HEIRESS REBORN: MARRYING HER EX-FIANCÉ-Chapter 28: The Young master of the Easmond family

The room instantly plunged into silence at her words. The atmosphere became tensed and rigid as Ayana met the gazes of the two young masters with vivid seriousness.

’’You have a funny way of cracking jokes, Young miss Kingston.’’ Young master Easmond said with a smile. But Ayana could instinctively tell that the sixteen-year-old was not smiling at her.

’’Unfortunately, I have to tell you that I am not, Young master Easmond.’’ She gave an instant reply to show that she was serious with her words.

’’...’’ Perhaps sensing the lack of mischief in her tone, Ayana watched as the Young master Easmond dropped all the pretenses and regarded her in a distant manner.

His warm brown eyes, which were so welcoming, now eyed her indifferently, much colder than her fiancé beside him. Such an abrupt change brought chills to Ayana’s heart.

’I have to choose my words carefully....’ She had to be cautious with a person like the Young master Easmond. People who could change their emotions like a flick of their fingers were quite frightening.

’’Have you heard the rumors surrounding me, Young miss Kingston?’’

’’Yes, I have, and there is a saying that not all rumors can be trusted, Young master Easmond.’’ She replied in the best way possible that she could come up with. ’’The true medical genius of the Easmond family is not the Young miss, but you, Young master Easmond.’’

’’How am I supposed to believe that you trust such claims, Young miss Kingston?’’

’’Plagiarism.’’ was her instant response.

’’.....’’

’’I believe plagiarism is a terrible crime in academics, Young master Easmond.’’ She continued without hesitation.

In her past life, there was a moment where the Easmond family became the focus of many eyes. Both in the wealthy families and also the average families.

The famed medical genius of the Easmond family, the Young miss Easmond had been sentenced to prison for plagiarism and theft of her supposed claims.

Since the Easmond family had many hospitals which targeted both the wealthy and poor, the news had been very popular that even an ignorant young miss like herself had heard about it.

There had also been many crimes that the Young miss Easmond had committed, such as deaths of her patients, but the plagiarism was what attracted the public eyes and attention.

’’Axel.’’ The pin-dropping silence was broken by the Young master Easmond and Ayana watched as his former playful self returned with a wide grin.

’’Can I steal your fiancée? It’s been a long time since I have met a clever person.’’

Silence.

His words made Ayana speechless momentarily.

’’...’’ As always, her fiancé remained unresponsive and quiet to his words. Ayana didn’t know whether to laugh or be offended that he didn’t even react to such words.

’Well....it’s not like he likes me in the first place.’ She thought to herself. ’I will be grateful if he doesn’t hate me for my arrogant past self.’

’’Can we be friends, Young miss Kingston?’’

Ayana snapped out of her shallow thoughts and replied. ’’Of course, Young—’’ The rest of her words caught up in her throat as she came to face-to-face with the sparkling starry eyes of the Young master Easmond.

’So close....’ Her eyes widened slightly at the sudden proximity.

How did he get directly in front of her so fast?!

’’Call me Matt. Young master Easmond is too formal between friends.’’ The latter even held hands with vivid enthusiasm.

Did that mean that he agreed to her request?

’’Ah, Yes....’’

"Since you’re my friend now, let me tell you all about myself," he continued without missing a beat. "I am sixteen years old, the same age as that rigid person over there. I’m handsome and, well, a bit of a playboy. The rumors are actually true, Ayana. I like girls my age, maybe even older women. So, don’t fall for me too easily," he teased with a wink. "And, as friends, I don’t need to call you ’Young Miss Kingston,’ right? Honestly, I don’t see why we have to use such titles. It’s not like we’re living in ancient times! That reminds me—don’t follow in that guy’s footsteps over there. Don’t waste your youth by being so boring. You two may be engaged, but there are plenty of fishes in the sea. Take it from someone as handsome as myself....."

’’...’’ Ayana blinked twice, caught off guard by Matt’s endless chatter. She did not expect the Young master Easmond to such a blabbermouth.

She also shifted her gaze to where her fiancé sat, regarding them with a cool indifference. When their eyes met at that moment, her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly averted her gaze, focusing instead on Matt, still babbling in front of her.

’He really doesn’t care....’ Ayana recalled the cold eyes of her fiancé’s that met her startled ones.

’Why am I even thinking about this?’ She tried to push away such thoughts. ’Don’t expect much, Ayana. Don’t be greedy for what has never been yours. You were greedy for a man’s love and look at where that cost you in the past....Besides, you don’t deserve Axel’s love.’ She criticized herself.

She didn’t deserve the love of her fiancé...her savior.

She wasn’t worthy of his kind heart at all.

Ayana inwardly told herself and, like magic, her disturbed heart calmed down and the familiar composure settled in. Yes, she shouldn’t forget her true goals of this life. There was no room for a man’s love and there should never be room for such love.

Her savior was her savior.

Nothing more and Nothing less.

’’That being said, I can’t guarantee that I will be able to cure your cousin’s illness, Ayana.’’ She concentrated on Matt’s words without unnecessary disturbance.

"It’s alright, Matt," Ayana replied as Matt released her hands and stood upright. "I just need you to take a look at him. Doctors can’t make decisions without a proper diagnosis, right?" She looked up, meeting his gaze that was now serious, with a soft smile.

As long as she fulfilled her side of the deal, Noah could finally become her guardian as his side of the deal.

"You really did your investigations." Seeing no way out, Matt Easmond remarked with a chuckle, a sigh escaping him as he ruffled his hair, one hand resting on his waist. He looked down at the twelve-year-old before him, studying her closely. There was no trace of mockery or contempt in her gaze—the kind he was used to seeing from others.

Instead, her eyes were clear, earnest, and unwavering.

’How strange yet pleasant....’ He smiled to himself. It has been a long time since he received such gaze from another apart from his best friend and his parents.

’’Can I really not steal your fiancée, Axel?’’ He turned his head sideways with a teasing smile.

’’Matt.’’

"Alright, alright, I’m leaving," Matt conceded, raising his hands in mocking surrender. He didn’t want to annoy his best friend any further, after all. With one last grin, he turned to leave, giving the pair their space.

Matt knew he had intruded out of sheer curiosity, but figured that he has seen enough for now.

’’We can talk more about your cousin later, Ayana.’’ Ayana watched as Matt left the room without looking back. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

’I guess I’ll collect his number from Axel.’ She silently turned her back to her fiancé, the familiar awkwardness and silence settling in on them.

’’I think it’s best if I leave now. Jason gets a little angsty if I spend too much time outside.’’ Since she had achieved her true purpose, Ayana tried to escape by using her little brother’s name to her advantage.

’Sorry Jason!’ She apologized to the carefree one-year-old having fun with his toys at the Kingston Mansion.

’’Allow me to see you out then.’’ Her fiancé didn’t put up much resistance as he offered standing up alongside her. Not like there was not any to begin with.

’’Thank you, Young master Kratos.’’ She said with a polite smile.

’’Axel.’’ He corrected softly.

’’Yes?’’ She glanced at him, surprised.

’’Call me Axel, like you did in the garden.’’ His words hung in the air, creating a moment of stillness that enveloped them both.

Or perhaps only Ayana as Axel was already moving forward to the doorway without hesitation. The sixteen-year-old wasn’t even aware that he was messing up with the old messy heart of his twelve-year-old fiancée.

*Ba-thump*

*Ba-thump*

Ayana’s fingers unconsciously curled against her chest, where she could feel the steady vibration of her rapidly beating heart. It was loud to her ears, and vivid to her palm.

Just like it had been in her past life for that man.

*Ba-thump*

She suddenly hoped she was the only one who could hear the loud thumping echoing in the quiet room.

"Not coming?" Axel tilted his head at the doorway.

"I am!" Ayana replied, her voice louder than she intended. She quickly let her hand drop from her chest and took a few small, deep breaths, trying to steady herself.

’Be calm, you stupid heart!’ She thought, scolding her betraying heart as she caught up with her cold fiancé.