In the beginning, Gemma was strongly against it because Tony was the one she liked. Even if she couldn’t stand in front of him in her current state, she didn’t want to accept another man just like that. Subconsciously, she hadn’t lost her arrogance, and she didn’t think that any other man was good enough for her except Tony.
However, Edward, Samuel, and Gideon kept assuring her and promised that this was only temporary so that their family could benefit from it. Once their family had gained a foothold in Bradfort, she could do whatever she pleased. After going through a series of events previously, Gemma had matured a lot, and when she heard about how a situation could benefit her family, she gritted her teeth and agreed to it.
Her face had already been through surgery once, and the two most terrifying scars had been restored the best it could. Initially, Edward wanted the heir to the Lincoln Family, Ernie, to visit Gemma directly in the hospital, but she was bored to tears in the hospital and had never imagined nor wanted her blind date to be at an icy cold place like the hospital. This time, Edward didn’t object to it and allowed her to leave the hospital together with a nurse.
In order to hide the scars without using gauze as bandage, Gemma had asked the nurse to remove her gauze bandage, replacing it with an opaque scarf to cover her face and wearing a sunhat before leaving the hospital.
When they reached the meeting spot with Ernie, Gemma took out her pocket mirror she always brought with her and opened it, but when she suddenly remembered how she looked, her expression fell a little. Still, she gathered her emotions very quickly and walked into the coffee house.
Even when the nurse was seated far away from her and it was a rare opportunity for her to step out of the hospital, she wasn’t as happy as she thought she would be. On the way from the hospital to the coffee house, many people stared fixedly at her face. It was now autumn, and the weather was a little cloudy today. Not only was it weird enough that she was wearing a sunhat, but she even used a scarf to cover her face tightly and revealed only her eyes.
Many of those who had a discerning eye could tell in a glance that there was a problem with her face, and they shot her looks of pity and sympathy, which Gemma hated the most, and it made her mood even more terrible.
When she reached the coffee house, Ernie had yet to arrive, so she sat at a table which was reserved for them and ordered water. As instructed by the doctor, it was best for her not to drink anything else, and after waiting for a while, Ernie arrived.
Gemma was a little aloof toward him because she didn’t really like him, and she thought that he was a hypocrite for agreeing to this blind date despite already knowing the situation with her face now.
Although it was true that Ernie knew about her face, he didn’t care much about it, as a man like him was simply marrying a woman because it was a business marriage. The power of the Waltons was burning as bright as the midday sun in Bradfort now, and even though it wasn’t comparable to the Harts, he believed that every dog would have its day. He saw the opportunity with the ongoing development by the Waltons, and when Samuel brought this up in a cocktail party a couple of days ago, he subtly agreed to this blind date with Gemma.
However, when he saw Gemma, he had a mixed feeling of sympathy and disdain for her. Everyone knew that she was unsuccessful in her pursuit of Tony and ended up disfiguring herself in the process. Despite that, it didn’t matter to him because he merely wanted a connection with her and not really to spend his life with her.
Taking a seat across her, Ernie looked at her with clear eyes and didn’t display anything he was thinking about. Instead, he looked at her in concern and said, “I heard that you’re not fully recovered yet, and I wanted to visit you at the hospital, but Mr. Walton said that you wanted to meet me outside. This is our first meeting, and we’re unfamiliar with each other, so I hope you won’t find me a bore, Miss Walton.”
Observing the man in front of her carefully, Gemma saw that he didn’t express any dislike for herself, and she softened her face a little, saying casually, “The air in the hospital is filled with the smell of disinfectant, and since this is a blind date, it’s better suited in a more comfortable place.”
“You’re right, Miss Walton. I wonder what’s your hobby, usually. Once you’ve recovered, I could maybe have the chance to show off my skills as well,” he said with a chuckle.
Gemma thought that this person wasn’t so bad, after all. At least, she could bear with anything he had come up with until now, and she felt that it wouldn’t be a problem for her to tolerate him until the Waltons didn’t need the Lincolns anymore. With that thought in mind, the conversation between them took a lighter, more positive turn after that.
Halfway, Ernie excused himself to pick up a call, and she leaned back into the couch lazily as she waited for him. Suddenly, her eyes darted toward a couple who were standing at the entrance nearby—Tony walking in with his arm around Myra’s waist.
Her smitten eyes lingered on Tony as she hadn’t seen him for a very long time. In fact, she hadn’t seen him ever since her face was disfigured. Without anyone to point it out, she could tell just how blissful he was with Myra. Seeing how they leaned on each other, she almost pierced through her own palms with her nails as she gripped her fists tightly.
Returning from his phone call, Ernie happened to see her staring fondly at Tony, who wasn’t far away. The look in his eyes grew solemn in an instant, and he asked curtly, “Who are you staring at, Miss Walton?”
Startled, she turned her head around, and her eyes fell on Ernie’s face. He can’t even be compared to Tony, she thought. Be it his family background, looks, abilities, or resorts… Nothing at all is comparable.
A pang of pain washed over her heart, and Gemma suddenly felt that she could no longer stay here with him, but she knew that she was not in the position to act rashly.
“I saw someone I know, but I’m not sure if I should go and say hi,” she replied calmly instead.
Sniggering, Ernie said, “This is our first meeting today. Why don’t you greet your friend the next time?”
Gemma smirked. “Whatever.”
The look in Ernie’s eyes darkened because it was clear to him that Gemma didn’t understand the rules. No matter whom she was in love with before this, she had to forget the past if she had decided to be with him. Otherwise, this would be akin to a slap on his face.
The air between the both of them turned unpleasant after that, but Gemma didn’t notice it because her mind was somewhere else. When the blind date ended and they both decided to leave, she even spaced out for a while. Ernie wanted to escort her out, but when he saw the dazed look on her face, he retracted his outstretched hand.
Meanwhile, Gemma thought that he wanted to help her out of her seat, so she leaned herself toward him when she stood up. However, she didn’t expect him to retract his hand so suddenly, and she almost fell because she lost her balance. Luckily, she quickly held on to the little round table next to her and broke the fall.
Jerking her head up, she shot him an annoyed look. “What are you doing?!”
“What are you trying to do?” he asked in reply nonchalantly, as though he hadn’t seen the annoyed look in her eyes.
Pursing her lips, Gemma got up, picked up her handbag, and left the place in a huff.
…
In the meantime, Tony entered a private room with his arm around Myra, and there was already a man sitting in the room. He looked like he was in his forties, but with a matured and dashing face which was very attractive. Somehow, Myra had the feeling that she had seen him somewhere before.
“Let me introduce. She’s my fiancée, Myra Stark,” Tony said to the man with a friendly smile when he walked in. Turning to Myra, he said, “This is Mr. Jean-Jacques Blanc from France, a renowned jewelry designer.”
No wonder he looks so familiar! I’ve seen him on magazines and television before! Myra realized. Extending her hand, she shook hands with Jean-Jacques and released it, saying, “So you’re Mr. Blanc. I’m sorry for not recognizing you because Tony didn’t tell me who you were before coming here. My apologies.”
