Chapter 25: Nick Trap
1906words
When he came out of his room, his steps coincided with Sevano who was just about to enter. "Sir, I have completed the design you requested," said Ramona while giving a folder containing the results of his work. Sevano picked it up and nodded with a glint of satisfaction in his eyes.
"Good job, Ramona. This design is truly incredible. You finished it faster than I expected," he praised in a sincere tone. Ramona smiled slightly, feeling relieved that her work was appreciated. "Then, can I go home now?" he asked hesitantly.
Sevano hissed softly, looking a little confused before finally speaking. "I'm sorry, Ramona. Nick gave me permission earlier. He said he wanted to take you away. Are you in a hurry?"
Ramona was silent for a moment. This choice confuses him — Hunter who urges him to go home, or Nick who suddenly wants to meet? Which one should he come first? He knows that both Hunter and Nick have interests that cannot be ignored.
Sevano let out a deep sigh, attracting Ramona's attention. "I'm a little sorry for Nick, actually," he said quietly. "Since childhood, he has lost the figure of a father. As an adult, his life was full of restraints from his mother. This time, it seems like the problem is quite serious. As always, it's likely about matchmaking. It's been three years since his mother urged Nick to get married, but she kept refusing."
Ramona tilted her head, listening intently.
"Nick feels guilty about someone. He once told me, he won't get married before that person gets married first," Sevano continued.
The name disturbed Ramona's mind. Who does Sevano mean? Hunter? Or someone else?
Sevano looked at Ramona seriously. "It's possible that Nick wants to ask you for help with this. If you are pleased, maybe you can help him. But I don't force it, it all depends on your decision."
Ramona was silent. What should he do? He knew Sevano and Nick had their own agenda. They consider themselves to be Hunter's greatest weakness. If Ramona marries Nick, it is likely that the secret of her past that failed to marry Hunter will be buried. All will shift their focus to Hunter, and Ramona can be freed from his shadow.
If that happens, the Hunter will truly believe that Ramona no longer expects anything from him — including responsibility for the birth of their daughter Esther.
Ramona looked at Sevano with a hesitant look. In his heart, he knew that tonight's decision would change the course of his life forever.
'Perhaps this is the way to break free from the Hunter's grasp, as well as the beginning of my new life. If I marry Nick, Hunter will definitely release me, because Hunter believes that I will not hold him accountable, nor interfere with his life, and this includes my help, helping him in taking his revenge on Nick and Sevano, Ramona in his heart.
"How is Ra?" asked Sevano, reminding Ramona's daydream.
Ramona firmly nodded, willing to help Nick make Sevano curl his smile.
"Alright, I'll contact Nick to pick you up," said Sevano who was only nodded by Ramona.
That night, Ramona and Nick arrive at a magnificent villa that seems to shine in the garden lights. Ramona has been dressed neatly and gracefully, wearing a beautiful dress chosen by Nick. With perfect sheer makeup, her beauty radiates naturally. When the car stopped, Ramona got off confidently, holding Nick's arm while smiling calmly. They walked together towards the villa to meet Nick's family.
Before they entered the main door of the villa, Nick paused for a moment and looked at Ramona seriously. "Ra, are you really going to do it?" he asked in a worried tone.
Ramona nodded steadily, without the slightest hesitation. "I'm ready, Nick. I'll help you. Let's just finish tonight's play perfectly without mistakes."
Nick smiled faintly, a smile full of happiness and gratitude. "Just say if you object, I can thwart it," she said again, trying to make room for Ramona to change her mind.
However, Ramona just shook her head gently while still smiling. "I've decided, Nick. I'll do it."
With a unanimous conviction, Nick continued his steps with Ramona. They entered the villa, prepared to face his mother and carried out the plan they had agreed on.
As soon as Nick and Ramona stepped into the villa, the majestic atmosphere in the living room immediately greeted them. However, Ramona's steps stopped, and her eyes widened. He was astonished to see Hunter and Belinda sitting there. Hunter looked at Ramona with a flat gaze, but clearly implied pent-up anger, especially when he saw Ramona holding Nick's arm.
"Honey, you've come," greeted Sonya, Nick's mother, in a warm tone. Sonya immediately kissed Nick's cheek at a glance in a skimming style, then turned to look at Ramona with a happy twinkle. "She's your lover?" guessed Sonya with a big smile.
Nick nodded slowly, confirming the guess. Ramona, who felt that she had to follow the flow of this play, also nodded politely. "What's your name, baby?" asked Sonya softly while grasping Ramona's hands.
"Ramona, Tante," replied Ramona, her voice calm but a little awkward. Sonya's face immediately beamed, looking so happy because tonight Nick brought a woman who was introduced as his lover.
However, from the corner of her eye, Ramona could feel the stern gaze full of tension from Hunter. The gaze pierced him, filled with cynicism that made the atmosphere even more uncomfortable. On the other hand, Belinda only smiled faintly, looking quite happy to hear Nick acknowledge Ramona as his lover.
Sonya, enthusiastically, immediately invited Ramona to sit nearby. Ramona had no choice but to comply, even though her heart was filled with various questions. Meanwhile, Nick casually greeted Hunter and Belinda, although there was a clearly felt tension between them.
Ramona sat awkwardly at the large round table that had been prepared for dinner. His mind was raging. "What's wrong with this? Didn't Nick say he was going to be matched? Why is Hunter here?" he thought, trying to piece together all the pieces of information. He began to feel that something was wrong. "Is this a trap for me?" he muttered to himself, trying to hide his anxiety behind his faint smile.
Belinda immediately opened her voice with a big smile on her face. "Oh my goodness, Sonya, this is a surprise for me. On this special night, Nick finally brought his girlfriend after a long time alone."
Sonya looked even happier to hear Belinda's words. He gently rubbed Ramona's buttocks happily. "It looks like the two of us will have a son-in-law soon. Can we hold the wedding at the same time?" he said excitedly.
Belinda immediately laughed. "It seems possible. We can arrange it later," he replied, making Nick respond immediately. "Mom, don't rush to get married. Mama can surprise Ramona," she said, making Sonya smile faintly at Ramona.
Belinda then looked at Nick and Ramona with a friendly look. "Thank you for being present at tonight's event to enliven this important meeting." Nick just nodded politely, while Ramona nodded awkwardly, glancing at Hunter.
Sonya, who noticed the confusion on Ramona's face, immediately gave an explanation. "Hunter is his cousin Nick, baby. Tonight is Hunter's matchmaking night with Sire, the daughter of a Chinese businessman. In the end, you will become a big family," he explained with a big smile.
Ramona nodded, trying to seem to understand the situation, then threw her smile of innocence. Now, slowly everything is starting to become clear to him. He finally understood why Hunter had been staring at him sharply and cynically. Apparently, this event is not for Nick's matchmaking, but Hunter.
In her mind, Ramona realizes that she has fallen into Nick's trap. Whether intentionally or not, Nick has brought him to this show with a request to pretend to be his lover. Ramona feels betrayed, but she decides to stay calm.
"It's okay," he thought to himself. "I'll carry out this plan while investigating everything." He put on a faint smile, hiding the anxiety that was slowly disappearing replaced by a strong determination to understand what was really going on.
It's just that what bothers Ramona's mind right now is, how can it all happen by chance like this?
This seems to have been carefully planned.
Shortly after, a beautiful, tall, and sexy woman walked gracefully with a middle-aged man approaching their table. They were Sire and Pester, the father-son couple who took center stage that night. The woman was Hunter's future partner to be matched with.
After a brief greeting full of pleasantries, they all started talking about the marriage between Hunter and Sire. The atmosphere turned serious with the topic being discussed. Ramona could only sit still, listen, and listen carefully to every word.
Out of the corner of her eye, Ramona watched Hunter. He just sat quietly and indifferently, not giving any response at all. There was no smile, no nod, not even a word came out of his mouth. Hunter's silence made the atmosphere feel even more tense.
Ramona felt anxious. He could clearly see from Hunter's cold expression and passivity that something was wrong. The silence was not a sign of approval or acceptance, but rather like someone holding back great anger. This made Ramona even more scared and restless, but she still tried to keep her calm in front of everyone.
At the top of the conversation, Pester asked, "So what, are we going to have a big wedding for Hunter and Nick?" Sonya and Belinda threw each other's gazes with a twinkle of pleasure.
Nick immediately told his mother, "Ma, please don't rush. Mama makes Ramona want to run away at this time. Nick just asked her to see her mom, and she was already talking about marriage." Sonya just chuckled and hugged Ramona's waist with pleasure.
"Isn't your age enough? Why wait any longer? Only Mama and Belinda don't have grandchildren yet? Isn't that Pester?" asked Sonya who was nodded by Pester.
"The sooner the better," Pester said making Belinda and Sonya agree.
Nick then looked at Ramona and said, "If Nick is up to Ramona's decision. Nick won't force it." Now all attention is directly on Ramona.
It was as if they were asking for an answer from Ramona. Ramona knew she was already in the abyss at this time. Why avoid it anymore. The more he was silent, the longer he would only be trapped in this abyss.
There was already a bait for Ramona to climb and get out of this ravine. What are you waiting for, Ramona will climb to get out of this abyss.
"I'm willing to marry Nick!" said Ramona, making everyone shine except for one person, who had been staring at Ramona fiercely and angrily.
