Oh, that's why

Watching Vincent hold back from gagging was satisfying in a way. He had a sensitive sense of smell, and that wasn't a lie. But she didn't have any reason to spoil him anymore. He survived, anyway. He only had a sensitive nose, but that wouldn't kill him.

"Tsk." Vincent clicked his tongue, brushing his sleeve with the back of his hand as if that would get rid of the scent. "Fil, don't you always keep an air freshener spray in here? The entire house smells like fish."

Fil smacked her lips as she sat down on the chair across from him in the dining room. "I forgot to buy."

"What?"

"I'm used to this smell, so I'm not bothered," she explained while opening the lid of the ice cream. "Also, you rarely visit my place. Even if you do, you stay in the parking space or simply pick me up. So I don't need to have it."

Vincent scrunched up his nose but couldn't argue. What she said was entirely true.

"Ice cream?" she offered, smiling like an angel.

"No, thanks."

"Okay."

Vincent watched her take a large spoonful while she was humming happily. Just now, she wouldn't even look at him. But now, she was smiling and humming so happily.

'Her mood sometimes is crazy,' he thought, blaming her mood swings on her hormones. "Is it good?"

"Mhm!" She snapped her eyes at him. "Do you want to try it?"

"No, thanks."

"Why not? It's good."

"I just don't feel like eating." — especially with such a stench in the house. He couldn't even swallow his own saliva. "Just eat."

Fil shrugged in response, enjoying the ice cream because it was true her body felt sore. It was still a surprise she managed to drive six hours back and forth without a hitch.

'I wonder if he lives around that area,' she wondered, thinking of where she dropped off Jackson. 'That's a pretty expensive street. Even Vincent couldn't afford to live there with how high the mortgage was. Also, who wants to live in the heart of the city? Just living near it is suffocating enough —'

"Fil?"

Fil snapped her eyes to Vincent, brows furrowed. "Huh?"

"Are you zoning out?" he asked.

"Were you talking to me?"

"Yes!" he exclaimed. "I was telling you about Grandpa's birthday party two weeks from now."

"Oh…"

Vincent huffed faintly, looking at her in disappointment. "Don't tell me you forgot. What were you thinking just now that you can't even hear me?"

"It's nothing." She smiled. "Just someone I met."

"Someone you met?"

"Mhm."

"When?"

"Last night."

"Last night?"

Her smile stretched, amused at the curiosity swirling in his eyes. "Well, didn't I tell you I left my truck at your place? I commuted home, and I met someone on the way home. We talked, and we hit it off."

"Fil, what did I tell you about strangers?" Vincent sighed. "I know you're kind and find it hard to say no to people in need. But you have to be careful."

"What made you think the other person is the one who needed help?" she returned, cocking her head to the side. "To be fair, I was the one who needed help. This person is kind enough to help me. If not for him, I would've died, you know?"

"What?"

"That's why don't say that to my new friend." She pouted. "The person is kind… and he's really good."

"Is that so?" Vincent nodded in understanding, not picking up the hints Fil was deliberately throwing here and there. "Anyway, as I was saying, Grandpa's birthday is an important occasion."

"His birthdays are always important." She nodded, aware of how significant that occasion was. "Are you the one in charge this year?"

"Well, yes."

"I see. Good luck!" she cheered. "I'm sure it'll be a success."

Vincent furrowed his brows while Fil continued eating. "You're invited," he said, watching her pause and look back at him. "You're my fiancée, Fil. Since I'm in charge, you should come."

Fil blinked many times, rendered speechless at this news. "Me? Why?"

"I just told you," he added. "Also, Grandpa wants you to be there this year."

"Oh… that's why." She nodded in understanding.

Yearly, the Hale Family threw the biggest party for the chairman of Hale Construction. And every year, Fil never attended. It wasn't like she didn't want to attend, but she was never invited. Vincent told her the reason was because of the limited slots for the guest list.

She believed him like a fool before. There was no way Vincent would lie to her, right? She was too blinded to see through that simple lie. But not anymore. Even so, why would the chairman want to see her?

"I'll be busy, but I'll make time to look for a dress for you," he said. "If I can't, I already asked Marianne to help you."

"Marianne?"

"Mhm." He nodded innocently. "Marianne has a great sense of fashion. Also, you're friends. I thought you'd be more comfortable hearing her advice."

Advice from someone who was sleeping with her fiancé? Surely Vincent was full of crap.

"There's no need for that," Fil chuckled, resuming eating. "How can you make plans without telling me? You don't even know if I would come or not."

"Fil, this is Grandpa's birthday, and he specifically asked for you."

"Would you get in trouble if I don't come?"

"No, but —"

"Then I'll think about it," she uttered before he could even argue. "You're not the only one busy, Vin. I also have work. I was never invited in the past, so I never made arrangements beforehand. I'll attend if I can, but if I can't, I'll just apologize to your grandfather. I'm sure he wouldn't mind." — just like how she didn't mind not getting invited every single year.

Vincent's mouth parted, but the rest of his words rolled down his throat. For a moment, all he could do was stare at Fil in disbelief.

'Something changed…' he thought. '... or was it just my imagination?'

His expectation of Fil being all excited at the thought of getting invited went down the drain. Fil continued enjoying her ice cream, offering him a smile now and then, and even talking about something nonsense as if the party held no importance to her at all.

'Doesn't she know that being invited means publicizing our engagement?' he wondered. 'Isn't that what she always wanted?'