“Ah, so, noona you came home just for this party?” Kai asked as waiter passed by with a tray of champagne.

“Yes, auntie called me and asked me to come. And, you know, no one says no to her.” Tiffany said with a grin.

“But, Chanyeol, you,” She said teasingly, Chanyeol winced.

“I didn’t know you were into coldhearted women.” She said jokingly, Kai guffawed.

“She’s..not..that..”

Tiffany looked at him, brows raised, the latter couldn’t help but just smile back.

“I know, Alessa…well, she can be cold, but she’s different when it comes to people she likes. For Kai, she doesn’t ignore him, she talks to him when she has to. but she was never the type to play around, even when we were kids. She and Lucas are complete opposites.”

“I agree, Lucas is the approachable one.” Kai chuckled as he took a small sip from his drink. Chanyeol nodded back, his eyes were on Alessa. The girl was chatting with one of their business partners and her mother was standing right next to her.

“But, you,” Tiffany nudged him.

“Hang in there, I know her. The fact that she isn’t hiding from you or avoiding you speaks volumes, Park Chanyeol.” She said to him.

“Noona, don’t do~”

“I mean it, I see the way she looks at you. She’s…actually comfortable around you, I’ve never seen her smile like that. So, keep on doing what you’re doing.”

“Hmm, even the cousin approves.” Kai mused jokingly, Chanyeol socked his arm.

“Oh no.” The older girl blurted out, Chanyeol followed her gaze.

“Lucas. Ahee.” Kai murmured under his breath.

Alessa turned her head and she halted, Chanyeol could see that she was stunned, but it looked it she was already expecting it.

Mrs. Wong’s brows rose up, she was about to move forward when a group of males suddenly walked in the room.

“Ooh, they’re here.” Kai said with a huge grin on his face. Tiffany smiles and looks at Chanyeol again.

Mrs. Wong halted when she saw the young males approaching them.

“Ayi.” Caesar waved at the two Wong women as they neared them, Alessa broke into a big smile as soon as she realized they were complete.

“Guan Hong, you guys.” She said as she walked towards them, Dylan rolled his eyes and nudged Connor.

“He’s Guan Hong and we’re just the “guys”.” Connor mocked her, Alessa sent him a look before opening her arms to the male.

“You look well. How are you?” Darren chuckled as he gently pulled her away before the girl could reach Connor.

“I’m hungry.” Alessa muttered back, he scrunched his nose at her.

“More relatives?” Chanyeol asked as he watched the scene unfold, Lucas approached his father and introduced Ahee.

“You wish.” Kai snorted to himself.

“No. That’s their childhood buddies.” Tiffany supplied as she looked at the four males.

“Darren Chen of ChenXi Group, Connor Leong of Leong Global Group and Caesar Wu of Wu Jian Incorporated.” Kai stated, Chanyeol grew confused.

“Shanghai’s cream of the crop. I mean, your Alessa’s close circle of friends.” He corrected himself, Chanyeol’s eyes went to them again. Alessa was still chatting with one of the males, he continued to talk.

Dylan paused briefly, he was standing next to Caesat and Connor who were speaking with Mrs. Wong. His eyes went to Chanyeol briefly, the older male was watching Darren and Alessa intently. He grinned to himself and looked ahead.

Lucas felt his mother’s gaze on them, he turned his head and saw her making her way towards them.

“Uh-oh.” His father said softly.

“Wow, what a brave girl.” Mrs. Wong spoke a little too loudly, Ahee looked at her, confused.

“Auntie, happy birth~”

“So, you really did think that I want you here? How funny.” Mrs. Wong said with a short laugh, the party grew quiet.

“So, you really decided to stay here?” Darren asked her, Alessa nodded back.

“Lucas needs help, and, our branch here~” Alessa paused when she noticed that it had gone too quiet. She looked up and saw her mother speaking with Lucas and Ahee.

“Give me a minute.” Alessa squeezed his hand before standing up, her forehead creased as she heard her mother speak.

“You bring this girl here and embarrass us to our friends, that’s very thoughtful of you, son.”

Alessa was about to step forward but she felt a hand on her back, she turned and found Chanyeol looking at her.

“Yeol, he..eomma will,”

Chanyeol laced his finger with hers and slowly pulled her to his side. Darren looked at the two, he smiled to himself before leaning back on his seat.

“Yeol, he can’t.” She spoke, Chanyeol shook his head at her.

“He can, Alessa. He can.” He murmured back, Alessa winced she exhaled before turning around to face him.

“I can’t watch this.” She mumbled back before pressing her forehead against his chest, Chanyeol felt her arms around his waist and she sighed.

He frowned and just kept one arm around the girl’s shoulder.

“Ma.” Lucas spoke, his forehead creasing. He pulled Ahee to his back as he looked at the elder.

“Honey, let the kids be. She seems like a nice girl.” Mr. Wong tried to intervene.

“I cannot believe, that you, my son, would actually let yourself be seen with this~”

“Stop it, ma!” Lucas spat, Dyland and Caesar glanced at each other, Connor puffed his cheeks and he discreetly pulled the two to their table.

“No, she willingly came here, thinking that I like her, let her hear what I think.” Mrs. Wong shot back, Ahee closed her eyes briefly, her fists curled.

“What you think? You mean your sick and biased way of judging people? How you prioritized other people’s thoughts over your own children’s feelings?” Lucas replied evenly.

“Jie jie and I aren’t your pawns, ma. Get over it.”

“At least your sister~”

“You forced her to marry Darren ge, don’t think I don’t know that.”

Chanyeol paused, he felt Alessa tense up in his arms, she pulled away from him and looked at her brother.

“Why do you think she hides behind Dylan’s protection, ma? She wants to scare everyone off, so that you wont get the chance to arrange her again.” Lucas replied, Alessa could see how agitated he was.

“Wong Yukhei, you~”

“You cant control me, ma. You can try but, you will lose me in the process.”

Mrs. Wong was stunned, she crossed her arms. Alessa exhaled, she looked at Chanyeol, she gave him a small smile before bopping his nose.

“It’s time I step in. Lucas might really hurt our mother.” She said to him, Chanyeol dropped his arm and let go of her.

“If Lucas leaves, I’m resigning.” Alessandra spoke as she walked towards them, she positioned herself right beside her brother.

“Alessandra!”

“He’s right, we’re not your pawns. And if you try hurting Ahee again,” Alessa met her mother’s gaze evenly.

“It is I whom you’re going against, ma.”

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