FLASH MARRIAGE; CHARMED BY THE RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE CEO

"Visitors! What visitors are you talking about." Desmond asked looking confused.

"Oh honey, I forgot to mention that I invited Gwen, her mother and her aunt for the family dinner," Harriet replied casually, stroking the petals of her sunflower and sniffing in the somewhat sweet and subtle fragrance.

"You invited them without informing me first?" Desmond's forehead furrowed in slight annoyance. "How could you?"

Harriet met his question with a withering smile, clearly unimpressed. "What do you mean by, 'how could I'? Aren't Gwen and her mother part of our extended family anymore? Or is there something you're trying to hint at?"

Desmond's heart skipped a beat as he answered almost immediately. "No."

Harriet raised a brow and he chuckled feverishly.

"Why don't you finish up here while I go and welcome our guest?" Desmond suggested while walking away.

"Whatever you say, honey." A sly grin curled up the side of Harriet's lips as she watched her husband disappear out of sight.

"Mom, you really look good." Elsie snapped her mother's attention away from the passage door.

"Thanks, honey. Has the table been set according to plan?" Harriet asked, the initial smile on her face gone as though it was never there.

"Yes, Mom. Even the drink of that shameless homewrecker has been spiked just as you ordered." Elsie whispered.

"Good. Go out and keep an eye on your dad. I will be with you shortly."

"Okay, mum." Elsie left for the sitting room while Harriet returned to her bedroom to drop off the bouquet. But on second thought, she decided to show off her husband's affection for her before his mistress. That should spark the seed of jealousy in Pearl.

Back in the sitting room, the atmosphere was alive with laughter and chatter.

David kept the women entertained with his funny joke while Elsie kept her dad company, monitoring all his activities.

Desmond though irked and agitated by Pearl's presence, managed to maintain a cheerful smile on his face while occasionally stealing furtive glances in his mistress direction.

Adorned in an elegant square neck bodycon knee-length white dress that showed off a little cleavage, Pearl managed to rock a modest but curvy look. Her accessories were also simple and her makeup minimal. With her bouncy blonde hair cascading down her shoulder, she would occasionally flip her hair to the side, revealing a matching tattoo of a pierced heart, which Desmond had on his right upper arm.

When Harriet stepped into the sitting room, holding a huge bouquet of sunflowers, a hush suddenly fell in the room as if a ghost had just walked by.

Regina, Pearl and Gwen all exchange confused glances, surprised to see Desmond's reserved and boring-looking housewife looking so hot and sophisticated.

"Hello everyone. It's good to see you all made it." Harriet greeted in a cheerful voice, faking a broad smile as she approached them.

"Harriet, is that you?" Regina's mouth hung open, and her eyes widened.

"Aunt, you look. amazing," Gwen confessed, standing up.

"What is this old hag up to now?" Pearl resisted the urge to sneer as Harriet approached them.

"Thank you, darling." Harriet embraced Gwen briefly.

"Is this bouquet for me?" Gwen teased, eying the huge bouquet Harriet was holding.

"Oh no!" Harriet chuckled softly. "It's from my darling husband to me. He never ceases to amaze me with beautiful gifts." She spared Desmond a flirty smile that slowly drained the colour from Pearl's face.

"Aww...how romantic." Gwen chuckled feverishly while avoiding Pearl's piercing gaze.

"Elsie, please put this in the flower vase," Harriet said, tilting her gaze to her daughter.

"Okay, mum." Elsie chirped happily as she skidded over to her mother and collected the bouquet from her hands.

Pearl could barely contain her jealousy as she said in a slightly ridiculing tone.

"Harriet dearie, don't you think you're a little bit too overdressed for a simple family dinner? Or is there somewhere else you are planning to go after the dinner is over?"

'Uh oh...' Regina panicked, sensing the strain in her sister's voice.

'This is not good. Pearl is going to mess up this family dinner with her jealousy.' Gwen thought as she pinched her aunt on the arm, an action which didn't go unnoticed by the highly observant wife.

Nevertheless, Harriet managed to keep her tone and anger in check as she replied, making deep, meaningful eye contact with Pearl.

"Of course we are, my dear. My baby has made plans to take me out to a five-star restaurant. He intends to spoil me for the entire night with expensive wine, classy dining, more gifts and tender loving care. isn't that true, sweetheart?" Harriet glanced playfully at her husband.

'What!' Desmond's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Since when did I make such promises?" Desmond wanted to ask. But one look at his wife's narrowing gaze and he concurred to her lies, his feeble voice, a mere whisper.

"Of course baby."

"Oops!" Gwen felt her heartbeat quicken as she observed Pearl's left hand slowly ball into a fist.

Harriet tilted her gaze back to Pearl. "I hope that satisfies your curiosity."

"Of course, it does," Regina replied on behalf of her sister, afraid of what Pearl would say. "How about we go straight to the main event of the evening?"

"That is such a wonderful idea, Mom. I'm so famished and can't wait to taste Aunt Harriet's delicious cooking" Gwen faked a thrilled smile.

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go to the dining table. My wife and I will serve the meal." Desmond said, pulling his wife towards the kitchen. He could already feel Pearl's jealousy at the brink of eruption. He knew it wouldn't take long before she lost control of her bubbling fury if Harriet kept flaunting her lies.

Closing the kitchen door behind them Desmond made his wife face him, his expression grim.

"What has come over you Harriet?"

"What do you mean?" Harriet played the novice card, infuriating her husband the more.

"Don't act dumb as if you don't know what you just did." Desmond snapped at her while trying to keep his voice in check. "When did I promise you anything about taking you out to a five-star restaurant? Is there something going on that you want to explain to me?"

"I should be asking you that question?" Harriet freed her arm from his hold, her eyes sharp and narrowed. "Why are you acting all jittery in front of Regina and her sister? Is there something going on that I need to know?"

"Something like what?" Desmond moved backwards, adverting his wife's gaze.

"You tell me," retorted Harriet.

"Stop putting ideas into your head honey." Desmond managed to compose himself before meeting his wife's somewhat suspicious gaze. "Nothing is going on between me and my sister-in-law or her sister. I was just surprised to see them and confused by the unplanned dinner date in a five-star restaurant that I didn't plan for. That's all."

"Hmm..." Harriet watched her husband lie his way out of trouble with a mischievous, sly smile playing on her lips. "Very well then, we don't have to go out for a fancy night out in a five-star restaurant if you are not up to the task. We could always spend quality time here at home with the kids. Is that okay?"

"Yes, baby. Thanks." Desmond leaned to kiss her but Harriet stopped him.

"Hold your horses, honey. We have the entire night for this. I'm the meantime, let's attend to our guest. We do not want to keep them waiting." Harriet gestured for her husband to help her serve some of the dishes.

After everyone had settled down on the table, the grace was shared and the feasting began.

"Wow, Aunt Harriet, you have outdone yourself. All of these dishes look so yummy." Gwen complimented as she scooped some of the beef stew, which happened to be her favourite. Luckily for her, that meal had been exempted from the spicy plan.

"Thanks, dear." Harriet faked a smile which didn't reach her eyes. She watched with satisfaction as Pearl and Regina both served themselves a plate of spicy chicken pot pie soup with some vegetable side dish.

"Darling you should try the lasagna soup. I made it spicy just the way you like it." Harriet said, serving her husband a plate of the dish

"Thanks, honey." Desmond smiled at his wife, avoiding Pearl's intense gaze.

Harriet waited for Regina and Pearl to both take a scoop of their soup before she slowly spilled the beans.

"I never got to ask Gwen, how is Nana?" Harriet asked, taking a spoon of her lentil soup.

"Fine, I guess," Gwen replied without making eye contact. "I haven't seen her since the last time we visited the hospital."

"You mean, since the last time you visited with my husband and your mom, right?"

Desmond felt a cold shiver run down his spine as Gwen replied absentmindedly.

"That's right."

"Oh my goodness! This is so spicy!" Regina said, fanning her mouth with her hand.

"Tell me about it." Pearl quickly grabbed her spiked drink and gulped down the entire content in one go.