AllFreeNovel
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"Shall we, then?" I gestured toward the door, offering her my arm.
She gave a nod, and we went to the waiting car. David was already waiting to take Amelia home.
We wished them goodnight, and I slid into the driver's seat of my Aston Martin. Elizabeth sat beside me, her presence a comfort with my swirling thoughts.
The gala venue was a magnificent, sprawling mansion nestled atop a hill. A cascade of twinkling lights illuminated its grandeur.
Valets hurried to park cars, and elegantly dressed guests approached the entrance. A valet came as I closed the door, ready to take the Aston Martin.
I stepped out of the car and helped Elizabeth, offering her my arm again. The night air was cool and carried a hint of excitement.
I couldn't help but feel a surge of pride as we ascended the grand staircase to the entrance, knowing that Elizabeth was by my side.
Inside, the gala was a whirlwind of luxury and glamour. Crystal chandeliers hung from the high ceilings, casting a soft, radiant glow over the ornate ballroom.
The chatter of guests filled the air, mingling with the strains of a live orchestra that played in the background.
As we moved through the crowd, I introduced Elizabeth to various acquaintances and colleagues, and she handled the social interactions with grace and charm.
Her intelligence and poise left an impression on those we encountered.
“So, tell me about yourself,” she said, taking a glass of champagne from the waiter’s tray.
I reached out for a glass, too, and I took a long sip.
“Is this a part of the interview?”
She shrugged. “No, but since we’re together now, we could learn more about each other.”
I sighed. I avoided conversations like this as much as possible, but this was Elizabeth.
“What would you like to know?”
“Anything. Other than what I already know.” Flashing a sweet smile.
I took a deep breath.
“Well, I grew up with my parents and brother, Allan. We were one big happy family. That's until the car crash, and my parents died.”
Elizabeth’s eyes grew large.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know. Allan’s never talked about it.”
“It’s ok. It hit him quite hard, and he still never speaks of it today. It was tough. I became a father figure to Allan."
"Right after I turned eighteen, I got into college, and my uncle, who took us in, started to mistreat Allan. He forced Allen to miss school, help at my uncle’s grocery store all day, take care of our little cousins, and was always forced to do all of the house chores and kitchen work. It was very close to kids forced to work in a sweatshop."
"I discovered how terrible Allan was being treated. I knew I had to get a place and take my brother with me. That’s when I committed myself and made a promise to Allan. I would become successful, and we would never worry about security and stability."
"His trust fund was inaccessible until he turned eighteen, so we shared mine. I encouraged him in his art while I went into real estate. My parents passing left trust funds for us both, but not wealth, just enough to help us get by."
Elizabeth stared at me softly. It’s one of the reasons I never gave anyone details of my early life. The look of pity. I hated it.
“I’m sorry about all of that.” She said in a quiet voice.
“Yeah. Life sucks sometimes.”
“But at least that is all in the past. Look at you and Allan now; you both are thriving.” She tried to change the topic.
