Shame

"You shouldn't have come here Braxton. You will draw a lot of attention." I said as I tried to catch up to him. He is walking very fast. Like he knows where he is going, like he is the one invited!

"You're welcome."

My brows furrowed. "What?"

"You're welcome." He repeated.

What does he mean by that?

Then it hits me. Is he trying to say that I should be thankful that he is here? That he is drawing attention from my relatives.

"No, no, no." I glared at him. I don't even want him here. I don't want him to go but he insisted just because he doesn't know how to respond well with Monica's messages.

I can't believe this guy! He is a freaking billionaire, handling a lot of risky business and deals but he can't even reply to a girl's message on his own.

He needed a flirting expert for that and now he is ruining my life!

'As if it's not ruined yet.' The voice in my head whispered.

Ugh! Damn it.

I can't let my family see him. There would be a lot of questions and I don't like to be questioned by them right now. I just want to see the wedding even though I'm not that important here then leave. That's it. I already plan what I should do but here's Braxton and now he is meddling with my personal life.

Isn't this breach of contract?

I should be allowed to sue him! And maybe sue him real hard so I don't ever have to work again and just focus on my passion, singing.

But to this family…

My passion means nothing.

Singing is not a real talent for them.

Being a recording artist is not a job, unless you are successful at it.

That's how they see it. But who am I to freaking rant? In the end I still go to every event, they still remember me as a part of the clan, even though I know they are hoping for me not to go.

"We still have time to leave Braxton or just stay in the car. This would be fast."

"So? That is even better if this is going to be fast, then we can talk about the future replies of Monica." He said.

"What are you doing here Artemesia?" She asked.

Aunty Cely. Oh I have flashbacks of how she made my life a living hell as a teenager. She always commented on my weight, the way I look, the way I act.

I don't have confidence growing up because of those things, I mean I'm just a kid, I don't know better. I took it personally. I never told anyone that she is treating me that way, no one will believe me, she's a nice person outside, to her friends, to our relatives.

Oh if they only knew back then how she used to say stupid gossips and dirty rumors about them.

She has a say on everything that I do. She is one of the reasons I have insecurities growing up. I never do anything right in her eyes. She always bad mouth me to our relatives even to my own father!

But Dad knows me better. I still need to respect, she is my aunt after all. The sister of my father. She should be respected but I don't think that she deserves it, she didn't earn it.

If there would be a name for insecurities, it would be hers, Cely. I still remember how she made me walk home from school to our house when I was staying with them. When I was a kid I'm a little chubby, and she never liked it. She doesn't give me desserts that Rachel is getting, I'm not even allowed to ride in their car to go to school. She said I needed to walk home to shed some weight.

Gosh! I was a kid! I'm still growing!

Even now, she is the same. I can feel her eyes scanning me, judging me in every way she knows.

I sighed.

Why did I even agree to be here? I'm just relieving all the bad things that my family has done to me.

"I uh… I got an invitation." I smiled.

Her brows furrowed as she crossed her arms. "You did? Rachel must have sent the invitation to the wrong person."

I pursed my lips when she said it straight right in front of me while she was looking for Rachel in the crowd.

I knew it! I fucking knew that they don't want me to come here. They're just slapping it right in my face that they consider me or accept me as a family.

She looked over my shoulder. "And who is this?"

Before Braxton can speak a word, Rachel come out behind Aunty Cely and screams his full name. His freaking full name!

"Braxton Bentley?!" She shouted.

Oh damn it!

"You knew the guy?" She asked Rachel.

Reached grabbed her arm and shook it in excitement. "Of course Mom! He is a fucking billionaire! Bachelor billionaire!"

Damn it. I pursed my lips and looked over Braxton.

He only smiled at me.

Oh so now he knows how to freaking smile?!

Damn it! Now everyone knows that he is a billionaire! That I'm with a billionaire! It's not like I'm actually with him, like he is my boyfriend or what, I am literally with him, right now.

Just because he can't reply to a girl's message!

"A what? Billionaire?" Her eyes widened as she stared at Braxton beside me.

I made a mistake. I shouldn't have let Braxton come here. I knew it was a mistake but I did it anyway. I'm sure Most will kill me when she finds this out.

I looked around, it seems that there is no paparazzi here but we are not safe from our relatives friends, and now that Reached screamed that Braxton Bentley is here I'm sure we are fucked up!

"Artemesia, why didn't you say so?" She smiled from ear to ear.

"You didn't even give me a chance to greet you so—"

"Oh nonsense! Come to our table." She said as she grabbed Braxton's wrist. He didn't get a chance to say no. Aunty just grabbed him. My mouth gaped. She left me. She brought Braxton with her and left her niece.

What a caring aunty she is!

She didn't even welcome us but when she found out the truth that Braxton is a billionaire she was acting so sweet and welcoming. She didn't even let me talk! She wants me to leave the party, she said Rachel gave the invitation to the wrong person.

Yes I contemplated going there but I just want to see them. I thought if they saw me after years they would be happy, they would be glad because my career improved a bit. But to no avail, they looked at me the same way years ago.

She led us to our table. My eyes widened when I saw a familiar guy.

He threw a glance at me for a second and avoided my eyes.

What is he doing here? He is not supposed to be here!

How dare he go back here and talk with my relatives. After all that he did to me, is he still accepted as a family? And I'm not?

What the hell is wrong with them? What is going on?

My mouth gaped when I saw Rachel kiss him on the lips as she sat down beside him.

Damn it.

My teeth gritted. I knew it!

Aunty Cely told us to sit so we did. I was sitting right in front of him, Braxton is beside me and Rachel is sitting with Timothy.

How dare he.

I knew there was something going on between the two of them but I didn't mind it at all. I didn't trust my intuition. I thought it was just all in my head.

I thought I'm just paranoid but look who is not paranoid right now. Look who is delusional among the two of us.

I glared at him.

Rachel is laughing while caressing his arms.

Rachel knew that Timothy was my ex. But still she went for it.

"Well I hope this isn't awkward for you Artemesia. This is the reason why you should have come here, we don't want any drama or awkward things to happen. Especially that this is the wedding of your cousins. We don't want you to create a fuss about it." Aunty Cely said.

"No, don't worry about it. Why would I create a drama? Oh I remember, I'm sure Timothy told you I was insane and making up a story, don't worry that's what he is going to say to his next girlfriend after Rachel." I smiled.

Serves her right. I know that they are fucking behind my back. I know that they have been conspiring to get rid of me since day one. I know that they took me for a fool.

My heart beats faster and my blood starts to boil as I remember how they made everyone believe that I was crazy. How they turned the table and made me look bad.

I didn't know that coming here would spark something inside me.

I didn't know that both of them are together now. Ever since I left, I didn't look or ask about anyone aside from my father but here they are now. Happy and living their best life like they didn't do anything bad to anyone.

Like they didn't do anything to me.

They're faces went blank, Aunty Cely glared at me.

"Actually we are engaged, Artemesia." Rachel screamed as she stood up and showed me her ring.

I crumpled my hands underneath the table.

Braxton gave me the side eye.

I took a deep breath and sighed.

"I'm happy for the both of you." I said and fake a smile. Trying so hard not to punch her in the face.

"Aww, thank you! I know you would understand. What about you and Mr. Bentley here? Did you trap him? Is that why he is with you? Gosh I can't believe it! But look out I might steal him from you just like what I did with Timothy!" She joked.

I find it hard to laugh at her jokes. Everyone went silent. They knew that she is capable of stealing anyone to me, or to other people. She is a spoiled brat. Nobody cares about what she did, even if it is bad or it is good. They like to spoil her, that's it. Even if what she is going through is bad.

I remember how I told them that Rachel is trying to seduce Timothy but they didn't do anything. Aunty Cely told me to not mind it besides I don't know what I will do with a guy like Timothy. She said Rachel and him look better than we do.

She turned a blind eye to my problem. Well, it's her child, she will protect her no matter what she does. Even if it means stealing my boyfriend. Well, ex-boyfriend now.

I catch Timothy staring at me. I didn't avoid his gaze. Why would I? I'm not the one who hurt us. I'm not the one who cheated. He should be ashamed of what he did. He made me look crazy, and delusional. He made everyone think that I'm obsessed with him, that I'm making up stories of how she cheated on his ex girlfriends. I should have known that he would do the same thing to me.

I should have known better.

I glance at Rachel. She smiled devilishly to me. As if she got the best thing that I ever had. As if she won something that is worth a million.

How wrong she is. Timothy is poor as a rat. I'm not saying that I'm wealthy but he is a liar. He doesn't have any money, or assets. He doesn't have a penny. He used to ask me to buy his things or buy a car or motor that he likes but I never comply with what he wants. I gave him small gifts but that was it.

I know how hard it is to make money so I won't spend it on him, that's why he looks for someone who will spend money on him.

And that person is Rachel.

Rachel is a fool to believe him. I know how flowery he talks, I know all the promises he said to her. It is probably the same thing that he said to me, that he promised me. That he will love me forever, there is nobody.

But there is…

"So? Are you guys an item? How long is your relationship? You really announced your relationship here at our cousin's wedding? You always want to take the spotlight Artemesia, don't you?" Rachel said.