Chapter 19: Let's Proceed As Soon As Possible

When they finished eating, it was almost seven. Wandering around the city, Alexander found the bar they were looking for. Twelve years after leaving this city, he needed more time to adjust to the new surroundings.

There was one thing that sent him curious since they parked the car. Camellia became quiet, she didn't look excited like earlier. More like she was anxious as she kept playing with her fingers.

"Change your mind?" In case she had any change of mind, Alexander thought it would be better to just leave.

"Nope." Shaking her head, she looked at him, "Let's go." Her eyes were portraying determination. There was one thing that Alexander didn't know, she never had tried drinking. When she passed the legal age, drinking never crossed her mind. She was so busy with her life that she never got to try any. When Noah told her the reason he drinks was to forget, she found it unacceptable. Basically, the problem would rise again when they were sober, right? But then today, she felt the urge to try those things, if it could help her to forget even for just a while, why not?

The loud sound of the music the moment they entered the bar, made Camellia take a step back. Seeing how she reacted, Alexander could already guess that she had never been to this kind of place.

"Need a hand?" He raised up his left hand, offering to help.

But his action made Camellia stare at his hand and remembered something, "Sorry…" She suddenly apologised.

It was hard for Alexander to hear it because of the loud music, but he was sure by reading her mouth that she was saying sorry and wondered why so suddenly. "Is there something wrong?"

"I'm sorry…" She said it again. A layer of unsettling emotion raised up upon seeing the blood stain on his sleeve. Camellia pinched a part of the sleeve and slightly moved it. She felt bad, bringing him everywhere, forgetting the fact that he got hurt.

"Hey, what is it? Is there something wrong?" Alexander heard the shakiness in her voice. He peeked to look at her face and saw how her eyes were now misty and her face had an expression of sad confusion.

The great feeling of exhaustion pulled away all her energy and made her fall on her legs. Perhaps, the stains were just a trigger. Camellia had been holding everything inside and the pain was unbearable. A great pang gripped her heart. Squatted, she covered her face with her palms. At first her cries were in a low moan, but as the wave of sadness kept coming out, she started wailing.

Panicked, Alexander looked around. Thanks to the music, people did not seem to realise it. He used one of his knees to kneel, "Shhh…it's okay. Just let it out." He pulled her into his embrace and rubbed her back.

A few minutes passed and the shudder had slowed or maybe already stopped. He moved away from her body to take a look. There were traces of tears on her face, "Feeling better?" The question was asked when he wiped the tears away.

Camellia nodded sadly.

"Let's go home for now, okay?" He removed her hair that stuck to her cheek because of her tears.

Nothing came out from her mouth, she nodded again, answering him.

Their whole ride home was quiet. Alexander didn't bother her until they arrived home. The smile appeared on his lips when she saw her head already falling downward. She fell asleep. He got out of the car and moved to Camellia's side.

Reaching the door handle, he was stopped by the voice from the back.

"What happened? I called you many times!" Adam sounded angry. He needed a lot of info from him but Alexander was out of reach.

"Shhh!"

Shocked with Alexander's reply, he tried to sneak a peek into the car. "Did something happen?" He quickened his pace to the car when he saw Camellia was there.

"Can you move?" Alexander pushed him a little bit to open the door. Taking out the seatbelt, he was already considering carrying her in when Camellia suddenly opened her eyes.

"Did we arrive?" She asked with her eyes half open.

"Sophie?" Adam called her.

"Oppa…" Her eyes widened when she spotted Adam there. She got out of the car and went directly to him.

Alexander at the side, tilted his head feeling dissatisfied.

"Your eyes are all swollen. Did he do something?" Adam directed a glare towards Alexander.

"Excuse me?" Adam pursed his lips and cocked his right brow.

Camellia quickly denied it, she shook her hand hard in front of Adam to make sure no misunderstanding came up.

"Then what is it?" Adam was already anxious waiting for the answer when he heard a loud sigh from Alexander.

"Let's go in…" Alexander said, holding her hand.

"Stop." Adam held Alexander's hand, and didn't allow him to bring her in.

"Got a problem?"

"I'm talking to her."

"She is tired." Alexander said, once again trying to walk away.

"She can speak you know."

Camellia that stood in between felt dizzy because of these two. "Please stop." She spread her hands wide but they didn't stop glaring at each other. "Let's just go in first."

"Are you going to sleep here tonight?" Adam's eyes changed, his lips showed a feeble smile.

She blinked her eyes continuously then formed a cute smile, "I can, right?"

"Of course you can, your room never changes."

"She has a room here? Why?" Alexander didn't get it. What was Camellia to their family?

"Why? Well, maybe because dad loves her more than you. Let's go Sophie." He hugged her shoulders and walked together inside.

Quickening his steps, Alexander stopped them at the entrance door.

"I don't quite understand." He stopped, taking a breath to calm down. "She is my fiancé, right?"

"And?" Adam returned the question with a sarcastic remark.

"And why do I feel like you make it like she is yours?"

Adam scratched the hair behind his ear. He needed to stay calm and tried to not follow Alexander's attitude. "Go in first." He pushed Camellia's shoulders slowly.

Not willing to leave both of them in that kind of situation, she kept on looking back until she reached the stairs. A nod from Adam made her continue her walk even though she still felt unsettled.

"I don't know what's on your mind, but can't you at least speak in manners?" Adam really couldn't understand Alexander right now. He became rude, unlike him.

"You cross the line."

"What line? Tell me which line exactly?" He was fuming in anger right now.

"She's mine."

"Sorry? If I'm not mistaken, you madly disagree with all this arranged marriage!" Adam returned Alexander's own words.

"So, do you plan to marry her?"

"Ahh?" He was utterly speechless. He scratched his hair in wrath and said, "I consider her as my own sister, and now what nonsense are you spitting?!"

"Don't lie, your eyes show something else." Alexander was so sure, the look that Adam had when he gazed at her, was not a look from a brother to his sister.

"How do I explain to make you understand?"

"Don't need an explanation. You staying single already proves my assumption." Alexander walked away after saying those words.

"That is ridiculous!" Adam stopped him by pulling him hard and made Alexander face him.

"What's going on here?" Michael's voice rang from above.

Both of them looked up, but then Alexander spoke up, "Dad, I'm okay with the marriage. Let's proceed as soon as possible."