Clashing Loyalties

As they entered the room, Alex maintained a stoic expression, his silence palpable. Emily, ever graceful, swiftly diffused any tension with her soothing voice, "Sorry we are late. Traffic was awful." Her words flowed like a gentle stream, calming the atmosphere.

Ever since they were kids, Alex and Emily usually arrived at gatherings and parties together as neighbours. Yet, their transformation into a married couple took many by surprise. As they arrived, adorned in matching designer outfits, curious glances were exchanged.

Among the spectators, Olivia's discomfort briefly flickered across her face before she composed herself, rising to greet Emily. "It's alright, Emily. Come, sit with me," she offered, her tone saccharine. Emily recognized Olivia's facade, but chose to oblige, settling beside her.

The guests' expressions mirrored a blend of astonishment, confusion, and intrigue, as they pondered the unexpected dynamics at play.

"You made it," Julian greeted Alex, but swiftly redirected his attention to Emily. Alex nodded, sensing Julian's lingering gaze on Emily, which irked him, casting his eyes with a dark, icy intensity. The room brimmed with tension until the topic shifted to drink preferences.

As libations flowed, suppressed questions began to surface. A bespectacled, half-drunk man fixed his gaze on Olivia , "Olivia, back to marry Alex, are you? Don't forget to send us wedding invites." Another voice chimed in, "Oh, come on, don't play coy. We all know the truth now."

Olivia's lip curled into a faint smile but frowned. "Let's not joke about it. Things have changed," 

"How so?" someone pressed, stirring the pot further. "Their marriage was fake, we all knew."

"We all know Alex only has eyes for you," a shrill voice interjected. Alex frowned, his gaze instinctively finding Emily, who seemed detached, sipping her juice as if the conversation were about strangers.

The woman with the high-pitched voice persisted, "Emily, you must have known Alex's heart belonged to Olivia all along, didn't you? You're not going to get upset with us, are you?"

Meeting her gaze, Emily responded calmly, "You already claimed I wouldn't be upset, why ask?" Recognition dawned as she remembered meeting the woman at the sports club the day Olivia returned.

"Well, I just had to see if you were really that dull, unable to take a joke," the woman, Clare, quipped.

Olivia swiftly intervened, "Clare, enough. Emily, sorry about that. I apologize on her behalf"

Emily maintained her composure, "Don't worry. I prefer not to stoop to certain levels." 

A subtle tension tightened Olivia's fist under the table.

"I was just telling the truth" Clare lifted her chin and stared at Emily, "You don't need to apologize to her, Olivia." 

With a resounding 'Bang', Alex slammed his glass onto the table, his face contorted with rage. The room plunged into an uncomfortable silence, the atmosphere freezing as if time itself had halted. Alex's glare bore into Clare, his eyes aflame with fury.

Sensing the escalating tension, Olivia nervously interjected, "Alex, please, don't be angry. Clare didn't mean any harm. Clare, apologize to Emily." 

Clare's reluctance was evident, but cowed by Alex's intensity, she begrudgingly muttered, "Sorry."

Emily remained impassive, observing the scene as if detached from the unfolding drama.

Turning to Olivia, Alex issued a command, "Don't let me catch her face again." 

It was an unmistakable directive for Clare to leave immediately. As Clare clung to Olivia's dress, tears welling in her eyes, Olivia found herself torn. She wanted to stand up for Clare, to assert her significance in Alex's eyes, but his unwavering stance left her doubting her importance.

A fleeting glance at Alex revealed his lowered gaze, his thick lashes obscuring most of his emotions, yet the undercurrent of anger was palpable. Olivia understood that pleading for Clare's stay would likely be futile. With a heavy heart, she pushed Clare's hand away and nodded towards the door, silently signalling her departure. Clare shot Emily a venomous stare before storming out.

As the room lapsed into silence once more, confusion hung thick in the air. 

Weren't Alex and Emily's marriage supposed to be a strategic move to salvage the Johnson firm? And hadn't it always been Olivia whom Alex declared his love for? The abrupt intensity of Alex's defence of Emily against Olivia's friend left many guests puzzled and uneasy.

After Clare's departure, Olivia, feeling unsettled, rose from her seat and excused herself to the washroom. The lingering tension in the room intensified, casting a palpable awkwardness over the gathering. However, amidst the discomfort, Julian Everhart remained unfazed.

As Olivia exited, Julian seized the moment, pouring a glass of juice and taking the vacant seat beside Emily. "Here," he offered, extending the glass, "I noticed you liked this."

Emily was taken aback by his unexpected gesture, momentarily surprised. Suppressing the urge to glance at Alex, she accepted the glass with a grateful smile. "Thank you, Julian."

Yet, as she held the glass, a chilling sensation prickled her skin, a silent reminder of an icy stare fixed upon her.

Emily took a sip of her juice, avoiding Alex's gaze. 

"Are you upset?" Julian asked gently. 

Emily shrugged, her gaze fixed elsewhere. "Why would I be?" she replied flatly. "Not to mention, it's true," she added, a bitter edge to her words. 

The truth about their marriage was an open secret, there was no point in pretending otherwise. With a resigned sigh, Julian reached out and gently petted Emily's head, a gesture from their childhood. Emily's eyes widened in disbelief, memories flooding back. 

Julian, a mere two years older than Emily, often played the role of the elder sibling during their childhood escapades. With a mischievous sparkle in his eyes, he would impart sage advice and offer a comforting presence, despite their minimal age gap. It was a role he embraced with gusto, weaving imaginative tales of wisdom and experience beyond his years, much to Emily's amusement. Despite their close age proximity, Julian's playful demeanour and protective nature fostered a bond that transcended mere chronological age, solidifying their connection as steadfast companions through the whims of youth. 

As Emily sat frozen, Alex abruptly stood up, his tone icy. "Come outside," he commanded Julian.

 With a reassuring smile at Emily, Julian complied. "Enjoy your drink," he said softly before exiting the room. Left behind, the atmosphere crackled with tension as onlookers speculated about the hidden dynamics at play.

As whispers of curiosity swirled around Emily, she found herself at the center of unwanted attention. "Emily, after all these years, Julian is still so nice to you," one gossipmonger remarked, their words dripping with intrigue. 

Nice? Emily's mind flashed back to the countless moments of frustration and hurt caused by Julian's thoughtless actions and words during their tumultuous teenage years. 

Then, another voice chimed in with a more probing question, "So, your marriage, was it all fake?" The insatiable curiosity of their acquaintances was palpable, fuelled by the shocking revelation two years prior. No one could have predicted that Emily Johnson and Alexander Stratton would end up as a couple, and the subsequent rumours about their marriage being a sham only added fuel to the fire. According to gossip, it was merely a charade orchestrated for the ailing Mrs. Stratton's sake, her wish to witness their union.

Before Emily could respond, Michael McCallen interjected with righteous indignation, his voice cut through the air with a sharp edge. "Where did you hear that from? How dare you ask Emily about her marriage without even knowing if it's true?" 

His unexpected support caught Emily off guard, and she felt a swell of gratitude towards him. Holding his glass aloft, Michael offered a toast to Emily, a silent reassurance amidst the prying curiosity.

"Don't dwell on their words too much," Michael advised, his tone softening. "If you want, I can talk to Alex and find out who's behind these rumours." 

Emily nodded and said softly"Thank you." 

"You don't need to thank me," Michael insisted, his loyalty unwavering. "Alex is my best friend, and you're his wife. Standing up for you is just what I should do."

As Emily contemplated Michael's words, he offered a gentle suggestion. "Maybe you should give him a bit more time," he mused, noticing her puzzled expression. "When he was little, Olivia saved him. Some feelings could be easily mixed up as you grow up." Michael explained. 

"Really?" she replied with a polite smile, her composure unwavering.

 "You grew up with him. You should know he almost drowned, and what Olivia did meant a lot to him."

The weight of Emily's unspoken regrets hung heavy in the air. "I know," she confessed softly, her gaze distant with memories of a fateful day she couldn't recall.

Sighing, Michael pressed on, urging Emily to grant Alex the time and space to confront his true feelings. "That's why I said to give him more time," he explained, his voice gentle yet firm.

Puzzled, Emily sought clarification. "More time for what?"

"To understand his true feelings," Michael clarified, his words carrying a weight of wisdom from an outsider point of view. "Perhaps you could also benefit from taking more time to understand your own feelings." 

Emily's curiosity piqued, her eyebrow arching in question. "Mine?" she echoed.

Nodding thoughtfully, Michael elaborated, "Yes, yours. Maybe it's worth exploring your emotions towards him with a calm and serious approach."