Love Over Everything — Chapter 24

Days Later.

Tonight would be their first public appearance together as a couple. Christopher was invited to a birthday party of one of his business partners. He couldn’t say no to the invitation and at the same time, he could not attend without taking Vivian along.

Christopher was seated in the living room, dressed up in his tailored suit and matching designer shoes, typing away on his phone while waiting for Vivian to come out of her room.

“I’m ready.” Christopher heard a voice say behind him. He sighed in relief and muttered something Vivian couldn’t quite catch.

“You should really keep to time Vivian, I’m sick of your tardiness.” He shot her a glare and made his way out of the apartment, not caring if she caught up with him or not.

Vivian kept him waiting for over thirty minutes because she wanted to look good for him and also make a good impression at the party. She knew she was going to meet some of her friends at the party who would want to know how she was coping with her supposedly happy married life.

Christopher was happy that the birthday celebration they’ve come to was a private event which excludes the presence of the press and media.

At the entrance of the Hall, Chris and Vivian were welcomed by a female usher who was dressed formally.

“Good evening Mr and Mrs Smith.” She greeted with a warm smile.

“Good evening” Vivian replied while Chris gave a nod.

The female usher took a glance at the tab she was holding and turned her attention back to the Smiths. “Please come with me.” She led the way and they followed.

The medium size hall was breathtaking, beautifully decorated and full of high-class People. Some of the guests were on their feet in different corners of the hall making conversation while others were seated on their tables, enjoying their food.

The usher stopped at one of the front tables. “This will be your table for the night.”

“Thanks,” Christopher said to her. She nodded and excused herself.

The round table of four was empty. Another couple will surely join them later on.

Christopher reluctantly pulled out a chair for Vivian, She said a small ‘Thank you’ before taking her seat and Christopher took a seat beside her.

Almost immediately, four male waiters approached them. Three of them were holding different trays containing different glasses of wine.

“What would you like ma’am, Sir?” The person whom Chris assumed to be the head waiter asked.

Instead of replying to him, Chris asked Vivian “You okay with Lemonade?”

She replied “Yes.”

Chris turned to the waiter “Red wine and lemonade.”

The head waiter nodded and served them; he took a glass of Lemonade on one of the waiter’s tray, placed it on the table in front of Vivian, before grabbing a glass of red wine and placing it before Chris.

As soon as they left, another set of waiters approached Chris and Vivian and served them appetizers.

“Christopher Ryan Smith!” A very familiar voice called. Chris stood up, almost gave Edward a handshake but Edward pulled him into a hug instead.

“It’s been a while buddy. I’m so happy to see you!” Edward smiled, pulling away from the hug.

“Same here. Happy Birthday man, long life and prosperity.”

“Thanks, buddy! I hope you brought me a present.” He grinned.

“No I didn’t but I owe you one.”

“Hope you know you’re getting old Edward.” Christopher teased.

“No way, I’m just 40. I still have so much to enjoy before old age comes.” Edward was a little bit taller than Chris, a little bit muscular and has dirty blonde hair.

He used to be Miami’s popular playboy before Christopher took over that position. Edward repented from his playboy ways when he met Rita, the love of his life. They were happily married and blessed with a daughter.

Edward did his internship after college at Smith Corporations with Julius, Christopher’s father. He became attached to the old man and Julius treated him like his son.

Instead of establishing a company of his own, he chose to invest in hotels and Clubs in and out of Miami.

“That reminds me, I’m pretty upset with you for not inviting me to your wedding.”

“I’m so sorry about that Ed and besides you were out of the country.” Chris justified.

“Nonsense, If you had told me about it I would have cut my trip short and come back in time for the wedding.”

“I never knew you had something for Vivian? You always complained about how much you disliked her.” He said seriously before taking a glance at Vivian who was getting acquainted with Rita, his wife and other friends.

Christopher shrugged and reached for his glass of wine on the table. "It just happened," he replied before connecting the glass to his lips.

“Is there something you aren’t telling....” He was about to ask but they were interrupted by Collins, Vivian’s brother.

“You came at the right time, Collins. I was just scolding your brother in law for not inviting me to the wedding.”

“No need to get angry Ed, I wasn’t there too.” Collins justified which earned a confused look from Edward.

“Are you kidding me? You were not at your sister’s wedding? What could be more important for you to ditch her on that day?”

“That’s a topic for another time, Ed, let’s not spoil your day.”

The three men talked for a while, mostly about Edward, the birthday guy, before he went to mingle with other people.

“I need to talk to you Chris, let’s go somewhere quiet,” Collins said.

Christopher gestured for him to lead the way and he did. They found a quiet place right outside the hall.

“I’m really disappointed in you, man. I can’t believe you fell for her trap. Vivian drugged and raped you. How can you even stand her when I, Collins, her blood brother cannot stand her?”

“I know she has always been obsessed with you but I never knew she would go as far as forcing herself on you and luring you into marriage.”

“In as much as I hate the idea of my sister being a single mother, I don’t support your marriage one bit and Vivian should face the consequences for her actions.”

“I made it clear to her that not only am I disappointed in her, but I also will not attend the wedding and I cut all ties with her already.”

“I was so mad when Ruben told me about your decision to marry Vivian. You should have just ignored Vivian and her plight and go after the woman you love.” Collins expressed.

“If my parents refused to believe that I was raped, how do I expect the woman that I love, her family and even the police to believe it?” Chris said. “My playboy’s reputation is second to none which makes everything worse.”

“The girl that I love broke it off with me claiming she wouldn't be the one responsible for tearing an innocent child’s mother and father apart, therefore, I should go back to Vivian.”

“Her brother beat me up like shit just because he thought I was using his sister for sex.”

“If I decide to press charges against Vivian, apart from the fact that I will be a source of ridicule, what do you expect me to tell the child in the future? I sued your mom because she raped me and got pregnant with you?”

“I admit, I was foolish to have married your sister but what else could I have done? Naomi is the first and only person I’ve ever had feelings for, I’m not experienced when it comes to relationship matters, I had no idea of how to go about all I was facing and then I had this pressure from my parents to get married for the sake of the baby.”

“I really don’t know if it’s my weakness for children and the thought that I don’t want my child to feel less deprived of having its parents together that made me give in to this marriage. But what sense does it make? Either way, my life is meaningless without Naomi.”

“Your friends should have talked you out of it,” Collins said.

“Ruben did try to, but I ignored him.”

“How I wished Debbie talked some sense into you. You listen to her more than you do to Ruben.”

“You’re talking as if you don’t know Debbie. She’s too nice to see fault in what anyone does. She’s always out there looking for the good in people and the same goes for Andre.”

“So what next? You are trapped in a loveless marriage, you are not happy and I’m sure my so-called sister is not happy too.”

“You’re a genius man. You’ve come up with amazing solutions for your family business, you should have just applied one of those your genius ideas in dealing with Vivian.”

“I understand your love for your child made you do all these but you will be doing more harm than good to him or her because there’s no chemistry between you and Vivian. I’m sure you guys fight all the time already so what message will you guys pass to the baby.”

“I will give you a piece of advice as a brother, as a friend, as a business partner and as a relationship expert, You and Vivian need to sit down and have a long talk. The both of you don’t belong together so you guys should quit. Bro, life is too short to live a life of mystery and sympathy. I totally understand Your side of the story but you didn’t handle things the way you should have.”