Chapter 15
Hudson kept quiet, not answering Keith’s question as he kept swallowing the Whiskey straight from the bottle.
Keith frowned, worry etched on his face as he saw his best friend gulping alcohol recklessly. “Hudson, this is not a way to solve any problem. That’s alcohol you are drinking and not water. You’ll only harm your body by doing this,” he reminded.
Finally, Hudson took the bottle away from his mouth, his eyes glazy with drunkenness.
Keith and Finley thought he wouldn’t answer Keith’s previous question, but Hudson slurred out his answer, “It doesn’t matter who I marry.”
The two best friends looked at each other and sighed simultaneously. They both knew what Hudson meant. As the heirs of the top families, they didn’t really have a choice in whom they married.
As long as you were in the elite class, whether you were a lady or gentleman, you had to agree to a marriage arranged by the elders in your family – a marriage of alliance, a marriage to strengthen the family name, a marriage to secure your family’s future or as they said, a ‘business–alliance marriage‘.
Of course, there would be shameless middle–class families who wanted their daughters to climb the social ladder, and some succeeded if their daughters were beautiful enough.
But it was rare for an orphan like Cherise to marry one of the top families. It was somewhat of a miracle because Agatha Amery, the matriarch of the Amery family, loved her.
When it happened, though, it would be pitiful for the lady. Her husband would most probably shun her because they were ashamed of her. And that was the case for Cherise during her three years of marrying Hudson.
Truly, being in the elite class was less grand than what everyone saw or thought. For one, you might not be able to marry someone you love if it wouldn’t bring any advantages to the family business. And there were still the responsibilities to keep your family name intact, and the burden of being the CEOs of powerful groups was quite heavy for some to shoulder.
Take Finley for an example. He hated doing business or being the CEO of the Myers Group, but he had to. Lucky for him, the Myer Group was one of the top three families in Country B, so even though he was a playboy, as long as he managed the Group well and didn’t impregnate any women, his family paid no heed to his private affair.
Keith was also quite lucky. His parents had seen his talent for medicine from an early age, and they allowed him to open a hospital and let his younger brother be the CEO of their group, though he still helped his brother if needed.
After a heavy silence that ensued in the room following Hudson’s words, Keith still replied, “You are right, but you don’t have to marry Emely if you don’t want to, and right after you just had a divorce.”
“What do you mean? Of course, he should marry Emely,” Finley protested, rolling his eyes as if Keith were an idiot. “We all know how much he loves her. He still thinks about her after she disappeared, and now he brought her back to marry her.”
Despite his drunken state, Gerard could still hear his friends‘ words. “I have to marry her,” he mumbled.
“See what I told you?” Finley looked at Keith with smugness, happy that he was right.
Being more perspective, Keith could feel there was more meaning in Gerard’s answer. “What do you mean by you have to marry Emely?”
Gerard closed his eyes and leaned back, remembering his promise to his brother. It was a secret; he couldn’t tell anyone, not even his best friends.
The way his brother took his hands and made him promise to take care of Emely with his last dying breath still haunted him. And his guilt as he looked at his brother’s soul leaving his body…
Then suddenly Cherise’s face appeared in his mind. His brain rewinded what had happened earlier – her tears, her pleas, the taste of her lips, the softness of her body, and Hudson shifted uncomfortably in his seat as he felt his pants tighten.
Since their marriage night, he had always been obsessed with her body, which puzzled him. Even when he was in love with Emely, he never thought of sleeping with her. Could it be because she was her brother’s girlfriend? What about now? Shouldn’t he have a desire for her? But no, he never had that thought about her or even any other woman he had ever met.
Hudson shook his head, not wanting to think of that gold digger anymore, but no matter what, her face just wouldn’t leave his mind, and without him knowing, due to too much drinking, he drifted off to sleep thinking of his ex–wife whom he had always hated.
“Oh, he’s so wasted,” Finley said as he watched the Whiskey bottle slide off Hudson’s grip and drop to the ground, making a clunking noise.
Keith exhaled, pitying his drunk friend for the hangover he’d feel when he woke up the next day. He got up from his seat and gestured to Finley. “Let’s get him to the car.”
Finley helped immediately, and they walked, dragging Hudson’s muscular and tall body between them.
“Why did you ask if he really wants to marry Emely?” Finley suddenly asked when they were settled in the car, with Miles as the driver.
Keith glanced at him and replied with a question, “Do you think he really loves Emely? Or even still loves her until now?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” Finley asked with confusion. “He still has Emely’s picture in his office.”
‘But he also has his and Cheri’s wedding picture on his phone.‘ Keith thought.
Meanwhile, Cherise and Logan rejoined Erika, who unsurprisingly was not drunk yet, in their booth. Erika had a really high alcohol level tolerance, and it would be tough to make her drunk.
Even though Cherise had a bright smile as if she was enjoying herself, Erika, being her best friend for so long, could see the slight redness, pain, and sadness in her eyes.
Her lips parted to ask questions, but she saw Logan shake his head slightly, and so she silently endured her questioning mind.
Cherise pretended to yawn and said, “It’s late for me now. I need to go home. Are you guys still staying until the club closes?”
“Let me accompany you home,” Logan offered, wanting to ensure her safety and spend as much time with her as possible.
“No, I drove here, and I haven’t been drinking alcohol at all,” she rejected his offer. “You should accompany Erika and make sure she gets home safe later.”
Logan and Erika knew Cherise wanted to be alone, so they both nodded in understanding.
Erika hugged her and said, “Be careful on the road, okay, darlin~?“.
“I will,” Cherise smiled, returning her friend’s hug.
Logan smiled tenderly and couldn’t resist pulling Cherise into his arms, too. Cherise was shocked- Erika was,
too- but knowing how protective Logan was of her, she thought it was just his way of soothing her after what had
happened.
“Thank you,” she whispered, hugging him back, savoring her friend’s warm embrace.
Logan patted her back gently. “Text me when you reach home.”
Cherise nodded, pulled out one of her cards from her purse, shoved it into Erika’s hand, and winked. “I’ve promised to pay for everything tonight.”
Erika laughed and blew her a kiss. “Love you, darling.”
Cherise chuckled and waved her hand, “Alright, I’m going back now. See you guys soon.”
“See you,” Erika and Logan replied simultaneously.
{
(
When they couldn’t see Cherise’s departing back anymore, they both sat down, and the smiles on their faces. disappeared, the atmosphere between them crackled with seriousness.
Erika flicked her blonde eyes over her shoulder, crossed her arms across her breasts, and crossed her long legs; the serious expression on her face made her look like a seductive femme fatale instead of her usual playful seductiveness.
“Did she meet anyone from the Amery or any of their friends?” she asked, her eyes slanted into thinner lines.
Logan didn’t reply to her as he twirled the glass on the table. Even without his reply, Erika could see the dangerous glint in his eyes and knew her guess was correct.
“I’ll teach them a lesson,” Logan’s promise was filled with vicious intentions that could make one tremble in fear.
Satisfied with his answer, Erika leaned forward and placed her elbow on the table with her hand supporting her chin.
“Logan, are you in love with Cherise?” Her playful and seductive smile was back in place.
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