Xeria’s P.O.V

"Hello, ma'am," Evander greets me as he waits for Khaos in the hallway.

"You must be relieved that you no longer need to keep an eye on me." I catch him off guard, but he remains composed.

"I know your sir wouldn't let me be like that; he must have had complete information about me for the past two years." I finally shift my focus from my laptop to him and notice him staring at the wall in front of him.

"Let's go, Evander," Khaos instructs Evander as he walks in.

"He won't tell me a thing." I drag my words, and Khaos plants a quick peck on my lips.

"You can ask me directly; I'm the one who gives him orders," he smiles, pulling off.

"Will Ivan pick you up?" he asks me, and I nod my head.

"Take care; make lots of money." I wave him goodbye, and he leaves with a smile.

*

"You will wear the dress I have chosen for you." Ivan shows me the dress while holding a glass of wine in his hands.

"Are you nervous?" I ask him as I examine the dress, and he leans back on the beige sofa. Everything is so white here; I had Willie make a dress for me, so this is a very new experience.

"You understand that we must divide our friends between the two of us for our entourage. You're with me, Khaos is with Tarquin, and I can't reach Quientin; damn it, I've got so much to do," he says, nervous and paranoid.

"Hey, everything is going to be fine; Aunt Miranda has taken care of everything. Stop stressing and enjoy your wedding," I comfort Ivan, and he smiles weakly.

"Xeria, I just have a bad feeling something is wrong," he admits, and I hug him.

"If something happens, it will, but this time we won't be alone, Ivan, because our partners are with us. We'll be fine," I pull back and exhale. We'll be fine, I tell myself repeatedly.

I walk out of the store for a while to avoid letting things get to me. I observe my surroundings; nothing appears unusual. Good, we're being overly paranoid, but that is until I notice a man dressed in black at a distance; our gazes meet because his face is obscured by a hat and mask, but I can see a smile through his eyes.

I walk back into the store; there's someone who wants to get to us again, but then I notice a smile on Ivan's face from a distance, and I have no right to take away his happiness again.

I fill in Uncle Hugo about everything that was happening, and he assures me that they have got it all covered and I can be relaxed now.

Yes, I should be; it has been so many years. If he wanted to get us, he would have done it way before, not now; it's just some weird stalker or something.

"So done with your shopping?" Khaos asks me as we sit for the dinner.

"I have watched these couple goals things on social media. I like it," I tell Khaos out of nowhere.

"What happens next?" he asks.

"You should see it too, not that I want to be like them; we're better," I smile at him, and he laughs.

"I heard about your party," he says as he serves me the meal.

"Yes, you are not invited; it will be just me, Ivan, and Quentin." I accept the plate and dig in, while Khaos watches me lovingly.

"I'll pick you up when you're finished, but I'll miss you," his smile fades.

I drag my chair back and get up, and Khaos looks perplexed, but I simply extend my hand to him, and he smiles but accepts and gets up.

"The moment my left hand meets your waist," he whispers into my ear.

"I put my arms around your neck, but I want to dance." I respond with a whisper and look at him.

"Reminds me of the last time in the rain," he says, pulling me closer by my waist.

"I'll try to return early, but miss me lots, okay?" I cup my hands around his cheeks, and he nods.