Chapter 2

A Toast

Dalia's smug smile slowly faded and she frowned. "...Oh, r-really? That... That's good to hear."

Devi devilishly smiles. As she smiled her eye-catching dimple was elegantly shown. She is still sitting while looking up at them. She slowly moved her hands and slowly drank her remaining red wine.

She ignored those eyes on her.

Nang maubos niya ang red wine at ibinaba at inilapag na niya ang baso sa counter.

She then lazily stands up. Inaamin niya na bahagya na niyang nararamdaman ang pamumula ng magkabilang pisngi dahil sa nainom na ilang shot na alak.

"What are you asking me again, Mr. Lewis?" she asks him.

Salem seriously stared at her. "Have you already thought about the..."

She cut him immediately. "Oh, that?" she said then looked at the two people side by side. "Mr. Lewis, why don't you ask my father to switch me to my sister to be your bride? It's obvious that you like her and she likes you too." She calmly suggested.

The two were stunned.

Salem frowned upon hearing her words.

Dalia was speechless.

Devi smirks. "Besides, I know and you know that I have such a bad reputation back then. Are you sure you wanted me to be your... whatever."

Devi used this method even though the old nightmare that she was avoiding would bring back her memories. Even though it will disgust her for the rest of her life.

Six years ago, some scandalous happened in her life. The scene happened the day before her 18th birthday banquet.

Her heart tightened as her eyes sharply stared at her step-sister. Her eyes and heart were cold instantly.

She remembers very well, and she never forgets what kind of humiliation she experienced back then.

Now that she finally gets herself ready, she finally decides to collect debts from those people who dared to scheme her before.

Those people badly need to be punished!

She intended to use this method to retract Salem's decision for their marriage alliance. No matter what, she hardly disagreed with marrying this man.

Dalia paused. Her mind was running while staring at Devine's indifferent cold appearance. She was very annoyed and angry at her new attitude tonight. And it was hard to admit that this bitch became more and more pleasing to the eyes. Noon at ngayon ay nakikita sa kanilang dalawa ang pagkakaiba sa panlabas na kagandahan nilang taglay. She was really angry looking at that face.

After a while minute of silence, Dalia composed herself. Then again a bit of a smile could be seen in the corner of her lips and eyes.

"Sister, father have already decided—"

"And you just let it happen? What a joke!" Devi's sneered.

Dalia pursed her lips. She didn't retort but an obvious 'no' was written in her face.

"Still, Mr. Lewis has a final say in this matter!" Devi added.

Alam at nararamdaman niya kung bakit pinipilit ni Dalia ang kanilang Ama na padaluhin s'ya sa birthday celebration na iyon. Of course, Dalia would want to embarrass her in front of Salem and others. She wanted this step-sister of hers to badly humiliate her.

"Of course, you are not worth it to Salem. You have a disgusting scandal. Hindi ka nararapat sa kanya!"

Surely, Dalia makes a scene. Anyone turned their heads because of the commotion.

Devi's face turned cold.

"Can we talk?" Salem's voice was heard after a minute had passed.

Napataas ang kilay ni Devi at napatingin ito sa direksyon ni

Dalia frowned. "Salem..." she wanted to protest.

"Let me handle this, Dalia."

Devi smirks. She wondered how angry Dalia was with her at that time.

She lazily yawned. "I wanted to agree but... look, my little sister is not happy. So, I change my mind. I must go and sleep than to stay here—"

"I said, let's talk!" Salem's voice was heard again.

She grinned while looking at Dalia's ugly expression.

'Hm... what about I tease this good-for-nothing sister with a bit of anger tonight? Yeah, that's right.'

"Okay, because you insist. I will give you time to speak with me for a while, Mr. Lewis."

A moment later Salem and Devine sit at the corner of the clubhouse. They sit opposite each other.

At the other corner, Dalia with her friend was staring at the two people. All of them have ugly looks on their faces.

"Dalia. Why did you agree to them talking alone?" asked one of her friends.

"Aren't you afraid that he will be bewitched by that bitch?" the other one said.

Dalia frowned even more. She gritted her teeth while glancing at the two.

"Will you stop spouting nonsense?!" she roared.

The two sealed their mouth immediately. Afraid that she will spit flame in their track like a very angry dragon.

They did not dare to speak again and added fuel to the fire.

When Dalia couldn't take it anymore, she angrily stood up from the chair.

"Where are you going?" her friends ask her in unison.

"I'm going to the washroom!" Dalia said then left.

Back to the two people who are not aware of those judging eyes around them.

"So, you want me to personally take down my father's decision to join the Lewis family?" Dalia said simply while looking at the man in front of her.

"Exactly," he answered straightforwardly.

"If it is against you then why don't you do it yourself?"

Salem narrowed his eyes. "Why? You like to pursue the wedding?"

Devi raised her eyebrows as she stared at his entire face, and then she chuckled slightly. "Impossible," this time her face turned playful but serious. "Although you are quite a bit handsome but your features did not reach my standards. Just one look and you are not my type," he added arrogantly.

Salem's face turned ugly. He didn't expect the woman in front of him had such a sharp tongue to look down on him.

He, Salem Lewis, the only son of the Lewis family. The CEO of a large Lewis group of companies is now being despised openly by this woman.

'What a joke!'

'How dare she!'

"You are quite arrogant," he said frowning.

"Oh, is it a compliment? Okay, I will accept it. Thank you very much." she was sarcastically smiling.

"I'm glad we didn't both agree even though it was already planned by both parties," he said seriously with a calm expression.

Devi looks sarcastic. "Tsk, this is really boring. A waste of time. Let's end this matter here, Mr. Lewis." she said. Showing her impatient temperament.

Salem pursed his lips while staring at her seriously.

Nang may napadaang waiter, tinawag niya ito at kumuha ng dalawang basong alak. He put one of the glasses in front of her while he held the other glass.

"I expect you will cooperate with me, Ms. Devine Miller," he said raising his glass to make a toast.

Devi looks at the glass of wine. Not wanting to move.

"Come on, just one toast." Salem's voice was heard.

From the glass of wine, she looks up to look at his face. "Alright, I'll give you some face tonight by accepting this toast, Mr. Lewis."

She slowly grabs the glass and simply sips all of it.

A glint of a mocking grin shows on Salem's eyes "Happy cooperation." then he finally sips his wine.