Chapter 564: The One

Ian walked into the room where Mina was getting ready and was confused to hear his nan and sister speaking about his potential relationship with her. Not wanting his nan to make Mina uncomfortable around him again, Ian quickly put an end to her thoughts, but was somehow confronted with the conversation of children.

At twenty-six, Ian was on the older side to be considered a bachelor, but times were changing, and people did not want to get married at a young age anymore. Most of Ian's acquaintances were single men, and while some of them were single by necessity, Zane was single by choice.

Luna and Mina's friends fell into that category as well. They were an odd group of women, not just in the fact that their personalities were eccentric, but they were all unmarried, despite being of age. Luna's case was different though; she chose to be single because she did not want to be hurt, and now she was struggling to find someone who did not remind her of what she lost in Tavin Bell.

"How do I look?" Ellie asked, after Ian finished explaining to his nan. He finally looked at her and took in how much she had grown. She was no longer little Ellie, and he suddenly became afraid after absentmindedly replying to her question.

"Wait, are you coming with us?" Ian heard Mina chuckle from behind him, but he could not pull his eyes away from Ellie, who needed a jacket, a very long and big jacket.

"President Lee, why do you seem so shocked? There will be plenty of eligible bachelors in attendance for Miss Fiori, and she cannot marry them all. Ellie may meet 'the one.'" Ian felt his heart begin to race. Ellie was not like Luna, she was independent to a fault, which meant she made stupid mistakes at times, and Ian became filled with the fear that she would fall for the wrong person.

"And you as well," the beautician said, making Ian's head snap toward Mina, who replied in a way that nearly broke his composure.

"What do you mean?" Ian asked, pretending not to know despite it being obvious.

"You were there when Connor Boyd announced our arrangement to everyone." Mina then remembered that Miss Lisa was also there, so the man may not have been paying attention. "Anyway, he and I have agreed to try dating if neither of us find someone within a year."

"Doesn't he already have a girlfriend?" Mina nodded.

"He told me he wanted to practice being monogamous before we start dating. Likewise, if she is the woman he chooses to marry, I lose nothing, I am only twenty-three, so I have time to find someone else."

"I don't know how I feel about hearing that," Miss Ruby said, making Mina's face bunch in confusion. She did not think it was bad, but Miss Ruby's face made her feel that it was. "Mina, don't you want to fall in love? Don't you want to be swept off your feet with kind gestures and romantic lines?" Mina crossed her hands over her chest while shaking her head in the negative.

"I have heard the most romantic words being spoken in the most poisonous way. I just want simplicity now. Connor makes me laugh, he accepts my quirks, and I accept his."

"I want a Connor," Ellie said, making Ian flinch.

----

The entire ride to the Staton residence Ian was internally fuming. Mina was selling Connor Boyd to his little sister like a dream man, and at a point, he was starting to think that she was in love with him, but when Ellie asked, she laughed hysterically.

Ian was relieved when Mina told his sister that love could only develop over time. She told Ellie that she did not know enough about Connor's personal habits to even begin to love him, but from what she did know, she did not see him as a bad choice.

It was with those words that Ian realized that it was he who had ruined his chances with Mina. He knew from Mina's conversation with Ellie that Connor was beyond rude the first time he and Mina met, but over a series of events, she had eventually warmed up to the man, and Ian wondered at what point he had crossed the line of no return with her.

Alighting from the car, Ian was conflicted; Mina looked gorgeous as usual, but Ellie was his little sister, and he did not want anyone looking at her. He found himself wrapping his arm in Ellie's without even thinking about it, and both women he was with laughed at his expense.

Stepping inside of the hall, Mina was immediately approached by a man who she seemed to recognize. Apparently, she had gone to school with him, and although there was a smile on her face, Ian could tell Mina was uncomfortable. He wanted to interject, but Mina's eye caught sight of something that made a scowl appear on her face. She did not even limp as she approached Drax, who appeared drunk as he boldly flirted with a red-faced woman. Ian had never seen Mina look so angry as she pulled Drax away.

Words were exchanged between Mina and Drax before the man pulled her into a hug so intimate that Ian was left wondering if there was something between them. He pulled his eyes away, and when he found the pair again, Mina was watching Drax drink a glass of water, likely trying to sober the man up.

"You are staring," Ellie said.

"She's f*cking killing me right now." Ellie winced and Ian realized that he had cursed again. "Sorry, but that woman is driving me crazy." Ellie shook her head.

"You are driving yourself crazy. There is no reason for Mina to be staying with you. Just the way you sent Dom to live with her friends, you could have had the man, or any woman that works for you move in with her." Ian looked at his little sister, realizing that she had grown.

----

Mina did not know why seeing Drax flirting put her off. She just hated that the man was moving on with his life as if nothing happened, while Mills sounded as if she was struggling to stay awake. It was not that she did not want him to be happy, but she felt like he had not stayed sad long enough.

Without really thinking, Mina pulled Drax away from the woman that he was speaking to, and when they passed by Mr. Staton, she got a quick thumbs up from the man. Apparently, he too had not given up on Mills as a daughter-in-law.

Drax seemed happy to see her, and pulled her into a very intimate hug that she hoped would scare away other women.

"Already looking for a replacement?" Mina asked.

"As opposed to Mills, who has a girlfriend?" Mina punched the man.

"She thought you cheated on her."

"And I told her I didn't. I showed her the video."

"And what did she say?"

"That she was happy without me."

"Did Mills look happy to you?" Drax was silent, and Mina handed him a glass of water. "Finish it," she demanded. Drax did as told and showed Mina the empty glass. "Now, answer my question. Did she look happy?"

"She looked exactly the way she looked the night of our engagement."

"Mills is done with you, that is true, but all of this," Mina gestured around the room. "Is too much, too soon. Her brother is here, and she cannot even get to him without being confronted by your family. Can you imagine being all alone after losing a baby? Mina went to walk away, but Drax grabbed her arm while holding a small speaker that was in his ear.

"Why did you and Ian call me?"

"Mills is here, isn't she?" Drax did not even wait, he just started moving toward the kitchen exit, pulling Mina along with him.

"Mina, I love Mills, but if she goes too far-"

"It will be your fault," Mina finished.