ADELINE'S POV
"Adrian's mouth is going to be hanging open when he sees you in that dress." Liam says as we reach my parents' front door, looking me up and don with a playful smirk on his face. I decided to wear a red strapless gown that hugs my figure in all the right places, with a small break going from my lower lap to the floor. The dress is daring I know and my parents' wont like it but I didn't wear it for them.
I wore it for Adrian. I tied my hair up un a pony tail and put on very seductive makeup. Red lipstick, smokey siren eyes and a bare clavicle is all I need to pull Adrian off his hinges to night. From what I see in my parents' parking lot, Adrian is here already which means Liam and I are the only ones left to join the party.
Before leaving the house, I took a picture of me in my gown immediately after I got dressed and sent it to Dante. Even though I'm here specifically to seduce Adrian, Dante is still the only man I have eyes for.
Before we ring the doorbell, Liam intertwines his fingers with mine, pressing down gently in a supportive way to let me know that whatever happens tonight, he will always have my back. My parents open the door immediately after the first ring and their eyes light up in excitement when they see me with Liam. Everything has changed with my parents since I told them Dante and I are broken up. They've become more joyous and accepting.
They're even intentionally and genuinely smiling right now which is something you will hardly catch my parents do under normal circumstances. They haven't even addressed the fact that my dress might be too revealing and I just know it's because they want me to make a good impression on Adrian after all the disrespect I've shown him.
They're hypocrites.
"Oh Liam. My boy. We're so glad you could make it." My father says and hugs Liam in a manly way, pulling him inside the house. My mother looks to me with a smile on her face and gestures for me to get in.
"You look beautiful Adeline. Adrian was so happy when we gave him the news. He can't wait to see you." My mother sys and right on cue, the devil in question comes into view with a proud and triumphant smile on his face.
He looks like his ego just got fed a thousand more times and I'm sure all that he can think about right now is that he won. He thinks at the end of the day, he got his way. Looking at him now, I realize just how disgusted I am in his presence and suddenly I don't even know if I can do this anymore.
The look is his eyes is so predatory that I don't know if I can stand him looking at me like that for three whole months.
"Your mother's right. I'm so happy you changed your mind, Adeline. I can't wait for such a beautiful woman like yourself to be my bride." He says with a smile on his face. His smile actually looks genuine and that sends and unsettling creeping feeling down my back. He comes to a stop in front of me and takes my right hand in his, placing a soft kiss on my skin.
His lips on my skin sends unpleasant shivers up and down my spine because it should be Dante in his place. Dante should be the one holding my hand like he is. Dante should be the one placing soft kisses on my skin and not this psychotic maniac.
I fake a smile as he looks up at me.
"Aww isn't he cute." My mother says, placing her palm on her chest with a cute look on her face. "How about we all sit and have dinner while the food is still hot."
Everyone follows my mom to the dining area but Liam and I hover back for a few more seconds. Liam comes close to me to whisper something in my ears.
"I think Adrian here is trying a bit too hard to impress you." Liam whispers making me giggle as we make our way to the dining table.
"So Adrian. Liam here has been best friends with Adeline since they were but babies. These two are absolutely inseparable. Did you know Liam is the best lawyer in New York city? He never loses a case." My mother brags as we all sit around the table. I just want to eat my food in peace.
Liam sits across from me, while Adrian and I sit side by side.
"That's absolutely wonderful. Just the kind of company that my future wife should have around her." Adrian says and sips a glass of wine looking Liam straight in the eyes. Liam smiles uncomfortably and shifts in his seat. He has never liked being in the spotlight of anything. The fact that he just called me his future wife makes my blood boil in the most unpleasant way. He disgusts me so much.
"Exactly Adrian. I have no idea how my daughter found herself in the arms of that Dante guy, but I'm glad it's all over now and my daughter is back to her senses." My father says raising his wine glass up to Adrian and my skin crawls from the mention of Dante.
Liam clears his throat nervously as the situation is very much becoming very awkward.
"You know we keep warning our Adeline and constantly told her that this Dante guy was no good. I mean the guy didn't even have a social standing. Search him up and nothing comes on. We don't even know if he was capable of properly providing for our Addie. He honestly seemed like a real gold digger. Adeline is so lucky to have you Adrian. You two make such a perfect match."
I glare at my mother when she finishes with her degrading speech but all she does is stare at me with a smile on her face as if everything she just said was more than okay. I drop mu fork aggressively on my plate making a loud sound and everyone's attention is pulled towards me.
Adrian looks very proud with a cunning smirk on his face as my parents degrade Dante.
"Can we all please refrain from talking about my ex please?" I say making eye contact with my parents especially. They're not even trying to hide it. They're tying so much to impress Adrian that they're willing to say anything, my feelings be damned. Well, I've had enough.
Unfortunately for me, I can't be disrespectful. I need to make them think I'm still heartbroken.
"The memories his name bring back are not the best. I do not want to constantly be reminded of how I made a wrong decision that left me with a broken heart. I came here to have a peaceful dinner with you all void of the mention of Dante. I have learnt my lesson and I am grateful for Mr. Wellington for still wanting to push through with this marriage." I almost throw up from the words that leave my own mouth.
My parents both have pleasant looks on their faces from my public apology. Just like how they taught and raised me. To be respectful despite the situation. Liam looks at me with a tilt of his head as if sensing something is wrong with my reaction.
He must be able to read through me right now perfectly and sooner than later, if I don't act better, he'll know I'm hiding something from him.
"I think Adeline is right." Adrian says placing his arm over my shoulder. "I think we should all just let bygones be bygones and start over."
I want to push his arm off of me. I want to punch him in the face and confront him for having me followed by his guard, but all I do is look up at him with innocent doe eyes and bite my lips seductively but discretely. I immediately feel him tense up beside me. I already know the effect I have on him. Now all I have to do is use it to my advantage.
The rest of the dinner goes by pretty peacefully with no mention of Dante. The food was actually really good and I was grateful because Adrian didn't put his hands on me for the rest of the dinner. However, I kept stealing glances at him and smiling occasionally. The way his eyes glitter when he looks at me makes me feel like I'm a forbidden fruit he just can't wait to take a bite out of.
When dinner is finally over and it's time for to go home, my blood stops flowing when Adrian proposes to drive me back home. I'm supposed to meet with Dante back at my place after dinner. In fact, I'm sure Dante is already at my place just waiting for me to tell him how dinner went.
"Oh, you don't have to bother yourself Adrian. I came here in Liam's car. He can just drive me back." I say.
"Nonsense. What can of fiancé would I be if I let my woman ride with another man. I insist." Adrian says with a big smile plastered on his face but before I can object again, my father cuts me off.
"Just let the man drive you, Adeline. You two have a lot of catching up to do anyways." My father says, his voice resonating in my chest.
"Aww just accept the offer, Adeline. Isn't Adrian just a cute little thing." I almost roll my eyes from my mother's addition.
"I don't mind Addie. Just let me know when you're home safe okay?" Liam says offering me a warm hug. I'm at a loss for words so all I can do is smile and nod my head and hope that when Adrian finally gets me home, he doesn't ask for me to let him in. I don't know if Dante will be able to control himself if he sees me with Adrian.