Chapter 89
The fundraiser started out calmly as supposed, starting with a red carpet event hosting the city’s A-listers. There was a crescendo of excitement that filled the air as the magnificent doors of the grand ballroom swung open revealing an illuminated staircase which led to a world of dazzle.All content is property © NôvelDrama.Org.
The cameras flashed like celestial fireworks, paparazzi screaming at the wide eyed celebrity capturing the excitement that fluttered in the air, dressed in their designer gowns and tailored tuxedos but when Emily grazed the red carpet with her dazzling black ink gown that swept the floors gracefully, the cameras flashed in a frenzy, there was an uproar and Emily could barely contain herself her heart thrummed with anxiety as she tried to latch unto Ethan who didn’t offer a great support system.
Ethan was in fact drunk and Emily could tell from the way he downed wine glass after glass on their way there.
“Slow down, will you?” she tried to caution but Ethan threw her a venomous look at her
“Why?” he questioned back “What do I gain from being sober right now?”
Emily was about to respond but she could see the lazy dance of his eyes, the liquor swimming within them and the excitement that already seemed to enthrall him. Soon, he offered her a glass and she shot him a look.
“I’m pregnant” she said but Ethan seemed unfazed by her statement and at this point, they had arrived at the location and she quickly got down from the car without his help but he was quick to grab her waist, holding her in place.
“We have to smile for the cameras, we’re still married remember” he said to her, urging her forward with him in his staggered steps that Emily found hard to keep up with.
“Ethan over here!”
“Ethan!!”
“Emily look here!!”
“Are you guys going to address the rumors of an impending divorce?”
“Are you guys in love!!”
The paparazzi yelled, throwing their unfounded questions and Emily fought to keep her smile, the nervousness growing bigger and fitting perfectly into the bottomless pit that felt like her stomach and when she glanced at Ethan, he had no problem keeping his smile. He was drunk after all.
The queasiness she usually felt in the morning was finding its way back, why was she suddenly yearning for a drink. She shouldn’t be drinking but she couldn’t manage all these raging hormones and emotions with a clear head and Ethan wasn’t paying attention. She could walk away, just move away from him but she could already imagine the headlines the next day on the front page of the gossip blogs and magazines. But just then, and in her line of perfect vision she saw Jackson’s limo arrive at the location and relief flooded her chest immediately.
He saw her and they locked eyes and in a second, he was making her way to her just as he saw her expression and just as Ethan began leading her out of the red carpet but she stalled and Ethan noticed it immediately and when he turned, he saw Jackson approaching. Jealousy exploded in his chest immediately, dancing in his eyes and seizing his entire being, it was impossible to fight it because every time Jackson came into the picture, it was nearly impossible to control how he felt and a part of him hated it because he didn’t want to feel that way.
“Emily” he was about to call, but she was turning away from him already towards Jackson igniting the anger that already festered within him. It all happened so quickly, in a fast second it was almost like it never happened.
Ethan stepped on her gown, both unknowingly and knowingly at the same time. There was a semi consciousness to the effort that Ethan couldn’t deny and it sent Emily spiraling just into Jackson’s arms as he lunged after her in a bid to catch her even though his knee was still very much injured but his first instinct was to protect Emily always the gesture sending both of them crashing to the floor with Emily atop Jackson.
Silence
Everywhere seemed to seize as everyone seemed to hold their breath at an impending disaster, but when Jackson caught her just in time, the cameras started going off immediately as Emily took more than a second to right herself immediately.
“Are you okay?” he whispered to her quietly, in the seductive way that he usually does and holding her captive in his enchantment, especially in that moment that he looked exceptionally handsome, his eyes held hers and they were oblivious to their surroundings.
“Better now that you’re here” she whispered back to him, the butterflies fluttering in her stomach once again and this time, she didn’t want to kill them. The buttery feeling it gave, coupled with Jackson’s piercing gaze that never left hers, even with Ethan ge ntly prying her off from the floor and away from the Jackson’s burning touch that warmed the ice out 1 of her his eyes remained fixed on hers.
“Jackson” Ethan gave Jackson a curt nod amidst the flashing cameras, but he tried to keep his expression neutral to hide the anger that was brewing within him slowly and just waiting for the perfect time to explode.
“I’m alright” Jackson nodded back, and then turning towards the camera with a bright smile on his face, Ethan did the same followed by Emily who stood in their middle. She could feel herself naturally gravitating towards Jackson, even though Ethan was on the other side of her and his hands playing on the small of her back.
“Jackson, what’s the deal with Blair!”
“How’s your knee!”
“How are you recovering!”
The paparazzi yelled at them, the camera lights nearly blinding them until the dreaded threw itself at them
“Are the rumors true Jackson? Are you having an affair with your brother’s wife?”
Your brother’s wife? It was always sounded incredibly outrageous when people worded it that way, made him feel disloyal and absolute monster. Saying Ethan’s wife might have been preferably better but there was always an agenda with showbiz and gossip media.
He tried to ignore the question as the camera continued flashing in his face, still feeling the iciness of Emily beside him and it bothered him especially seeing the goosebumps grazing her flesh. The woman carrying his child shouldn’t be out fighting to hide her shattering teeth under a sleeveless dress. He was about to take off his jacket to place around her shoulders when he saw Ethan already pulling her away.
“I’ll see you on the inside” he heard Ethan say to him and immediately Jackson grabbed Emily’s other hand out of instinct, unable to watch Ethan take her away yet again when in reality he was the one for her.
“What are you doing?” Ethan growled drunkenly at Jackson as Emily’s eyes widened in shock but Jackson wasn’t ready to let go of her hand, instead he pulled her closer to him and she gasped in shock.
“I can’t pretend anymore” he said to her, and Emily froze her heart pounding loudly.
“I can’t pretend that I’m not in love with you it kills me everytime”
Time stood still everyone watched even though they were unsure of what Jackson was saying.
“So what what do you want to do about it?” Emily stuttered.
“This” Jackson said before he pulled her even closer to his chest and he placed his lips on hers in a soft kiss the paparazzi went crazy.
Ethan watched a raging beast consuming him entirely it was impossible to watch.