Surprise Marriage to a Billionaire
Chapter 272: Dressed To Impress

Chapter 272: Dressed To Impress

Summer and Arlan finally arrived at the villa, surprised to see Carla waiting for them. "Dear, when did you get here?" Summer exclaimed.

Carla smiled, hugging her mother tightly. "Just this morning. I heard you and Dad were staying here for a few nights, so I thought I’d come to surprise you and spend some time together," she murmured.

She’d missed her parents deeply and Alexander too. When Alyssa mentioned on the phone that William and Ben were hosting a celebration at the Sinclair estate, Carla quickly booked a flight, seeing it as a chance to see Alexander again. Her plan was to act unaffected, but when she was finally alone with Alexander, her emotions had come pouring out.

It was painful seeing him as a stranger, a distance that felt impossible to bridge. She had sacrificed so much to build her career internationally, becoming a global sensation, with her latest film set to skyrocket her fame even further. But none of it filled the emptiness she felt now.

"We had no idea you’d be here tonight! Your dad and I planned to have dinner with the Lancasters so we could also give our gifts to William and Ben, but Alexander and Rain will be there," Summer said, gently stroking Carla’s back.

"You two could stay here, and I’ll go alone. I’m sure Rock will understand," Arlan offered.

"It’s fine... I’ve already seen them. I attended the party at lunch," Carla replied, her voice trembling. "Mom, it hurts so much..." she broke down in tears.

"Oh, sweetheart... You’re a strong woman. Heartaches are painful, but they pass," Summer murmured, her heart breaking for her daughter. "Things happen for a reason, and I’m sure you’ll meet someone who’s truly right for you."

"But I only want him, Mom. I want Xander!" Carla sobbed. She pulled away, wiping her tears. "I’ll join you for dinner tonight. I want to see him... to see how happy he really is." Her voice was firm, though her face showed her heartbreak.

Seeing Alexander’s happiness only fueled Carla’s resolve. She was convinced that, with time and closeness, he’d realize she was the one truly meant for him. Alexander was so responsible, always following through on his commitments and she believed that if she could remind him of their history, he’d see that they belonged together.

"I don’t think that’s a wise idea, sweetheart," Summer gently suggested. "Why don’t we have dinner here? I’ll ask the staff to prepare something special, and your father can head over to the Lancasters’ to greet everyone. He’ll join us after a little while. And then, maybe we can go for a walk? The town is holding a festival, and it’ll be lively. It’s been so long since you’ve seen it."

Carla shook her head, dabbing away her tears. "Ten minutes, and I’ll join everyone for dinner, just like we always do. Why should I have to hide myself?" she declared, standing with a new resolve. She disappeared into her room, determined to look stunning for the evening, ready to show Alexander exactly what he was missing.

Summer sighed heavily, her mind racing with concern. "Call Renzo right now! Why didn’t he inform us that Carla was coming?"

"Darling," Arlan said, gently massaging her shoulders to calm her. "I’m sure Renzo didn’t know about it. How about you check your phone? He’s probably trying to reach us to check on Carla. You know how impulsive she can be. My guess is, she booked herself a flight and came back without telling anyone."

Summer pulled her phone from her purse, which had been on silent mode. As Arlan had suggested, she had several missed calls and unread messages from Renzo.

Her fingers hovered over the screen, her heart heavy with worry. "What should we do with Carla?" she murmured, her voice thick with emotion. "Seeing her like this breaks my heart, but she can’t keep going on like this! We have to do something..."

*****

Although the main celebration had ended, Rock hosted a smaller, intimate dinner for close family, only the Lancasters and a few others, including Maria and her son, Lucian Sinclair.

"I’m not sure if Arlan and Summer will join us," Rock mentioned. "They said they couldn’t make it to lunch, but they might join for dinner."

"That’s fine, Dad," Alexander replied, pulling out a chair for Rain.

Sanya leaned over to Rain and whispered, "Do you think Carla will still come?" Sanya and William planned to stay overnight and then go hiking and camping at Mystveil Mountain in the morning.

Rain would love to be in outdoor activities like that with Alexander, but her current priorities take precedence. Alexander is also absorbed in overseeing a private investigation into Michael Astor, leveraging GIS personnel.

From their recent conversations, she learned that the men accompanying Dina were associated with Michael. For now, they’re holding off on action until they gather enough evidence to make a decisive move.

Rain shrugged. "Maybe," she replied casually, though she wasn’t particularly concerned if Carla showed up or not.

Moments later, Carla with her parents arrived, beaming and dressed to impress, as if the earlier events with Alexander hadn’t affected her at all. She greeted everyone brightly, and Arlan and Summer took the chance to offer their congratulations to William and Uncle Ben, presenting their family’s gifts. Introductions were exchanged, and Carla quietly took a seat beside Alyssa.

Lucian broke the silence, smiling at Carla. "The trailer for your new film is trending at number one! I’m sure it’ll be a blockbuster."

"Thank you," Carla replied with a gracious smile. "I certainly hope so."

Lucian continued, "You’ve been away for five years. Isn’t it nice to be back? Are you here to stay for good?!"

"Yes, I’ll be here for good. I’ll also be working closely with my mom on her foundation projects," Carla announced, casting a glance at Rain. "Especially with the Haven Orphanage."

Rain’s expression tightened slightly, sensing the underlying tension.

"Are you sure?" Lucian asked, raising his eyebrows. "Didn’t you nearly lose your life there when you saved Alexander?"

Rain noticed Lucian’s mother, Maria, discreetly nudging him to change the subject. It was a subtle moment, but the air around the table grew tense as everyone awaited Carla’s reaction.