Chapter 95—Oh No, Please!

"I heard the bride and groom seeing each other before their wedding day is...." "A bad omen?" Henderson arched his brows at Lena who nodded in response. "Yes." "Don't tell me you believe that to babe. It's just a superstition. " Henderson sighed. Alia shook her head letting out a chuckle. She knew right from the beginning that Henderson was going to be against it. But following strict traditions no matter how archaic people thought them to be was one thing she knew how to do best. "No, it's not. It is a tradition." Alia corrected. The response she got from Henderson was a scoff. "What's the difference?" "Are you leaving or Lena is coming with me?" Alia inquired glancing at both Lena and Henderson ignoring Henderson's remark. "Fine. I'll just go over to Brian's or Brighton's place." Henderson heaved an exasperated sigh. Lena gave him a sorry look and then took his hand in hers. "Don't worry babe, it would be for just a day we can survive that." She smiled. Henderson went over to Brian's place, Brighton had gone on an emergency trip but he was going to return the next day. Staying away from each other for just a day, was harder than Lena and Henderson thought it would be. But Henderson had a plan in mind, he was going to video call Lena and then they were going to speak with each other, he told Lena about it and they agreed it was the only way out since Alia seemed pretty serious about the wedding tradition stuff. Henderson didn't really want to follow it because to him it was pointless but Lena told him that it was just a day and it was what Alia wanted and Madam Carmen was in support of it as well when Henderson had gone to tell her about it, he had no idea she was on Alia's side in concern to that. "What do you mean by no phone calls Aunt Nana?" Lena frowned when Madam Carmen stopped her from picking up her phone when it started to ring. "Because I know it's Henderson and you can't speak to him. At least not today, you'll see him tomorrow it is just a few hours until tomorrow." Madam shrugged with a smile plastered on her face, she glanced at Alia who gave a supportive nod to her statement. "But, this is...." "No buts, Lena. Remember what you told Henderson? It is just going to be for a day.." Madam Carmen smiled exchanging glances with Alia who also had a smile on her face. "Aunt Nana, we should go downstairs and continue with what we were doing earlier. You'll get your phone later.." Alia mumbled and together, she and Madam Carmen left the room An exasperated sigh left Lena's lips and she shifted her gaze to Cleo and Irene who were laughing hard and whispering to themselves. "Aww... Lovergirl is sad being away from her beloved prince charming..." Irene teased and earned a glare from Lena. Lena regretted agreeing to the whole wedding tradition thing, she only agreed to it because she didn't think that it was going to be so difficult but now she was feeling like she and Henderson had been away from each other for decades. "Lena, you shouldn't wear that sad face. We should have fun, I'm pretty sure Henderson is having fun with his guys..." Lena's brows puckered as she peered at Cleo "Fun? What kind of fun? What..." Not that she didn't trust her fiance but she had heard quite a number of things guys did on the night before their wedding and now that Cleo mentioned it the awful thought crossed her mind. "Brother-in-law is not like that. Don't even think about it." Irene stated reassuringly. Lena rolled her eyes at Irene before returning her gaze to Cleo. "What Irene said. It's not the kind of fun you might be thinking. Henderson wouldn't dare, " Cleo chuckled before continuing her statement. Lena trusted Henderson so she didn't bother herself about Henderson having fun, if he was partying with his friends it was cool with her but right now all her mind was filled with was tomorrow coming so there could be an end to the whole wedding tradition thing. If only she knew she would have agreed with Henderson when he said the wedding tradition was just a superstition and who knows maybe Alia and Madam Carmen would have just let it be, who was she kidding? Those women were so serious about their wedding tradition followed strictly! "All I'm trying to say is that we should throw a bachelorette party, have some fun and before you know it, it will be tomorrow and you won't have to worry about not seeing Henderson until tomorrow." "Uhmm, I appreciate the idea but I don't want to party...." "When do you ever want to party?" Irene grumbled under her breath but Lena heard her clearly. Lena's icy glare settled on Irene who cleared her throat on the realisation that Lena heard what she had said. "Did you say something?" Lena lifted an eyebrow at Irene. "No, " Irene lied shaking her head in response "I see. As I was saying, you guys can have a party if you want but right now I'm not in the mood for a party." "If you don't want a party then there is no need for it. What is a bachelorette party without the soon-to-be bride? Aunt Nana and Alia did the same thing to me when I and Henry were getting married and now that think of it I wish I saw the writings on the wall...." "Sorry about Henry, I heard about how much of a douchebag he was. He doesn't deserve you, "Irene's lips pressed against each other as she stroked Cleo's shoulder comfortingly. Cleo smiled, " Thank you, Irene. You are so right, I just wish I realised that earlier. Sorry guys I shouldn't be saying all these about my pathetic life when it's a day..." "A day to my wedding? It does not stop you from expressing yourself. And you are not pathetic like I told you before. You'll find love or should I say found love.." Lena said teasingly in a sing-song. "Uh huh.... We might be having another wedding right after yours and Henderson's." Irene added with a mischievous smile playing on her lips as she gazed at Cleo. A smirk tugged the side of Cleo's lips, " Right?" She gave a right nod, her lips curved into a smile, " I'm guessing it would be you and Brian tying the knot." Irene burst out into a peal of hysterical laughter making Lena and Cleo exchange glances before returning their gazes to Irene. "Me and Brian? What a joke." Irene scoffed. "Why don't I believe you?" Lena's eyes crinkled as they scrutinised Irene's face suspiciously. "Same here. What are you not telling us?" Cleo questioned. "You should throw the question to yourself, despite all the sparks of affection flying around Matteo and you, you both still claim you are just friends and have refused to admit that you are in love with each other hiding behind work at the office." Irene frowned. Cleo drew in a sharp breath, "OK fine. I admit I have feelings for Matteo but I don't think he feels the same way. I don't want to get my hopes high and end up getting disappointed in the end. What if he doesn't want a divorcee? And..." Lena put her hand in the air and wriggled her head gesturing Cleo to stop her statement. "A divorcee? I can't believe you, is that the only thing you see about yourself? It's not your fault that Henry ended up being an asshole, you made the right choice divorcing him. Matteo is my best friend and knows that he doesn't care that you have been married before doesn't matter to him. Matteo loves you and I'm pretty sure he might not have told you as well because he feels you might not reciprocate his feelings." Lena muttered. One thing Cleo feared after getting heartbroken by Henry was falling for someone else who wouldn't reciprocate her feelings, she wasn't ready to go down that route again. If it wasn't for Lena and Henderson who were by her side after her divorce was finalized, she didn't think she was going to fall in love again until Matteo came along, he made her see a type of love that she never thought she was going to experience but then she wasn't sure if all the care he was showing her was because he loved her. She didn't want to jump to conclusions and end up being disappointed but then her heart didn't stop loving Matteo, days back she made up her mind to avoid Matteo and make sure the feelings went away but now she felt love was worth trying again one bad betrayal of a man wasn't enough reason to give up on love. Irene nodded in agreement, " Uh huh, you and Matteo are the cause of all of these. If you both didn't stop insisting that you were just friends maybe one of you would have been bold enough to make the move and confess your feelings. Matteo loves you, a lot. And I know you love him back stop that friendship charade and do the right thing." A smile marred Cleo's face, " Thank you, Lena." Lena beamed warmly and embraced Cleo. "I need to thank you too. Remember those times I and Henderson claimed not to have feelings for each other, despite our many affirmations, you didn't believe it. You played a huge role in bringing I and Henderson together, so thank you." "Why would I want to miss the chance of you being my sister-in-law?" Cleo joked making Lens chuckle as they hugged each other again. "And I get no thank you, no hug. How sweet." Irene huffed glaring at Lena and Cleo when they broke the hug. "You'll get that when you admit that you like Brian." Lena shrugged her shoulders. "I concur with that." Cleo lifted her hand in the air as she laughed. "I don't have feelings for...." The ringing of Irene's phone stopped her from completing her words. A smile danced on her lips as she took the phone. "Hey, brother-in-law..." Lena's eyes brightened, and a gigantic grin spread across her face, " it's Henderson, right?" But she didn't get a response rather it was an eye roll from Irene. "Please give me the phone so I can speak to him." "Lena is asleep, I," Irene said into the phone but before she could go on, Cleo snatched the phone out of her hand. "Hi, Henderson. Matteo, it's you. Where's Henderson?" "Is that Lena?" Cleo heard Henderson's voice in the background. "I'll give the phone to Lena now," Cleo mumbled stretching the phone to Phone to Lena. "Thank you, " Lena smiled as she took the phone from Cleo. "That's not fair, why will you just take my phone like that." Irene glared at Cleo. Cleo chuckled, " You left me no choice, Lena asked politely but you didn't want polite so I had to take it." "Darling, I've missed you so much. I honestly didn't think it was going to be this hard, " Lena sighed. The door screeched open revealing Alia and Madam Carmen. "Who are you talking to Lena?" Madam Carmen questioned as they stepped into the room. Oh no, please!