When Fate Decided to Play its Part

CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE:

Hostages

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There is one thing that Althea hates the most ever since she was young. And it was: unnecessary attention.

In her younger years, she was constantly inside their home or their backyard, tending the garden. She sometimes helps with their shop and do deliveries but talking and interacting with other more than that? No, she cannot remember doing that.

But for the past two years, she learned how to socialize and talk with others. It was good for her, said her doctor. It was good talking with older people and strangers, but people from the past? She has to think twice before even making eye contact with them.

Standing in front of a room that is full of familiar faces, Althea can feel her chest tightening and her breathing become ragged. Feeling their stares and gazes directed to her, she can feel herself drowning with hatred and disgust.

It was like as if she traveled back through time, 7 years ago.

Although this is a high school reunion and 7 years ago was their college days, most of them also went to the college she was in. Their high school and college were connected, so most students go there after graduating high school. So, basically, most of the people here were the same in their college.

The people who showered her with stares of disgust and mockery. What is worst, the two who was the very reason why she came back home was also here, inside the room, together with the other people who mocked her from the past.

If only it did not happen, she would not go home and experience that shit.

‘No,’ Althea let out a bitter laugh inside her mind. She stared at the shock and awkward faces of the people. ‘Even if I did not get home because of it, that would still happen one way or another.’

“What are you doing here?” Sheryl stood up from her seat and asked her. The party seems to have already came into a stop. The music and the slides already stopped playing, even the lights went still. “Did someone invite you here? Did someone tell you about this?”

She asked that in great disbelief. Her eyes were wide in shock as she looked around, trying to find who the hell invited the ‘uninvited’ person. None of them tried to clash wit her gaze, they looked away except from the very girl who really invited her, April. Sheryl looked shock before furry made its way to her pretty face. “April?”

mad, she stepped out from the table and began to advance towards where the five are standing. Althea raised her

Sheryl, looked at her in shock. She finally spoke! And

in the eye. “ But I guess you are not the one to talk about dropping uninvited either. Since you just suddenly came to my shop, issued a heart-to-heart talk, but who disappeared after without even the talk? Is this perhaps the topic you want to have a hearty talk with?” Althea raised a brow. “You’ll give me ‘hearty’ talk about not going here but changed your mind since you thought no one will

right but wrong about why she left earlier than she expected. She thought that she must speak to her about not going here before Tyler or anyone say it to her. She cannot afford to see the two again in the same room. It was enough on the incident on the amusement park, also, he is going to an important business trip the next day, so she thought that she can keep the

exactly what Althea said. She thought no one will. But April really had to ruin it

absolutely mortifying for

his brows and glared at Sheryl. “You came to her shop? Did I already told you not to bother them anymore? Is

from embarrassment and she glared at

have to get going since this is not really the place I should be in right now, also about that, you have nothing to worry about. She had already…” Althea hesitated, trying to find the right

never knew she has one, even April and Aaron have a visible

She has a son?

a lot of criticism and mockery, but the subject of the rumors was gone. The other one did not even confirm or denied it, so after some time,

Could it be?

short phrase- no, it is not even a phrase- it’s just a single word, she turned her back and walked away. Before anyone can react,

under her breath. “She’s

and small murmurs begun to circulate between circles.

and without a single word, he stepped outside,

shouted after grabbing his arm and pulling him back. “Where are you

stepped back cautiously to not step on her before looking at her coldly. “Do I

to! I am your fiancé! I have at least

calm his nerves from her shouting. “Let go of me, Sheryl. Let go of me before my patience

Sheryl, her eyes were tearing up. “Why are you like this? She just came back, and you are already treating me

back down either. The silence continued between the two and It was like