Kelvin knew the moment Leila countenance changed. He tried to follow her line of sight but he didn't see anyone. After exchanging pleasantries with some guests, he excused himself from the couple engaging them and led Leila away.
They stopped at the farthest corner of the hall, away from prying eyes. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah." But her smile was forced. "I'm good."
Leila took his hand and he forgot the issue for a moment. They glided to a group of people talking in the corner and the DJ continued the music. He didn't interrupt their conversation to introduce her because she was still stiff. Her smile had lost some of its shine and she wasn't as excited as she was when they first entered.
He beckoned to a passing waiter and took the glass of bubbling wine from the tray. "This will help to calm you."
With a small smile, she accepted it and he snatched it from her grip before she could take another sip. He wanted her to have a sip but she had gulped down nearly half the content within a heartbeat. She blinked those cute eyes at him and he glared back. A man broke off from the group to talk to him, one of his uncles. Kelvin sometimes forgot how many people he knew or how large his mother's side of the family was.
They chatted for a while and Leila kept mute. Her mood bothered him but the best place to question her was the house. He had to endure.
"You should come home more often," his uncle chided. Kelvin blushed when Leila chuckled. It was her first time laughing since they stepped into the hall. His uncle sized Leila up. "Who might you be, young lady?"
He beat Leila to answer. "My wife."
"Your wife?" This uncle didn't receive it with the same joy as uncle Levi. "What about Mia? Isn't she-"
Kelvin ushered his uncle away before he could sputter more gibberish. Looking above his uncle's shoulder, he caught Leila's forced smile as she retreated from the group. He didn't want his wife thinking otherwise. Everyone had thought he would marry Mia because of their relationship.
He stated it more than once that it would never happen but they assumed him to be joking since he had never introduced another woman to the family.
After a brief talk with his uncle, he excused himself to find Leila. From afar, he saw Charles and his blood froze. He didn't invite him and he made sure Amara didn't send an invitation. Balling his fists and stalking to them, his steps faltered when he spotted Charles and his wife.
Leila was not smiling. Whatever Charles was saying was making her furious. He moved another inch closer to them but stuck to the shadows. They were talking about her mother. Kelvin couldn't be so sure because of how lowly Charles spoke. He cleared his throat to announce his presence and Charles's eyes lighted up in that faux familiarity. He didn't take so kindly to him refusing to work together on Stars Glow.
"Hey, brother," Charles said while clapping him on his back to draw him for a bro hug. "How have you been?" His cheeriness was forced, and Kelvin was tempted to strangle his unwanted cousin. "Have you met the woman of my dreams?"
Right. Because the only time Leila would belong to him was in his dreams. Charles nudged Leila forward but her eyes were frozen on her husband. She looked like she had seen a ghost.
To confirm his suspicions, Kelvin tried to take her hand but she subtly pulled back. "Brother?" she asked. "You know him?" A tear dropped to her cheek and she didn't care to wipe it off. Kelvin gulped. He should have said it sooner, but there had been no right time. "Do you know Charles Black?"
"Of course Kelvin knows me. We are brothers," Charles answered on his behalf. His chest burned when Leila allowed the idiot to swipe his finger across her cheeks to catch the falling tears. No man was allowed to touch his wife. No man, but him.
"Cousins," he quickly cleared. "Distant cousin."
If he had to name his top fifty cousins, Charles would not be on the list, not even the last hundred. He moved closer to Leila to explain that but she raised a hand up to stop him. He saw it in her eyes, the heartbreak she tried to cover up. If he was in her shoes, he would feel the same way if he found out the man who hit and almost raped her was her husband's cousin.
But that was one of the reasons he didn't tell her, it would have caused a strain in their relationship.
"I need a..." Leila jerked a finger at something behind her, she didn't complete her statement before running off.
Charles stared at him and back at her. The fool didn't know he was married to her. "What the fuck was that, man? You scared her." If only the idiot knew the real reason. "I know I've been a fuckboy." A renowned fuckboy, Kelvin wanted to add. And now he could add woman beater and rapist to that list. "But that woman is special to me."
"Special?" Kelvin grunted. His anger crashed over him. He grabbed his cousin by the collar, tightened it so bad Charles turned blue. "That's my wife, Charles. Stay away from her."
"Lies. You're lying." Charles pushed him off him and a flood of emotions rushed through Kelvin. The only reason Kelvin didn't throw a punch at Charles's face was because people were beginning to watch. This event was in honour of his parents and he wouldn't desecrate their memory like this. Charles smoothed his jacket. "Leilani May Collins is mine, Kelvin. Divorce her."
Charles made to walk away but stopped. More guests turned to watch. Kelvin was doing all he could go stop from unleashing his fists on Charles. He needed to get to Leila.
"Oh, I get it now." Kelvin swiped the back of his hand against his lips. His eyes scanned the big hall for his wife. "This is why Stars Glow couldn't happen with us, right? Putting a commoner over family. That's low."
"She bears the McKenna name and you don't," Kelvin spat out. This would be his only warning to this man he wished they weren't related. "She's more family to me than you will ever be. Watch yourself, Charles."
Charles sent a punch flying in his direction but it never landed. Security was there to bundle him out. Charles cursed and called him all awful names under the sun. He didn't care as he adjusted his suit and started for the stage when his name was called to give the speech before the donation for the night commenced.
The guests were back to their tables, his heart slowed when he saw Leila on the same table with uncle Levi. Uncle Levi gave him a thumbs up but the rush of energy fizzled out when he locked gazes with Leila. She stared blankly at him like he wasn't there and his heart shrank a little more.
After his speech, the hall erupted in a loud cheer. The MC took over and the donations began. Hundreds and thousands of dollars were called out, people bellowed out different amounts. He got to Leila's table and took the seat closest to her. She pretended he wasn't there and continued her conversation with uncle Levi.
"Yeah, I've heard about Mia."
Kelvin's head jerked up when he heard that statement from Leila. How did they get talking about the woman who almost ruined their relationship? He placed his hand on her leg and she stabbed him with the blunt end of her fork without sparing him a glance. Kelvin sent his uncle a pleading look to drop the topic. Thankfully, he got the hint and excused himself.
"Leila." The MC was screaming out the amounts he had received in excitement, Kelvin was yet to give his donation but that would be later. Kelvin wiped the sweat forming on his forehead. "I can explain. Just listen."
"There's nothing to explain," Leila deadpanned.
"Hey," someone greeted him. Kelvin couldn't recall the face of the man but he shook Kelvin's hand vigorously with a familiarity that made Kelvin smile. The large man took his seat next to him, forcing his attention away from his wife. She was stabbing the salad that was served to the whole table. "Long time, no see."
"Yeah. Yeah." He cast Leila a desperate glance but she didn't look up from her plate. "Work has been hectic."
"I can understand that," the man replied with a laugh. Noticing Kelvin's wandering gaze, he followed it to Leila. His smile made Kelvin wary. "Who are you?"
Leila was a new face to this place. It was a private event. He understood why everyone wanted to know her, to possibly gauge her finances and build a long-lasting connection. It was what happened in some of these elite parties.
"Leilani May." Leila took the hand the man offered, and bile rose to Kelvin's throat when the man placed a kiss on the back of her palm. His wife was stunning, any man would notice her beauty but why did she introduce herself without his last name? She avoided his gaze, her returning smile to this man's obvious interest in her annoyed him. She was a married woman. "A staff of Mr Kelvin McKenna. I had to fill in for his assistant."
"I'm Nazo," the man said. Kelvin registered the name but he couldn't remember the trade they made. A server passed and Nazo stopped him. "Mind if I get you a drink?" He offered her a glass before she could answer and Kelvin's nails dug into his knees.
"Forgive my forwardness, are you single? A beautiful lady like you shouldn't be without a man." Madonna would disagree. He also did, but he was more interested in getting his wife out of here. She had to look at him. "I hope you don't mind, Mr McKenna."
Kelvin didn't care what Nazo said, he was more interested in Leila's reply. Leila laughed. She took a sip from the glass and dropped it back to the table.
"Sorry. Currently staying away from men." Leila's eyes met Kelvin's in a chilly stare. "Still nursing a heartbreak from a betrayal."
The pain in his heart convinced him his chest would explode. He tried to say something but Leila stood.
"Excuse me, gentlemen. I have to get some air."