CHAPTER 43: COMING BETWEEN US

Suddenly, a high-pitched voice called out Raphael’s nickname. I felt a sudden tightness in my chest and realized that I recognized that voice. I slowly turned around to see Rosabella approaching us with a brilliant smile on her face. Suddenly, I felt like I didn’t belong there with the two of them, and I was instantly reminded of that similar feeling that I felt when she joined us at my mother’s wedding reception.

"I’m sorry for arriving late. I wanted to greet you sooner, but by the time that I got here, you were already up on stage," Rosabella said before smiling apologetically at Raphael. Her eyes did not even glance my way, and I wondered if she saw me as just some object of decoration in the background. That was just how much her entire attention was absorbed by Raphael.

"You didn’t need to come," Raphael replied quite coldly.

"This is your event; of course, I have to be here," Rosabella replied as if she was completely unaffected by his detached comment.

It felt like the perfect timing for me to slowly step away and fade into the background so that I could give these two some privacy because it was clear that that was what Rosabella wanted. Just like that time during my mother’s wedding, I began taking a step backward away from Raphael. However, unlike that time, Raphael wasn’t willing to let me make my escape. He suddenly grabbed my wrist and pulled my arm behind his body so that I was forced to stand right by his side. I began feeling nervous as my heart raced in my chest at his sudden action. My eyes met a very intense gray stare when I glanced up into his face. It felt like his eyes were telling me that I would lose my life if I dared leave his side. Rosabella began chatting up to Raphael about something that he was clearly not interested in.

"You should have given me a call. You have no idea just how long I waited for your call, but in the end, you never gave me a call," Rosabella began complaining in a whiny voice.

I thought that Raphael would respond to her, but all he did was stand there with a passive look on his face. The more he ignored Rosabella, the more she whined and complained about how he was not giving her enough attention. I wasn’t quite sure what their relationship was like, but it was clear that Rosabella felt like Raphael should pay more attention to her and that she also deserved his attention. I also got this impression the first time that I saw the two of them together, although Raphael did not mention anything about it to me. I looked at Rosabella’s face before my eyes traveled to Raphael’s face while it crossed my mind that these two could potentially be in a relationship.

"Are you even listening to what I’m saying?" Rosabella asked after quite a while of complaining. I had no idea why I had to be stuck in this situation while Raphael’s grip on my wrist wouldn’t loosen.

Because it seemed like she couldn’t get Raphael to respond to her, Rosabella directed her attention at me instead.

"How have you been, Abigail? Have you gotten used to attending these kinds of parties?" she asked, smiling my way.

"I’m still trying to get used to it," I replied as I wondered what she really wanted from me.

Her smile only widened before she asked me a few other questions about how I was enjoying myself. I smiled and gave her polite answers while suppressing my urge to tell her honestly that I wasn’t enjoying myself and that I would give anything to go back home right now.

"Actually, I have something to talk to your brother about, so if you don’t mind..." Rosabella said before trailing off with a sweet smile. I knew exactly what she had in mind, and honestly, I also wanted to leave the two of them alone, but Raphael didn’t seem to agree with the idea.

"It’s my job to escort Abigail. As you probably know, she’s not used to attending these kinds of events, so I can’t leave her alone. If there is something that you have to say, you can just go ahead and say it," Raphael said without letting go of my arm.

I showed Abigail an apologetic smile while I wondered if she realized that Raphael was still clutching my arm tightly, and that meant I couldn’t physically separate myself from him even if I wanted to.

"I just wanted to tell you that my father is looking forward to talking to Bennett when he returns from his honeymoon," Abigail said sweetly, but there seemed to be an edge of warning in her tone.

"Your father can talk to my father directly," Raphael replied emotionlessly. I got the sense that whatever they wanted to talk about had to be quite important for Rosabella to be reminding Raphael like this. Raphael, on the other hand, didn’t seem like he wanted to get himself involved.

"Abigail, are you feeling okay? You don’t look so well," Raphael said as he stared down at my upturned face with a look of concern in his eyes.

Am I supposed to be unwell again?

"Oh, yes. I don’t know why, but suddenly I feel quite dizzy and my arms are aching like they’re about to fall off," I replied with a few nods of my head.

After picking up that this was probably his way of using me to get out of the situation, I quickly complied and played along because I couldn’t wait to get myself out of there as well. It was beyond annoying and toxic for me to be caught up in between a lovers’ quarrel.

“I’m very sorry, but I have to take care of my sister. Let’s meet again some other time,” Raphael told Rosabella before quickly escorting me away.

“Wait! Raphael!” Rosabella called from behind us but Raphael did not bother to pause his steps.

–To be continued...

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