about my daughter.” He said the last part sternly, giving Lydia and Lorena chills. He smiled after and reverted his attention to the gathering.

“Good evening family. I am Arianna’s father, Mr Philips. But you can call me Don Philips.” He smiled mischievously and Ariana face-palmed herself and exhaled.

Everyone at the table just stared at the two with mixed emotions. Patricia simply downed her wine and the tension on the rooftop was thick.

The dinner was just beginning.

****

Few Minutes later:

The tension was thick, the dessert was served and everyone including Lorena’s family had been trying to convince Mr Philips that he was wrong about so many things he was uttering but he didn’t care for them at all.