5 She only wished for one thing

Zachary and Bradley were already dressed and stepped out of their rooms at the same time. They chuckled then furrowed their brows when they heard Bella's voice downstairs calling for the maids.

Bradley cursed under his breath as he and Zachary matched to their parents room and knocked. Zachary was quietly making a promise to beat her up if she was causing any trouble.

Ernest swung the door open, holding his black shoes in his hand. "What's up?" he asked, opening the door wider for them to come in.

"What else or should I say who else would be up if not your darling princess?"

"Your mom is in the toilet" Ernest said looking confused.

Zachary rolled his eyes then put his hands on his dad's shoulders before shaking some sense into him as he said: "No! He meant the other one!"

Ernest pushed him away and raised his left brow. "Mom in law?"

"No! Bella!!" Bradley said heatedly.

"What did she do this time?" their mom who was just stepping out of the toilet asked.

The brothers looked at each other awkwardly. "We don't...we don't know yet" Bradley said.

"Well let's go see then!" Stephanie said leading the way.

The men looked at themselves then shrugged before following her. When they got to the stairs they saw a pretty—no beautiful girl, coming out of the kitchen.

They continued to watch dumbstruck as they heard each word she said. Zachary had moved to his elder brother's back and clutched his shirt tightly when he heard her laugh.

Even Stephanie had shivered then lightly cursed her husband for not wearing a jacket, so she could wear. Ernest sneezed as soon as he felt an extra shiver run down his spine.

He looked at his wife and glared at her. But she was now wearing a 'you're on your own' expression. Confused he looked back down. Only to find more than eight pairs of eyes on him. Including Ian who had just walked in.

He could also see Tess with a lost face staring at Bella. The others were behind their mom and step mom: Lexus, Rochelle then he saw a silhouette far off who he assumed was Alan, his daughter's heart beat.

♠

Bella was shocked to see her family standing at the top of the stairs, leaning against the railing. Zach and Brad, looking handsome.

Her mom, without make up which was very funny for her, that she had to put her hands on her twitching lips. Her dad...her dad was holding his shoes in his hand.

She rolled her lips in and closed her eyes as she felt the tears of laughter threatening to spill. She blinked them away and her eyes fell on the maids in front of her.

"Go, wait for me in my room" they turned to leave and she quickly added, "give me your phones" when they appeared hesitant, she stretched her hand in front of them.

She saw them bow their heads slightly and glanced back only to see Lexus' parents. Why were they early? She glanced back at the clock and saw that it was still eleven fourty three.

Thats when she remembered....the clock had stopped working a week ago. F*ccckkkk. She nearly cussed out loud. She saw Lexus behind them and her naughty mind played a trick on her by flashing his nude image across her mind.

Her cheeks grew warm and she cussed again. Damn brain this is not the time to think of such things.

She searched her memories trying to remember if Alan came on this day, but nope. She got nada. Sh*t!

She would have to go in blind. Or maybe she could avoid the event altogether. With her current state of her hair flying around her face and smelling like spices, she only wished for one thing...sleep.

Ian, Tess, Lexus and Rochelle walked in. Bella had her back to them as she was still deliberating on what to do.

They all stopped few feet away from her. She was painfully away of their presence....especially Alan. She had caught a whiff of his perfume.

The idiot's spray was too strong and could be perceived even at a distance thanks to diffusion...or was it osmosis? Well she hadn't paid much attention to chemistry class in high school.

Either way, she couldn't let him see her. No. Then all her inner plans would go to waste. She had to do the only thing that she could.

♣

Lexus was not sure if he was dressed right. He had practically dragged everyone to his room and twirled in front of them like a little girl showing off her Christmas clothes.

And only when Alan had said he looked "good" did he calm down. After all, Bella was in love with Alan, so anything Alan said was good in aspect of Bella was good.

But now looking at her back he felt tingly and fuzzy inside. He knew Bella was beautiful since he had been keeping tabs on her ever since he became the vice president of his father's company and could make his own money, which was seven years ago.

But now he saw her face clear of the heavy make up she always did. His heart was thumping so loud he was afraid she would hear it.

His family had watched the whole scene play in front of them...except his royal highness Alan who had "to take a call"

Anyways it was his loss. Lexus was glad that Alan didn't see Bella's face. In fact he wanted to be the only one able to see his beloved's face.

Her navy blue shirt and black skinny ripped jeans matched his own navy blue shirt and black slacks. He swallowed and took unsteady steps to her.

His hand reached for her shoulder and his lips parted to call her name softly. "Bella" she started falling and he shouted her name. "BELLA!!!"

"Lex I'm fine I just...I felt dizzy" she said through her pink really-tempting-him-to-kiss lips. "Could....could you take me too my room?" he heard her say like she was struggling.

He carried her bridal style and ascended the steps in fast strides to her room. His brain was only focused on the task she gave him or he would have seen the cute blush on her face and the smirk playing on her lips.

He didn't even greet her parents or brothers or he would have seen the killing intent in the men eyes...