The Bride Widow
Chapter 61: Ch 61: Please, stay the night - Part 1

Chapter 61: Ch 61: Please, stay the night - Part 1

"They are here! Finally! What took you all so long to come? Did you get Anabella as well?"

Anabella heard her classmates’ familiar voices reach her ear, making her walk faster.

Although she had never gotten along super well with her classmates, she was not distant from them either, so it did not feel awkward for her to walk inside and show her face.

"I am here. It feels like ages since we all last met. How have you all been?"

Anabella asked as she looked at the omegas and betas before her.

About seven people other than her and the alpha pair she was close to were there. And the remaining were all betas and omegas who had been invited.

If she had not known about Clair and Noah’s relationship, this would have sent a different message to her and the other onlookers.

"A-Ah, you came, Anabella? I mean, it’s nice to have you here with us. We missed you."

Her classmates suddenly looked nervous when they saw her arrive in the room.

Their expressions told Anabella that her entry was not something they had expected to see, but they did not want to make a big deal out of it now that she was here.

"Why are you all looking this awkward? We told you that we would bring Anabella with us to this outing and to brace ourselves. Did you think I was lying to you all? Ah, you break my heart by speaking such words."

Noah placed a hand on his chest when he spoke. His face showed hurt, but everyone knew he was acting this out.

"A-Ah, of course, that is not the case, Noah! How can we doubt you about something like this? Can’t you see that we are happy and excited to see Anabella just as much as you are?"

One of the betas spoke, but Anabella did not look around to see who it was.

It was now clear to her that these people were unhappy seeing her. They accepted her because she came here with the alpha pair and nothing else.

’Should I head back now? I don’t feel welcomed, and I doubt James feels any better than I do.’

People had yet to acknowledge James’s existence; somehow, it felt like it was for the best. The young alpha was not ready for complicated social interactions.

But since he was standing with Clair, it was a given that people would turn to look at him sooner rather than later.

And that was what happened as well.

One omega got too nervous looking at Noah, so they asked Clair for help, only to notice the frowning young alpha standing beside her.

"Clair, who’s that? Is he your illegitimate son? I never knew you had any. He sure is cute."

The omega wanted Clair to deny this claim and give her some chance to flirt back with the alpha female.

But Clair did not give that person any chance as she leaned down and warped her arms around James’s neck before pulling him closer to her.

"Yup! This kid here is my son. Isn’t he adorable? With James around, I won’t ever need to look for a kid again."

Clair spoke in such a flat tone that it was impossible to tell if she was joking or not. James’s lack of struggle also made her joke fall flat, making the gathered people nervous.

Anabella sighed and decided to ease out of the air.

"Clair, stop calling my stepson your own. His father won’t be happy to know what rumors you are spreading regarding James’s existence. Now, we should head inside and forget this happened.

You all don’t take Clair’s words seriously. She is just playing around."

Anabella quickly cleared this misunderstanding. But she spoke more for James’s sake than anyone else.

The alpha had frozen when Clair pulled him close, and he did not know what to do when she warped her arms around his neck.

Her grip felt unfamiliar, but it comforted the alpha enough to make him lower his guard.

These gestures he received from Clair were ones he should have received from his father. But his father had been too busy and careful with him to provide James with what he needed.

"Clair, let the kid go! Now! Can’t you see that he’s feeling uncomfortable? James, you don’t have to put up with her if you feel uncomfortable. You can come and tell me if anything happens."

Anabella interfered and placed herself in front of James to shield him from Clair and the other people in the room.

Her actions came unconsciously to her, but James felt bad for forcing the Omega to help him out.

"I-I feel fine. I am not offended by what happened. But I would prefer it if I were not to be touched by strangers. Can you send me home now? I feel uncomfortable staying here."

James was not a scary cat, but he hated how everyone suddenly looked at him as if he were a piece of meat they all wanted to possess.

They all wanted to show off their skills and impress the alpha pair who called them here.

Anabella did not realize this, but she instinctively knew something was wrong. So, she decided to head home tonight.

This sleepover could continue without her, just as it had been initially planned to occur.

"Ah, looks like I need to head back now. James does not look that well, and I would like to make him feel comfortable where he can relax. You all should continue this sleepover without me."

Anabella assured them all that she needed to head out. But as soon as she made this decision, everyone looked at each other with an uncomfortable expression before a hand came out and grabbed her own before tugging her to sit down.

"Please, stay here! We want you to be here and enjoy your life more. We will be nice to James, we promise. So please, stay with us and spend the night here."