Elijah's POV
I never saw her smiling like that when she talked about a certain person. Claudine and that man named Max seem to be great friends or good lovers from a few years ago.
I look at her as she speaks with Mr. and Mrs. Daniels. "Elijah, you didn't tell us that she's here tonight? You should've been proud to have such a gorgeous wife," Mr. Daniels says.
I simply smile. "I guess I do," I simply replied.
"By the way, congratulations on another fruitful year of Sartoni Aviation. You worked hard for this year," Mrs. Daniels says.
I grin and hold their hands that they're giving me. They also did that with my maternal cousin. "The late Mrs. Riego's favorite niece was really beautiful," Mrs. Daniels says. My cousin chuckled.
"I'm her only niece anyway," Jin-ah jokes.
The couple laughs. Our conversation lasted for a couple of minutes, and they excused themselves after. My wife frowns when her eyes land on where the door is.
"They're here with… him?" she whispers. She stands still and waits for them to come closer. "You're indeed back," Big Sister Jade says.
I simply smile and nod. "I am," she replies.
The man and her parents were staring at her. "I'm sorry for crashing the party. Your family and I met outside after we talked to each other, and they asked me to come with them. I can't say no to them," he says.
My wife chuckled. "As if you can," she says. He brushes his nape. "Right," he replied, smiling at her. She put down her cup of wine and spread her arms.
"Come here," she says. They embraced her without a second thought. Jin-ah stood next to me and whispered.
"I can't believe Dr. Max Page was hot and handsome. It looks like they're closed. If she falls for him and asks you for a divorce, isn't that an easy way out? I guess I'll help you this time. She deserves to be happy," my cousin remarked.
She went back on their side. She even spoke with that doctor. "Raymond, get some people and tell them to change our table to fit eight people," I remarked.
He bows his head and leaves without answering me. Samantha was too impatient, and she approached me even though I had already warned her.
"You should've called the security and kicked these bastards out," she roars in murmurs.
My wife scoffs and turns her head on us, to Samantha in particular. "Bitch, shut that fucking mouth, or I'll cut your tongue right here."
Samantha glares at Claudine, but my wife's intimidating demeanor wins against my mistress's. "What did you call me? A bitch?" Samantha asks.
My wife was about to speak when my sister-in-law turned her head and gave a warning glare. "One more word, or I'll scream in this party to shout how slutty you are, bitch," she threatens too.
That made me scoff. It's not because I'm mad but because I realize that Jade and Claudine were indeed siblings. I look at Samantha and give her a warning gaze as well.
"Damn!" she cursed.
She left, and my sister-in-law gave me an eyeful. "You should stop hurting my sister once and for all, Elijah. I won't hold back anymore. I'll protect her from now on."
"Jade, not here, please," she whispers.
Claudine was trying to stop her sister from making a scene. "Not here? Did you know what he—" she halts. My wife's gaze was enough to warn her older sister. She looks at me and smiles coldly.
"My apologies for my sister's attitude. You might be deserving, but her outburst isn't in the right place. She can do that when no one is around," Claudine says.
Jin-ah laughs but hides it using her palm. "Max, come here," Claudine says.
That man went to her and leaned closer. He suddenly smiled and winked at her. "No problem," he replied.
The way Claudine looks at her, there's trust and closeness. I turn my back and leave them. The staff had changed the table and added chairs as well.
I decided to breathe some fresh air on the balcony. My secretary came and handed me a glass of whiskey. "You've been bothered since the other day, sir. Is this connected with the task that you gave me?"
I look back and notice that the door was closed and there were securities that were standing behind. "You really knew me, Raymond," I remarked.
He simply chuckled and sipped his drink. "We've been sworn brothers since we were 14, after you helped my mom in her hospitalization. Thanks to you, she's still with me," he says.
I took a deep breath and sipped my whiskey. Raymond and I had been best friends, and I always trusted him at work and even in personal matters in my life.
"I've made a mistake. It was Claudine who saved my life; it's not Samantha. She didn't tell me the truth because she believes that we can work on our marriage without any special reasons like that. I was a fool, Raymond," I murmur.
He leans on the railings as well. "I'll be frank with you, Elijah. I find it weird or stupid that you loved Samantha more after she claimed that it was her who saved you. I was thinking that your feelings aren't love but gratitude," he says.
He turned around and faced me. "That's why I understand your wife's point. She was a good woman, Elijah. She didn't want to build a romantic relationship using that method. She wants to work it out on her own."
I feel more guilty because of his words. Everything that Raymond said was the truth.
"She wants to fall for you genuinely. Maybe she was really in love with you. It was only you who was blinded with your ideals of love and showing gratitude to the person that saves you," Raymond added. He wants me to feel guilty and realize Claudine's sacrifices.
I take a sip and heave a long sigh again. My head is a mess, and that man who was looking at her with gentle eyes makes me anxious.
"She is now suffering because of me, Raymond. If she won't get surgery soon, she'll die. She had that illness because of saving me, but I sent her abroad; I imprisoned her. I blackmailed her too. Damn!" I growled.
He taps my back, and it makes me look at him. "I have a suggestion, and you need to listen to me, Elijah. This way, even for a bit, you'll atone for your sins," Raymond says.
"What did you—tell me, what is it?" I whispered.
He looks at the darkness of the sky. "But you have to promise me that you won't let her down again. This time, you need to know who caused that accident and treat her well," he demanded.