7 My Pride

"Hello, Ladies. How are you holding up?"

I blinked and just noticed now that it had been a while since I lost myself, staring dreamily at Lance while Zoe also did the same to Lawrence.

"Hello, Mr. Lee." I politely greeted the handsome man who was now sitting in front of us.

"Hello, uncle! Glad to see you again." Zoe awkwardly chimed in as well.

She seemed to be uncomfortable towards the man. I could not exactly blame her though.

I also felt the same.

While Lean Lee was bubbly and accommodating, Leon Lee, however, was the no-nonsense type of man.

Strict and proper.

"I saw you girls all quiet just sitting here. So here I am to keep you girls company. That is, of course, if you are both fine with an old man like me." Mr. Lee gave us a warm fatherly smile and my first impression of him popped like bubbles.

"Of course! We're honored that a handsome dandy man such as you is accompanying us!" Zoe immediately coaxed the man.

I wanted to do the same, but I did not know what to say, so I just nodded politely in agreement.

"I heard you girls are also studying in Artem. What are you majoring?"

"The arts!"

"Really?" Mr. Lee's eyes shone excitedly at Zoe's remark, and like that, they were both lost in their own conversation of paintings.

It had been a while before Mr. Lee had finally noticed me.

"How about you, Emery?"

"Music." I meekly replied.

Honestly, I was always proud when I told someone about my major, but right now, I wish I had studied arts instead.

"Really?!!"

Mrs. Lee's high pitch voice made our head turned towards her. I did not notice that she was already behind me together with Lawrence.

"Emery Dear! Why don't you play one for us?" Mrs. Lee sat beside me before clasping my hand, looking all hopeful.

Honestly, I would not play for just anybody, not even for royalty.

But this was a different matter altogether.

These are my future in-laws!

"Uhmm.... if you have a violin, I would love to." I politely answered.

"There are groups of musicians later. We could borrow one for you." Lawrence sat beside Zoe as he raised his hand on a waiter.

The waiter immediately refilled Zoe's empty glass, and my eyes automatically flew towards Lance who was now seated at a table with his friends beside the pretty black haired girl.

I ignored the countless cuts in my heart and the unbearable foreign pain that made me feel like crying when Lance, since the beginning, focused all his attention on that girl.

That girl must be Jennifer Brane.

How Lance treated me coldly and indifferently was the exact opposite on how he treated the girl.

At first, I was confident that I could make the young man fall in love with me. Not for anything, but I was confident in my looks and in myself.

But looking at it now…...

It seems… I have to give up.

My brain conceded defeat while my heart tried to pound violently, refusing to give up despite all the cuts it suffered.

He is happy with her. Are you going to ruin it for your selfish one sided love?

Accepting the reasoning of my brain, my heart finally began to beat slowly, as if, it no longer wanted to live.

I bit my lower lip as I clenched my hands and lowered my head so no one would see the glistening tears in my eyes.

"W-well... I-it's time for the banquet to start! Emcee!"

Mrs. Lee must have felt my depress state as she tried to lighten the mood.

Now, I was not only feeling heartache, but guilty as well for ruining the jolly mood.

I inhaled a mouthful of air as I put on my facade.

My grace.

My charisma.

My power.

Even the unbearable pain tried to squash me under it. All the negative foreign energy compelled me to act out of character.

I did not.

After all…

Even broken.