Chapter 5 (Dangerous Solace)

"SIT DOWN AND LET'S HAVE BREAKFAST TOGETHER." Esther couldn't stop herself from raising her eyebrow when her father called her to eat breakfast. She was about to pass them by the kitchen. This was the first time she would sit at the Rosales' dining table. Since childhood, she was never allowed to sit at the dining table with her family because her parents said she didn't know table manners.

Esther was reluctant to sit at the dining table.

"Esther, your wedding to Nate has been set. You should get ready. Later, they will come here to give their betrothal gifts."

Hearing what her father had said, Esther looked at her sister. She felt smug when she saw Edelyn's jealous face. 'Don't worry, I won't take your Nate away from you. You can have him. I don't want to marry a trash.'

But at this time, she needed to pretend. She still needed more evidence of Edelyn and Nate hooking up. Actually, she enjoyed playing with them. Edelyn felt that she had won. Well, indeed, Esther had won, but it was a vain victory.

Esther smiled at her father. "Got it."

Esther heard her mother snort. Of course, she knew that her mother knew about Edelyn and Nate. Sophia was just keeping her silence because Edelyn was her favorite child. Sophia could only comfort Edelyn.

"Sister, are you sure you want to marry Nate?" Edelyn asked in her pretending sweet voice.

"Of course," Esther cut the bacon on her plate, and took a bite, munching while looking at Edelyn.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Edelyn asked.

A fake smile appeared on Esther's lips. "Nothing. I was just happy," she said. 'You actually picked up the trash I didn't want to keep. I should thank you for that.'

Esther stood up. "I'm full now."

"Where are you going?" Edward asked.

"None of your business," she answered.

"Ridiculous! I'm still your father. Don't speak to me in that tone, Esther."

Esther gripped the sling of her bag. "Oh, you still remember that you were my father. If you hadn't told me, I would have forgotten about it," she smiled.

Edward pointed at Esther and was about to scold her when his wife held his arms.

"Hon, you should long your patience to Esther. The ten million dowry was not yet in our hands," Sophia said, smiling to her husband.

Edward took a deep breath to calm himself and looked at Esther. "Go to Nate and serve him well."

"Do I look like a waiter?" Esther retaliated. "If you wanted to serve Nate, then ask your youngest daughter to go." After all, Edelyn had served Nate many times.

Edelyn stood up quickly. "Sister, what are you talking about?" she said, nervous. She was worried that her sister already knew about her relationship with Nate. She's afraid that her sister will talk about it to her father. She knew that her father loved her very much, but her father didn't want her to get involved with Nate for some reason.

Esther smiled sweetly at Edelyn. "Edelyn, stop pretending. You know what I am talking about."

Edelyn gulped.

"If there's nothing else, I'll leave now. I still have an important appointment," then Esther left, leaving her family puzzled about Esther's sudden change of attitude.

Esther was a timid girl before. She doesn't retaliate and keeps her silence.

Edward snorted. "This little girl has the nerve to talk back to me now. Has she already forgotten that we have raised her for many years?"

Sophia looked at her husband. "Do you think Esther was strange now?"

"What do you mean?" Edward asked.

"We didn't give her any money, and yet she graduated from college and even went abroad to study. If she's not selling herself, where did she get her money to study?" Sophia mocked Esther.

"That's right, Dad," Edelyn seconded. "My sister had never mentioned anything before. But she went to a prestigious university. I think Mom was right."

It occurred to Edward that he didn't know anything about his eldest daughter because he had never paid attention to her before. But he doesn't care. As long as he gets the ten million dowries from the Aquino Family, it doesn't matter what Esther does. But what if Esther disgraces his family?

"Before Nate and Esther's wedding, nothing would go wrong. I'll ask Esther to stay with Nate to avoid future troubles."

Edelyn frowned. Why is her sister always ahead of her? The man she wants is going to marry her sister. No, she should do something to stop Nate from marrying her sister. The only person that Nate should marry was her.

RUSSELL SMILED, WATCHING ESTHER at the corner of his office. Esther was focused on making her business plan and was unaware of him watching her. Seeing Esther made him feel motivated to work.

"Sir," Lester knocked on his office.

"Come in."

Lester entered his office. "Sir, this is the milktea you asked me to buy," he said as he placed the cellophane on the president's table. Then he looked at the black folder in his hand. "I have the information about the person you want me to investigate." He placed the black folder in front of the president of Velasquez Technology.

Russell opened the folder. His hand fisted while reading the information of Nate Aquino. He looked at Esther. 'No, I won't allow you to marry that man. I don't want you to suffer.'

"Lester, ask someone to monitor Nate. Don't let him leave your sight."

"Yes, Sir."

"You may leave."

Lester bowed his head and left.

Russell looked at Esther. He stood, took the milktea, and walked towards Esther. He smiled, seeing how focused she was. Esther didn't even notice him. When he sat on the chair on the other side of Esther's table, only then did she notice him. He placed the milktea in front of Esther. "For you."

Esther smiled. "Thank you."

"So, how was it?"

Esther pouted. "I studied pastries all my life in college. I didn't study finance. Fortunately, you are here. Thank you for teaching me." If not because of Russell, she wouldn't have graduated. This is the gratitude she could never forget for the rest of her life.

Russell smiled. "I have a meeting later."

"Do I need to move?" Esther asked.

"No need. The conference room was spacious. We would go there later. I don't want to disturb you."

"It's okay. I can move. Don't delay your meeting."

Russell smiled. "Esther, you're too polite. Don't worry about us. My employees can adjust themselves. You just continue to work here."

Esther nodded.

Russell stared at Esther. He cleared his throat. "How are you and your fiancé?" he asked even if he didn't want to ask.

Esther shrugged. "The wedding date had been set."

Russell fisted and forced himself to smile.

"I want to break the engagement with him as soon as possible. I don't want to marry him."

Russell cheered quietly. "I hear a 'but' in your voice."

Esther sighed and nodded her head. Someone had already deciphered her. "I knew my father very well. He always seeks for profit. He won't cancel the engagement."

"But this is about you, Esther. This is about your happiness," Russell said. Does he need to tell Esther that he investigated her fiancé? He wanted to come clean, so he gave the folder to Esther that contained Nate's information. "This was all about Nate. Do you want to see?"

"You investigated him?" Esther asked in surprise.

"I had to." Though Esther was curious why Russell investigated Nate, she opted not to ask. She should be grateful that Russell was concerned about her. After taking the folder from Russell, she thanked him.

Russell just nodded and stood. "If you want my help, tell me and I will help you willingly."

Esther raised the black folder. "This kind of help was already enough. Just leave the rest to me."

Russell was puzzled. He couldn't read Esther and couldn't predict her move. 'What was she planning to do?' he asked himself after he went back to his swivel chair.

Meanwhile, while enjoying the milktea Russell had given her, Esther read the information about Nate. She was not surprised by what she found out. She had heard a lot of rumors about Nate. At first, when she still loved him, she didn't believe those rumors, but now, she won't risk anything if she believed those rumors about Nate.

Esther sighed. 'He actually did those unethical things. Fortunately, we haven't gotten married yet. I still had the chance to escape this. If I marry him, I will only suffer in the end.'

She won't only suffer but will live miserably.

Nate was only kind on the surface but actually a beast. Indeed, she was also fooled by the kindness that Nate showed her. Nate was a scumbag who loved playing and doing perverted things to girls. But because of money and connections, the girls he played with suffered injustice. Some of them committed suicide and jumped off the building because they couldn't bear their sufferings.

Esther took a deep breath. Then she glanced at her phone when it rang. Nate was calling her. She closed the folder and answered Nate's call.

"Esther, where are you? We have a fitting schedule today," Nate said in a calm and soothing voice.

Esther raised her eyebrows. "I'm busy. Just asked Edelyn to go with you. We have the same figure, so, it will be fine."

"Since you said it. Don't get jealous."

So, Nate still thought that Esther still loved him. 'Dream on,' Esther said in mind, then she smiled sweetly. "I said it. I won't get jealous." She actually wanted to vomit. Why would she feel jealous anyway? Nate isn't worth her attention and feelings.

Esther ended the call.

Esther suddenly realizes that Nate and Edelyn are a perfect match. She nodded when an idea came into her mind. She grinned mischievously. Edelyn had been bullying her a lot before and even now. It was time to avenge herself. 'Edelyn, wait for my sweet revenge.'

Esther stood and left Russell's office.

"Esther?"

Esther stilled when she heard the familiar voice from behind. She slowly turned her back to face the person. "Kyline?"

"What are you doing here?" Kyline asked in a surprised voice.

Esther waved her hand and forced a smile. "Hi."