Free Web NovelChapter 178: Together (2)
"Are you trying to blackmail me?" Regina had no choice but to stay and talk to him now. She was certain that no one had seen her with Aurora or saw what she did to Samuel. Why was Timothy of all people there that night?
"You think so lowly of me. I have kept what I saw a secret even after I learned that your family was looking for the person who had the audacity to hit your brother over the head. Who would’ve thought the person was living with them this entire time. I am good at keeping secrets Regina," said Timothy.
He had no plans to blackmail her, just help. He wanted to know what was going on in her life for her to be hitting her own flesh and blood over the head. Why was her brother all of a sudden going around looking for marriage partners for a girl who has publicly shown her dislike for being married? Timothy did not believe she all of a sudden had a change of heart. This was Regina. frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓
"That still sounds a lot like blackmail. You should learn to drink wine and mind your business. What is it that you really want from me?" Regina folded her arms.
"I have stated many times what I have wanted many times. I like you, Regina. How many times do I have to keep saying it before you believe me? I wouldn’t have said it back there in front of everyone had I not been serious. I am going to force you to like me back but I would like you to see how beneficial a relationship with me is."
He was right about the last part. Regina could not deny the influence he had on society. A man whose family owned many lands and businesses in this town and other towns. It was also rumored that should any harm fall on the current king who had no heirs, Timothy would take his place as the next king. That was why many families wanted their daughters married to him.
Regina didn’t have to imagine how her family would be excited at the thought of her being with Timothy. They will think of how much they could benefit from such a union but little would they know, she was toying with them.
She planned to get married either way. "Fine, I agree to whatever this is but we need to have some rules. Rule number one, never announce things to a crowd like that ever again without informing me. I don’t need people thinking this is some cringy romance story. Two, no touching me without my permission-"
"You say that like we’re going to be living together and sharing a bed. Do I really need permission to touch your hand out in public? Do you know how ridiculous it would look for me to be whispering something to you and then touch you? I like you but I won’t be doing stupid things like that," he wasn’t going to be doing such a thing. freёwebnovel.com
"I meant when we are alone-"
"And when would we be alone?" Timothy smirked as he found loopholes in her rules. "Are we going to be hiding away in a room together or will we be in the privacy of each other’s rooms? My home will always be open to you."
Regina rolled her eyes using her finger to push Timothy’s head back for speaking such nonsense. "I am not looking to cause a scandal, you fool. Why would you and I be alone in your home when we are not married?"
"We can get married tomorrow," he suggested.
"Then people will think I must be pregnant for there to be a rush."
"I mean-"
"Don’t say anything stupid," she warned him before he could finish his ridiculous sentence. "Rule number three, no thinking that this is real so keep your perverted thoughts to yourself."
"Regina, do you remember that I caught you with those indecent books? Am I truly the perverted one here? I must say you chose some good ones to read," he teased. Nothing was more beautiful than the red hue appearing on her cheeks. His younger self must have been blind.
"Whatever," she pushed him to the side. "We’ve been away from the party for too long. Come to my home one day and we can go through the rest of the rules."
"Will our relationship consist of you keep hitting me? Not that I mind," Timothy said as he followed behind Regina.
"If you don’t shut the hell up, yes. Do you mind if we try to avoid my mother and brother? I think it will be impossible but if we do run into them please do all of the talking for me. I am tired," Regina stated as the arguments she had with her family were taking a toll on her.
"Okay. Take my hand." ’I will shield you from them," he thought to himself.
Something was wrong with the Hamiltons and Regina. If he had to flip the entire house upside down, Timothy would do it to find out what happened. He was suspicious of the girl Regina was always with, running away with a strange man on the night of the festival. Both girls didn’t look happy that night.
Regina didn’t object to holding his hand as they walked back out to the party. All eyes would be on them as the hottest couple of the season. No doubt, this would overshadow the remains of the gossip about Minnie. ’It’s showtime,’ she said to herself as they entered the main party area.
"I can take you to the private area I got from Laura. It was to help hide me from being introduced to young ladies. Your family won’t be able to come up there if I give the word. Laura might be your grandmother’s friend but as my grandmother, she’ll listen to my request."
Laura was like a mother to Timothy’s mother. That was the only reason he showed up to the party today. He loved his grandmother and couldn’t disobey her order to visit her party.
"I don’t mind. Some privacy for a while would be nice. I can feel someone’s gaze burning into my back and I have a feeling it is either my brother or mother. Let’s hurry."
Timothy chuckled, taking Regina to the private area which was upstairs. Laura had this part blocked off to avoid people from wandering around her home. "I seem to have forgotten to compliment the way you look tonight. You look beautiful tonight Regina."
"Your mouth is too sweet for my liking but thank you," Regina looked away to hide her blush.
The party silently watched the odd couple walk up the stairs and sat down at chairs which allowed them to look over the entire party.
Down below, Minnie and Nathaniel had made their way to Rachel and Samuel after news about Regina’s relationship reached them.
"Since when have Regina and that man been courting each other, Rachel? You have failed to keep me up to date with this," Minnie scolded her daughter-in-law. Timothy was the perfect choice of a husband for Regina. There was no need to keep this a secret.
Nathaniel on the other hand wasn’t liking the sight of his daughter all alone with Timothy. Regina should have a guardian just like every other young lady did. "How did this happen?" He asked Rachel.
The last thing Rachel told him about her search for a husband for Regina was there is no success. Now Regina was sitting all alone with a man she always spoke badly about. Something wasn’t adding up here. He knew his daughter much better than everyone else.
"I knew nothing about this. Samuel just told me that Regina and Timothy had a conversation today. She was supposed to be working but it appears she was doing other things-"
"She was working," Nathaniel corrected his wife. He received word that Regina did arrive to work on time and did everything she was asked to. If Rachel paid less attention to their son and more to their daughter, she would notice many things about Regina.
"It can’t be if she had time to chat with Timothy. If anyone questions me about their relationship I don’t have a clue what to say," said Rachel. Her daughter surprised her with this and made her lose her composure.
"We will go speak to the two and ask them about their relationship," Minnie decided in the end. Why stand here questioning what was happening when the two young people were right there? Who would stop her from talking to them?
"I’m afraid you can’t go up there, Minnie. Timothy has requested no one bother him up there and I rather not break the promise I made. We should allow the two new love birds to have a moment to themselves." Laura was thankful she appeared just in time to stop the family from interrupting Timothy finally showing interest in someone.
Rachel looked up at her daughter who put them all in a weird predicament. She couldn’t see Regina clearly because of the distance but she was sure the girl was smiling down at her.
