Chapter 9 Could This Be…?

Bryan's face changed upon hearing that name and he turned his attention to the middle-aged couple walking down the stairs.

Jerry Sutton had a deep frown on his face as he stared at the screen of his phone that he failed to see the scene in front of him.

Deborah Thompson wasn't looking down on his phone as well, so she was quick to notice there was something off about the atmosphere.

When her eyes settled on Bryan's annoyed face, she forced on a smile and patted Jerry.

"Honey, Mr. Baker is here already. How come no one came to tell us."

Immediately, Jerry raised his eyes to meet Bryan's and laughed awkwardly.

"Mr. Baker, I didn't know you were here already. Otherwise, my wife and I would've personally welcomed you."

Laura turned to him and shook her head in disapproval.

"Father, how could you mention the name of that ugly overweight at our engagement party."

The words had just rolled off her tongue when Deborah nodded in, "You're right, your father was wrong to have mentioned her."

"Mr. Baker, I don't know if I'm the only one, but whenever I hear that name of hers, I get these frightening goosebumps all over my body."

"Ms. Thompson, I think it's your body protecting itself from the fat virus she carries around." One of Laura's friend chipped in.

A thoughtful look crossed Deborah's eyes before she sighed heavily and continued, "My husband and I tried various ways to rid her of looking like that, but she was just so lazy that she remained the same."

"Initially, I thought we had failed her, but now that I look at it, we tried our best to help her, it just wasn't possible to do so."

Jerry Sutton dropped his hand beside him and added nervously, "That being said, please don't be offended with me, Mr. Baker."

"I only mentioned her name because she keeps calling me. Like people wouldn't know when she comes. Someone that hideous can't possibly walk in here without anyone recognizing her."

"This must be one of the many ways she has come up with to stall dissolving what is left of your engagement to each other, Mr. Baker."

"She's still so in love with you it took six years of convincing to get her to completely dissolve the engagement you two had together."

"Was it not so important, I would never let her come into this compound let alone into this house."

As if recalling something, Deborah stepped backward and beckoned onto a waiter. She whispered something into his ear then turned her attention to everyone.

"That reminds me, pardon us, but we'll be sharing nose masks for everyone around. We've never been able to find out why she kept growing in size and if whatever is causing is is contagious, but just in case it is, we'lol be giving you masks to protect yourselves for when she's here."

Ten seconds later, the waiter she had spoken to walked in with three more waiters who shared masks to everyone. Including Kelsie.

She took it with a straight face and put it on without a word.

Bryan, who hasn't said a word to either of them the whole time, spoke up again after they were done speaking.

"Miss, you were just about to tell me your name. Whatever happens now; please do not stop and just tell me. I'd like to address you by your name now instead of miss."

Kelsie pulled down the nose mask to expose her lips in order to respond. "Kelsie."

Bryan blinked before he smiled warmly.

"Kelsie. That is a beautiful name for a beautiful woman. Although some people are so undeserving of that name. It's a pity you share the same name with them."

Kelsie raised a brow like though she was ignorant as she repeated, "Them?"

Bryan nodded.

"Yes, there used to be a hideous overweight girl in this house. She's so hideous you'd barf all you've eaten for the evening if you see her."

"But don't you worry, I'll make sure your beautiful eyes don't look at her once she walks in here in a few minutes."

Laura lowered her eyes to the floor and moved uncomfortably from one foot to the other as she listened to their conversation.

Not only was Bryan looking and treating this woman affectionately, but he was also doing this in public.

As his fiancée, it was an insult to her. But there was nothing she could do as she feared whatever she said would only offend Bryan.

Jerry and Deborah settled their eyes on the face of the woman Bryan was speaking so calmly to and their breath hitched.

Her beauty was nothing short of breathtaking, with skin as smooth and flawless as porcelain, she seemed untouched by time, her complexion pale and glowing like moonlight.

Long, dark lashes framed her almond-shaped eyes, deep and expressive, holding the gaze of anyone who dared look into them.

Her jet-black hair flowed down her back like a waterfall of silk, each strand catching the light as if it had a life of its own.

It was no surprise to them why this woman caught Bryan's attention.

Deborah clenched her jaw tightly and stepped forward.

She had worked so hard to make today possible. To make it possible that her daughter married into the Baker family.

She wasn't about to let some person take her daughter's place simply because she was breathtaking.

"Mr. Baker, I didn't know you knew such a beautiful woman. Perhaps, is she an actress or a model? Maybe both. Either way, it was really great of her to come to your engagement party to my daughter."

Even a blind man could see what she was trying to do. Actresses and models had reputations to maintain.

While it looked like she was complimenting the woman, the underlying meaning behind her words was obvious; whatever she does today can either make or harm her career.

There was also a subtle warning in it for Bryan. Anyone from a reputable family like his would know better than to continue talking to the pretty lady while ignoring his fiancé.

However, Bryan wasn't like other people. He was a fool. A fool who only cared about himself. To the best of his knowledge, the Sutton family were the ones who needed him the most not the other way around.

He doubted they would break off an engagement they stood to benefit a lot from just because he pursued a woman who attended his engagement party.

Seeing Bryan wasn't turning his attention away from the woman, Laura felt her face heat up in embarrassment.

Deborah gritted her teeth and glared hostilely at the Kelsie.

Seeing things weren't going as well as it was supposed to and anxious to save face, Jerry exhaled lightly and came up with a suggestion.

"Mr. Baker, why don't you come upstairs with us while I call Kelsie again. The faster we dissolve your engagement to her, the sooner we will be able to plan your marriage to Laura."

As soon as he finished talking, he dialed Kelsie's number and pressed his phone against his ear.

It didn't bother anyone when someone's phone began ringing in the room nor when the person who owned it was the beautiful woman in their midst.

As soon as he heard the call connect, Jerry yelled into the phone angrily.

"What is taking you so long? It's been over an hour since you said you'd be here! Do you think the rest of us have nothing better to do than to sit around and waste away like you?!"

He didn't bother to lower his voice nor tune down his aggressive words.

"What are you talking about? I've been waiting down here for the past one hour."