Chapter 14: Worried about her

Dyren wasn't in a good mood. He was planning to go out with Zharia. She said that she loves flowers and butterflies. There's a place he knows where she can see flowers and butterflies roaming around, and he wants to show it to her. But the time isn't right.

His parents came back from abroad, and they know that Carina also came back. They were previously very supportive of them. They even planned a wedding for their future. His parents and Carina's parents were business partners.

The Lewis family was the richest family in the world. They owned the most famous and expensive hotels that only an elite person in the country could afford. Since they already have a relationship, his parents were very happy to hear that. A daughter of the richest person in the world was his girlfriend.

They're currently waiting for them to arrive. Waiting is not his thing, but when it comes to Mr. Lewis, he can wait. The meeting place was one of the Lewis hotels. The hotel was truly beautiful and elegant-looking. Everything was expensive, even the smallest thing in the hotel.

They are dressed formally. Dyren and his father were wearing a black suit and black leather shoes. His mother was wearing a red dress with her expensive jewelry.

His parents told him that they would meet with them to reconcile the two of them. They want them to be back together as couples. Carina's and his parents had previously agreed that they would marry after they graduated from high school.It was the lamest thing he had ever heard. He doesn't have a choice but to come to that meeting since his parents will be angry if he doesn't go.

"Fix yourself, Dyren. Smile and be polite to them."

That is what his father has always told him to do. He knows his father well. When it comes to their business, he can do anything for it. He also knows that he is only doing that for the sake of their business because Mr. Lewis can invest a lot of money in it.

"Here they are. " his mother signaled.

When he saw the Lewis family, his parents immediately stood, while he stood boringly. All of the staff in the hotel bowed down to them as if they were the most important people in the world.

Carina's father was a handsome man with a lot of authority. Her mother was also a beautiful woman. But there's only one thing that's been going through his mind since the first time he met her mother: Carina and her mother don't have any resemblance to each other.

Carina immediately snaked her hand over his shoulder, and he could feel her front. She intentionally pressed it. She's only wearing a see-through gown, and her cleavage is visible to him. She's literally flirting with him. Unlike before, Dyren will feel something through her way of dressing, but it's different right now.

"Sit down, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis," his father politely said before they seated themselves.

Dyren was suffocating in the atmosphere that surrounded them. He just wanted to disappear at that moment. Carina's father was looking at him sternly. He doesn't know why, but it's making him nervous.

"How are you?" Carina holds his hand, but he immediately let go.

"Fine." He plainly replied.

He would be a liar if she talked to Carina the way they talked before. All of the people who surrounded him were making him crazy. He wished that their meeting would end soon.

"Your son and my daughter will graduate soon. This means our family will nearly unite as one." Mr. Lewis spoke.

"Yes, Mr. Lewis, and I'm looking forward to it." Dyren's father smiled and agreed.

"Drop the formality. Just call me Edward because your son will one day become my son."

Dyren wished that maybe someone would kidnap him and get him out of that place. He would surely be thankful to his kidnappers if that happened. But it's impossible. The whole area was guarded by many bodyguards.

"What can you say about that, Carina and Dyren?" Carina's mother catches their attention.

They looked at her, and Carina immediately smiled at her question. She seems to be the only one who's happy with their situation while the other one wasn't.

"I would be the happiest person if that happened."

"I'm not marrying her!" Dyren can't take it anymore. His father was shocked by his action.

Before, yes, he would be happy to marry Carina, but his feelings were different. Marrying someone you don't love is a death wish for him. He would never be happy with that person if he didn't love her.

"Dyren, mind your attitude!" His father warned him. The aura of his father is frightful, but he needs to defend himself.

"Why?" Carina's father's aura was more frightening than his own.

He gathered all his courage. He would fight for the one he loves this time because it is the most righteous thing he could do.

"I don't love her anymore!" he said.

He can see in his peripheral vision that Carina was crying, but there's no turning back. There was a brief silence, and it suffocated him more. Carina's father brought down the spoon and fork on his plate and looked straight into his eyes.

Tell me, "What do you know about love?"

"Love is the one I found after your daughter left me behind."

After the past few weeks that he and Zharia were dating. He then realized something. He realized that the feelings he had with Carina before weren't love; they were affection. The way he was fond of Carina's personality was called affection.

Love is what he felt with Zharia. His heart beats abnormally fast when she's around. Her smile, her laugh—everything about her was perfect in his eyes. He can even feel that her stomach is full of butterflies when she's with him. It was different because he doesn't have any reason why that's happening to him.

"So, tell me about this girl you're referring to."

Every eye was on him when Mr. Lewis talked again. He already knew that someone was on Dyren's mind when he talked like that. He's a man, too.

"Zharia Rylie Smith!" Carina blurted out. Her pain allows her to open her mouth.

Dyren wondered why Mr. Lewis acted that way. When he heard the name Zharia, he drank some of his water. He loosened his necktie and cleared his throat. Even Carina's mother was bereft when she heard Zharia's name. It seems like they know her.

"Can you stop this nonsense, Dyren?" his father asked again, trying to ease the cold air surrounding them.

His mind wasn't responding to his father's voice. He was thinking about why they were acting like that. His mind is racing with questions.

"Let's call this a night!" Mr. Lewis just said:

He never let his family and Carina's family leave the hotel first; he immediately walked away from that place. Since he brought his car, he doesn't need to see his father again, who was surely mad at him. He doesn't care anymore. He's grown enough, and he needs to stand up for his rights.

"You better not trust anyone you meet for the first time, Dyren."

He didn't notice Carina's father standing beside him. He doesn't let Dyren say a word. He entered his car and drove away. His father was nearly coming to him. He wants to punch his son, but Dyren has already driven his car away.

He's curious about what Mr. Lewis said. Why does he feel the need to inform him of this? Why were they acting like that when they heard Zharia's name? Do they know her? Lots and lots of questions are overloading his mind.

He attempted to call Zharia, but she did not answer. Maybe she's sleeping, but it's too early. Maybe she's doing their homework. He tried calling her friends, but neither of them answered. He then realized he needed to go to their condo for some reason. He drives for almost 10 minutes to their condo. He immediately went to their unit to see what exactly was happening to them.

He knocked on the door several times, but no one answered. He tried calling Zharia again, but she didn't answer. Where would they go? He was literally in pain, not knowing where Zharia was.

"Hello Lyx!" He called Lyxander.

"Hello Dyren! What's up"

"Do you know where Zharia and her friends went? I'm here at their condo, and it seems there's no one here," he said. He's really worried.

"I-I don't k-know." He can sense the nervousness of his friend on the other line.

"You're with Danilaey, right?"

"Yeah, but that was a long time ago." he said.

"Oh! Is that so? "Okay, bye!" he only said before hanging up.

He remembered Sabrina being Prince's tutor; perhaps he knows where they went. He called Prince, and after a long wait, he answered.

"Hello, Prince! Do you know where Zharia and her friends went?"

"N-nope! Danilaey called Sabrina while tutoring me and then left!" Prince's voice was also nervous. What is happening to his friends?

"O-okay! Bye!" He hung up.

His friends seem very nervous when he calls them. What supposedly happened? He's very nervous and frightened at the same time.