Chapter 13 Do You Plan to Take Her In?
On the other hand, Charles was tempted to reply affirmatively. Although Alison had forbidden him from interfering in her divorce, he was her friend, and she was being bullied. Hence, he was obligated to stand up for her in any situation. Furthermore, Carl sent him to remind Brayden that Alison had a powerful backer.
“It’s up to you.” She misread Charles’ expression for the first time and assumed he had a deal with Kian. “I’m fine with anything.”
“Okay.” His response was swift.
After hearing that, the mischievous gleam in Kian’s eyes deepened, and after a few more minutes of exchanging polite pleasantries with them, he left.
Alison waited until the door closed after he left, then turned to Charles and said in a levelheaded tone, “You can go about your business as usual when you’re around other people, and you don’t have to worry about me.”
“Very well.” Since he did not intend to elaborate, he simply responded briefly. I’m okay with this. This means I don’t have to be too polite when I run into Brayden later.
While Kian walked back to the room, amused, he raised an eyebrow at Brayden from outside the door. “They declined because they did not want us to disrupt their meal.”
Brayden’s eyes darkened upon hearing that. Then, he clenched his fist, which was hidden inside his pocket.
“However, they did agree to meet with us later.” After that, Kian’s tone became more eloquent as he continued, “You should have seen how Charles obeyed Alison’s every word. Tsk! Tsk! Tsk! An outsider may have assumed they were lovers.”
“I think you need to go to the optician instead,” Brayden retorted before returning to their reserved room. “You should also look for a teacher to help you with your comprehension skills.”
The statement left Kian perplexed, and he stared at him. Afterward, he nudged Raymond’s arm, unable to understand what Brayden meant. “What does he mean by that?”
“You used the phrase “obeyed Alison’s every word” incorrectly,” Raymond, who always maintained a level head, gave a gracious smile in response. “If you can see that they’re a couple, you must also be visually impaired.”
Kian gritted his teeth in response. Brayden Cornell. You scumbag! Fine! I’ll deal with you later!
Half an hour later.
Kian directed Brayden and Raymond to the club’s upper level before leading Alison and Charles upstairs. This was a designated area set up by the restaurant for guests to congregate after their meal.
Additionally, it so happened that Kian was the restaurant’s proprietor.
“Allow me to introduce you to my friends, Brayden Cornell and Raymond Cooper.” After saying that, Kian smirked as he noticed Brayden’s unwavering gaze fixed on Alison. “This is Charles Adkins from Imperia and his friend.”
As soon as Charles heard that, he returned the greeting.
On the other hand, Alison and Brayden kept staring at each other as though they were trying to bore a hole into each other’s faces.
“What are you doing, Brayden?” Kian deliberately asked. “You’re married. It’s also rude to stare at Mr. Adkins’ friend.”
“Mr. Adkins’ friend, as you call her, is the person whose name appears on my marriage certificate.” Knowing that Kian was trying to start something, Brayden reacted relatively calmly. “Did you know that, Mr. Adkins?”
Even though it was a simple question, it caused an immediate chill to spread throughout the room.
Should she be involved with Charles in some shady relationship, this would have exposed her for her lies.
“I do know that Aly is married,” Charles replied with a natural smile as he sat on the couch and took off his gold-rimmed spectacles. “I did not think it would be to you, Mr. Cornell.”
After hearing that, Alison looked at him from the corner of her eye. Chills had run down her spine when she heard him call her Aly. What is he doing?
Then, he gave her a look that conveyed the message he was standing up for her.
Meanwhile, his silent message with his eyes rendered her speechless.
However, Brayden was similarly affected by the nickname. My parents and grandpa call her Aly, but Charles Adkins… How could he address her so intimately? Neither have I called her that way before!
“Ah, so it’s Mrs. Cornell,” Kian suddenly chimed in. He stood up from his spot next to Brayden. “I’m so sorry I did not recognize you. Please, sit here. This is your seat.”
“No need.”
“No need.”
Alison and Brayden spoke in unison. One spoke with a freezing chill that conveyed intense rejection, while the other said in a light and calm tone.
“What’s going on with you two?” Kian was adamant about watching a show. “Did you two have a fight?”
In response, Brayden shot him a look.
However, Kian pretended to have missed it.
“Stay and talk with them.” Alison was not in the mood to say a single word to Brayden. “I need to go to the washroom.”
“Okay,” Charles replied in a doting voice.
Their interactions were straining Brayden’s eyes, and he got the impression that he was an outsider because of it.
Suddenly, Kian was in a chatty frame of mind. “Mr. Adkins, how did you meet Alison?”
After hearing that, Charles was stunned. He had planned to say he was her childhood sweetheart and their families had been close, but she had told him not to reveal her identity. So, he paused, at a loss for words, trying to figure out how to respond.
In Brayden’s eyes, his reaction was interpreted to mean he got to know Alison in a rather shameful way that could not and should not be publicized.
Soon, the atmosphere in the room became tense.
“It’s okay. You don’t have to tell us if you don’t want to,” Kian cheerfully said before calling a server over to serve them some alcohol. “Come, a toast to celebrate our meeting.”
Afterward, the men chatted for a few minutes before she returned. When she walked back into the room, all eyes immediately shifted to her.
On the other hand, Alison did not want to linger, so she bid them farewell after filling Charles in on everything. “I’ll be heading back first. Enjoy your chat.”
“Wait. Don’t rush off,” Kian called out. “Wait a while, and then you can go with Brayden.”
“No, it’s fine.”
“Stay for a while longer,” Charles said.
After hearing that, she silently stared at them. Then, without saying a word, she returned to join them.
Soon, there was a gloomy feeling in the room. Brayden’s grip on the glass in his hand tightened, his knuckles turned white, and he experienced shortness of breath as if a heavy weight were pressing down on his chest.
“Aly says you’re getting divorced,” Charles remarked, intentionally broaching a painful topic. His eyes were dark as he stared at Brayden. “Is it true?”
“Why? Do you plan to take her in?” Brayden shot back with a tinge of anger in his voice. However, he regretted his words the moment he said that.
Meanwhile, his response astounded everyone. Even Kian had not expected him to say something so rash.
He would not have been so furious if he were genuinely willing to divorce.
“Brayden Cornell,” Alison chided. She had not planned to talk to Brayden, but his words were too antagonistic. “Does your brain only exist for moments of snark?”
When he heard that, his other hand resting by the side balled up into a fist. However, he could not suppress the rage rising within him. “You should have kept yourself in check if you didn’t want me to say that.”
“You’re crazy.” She was in no mood to argue with him. So, she immediately picked up the glass from the table and downed it in one go, clearly enraged. Then, when she moved to grab the second glass, Brayden’s brows displayed a nearly imperceptible frown. He was about to stop her from picking up the glass when someone else intervened.
It was Charles.
Concern filled his eyes as he said, “That’s enough drinking. It’s bad for your body.”
After hearing those words, Alison obediently put the glass back on the table. Still, chaos reigned in her mind because she had not expected to hear anything unpleasant from Brayden.