Loving The Temperamental Adonis
Chapter 190: Being denied entrance

Chapter 190: Being denied entrance

After the night Mia spoke with Neil on the phone, the next morning she woke up with morning sickness where she couldn’t even eat most of her favorite meals without feeling nauseous and terrible. She slept most of the days that came after and only woke up mid-afternoons. One afternoon she managed to drive to one of the well-known nearby restaurants to get the food she was craving as she couldn’t even stand the aroma of making it herself.

Upon entering the restaurant, she noticed a drastic change in the way people treated her. Those who once respected her now avoided her as if she had a contagious disease. They gave her strange looks and made her feel unwelcome. She felt their stares were filled with disdain rather than admiration.

Some people whispered and laughed at her, pointing fingers and making her uncomfortable. Unable to eat in the restaurant, she’d resorted to eating in her car. Despite the negative attention, she’d been so hungry she’d overlooked all their disdain and ate her food alone in her car, and once she was done, she drove back home and fell asleep yet again with nothing to worry about but to look forward to the day Neil would be free.

She didn’t step out of her house again for an entire week after the restaurant incident and remained at home.

She’d become lazy lately to the point where all she wanted to do was to sleep, and since not even her manager bothered her with any work related issues, she didn’t bother to check in as she knew they’d call her if she was being needed. However, as the days passed by, Rayne called to inform her about their shopping plans to get the dresses for her father’s birthday party.

Even though Mia wasn’t feeling it, she forced herself to get up and do something productive instead of allowing herself to laze around the house doing nothing but sleeping and feeling depressed occasionally. She’d spoken to Neil again last night and he’d told her he might come back in a few days, he’d told her to watch out for the news about his case, and once it was out, he’d be back.

Last night, she had somehow convinced him to be the one to sing for her, and recalling how she had thrown a silly tantrum when he had refused, she smiled to herself. Her fluctuating pregnancy hormones were causing emotional turmoil similar to her menstrual cycles, leading to the natural outburst. She had even shed tears over the phone when he coolly responded, "I don’t sing, querida, go to sleep."

Expressing her struggles, she said, "I want to sleep, but I can’t. My favorite dessert makes me nauseous. I’m only a month and two weeks pregnant, but I feel like a mess! I’m dealing with this alone, and now you won’t even sing for me! If you won’t, I’ll end the call and never pick up your calls again."

Her resolve prompted him to sing to her until she drifted off to sleep with the phone by her ear. She hadn’t intended to burden him, but the desire for his singing had been strong. Despite his imperfect voice, he sang her favorite song with such passion that it felt like a professional performance. His deep, velvety voice was incredibly soothing, lulling her to sleep. However, before she’d succumbed to slumber, she mentioned her shopping plans with Rayne for the day, and he insisted she use the black card he’d given her.

Mia would have argued that if she wasn’t so tired, and because she saw nothing wrong in using his card, she would use it to buy herself a dress. And then she’d use her own card to buy him a gift so that when he was back she would give them to him! Getting him a gift was one of the reasons she was excited to go out to shop with Rayne today.

She took out one of her comfortable casual attires from the closet and wore them, then, wearing her thick coat she picked up her bag and headed out to meet Rayne who was waiting outside in her car.

"Hey," Rayne beamed as Mia got into the car, "you’re glowing this morning. What’s the secret?" She joked, starting the car and driving out the iron gate.

"I don’t know, I’ve been glowing like this for weeks." Mia laughed fastening her seatbelt and making herself comfortable as they pulled onto the road. She’d also noticed how her skin had started to glow recently and she thought perhaps it might be her pregnancy or because she’d been happy lately.

The pair rode in silence for a moment before Rayne broke the silence, "Guess what?"

"What?" Mia raised a brow, noticing the cheeky smile on her friend’s face. "With that smile, I’m guessing it’s something good, so spill it out."

"Well, it’s good news for me, but I’m not sure about you," Rayne beamed. Seeing Mia’s curiosity piqued, she continued, "Last night, Max came to my house with dozens of flowers and chocolates to apologize. He wants us to get back together. Oh my goodness, you should have seen him on his knees, pleading for me to forgive him!"

Mia frowned, "Don’t tell me you guys are back together after what he did to you."

"Alright, I won’t tell you," Rayne said, suppressing her smile. Mia understood immediately that Rayne had reunited with Max after he had cheated on her with his secretary in the office and insulted her before everyone in his office!

"Oh my dear, why would you get back with that jerk after what he did? What if he chea—"

"He won’t," Rayne interjected smoothly. "He promised not to do it again, Mia. I couldn’t bear to see him so filled with regret. He meant it, and I could feel it. We’ve loved each other for three years, and in the past month we’ve been apart, I haven’t experienced true happiness. I’m lost without him. I love him more than you might think, and I’m willing to let go of the past if it doesn’t repeat itself."

Rayne spoke with such passion and love that it left Mia speechless. She added, "Love is not something one can control. I thought I’d be fine without him in my life, but I was wrong. When I saw him on his knees outside my house, all my resentment towards him disappeared. I remember our time in school; you used to be the hopeless romantic dreaming of a man who’d bring you flowers and chocolates, who’d give you his coat when it’s cold. Secretly, I wanted that too, and I found that man in Maximus Everett."

Mia said nothing. She stared at her friend with empathy swelling her heart. She, out of everyone knew full well how love could be and how you’d never be able to get out of it once you fall into it.

She’d loved Neil despite the danger he possessed, and she’d always do no matter what. It would be a complete hypocrisy if she tried to talk her friend out of loving the man her heart chose when she also knew no one on earth could talk her out of loving Neil. If Max had promised to change for her sake, then she had no say in this but to support her friend and hope he’d never hurt her like he did the last time.

"Congratulations then," Mia managed a convincing supportive smile even though she wasn’t completely supportive of them getting back together after what the man had done.

"Thank you, your support means the world to me."

---

As Rayne steered her sleek black car into the grand entrance of The Velvet Labyrinth mall, the city’s most exclusive shopping center meant for the A-list celebrities and influential family, the air hummed with wealth and privilege. Neon lights illuminated the building’s facade, casting a mesmerizing glow that beckoned the elites into the giant building.

Mia marveled at the wealth surrounding them. Even though she’d been here before, she had never gotten used to it beauty and how huge the space was. Towering glass windows showcased designer boutiques adorned with shimmering displays of haute couture. The marble floors through the glasses gleamed under the soft radiance of crystal chandeliers, and the sound of cascading fountains outside the building echoed through the spacious environment.

Their arrival didn’t go unnoticed. A valet, impeccably dressed in a tailored suit, swiftly approached to take the keys from Rayne’s grasp, bowing with practiced elegance before disappearing into the labyrinthine parking area.

As they made their way through the entrance, passing through the meticulous security check, Mia’s excitement to shop for Neil’s gift in an expensive place like The Velvet Labyrinth mall, faltered when two imposing figures blocked their path. Dressed in sharp suits, with earpieces firmly in place, they exuded an aura of authority that sent a chill down Mia’s spine for some reasons, because she’d been here before and not once had the securities stopped her at the entrance until now.

With a curt nod, one of the men stepped forward, his expression unreadable behind his dark sunglasses. "I’m sorry, ma’am," he began, his voice low and authoritative, "but it seems there has been a mistake. You are no longer on the list of approved guests for entry into The Velvet Labyrinth."

Mia frowned in confusion as she glanced at the two imposing men blocking her path alone. All the times she’d come here in the past, they’d treated her like royalty, and now she was being turned away without explanation. The bustling crowd around them started to turn to see what was going on and who was the intruder who’d dared entered the mall meant for the elite. The securities never stopped a customer unless it was an intruder. And even Mia struggled to comprehend the sudden change in her status.

"There must be some misunderstanding, gentlemen, I’d like to meet your head of security manager." Mia said, trying to act calm even though she was pissed beyond words at the fact that the securities were causing unwanted attention to her. She could see the camera lights going off in the distance, and she didn’t have to look to know the paparazzi were in the premises.

"There is no misunderstanding, ma’am,"

Rayne, sensing the unwanted attention, stepped forward, her posture poised yet determined. "Surely there must be some misunderstanding," she insisted. "Mia is a valued patron of The Velvet Labyrinth. We demand an explanation for this treatment. Call your manager."

The two men exchanged a silent glance before one of them spoke again, his tone unwavering. "I’m afraid our instructions are clear," he replied, his voice betraying no hint of emotion. "Until this matter is resolved, Miss Harrison will not be permitted entry into the mall."

With a sinking feeling in her chest, Mia realized that she was facing a barrier she had never encountered before in the halls of The Velvet Labyrinth. First she’d lost her position and then she’d been treated strangely at the restaurant and now the mall, ha, all because she’d chosen to break her engagement with Owen Sullivan?

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