Stephanie's dressed was a red off-the-shoulder with a bear back. The dress fitted her body perfectly all the way down to her lower hips. It had a 'v' neck and splitted at the left side of her leg from her mid thigh all the way down.
Her front hair was rolled backwards and secured with a diamond hair pin. Since her long hair was curled, it became a little short and therefore could not cover all her back. Her earrings and bracelet were also diamond designed and her makeup was so light that it was almost invisible yet it gave her an outstanding look.
Edna on the other side, couldn't be left out. She has turned in to a whole new different person. She has transformed from the woman who wore pants and jeans to a beauty queen.
They went out of the room and saw the three men sitting in the couch, with Obed and Arya sitting on Andrew's lap. It was Arya who first saw the two women. She voiced, "Daddy look at mommy." The males in the room all turned their heads to where Arya was pointing and were amazed. Stephanie complained, "What! Stop looking at us like that. Do you want us to melt?" "Mommy you look so beautiful." Arya complimented. "Thanks, baby." Stephanie smiled. "You look so stunning." The men said. They just do there still staring at them. "Okay, stop staring and let's start moving." The venue of the event wasn't far so they took only less than 20 minutes to reach there.
Phubert was the one who acted as the birthday boy and walked her into the room. All eyes fell on Stephanie making her shy. She bowed her head till they rushed the middle of the aisle. "Sis, you shouldn't bow your head like that, or else we won't see your beauty." The voice made Stephanie jolt. She quickly lifted her head and there she was smiling happily at her. Before Stephanie could go and hug her, her little sister beat her to it. "I've missed you so much sis." "I missed you too Deana." Stephanie responded. The other family members also came and gave her a tie hug. They went to where they were to sit and began to catch up to the six years they've been apart.
They performed various birthday activities like singing, cutting the cake, drinking and catching up with other things.
At eleven, the guest began to leave, and after that was going to be the family fun, which involved only the family members and very close friends. Stephanie went to the garden to have some fresh air while waiting for the guests to all leave. She sat quietly until she heard someone's voice. The person was none other than the father of her twins. She smiled back. "May I?" He asked referring to the space left on the bench. Stephanie smiled and nodded. Andrew sat beside Stephanie, without saying anything for a while. "You look very beautiful." He finally said complimenting her. "You look handsome too." Andrew heart skipped a beat being called handsome by the woman he loved and cherished so much. "It has been so long since you called me handsome." Stephanie knew where hos words was heading to so she said, "let's not talk about this." But Andrew wasn't having it. This was his chance to tell her everything. "Lily please hear me out. I am telling you the truth. I will say this again and again that I never lied to you. Not when I told you, I loved you, I will marry you, when you and I plan a future together and I agreed to meet you at the park, it wasn't a lie." "If so, then how did we end up like this? Why aren't we married? Why did I have to struggles so much to cater for myself, the twins and my family? Why did I have to lie to the people who loved, cared for and trusted me so much? It was all because I blindly trusted and loved you with all my heart and whatever you said. Now look, I can't even look at my parents in the eyes." "Lily I'm sorry." Andrew took Stephanie's hand into his. This time, Stephenie didn't pull away like the other time at the restaurant and allow Andrew to hold it. Unknown to Stephanie, it gave Andrew hope. "I let my guard down thinking my parents wouldn't go that far to seperate us." "What did they do? They weren't the ones that put you on the plan." "Yes, they were Lily. That day when you called me to come to the park, you remember I told you I also had something to tell you? Andrew asked and Stephanie nodded. "I...i wanted to tell you my parents wanted me to go abroad and take care of one of their companies. I wanted you to come with me so that we can be together and you can also get a higher salary job there. I don't know how but they found out. When I walked out of the office to meet up with you, my father wanted to talk to me. He said it was very urgent and he couldn't wait for when I come back. When I went there, he only wanted us to toast on something he said he was successful about. Since I was in a hurry to meet you, I quickly toasted with him and drunk the wine and the next thing I knew, I was in another country. I tried every way I could to come back but they block all my means and ways. I worked so hard for these past few years to free myself from my parents. I also used every way I could to find you, but all my efforts didn't work out. You have to believe me lily. I can't live without you. Do you know why?" Stephanie just stared at him with mixed emotions. "Because I am addicted to you. I am so addicted to you that I can't stop myself from loving you. I just can't and i don't want to. Believe, I don't know if you still love me as before, but I am going to woo you again. I will start it all again. I want to gain your trust and love all over again. I am not losing you lily... not without a fight." At his last words, Andrew placed his palm on her cheek and closer he pulled towards her. Stephanie didn't pull back. Her heart beated faster and her eyes could not look away from Andrew's eyes. When Andrew brushed his lips on her, shiver went down her spine. Andrew did that a few times before giving her a proper kiss. He kissed her so deeply and passionately, expressing his longing for her.
Stephanie didn't pull away and instead kissed him back.
Unknown to them, Michael was standing at the door and watching them. Obviously he was hurt with what he saw, but he thought it was a good thing he saw it earlier. He would have been more heartbroken if he had fallen more deeply for her and realise this. Now that he has seen this, he will closed his mind about gaining Stephanie's love and moved on with his life. Michael left without accomplishing the reason why he came there, which was to call them for the family fun.
Michael wasn't the only one who witnessed what was going on. In the dark stood Claudia. Her hand turned into a hard fist at the scene she witnessed. Tears of hatred and vengeance flowed heavily from her eyes. She has known Andrew for like since they were in diapers. Andrew has been the man she wanted to marry since childhood. She wasn't going to let's Stephanie take him away, just like that. It was just high school that Andrew and Stephanie met through her. Claudia was burning with fury as she walked away. Stephanie and Andrew had already broken the kiss, but they had their forehead together. Andrew gave her a small kiss. Before pulling away completely. "I have missed you so much. Hope I am not too late." Andrew said. "The truth is I still love you Andy but I can't find myself trusting you. I wish I could forget everythingand start anew but I can't. I am trying so hard to let go of the fear, but nothing seems to work." Stephanie confessed. Andrew knew it wasn't her fault. He was going to get her to believe in him again.
Days passed, everything was going quite well. Stephanie's parents and siblings went back to their country but not without Stephanie's parents having a talk with stephanie and Andrew.