Burning Passion - Chapter 364

CHAPTER 364: HE IS THE BEST MAN TO THE WEDDING?

* * *

After a long kiss, Nina pushes Harry and reminds him. “Harry, everyone didn’t know Steven and I broke up already, nor you and Kristina.”

Harry frowned. It upset him because he doesn’t want to hear either Steven or Kristina’s name.

Ever since Nina’s father was here, only a little time they can be alone together. But Nina brought up the topic.

They were already happy. So by now, he just wanted Nina to think about them and nothing else.

Nina could feel that Harry is a little annoyed after she pushed him. It was not her intention, but they were in the open. Anyone can see them kissing. Everyone is familiar with Harry’s car and suspicious enough that she was always with him lately.

“I’m sorry, Harry,” she apologized, reaching his elbow, trying to coax him.

He sighed. After he calmed down, he glanced at Nina and reached for her hand.

“I know you are feeling guilty. But we can’t hide it forever. I don’t want to hide it anymore, Nina.”

“Harry…” She rendered silence. She could sense the pain in Harry’s voice. Who doesn’t want to display their relationship? She also wanted to show everyone that the man she loves is Harry, and her relationship with Steven is a big lie after he deceives her.

However, she cannot avoid feeling bad. She is not used to hurting someone like Kristina, and she is afraid of bad karma.

“Alright. I understand your feelings. I’m sorry, too. But I don’t want to hide this from Albert, okay?” Harry thought about it.

Albert has been courting Nina even before. And he could tell the guy was still not giving up until today. He understood what is Nina’s concerned about.

Her family raised her as a delicate princess. From now on, he will protect her for his entire life. She is an innocent angel whose heart always had a weak spot.

Nina glanced at Harry. She smiled and nodded at him. “Okay. I understand.” She didn’t want to hide their relationship from Albert as well. He already knew her feelings for him were.

At exactly seven o’clock, Albert arrived at Li Villa. He bought two bouquets for Nina and Dona, which made Harry and Nelson raise a brow.

At first, Albert was uncomfortable with the way the two men glaring at him. But he kept his composure and ignored the unfriendly atmosphere they were throwing at him.

It was Dona who kept the conversation since the two men were silent but glaring at their guest. In her entire life, she meets all kinds of wealthy families from the High Society. But Albert is on a different level. He is a future king, and the manners he is showing are pure nobility. Something fit his appearance.

Meanwhile, Nelson could notice how warm Dona was treating Albert that made him jealous. He remembered when he was younger and the same age as Albert.

By that time, he was already helping his father to run their businesses. However, he was known as notorious back then. He is always in a fight with other groups, and he feels proud to win every feud. For him, it makes him a real man. But to this generation, being a man is not through fighting a deadly battle. It was by looks and a noble presence.

To his opinion, Harry acts nobility as well as Steven. Harry is calmer and behaving well than Steven, who is short-tempered.

Now he recalled about that guy. Steven turned into an aggressive person. Gladly, he found out his horrible behavior before Nina could marry him.

Set aside, his wife Dona is showing too much fondness for a prince like Albert Hamilton. It made him wonder, whether back then, Dona was more attractive to noblemen.

Back then, he only stopped involving meaningless fights and refrained from using violence in dealing with a business after he and Dona got married.

And when Nina was born, all of his time and energy was given to his family.

Nelson came back to reality to listen further. He scrutinized the two ladies who were having fun talking to Albert. His eyes, keenly watching him, while the guy handed Nina bags of presents.

*

“Here, Sarah prepared presents for you.” Albert places several bags on the table for Nina.

“Oh, thanks! I missed Sarah so much! How is she?” Nina was excited to open the boxes, but she should wait when she was alone.

Albert replied, “Sarah is doing well. She wanted to come with me, but she has classes to attend.”

“Ah, yes. I will send her a letter! I have many things I want to talk about with Sarah!”

“She would be happy. And here, Madame Li… I hope you would like the small gift we prepared for you and Master Li.” Albert handed Dona four bags which Nelson snatched.

Dona glared at her husband before she turned her gaze at Albert. “Thank you, Albert. By the way, call me Aunt Dona and Uncle Nelson, since you and Sarah are good friends of our daughter.”

“Thank you, Aunt Dona! It is my pleasure!” It thrilled him. Albert glanced at Harry, who only raised an eyebrow in return.

Albert didn’t know what was on Harry’s mind. He would love to tell Albert that they are his future parent’s in-law, so his effort of winning their heart is just a waste of time. And if he thinks to pursue Nina, he has no chance at all.

*

The conversation continued between Nina and Albert, occasionally Dona chimed in to ask Albert a question, to which he politely answered.

Later, Jessica approaches them to inform them that the table is finished setting, dinner is ready.

“Come on, Albert. I hope you would like the food prepared by our chef.”

“Don’t worry, ma’am. I’m sure it was splendid.” Albert followed the couple. He glanced at Nina, who walked with Harry behind them.

As he suspected earlier, Nina and Harry were in a relationship. They were holding hands while whispering to each other, and this sight brought a pinch in his heart.

On the rectangular table, Nelson was seated in the rare middle where both Dona and Nina sat on his sides. They offered Albert the chair next to Dona, and Harry sat next to Nina.

With that setup, Albert could see the display of affection between them.

Harry is attentive to place food on Nina’s plate. And this is in front of Nina’s parents. Witnessing the scene, he understood they approve of the relationship.

Months ago, it was Steven, who is Nina’s boyfriend. Now his twin brother.

Before going home, Albert talked to Harry.

“So, is this the reason Steven wasn’t here?”

“What are you talking about?” Harry already has an idea, but he pretends to be confused.

“You and Nina. How come that you are now in Stevens place?”

“I need to correct your assumption. Nina and I already had a mutual understanding after we visited the Carnival. Remember it? When I defeated you with the Quiz?”

Remembering that day, now it annoys Albert. “But you are not the one I was on a bet with. It was Steven!”

“It doesn’t matter. Anyway, make the story short. After Steven meddling between me and Nina, I found out the truth that he is throwing Nina’s letters for me. After the confrontation. He has to stay away from Nina.”

“Really? Is that the only reason?” It was too simple a reason. Albert thought inwardly.

“If there is another reason, it’s none of your business. Anyhow, I am inviting you to our wedding if you want to. I can make you the best man.” Harry scowled at Albert, which the latter was in shock.

“You and Nina getting married?”

“Yes.”

“You are lying!” Why so fast? He could not agree to this. But who’s he to object?

“Why would I? I have no reason to lie,” said Harry with a grimace on his lips. “Well, then! Good night, your highness.”

Harry climbs to the driver’s seat and starts the car, then leaves that place.

Albert remains standing close to the limousine that provided to him as his transport. He was clenching both of his fists inside his pockets, pondering that he had to regard it.

Before he visited Nina in the university, he asked someone to investigate, and he learned Steven was not around.

It made him happy. But it turned out, at present, Harry is Nina’s boyfriend. And what he witnessed, Nina was happier than before.

Not only that, there are sparks in her eyes that she never showed around Steven.

Albert left the Li villa heartbroken. He already knows that Nina doesn’t love him, however, he could not stop himself from loving Nina this much.

*

The next day, Nelson’s assistant visited the villa with an invitation in hand. A ball for Prince Albert Hamilton, the future King of Jeneva, and his fiancée Lady Emilia Bakker from the Dutch Royal Court.

“So, Albert is also engaged. Do you know about it, Nina?” Nelson queried after he read the invitation.

“I didn’t know who the woman was until today, Papa. It looks like they finally chose a wife for Albert.”

“Ah. That’s good then!”

“Papa?”

Nina shakes her head, beaming. But then, the smile on her lips disappeared. It didn’t hide to her the way her father looked at Albert last night. Including Harry, her future husband is also casting a glare at Albert.

“Hm? I’m just happy for him! Well, maybe not if he didn’t love the woman that arranged for him.”

“How could you say that, Papa?”

“I know he likes you until now, honey.”

Nina remained silent. Albert proposed to her many times, and many times she rejected him.

Dona notices her daughter’s silence, she cheers her up. Nina once confessed to her that Albert proposed marriage, but she refused because she loves someone else.

“Honey, you need to look for a ball gown today.”

“Yes, mama! I will call Harry to meet him in New York! Oh…” Nina paused and mused. “How about if I visit him in the office? I’ll get changed now!”

Dona and Nelson shared a glance, watching their daughter climbing the staircase with hasty.

Maybe not so bad if they slowly showed their relationship to other people.