Devon Point of View

For some known and unknown reason, I feel extremely guilty.

So guilty that I want to hit myself ruthlessly.

After Illaria let out her steam regarding her business partner to me and Ural and left, I and Ural couldn't help but exchange helpless looks and feel sorry for her.

It was already so hard for her to manage such a huge business empire, now that the business partners are beings senseless, she must be feeling totally exhausted.

However, I'm an outsider and besides comforting her, I cannot do anything. I can only look at her as good friend and try a few ways to let her relax and comfort her.

I looked at Ural with a serious frown when he nudged me with his elbow. "I think you should spend some time with her and make sure she is emotionally and mentally relaxed."

Although what he said made sense, it still did not sound too right somehow.

"Why should I?" I frowned and presented a fierce scowl to him.

I and Illaria can be considered friends now that we are going to be a family and also we are working together on the wedding tasks.

As a friend, an Almond would never leave their friends when they are stressed or troubled.

However, the tone Ural used sound very wrong.

"Why don't you marry off one of your cousins to me so that I and Ms. Allard become relatives and I can make efforts to console her?" No way!

With how mindless, senseless, clueless and nutcase Ural is, my cousin would definitely suffer if she were to get into a relationship with him. I cannot push my own family member into a quicksand knowingly.

"Dream on! I have the ability to take care of my family and relatives. You keep your daydreams behind your closed eyes only." Hmph! I can take care of Illaria and be a good friend and comfort her when she not feeling good.

How did I make such a best friend?

I was and am always more clearheaded and serious, I wonder I got this goofball beside me as a friend!

Giving him a punch on his shoulder, I left in a gloomy mood.

However, I made a decision to spend some time with Illaria as a to-be-relative and a friend and relieve her stress.

That night when I got home, the whole family is busy with making arrangements for the dinner we are having with Allard siblings.

This is not just a dinner but it also a meeting to finalize everything and implement all the plans made. So, it is deemed to be a long evening.

The whole morning the next day, I finished all the important office work and then made an attractive PowerPoint and animation presentation of the tasks I and Illaria were responsible for.

Ural has always been an incredible software person. He specially and very casually made a small software at the time of his sister's wedding to help make a stimulation of all the arrangements according to his sister's wishes.

That animation software helped a lot at that time so I took it from him. This is a very easy AI type software where I can put my ideas and imaginations into animation quite easily and get a basic picture of it.

It took me two hours to work on the animation video but by the end of it, I'm quite satisfied with it.

"Anete and Illaria are already here at grandma's place, come over quickly, Devon." Mom hollered from downstairs to which I shouted back my affirmation.

I wrapped up the work and went to grandma's place and the moment I stepped in, I heard a very depressed familiar tone saying, "Oh you have no idea! I feel like killing that man sometimes."

I don't have to wonder who the discussion is about and who is being killed.

It must the new partner, Uno Mayhem.

I casually told mom about it briefly, didn't expect her to ask about it in front of the whole family. Thankfully, from Illaria's tone, I think she is not offended by it when she is expressing her displeasure about her business partner.

"Devon, you are here. We are just waiting for you. Come on, let's have dinner first and continue talking later." Grandma rushed me inside.

Only when I arrived did everyone stood up to have dinner together. And this is what I love about my family. They would wait for everyone when there is a gathering like this.

"Sorry, I was a bit occupied. To compensate it, I got everyone some desserts." I smiled and placed the bag on the table.

The dinner was pretty lively and fun. Everyone talked, laughed and enjoyed teasing each other whenever they heard something funny.

It was such a lively atmosphere that even if I switch of the lights at home, it would be dark at all.

After having a heavy dinner, grandma led the Allards' to the living room while mom and aunts are busy serving dessert in plates for everyone.

Eldest aunt is best at making drinks that helps in digestion. She learnt them from an Indian friend a long while ago so she made some mojito made of some spices and lime for everyone.

Once everyone was settled with their drinks and dessert, we finally got to the task.

Anete, Cacao and his team gave the first presentation. I gave them the hint about the theme of the engagement beforehand so they looked for suitable flowers and decoration accordingly.

Tiny and Zorion listened keenly noted down the details on their notepads. Then it was Illaria and my turn to give the presentation.

I connected my laptop to the projector and started to explain everything we decided on and by the end of the presentation, the whole house is resonated with loud applause.

"It will so much to have a carnival like that for our engagement. We can go crazy with each other." Tiny exclaimed and hopped like a child.

I smiled and nodded at her. Thankfully she liked the idea and Zorion seems interested as well. Although we did inform them of the theme before, this time, we presented it completely with all the details so they seemed more enthusiastic than before.

"Good." I smiled lovingly at my cousin who is still hopping around and turned to everyone to continue. "However, what stalls to put and whom to invite is still not decided. I would like everyone to share their thoughts on it."

Soon everyone got loud and excited to decide on the stalls. I and Illaria provided few ideas, along with others' the list is prepared.

We decided to hire small stores from small towns with a thought of giving them an opportunity to make better living.

So, again, I and Illaria are given the responsibility to go to the field, choose and make a contract with them.

This was a big task for just the two of us to do in such a short period of time but everyone is already so busy with other things so we can only do it by ourselves.

I don't understand why grandma is so bent on teaming me and Illaria alone for such a huge task.

Sometimes, I don't understand grandma at all!

"Are you available? You seem pretty busy these days." I asked Illaria as we walked out of the house.

Cacao is going to drop Anete off at her friend's house so I led Illaria to her car as a part of courtesy.

"I guess so. I will try my all to make time for it. Let's consider hiring people from the places close to the city. That would be less taxing for me." I nodded in agreement and gave her a few words of comfort.

"In that case, is the day after right time to start?" I asked.

"If nothing pops up, yes. I will look up in the internet about it tomorrow and share my findings with you. We can choose the appropriate ones together and then get there after the selection."

"Okay." She smiled at my response and heaved heavily.

"Goodnight. I will take my leave now." She waved goodbye and drove off.

Seeing her so pressurized, I felt guilty again.

If only I can –

Nevermind!

That night, I got an office email that stumped me. I couldn't help but feel angry and cold after reading it.

Soon, I sent out a few coded messages and emails and logged into the incognito site that links me with my team members.

Two hours later, I got what I wanted but the information did not make me feel good at all.

This is such bad news that came at wrong time.

"Hey, did you get the mail? What are we supposed to do about it?" I got a voice message from Ural.

I thought for a moment and planned everything meticulously before typing away to answer Ural.

'Ural, let's make a big show tomorrow! Let's make it so big that –' I explained my plan to him and immediately he replied back and reading that made me feel so bad in heart.

'What about Ms. Allard then? Are we going to –' He trailed off but I understood.

I can only be sorry about it!

I can only hope she understands.

I can only hope –

~*~*~*~*~*~

Hello Sweeties,

Next chapter is here. Enjoy!

What do you think about the chapter? Boring?

Why is Devon feeling guilty for?

Is he just feeling sorry for what IIlaria has to go through? Or is there something else to it?

Ural is so obsessed with Almond family. Agree?

What is Devon hiding? Why is he worried about Illaria when he thinks of his office work?

Please shower me with votes and comments.

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Lots of Love

Lady Prim