02. Meet the Past and the Present?

POPPY:

The stranger was wearing an expensive suit and dark sunglasses which perfectly molded and fitted his chiseled jaw. His expensive perfume slapped my nostrils and screamed rich even though I could not afford to buy it.

A god.

What else would visit me like this? He had a sharply pointed nose. His jawline could cut paper because of its sharpness. His raven eyes were watching me with intense glares.

"W-Who are you?" I managed to ask when I was brought back to the present.

Hmm. The more I stared at him, the more the voice inside me told me he was familiar.

Who was this man?

I was certain this man was not a Hollywood actor. I could enumerate all of them and know them like the back of my hand.

Stupid, Poppy. How dare you swoon over someone like him? You have more important things to cater and swooning over this man was not part of it, okay?

You made a promise to never like another man again after your divorce from Nolan. For you, men were all the same, all after women's v-card.

The man's raven eyes turned into a death glare.

Wait a minute. Why was he glaring at me? Did I do something wrong? As far as I remember, I never met this one.

"My name?"

Even his voice sounded expensive.

"You did not know the name of the person whose wedding you ruined?" he asked with a deep voice.

His baritone voice was much more appealing than my ex-husband's.

Suddenly, his words registered in my mind.

Putting one hand on my hips, I asked, "Wedding? What wedding? Who are you, by the way? I was expecting someone to visit me, but it was definitely not you."

"The name is Sebastian Holding."

Oh, Sebastian Holding.

Even his name was to die for. Everything about him was expensive.

My gaze shifted to his suit. It was tailored and looked expensive. It must cost a lot. I wondered what his job was. Probably a businessman with a lot of businesses.

And what the heck was he talking about? I never knew anyone who was having their wedding much more than this man's wedding.

"Sebastian. I'm Poppy, by the way."

Sebastian Holding rang a bell but where did I hear it?

I was about to offer my hand for him to shake but was suddenly reminded of what I was doing. This person could be a potential criminal for Pete's sake! And I was talking to him as if he was my dearest friend? Impossible.

“I’m not interested in your name.”

I was pulled back to my senses.

Poppy. Even if he was the most handsome god of all, you should not be talking to him. You know firsthand how dangerous men were. Haven’t you learned your lesson?

Slapped by reality, I was about to close the door in front of his face, but he easily stopped me by using his leg to block the door.

Too strong.

No matter how much effort I exerted in closing it, the door would not budge.

"Not that fast. We need to talk."

The rest of my neighbors started peeking through their windows.

I motioned for them to let me handle this man. That there was nothing to worry about. I can handle this person and if I failed, I would call them. They seemed to understand my pleas and nodded, but held their guns.

That was what I was talking about.

They would always have my back.

However, Sebastian Holding also had a guard watching over him. The bodyguard was on high alert a few inches away from us, always scanning the surroundings.

If this tension would continue, blood would be spilled onto the ground.

Something I did not want to happen.

"Go away before I call the police. This is harassment," I said through gritted teeth. "For all you know, I have some neighbors who work in the police station. One call away and they would come here putting handcuffs on you."

The handsome stranger snorted. "And the police work under me. I only wanted to talk."

My eyes widened.

This man was seriously mocking me.

"Talk? Is that the only thing you want? Be honest with me while I am still nice to you. Do you always do this? Knocking on someone's door and harassing them while saying nonsense things?"

His expression turned dark.

"Nonsense? Do you call my failed wedding nonsense? Everything was your fault. Olivia called the wedding off because of those edited photos you sent!" he growled.

If this man would make the mistake of threatening me, he would miss the wrong woman. I will fight him to death.

"You're mad, you know that? I don't even know you. I am busy with my life and could not even take care of my life. Why would I even ruin your wedding?"

I also left the kitchen because of this! I could not even give Kelly the snacks. This day was the best day that happened in my life. I so fucking loved this. Note the sarcasm.

"The address all pointed to this damn place! If you have any idea, tell me how the heck my detective traced this to you.”

“That detective could be scamming you.”

“I spent thousands of dollars just to have your address. Mind you. It was a lot.”

“Did I fucking care if you spent even your millions over some wrong information? It was your mistake in the first place for not doing a background check on your hired men. You looked expensive yet you could not identify a scammer from a real one? What a pity.”

A low growl escaped from his throat.

“Oh no, mister. You are not allowed to growl at me like that as if you are some kind of animal. I am fed up with men and I do not tolerate anymore how bad you treated me. Now, before my neighbors will kill you, which I don’t have any control over, you better leave this place.”

“How will you explain these?”

My brows furrowed. "Then, someone is playing a prank on me. Mister, look. I don't know you. You don't know me. We don’t know each other. So please be kind and go now. You are seriously making my neighbors worried."

Some of them were still pecking at their window and waiting for the opportunity to strike. Their guns were already waiting on standby.

This was what I liked best on this street. They were so protective of me and Kelly. They would always come to my rescue when they knew I needed them. Especially right now.

A single scream and my sixty-year-old neighbor would bring his shotgun and shoot this jerk. Which I hoped won't happen, by the way.

"Why don't you tell me the truth now? If you will tell Olivia that those damn pictures were not me, then she will accept me again."

I massaged my forehead.

“Are you mad?” I pointed at his bodyguard. “Go, before I really call 911.”

“I won’t. Not unless you explain to Olivia that those pictures are fake.”

"Are you high on drugs? Why can't you understand that I did not know you? Look. Whatever you are thinking about me right is not true. I never knew Olivia. I don't know you. Period. Now, will you please go while I am still nice?"

"No," he said with a stubborn look. "I won't unless you see Olivia. Explain to her that the pictures were edited."

I groaned and was about to swing my fist into his face, while he was caught off guard, but someone honked his car.

Sebastian and I both looked at the source and saw the asshole whom I'd been expecting.

Nolan!

Fuck!

It was true he knew this place!

"Let go of this door."

Nolan stepped out of the car.

I panicked.

I was not in the right state of mind to talk to him for fear that I would kill him. I cannot promise I could stop myself now.

Forcing my eyes back at the god in front of me, I inquired, "Sebastian, right?"

"Yes."

"You want me to see Olivia? Listen to what I will say. No matter what I will say, you will just go with the flow, okay? You won't say anything unless I tell you so. So please, smile now. No more questions."

In an instant, Nolan was suddenly strolling in my direction.

There was no time to hide. He already saw me.

I must push this through. I must drive Nolan away. For good. Out my life. Out of Kelly's life. He was no longer Kelly's father, but more like my sperm donor. The love that I felt for him was gone after he failed me.

Nolan stopped momentarily when he spotted me.

I was about to slam the door shut but stopped myself from doing so.

"Poppy," he breathed. He ran towards where I was standing. "I know you are only here."

"Why are you here, you jerk?" I muttered, fighting for control. I wanted to punch him until he would have a nosebleed. Or kick him on his balls. Or anything that would appease my anger.

Seeing him face to face after five years also meant all the negative emotions I felt for this man had emerged. My frustrations. My hatred. My pain.

My knuckles turned white.

Nolan beamed.

How dare he smile? He was not allowed to smile after what he did. After what he said.

"I said I want to get you two back."

"Get me back? Huh. You are out of my mind. Can't you see the man beside you? That's Sebastian for you. He is now the father of my child. Have you heard that? The father of my child because he is the only one who had the balls to fight for his love without hesitating to accept me even if I already have a child."

"But no one said you have a boyfriend."

I folded my arms in front of my chest. "Well, whoever was your source? He was wrong. You finally met my boyfriend," I repeated.

Nolan stood side by side with Sebastian. The latter was taller by a few centimeters and more muscular and sexier.

The air from Nolan's lungs left him. "Poppy. Is this some sort of prank?"

I snorted and anchored my arms on Sebastian's arms. The man stiffened, but I pretended I did not notice it.

"Prank? Do I look like a content creator on some sort of social media app? Of course, this is not a prank. Sebastian is my boyfriend," I added, smiling, and pulled Sebastian right inside.

Caught off guard, I was able to drag him inside.

Leaning over him, I added, "Bastian. Meet Nolan Woods. An acquaintance. Nolan. You don't deserve it, but since you are here and you meet Sebastian, I would like to introduce to you my soon-to-be husband."

Both Sebastian and Nolan stared me in the eyes.