A Great Blow To A Man's Ego

Tristan's eyes never left Hannah's figure. He continued looking at her from the distance. Jake and Blake had stopped teasing him. They also watched the couple who were talking to their parents.

After greeting the elders and their parents, Hannah's eyes roamed around the main hall as if she was searching for someone. When she looked at Tristan's direction, their eyes met each other.

She caught him staring at her. A lovely smile automatically formed in her red lips. Tristan's heart began to pound wildly once again. He was the one who looked away first, moving his gaze away from her direction.

Then after a few seconds, Jake leaned on Tristan, whispering something.

"Hannah is coming here. She is now walking toward us." Jake said in a low voice.

Tristan's eyes widened. He froze on his spot, fighting the urge to look forward. He didn't know if he was ready to face her. It's been a long time since the last time they saw each other.

Hannah was the only woman who could make him feel so nervous and restless like this. She had a great effect on him as if Tristan turned back to being a teenager who saw his number one crush.

Though he felt uneasy, deep down he was very excited to talk to her once again. After his long anticipation, finally he smelled her sweet familiar scent. Hannah was already near him.

However when he gazed up Andrew was also there, standing beside Hannah while holding her waist. Expectation vs reality! This was not what he imagined.

"Tristan!"

"Brother…"

Both Hannah and Andrew greeted him. Blake had nudge Tristan's shoulder in order for him to respond to Hannah and Andrew. Tristan was not in his usual self the moment he saw them both. He was utterly disappointed.

"Hi." That the only word he could utter matched with his awkward-looking forced smile.

Jake and Blake just shook their head as they watched Tristan helplessly.

'That's the reason he can't win Hannah against Andrew. This womanizer didn't know how to look cool in front of his true love. He is good at wooing other women but when it comes to the woman he truly loves, he does not know what to do.'

Those were the thoughts that the twin brothers had in their minds at that moment. They pitied Tristan for that.

Luckily, Grandpa Lu called everyone's attention as he asked them to proceed to the big and long rectangular banquet table located at the center of the main hall. The table was already set for their dinner.

Everyone gathered around the table and sat down beside their family members. They all started eating. During the meal, the elders talked about their son and daughter's achievements.

This family dinner would always end up a venue for boosting and bragging about their son and daughter, grandson, and grandaughter's accomplishments in the world of politics, military, and business.

It was also time to make an announcement concerning the family. Andrew and Hannah's engagement was also brought up during the family discussion. As usual, Tristan lost his appetite because of that.

"Omoh, Congratulations! We are so happy for both of you." One of the elders gave her blessings to the couple.

"Thank you, great auntie Carla." Andrew politely responded to her.

The couple received a lot of congratulatory words coming from the members of the Davis family.

"Wow. I think our two families- Davis and Miller, will be connected not only because of long time friendship but because of Marriage of our children." Lucas cheerfully said to Hannah's father.

Everyone laughed at Lucas's remarks. Then Hannah's father replied something that made the atmosphere become awkward.

"Hahaha… yeah. I always thought that our families would be connected by Marriage. At first, I thought it would be Tristan and Hannah. Who would have thought that you hid another great son? And now, that son of yours will now become my son-in-law. I am glad she didn't end up with Tristan or else my daughter will have a hard time sending away the girls who are chasing after him."

There was a moment of deafening silence after that. Everyone averted their gaze to Tristan and Andrew. Hannah also felt the sudden tension surrounding them.

Pak!

That was a great hit for Tristan's ego, rubbing a grain of salt to his already wounded heart.

"Dad?!" Hannah mumbled while pouting at her father.

Her father just shrugged his shoulders at her, clueless about his mistakes. He gave everyone a confused look.

Cough! Cough!

"Alright. We have enough jokes for tonight. Let's talk about politics now. I heard that my niece is running for Senator this coming election. Is that true?"

It was grandpa Lu who intervened, diverting the topic and trying to lighten the atmosphere once again.

Everyone knew what grandpa Lu was trying to do. They played along with him and tried to forget what had just happened as if Hannah's father didn't say those words a while ago.

Tristan pretended to enjoy the food, trying to look brave and unaffected while enduring that great blow.

After finishing his food, Tristan immediately left the main hall as he went to the balcony outside to breathe some fresh air. He felt like he was being suffocated if he stayed inside.

"D@mn! This is the reason I hate this family gathering!" Tristan said through his gritted teeth.

Afterward, he smiled bitterly. "Seems like everyone is now looking down on me."

"But I am the mighty CEO of the Heavenly Star! They have no right to laugh at me and treat me as a Blacksheep of this family! I bring money… lots of money in the company!" Tristan said, convincing himself that he was a great guy despite his bad reputation with women.

"Damn! I look like a crazy man here. Talking to myself." Tristan chuckled before he gazed up watching the night sky.

Then he heard footsteps coming in. He thought it was one of the twins so without looking back, he said. "Leave me alone! I didn't come here to be a target of your teasing!"

"Tristan…"

His body stiffened after hearing that soft familiar voice of the woman he loved. The person who followed him was Hannah.