A knock landed on the door. "You ready, honey? Your Dad is waiting downstairs."
"Yeah, Mom. Just give a minute," I replied, staring at my reflection in the mirror.
"Alright, come soon."
I ran my palm over the red material clung against my skin. It felt smooth. Everything was perfect. The nude make-up, the simple side-parted long hair, the off shoulder gown with a sweetheart neckline and a semi-high slit at the side, everything was in place.
"I'm ready," I whispered at my reflection, and those big turquoise eyes of her stared back.
Grabbing my black clutch, I smoothed my hair once again and sauntered downstairs.
Warner met me at the door. His mouth fell open, his light blue eyes looking up and down my body. "Holy shit! You're looking…" He shook his head. "I've no words."
I stretched my lips into a smile. "Thanks. You don't look that bad yourself."
He did look good in his three piece suit and tie.
"Shall we?" I asked.
"Sure! God knows, no one can take their eyes off of you tonight." Grinning, he gave me an arm, and I took it.
Once outside, we met Mom adjusting Dad's tie as he grunted something. His face turned grim, spotting us together. After Mom gushed about my looks and being proud that I went after her, we all piled in the car. Though her subtle attempt of asking me if I was feeling good after I left the dinner in the middle, excusing of my jet lag last night. I knew what she wanted to ensure, if I was okay, not physically, but emotionally.
Everyone had avoided talking about the engagement as much as possible before me. They thought it could upset me as they all had an idea of my heartbreak seven years ago. Not all of it though. They weren't aware of what happened that night. But they didn't know I wasn't the fifteen years old Emerald anymore.
I was going to face the man who broke my heart years ago, and see him announce his engagement with my sister before the world. But I was alright. It's been years since then. I had a boyfriend, I'd moved on.
After last night, I hadn't seen her. And honestly, I didn't want to. Even if I didn't care anymore, I still felt the anger and betrayal I felt that night. After knowing everything, how could she come and announce her engagement to me as if nothing happened?
How could she…
I shook myself, not wanting to remember the past. I was stronger now. The past should remain in the past. And I should be happy for her. It's been years after all.
And I've overcome the past. It didn't affect me now. Not at all.
The car screeched to a halt, along with my heart. Mom and Dad got out, and Warner followed behind.
We were here.
"Em?" Warner called out, waiting for me outside.
Deep breaths came out of me, my hands fisted my gown at my knees. Heart palpitating down the chest, my mouth turned dry. A drop of sweat trickled down my nape.
It was slipping. The calm facade, it was slipping from my control.
"Honey? Come on, Tessa is waiting for us inside," Mom probed.
I can do it. Nothing happened. I've moved on.
Giving her a tight nod, I gritted my teeth and scrambled out with shaky knees. I caught Warner's arm in a vice grip as my eyes fell on the huge mansion I didn't remember when I last visited.
"You alright? You look a little pale," Warner asked as we crossed the threshold. The line I shouldn't cross.
"I'm fine." My nails dug into my palms.
"Are you sure?"
I nodded, clutching him harder. He winced, but didn't ask any further. And I was grateful for that.
I let him drag me across the mass of people dressed in sophisticated and branded clothes. The vast hall was sufficient to gulp the massive crowd alone. Everything was decorated the way a party of one of the most influential families should be. Elegant yet dazzling.
chatting and drinking crowd, we spotted Tess, standing beside some of her friends. Seeing us, she
their friends were
Go back to the safety of my room where someone couldn't reach me. Someone whom
Dad. "When did our daughter get
from her ring, and took a glass of
we're just announcing our official engagement date. I'm not
she just got a little emotional. Anyway, where is
is over there!" She pointed
gaze. Four men stood together, one of them stood with
Is it... him?
seven years, I will come to him face to face.
I needed air, I needed out.
slip away, Tess called out
"Caleb?"
halted.
around and a broad grin lightened his face. Striding
with full of affection…
Tess got
'V' in her ring made sense. 'V'
pressure in my chest suddenly disappeared, filling it
It is the infamous Emerald Hutton who didn't even give a call to this poor abandoned man all these
a
And I couldn't help but return his endearment. He was like a big brother to me. But in the process
pulled away and put his hands on my shoulders. "Did anyone tell you what a beautiful
shook my head. The grip around
can I hug her now?" Tess raised her brow at Caleb.
on her temple. "You know
and
close to regret flashed
"Emerald, I…"
dance." Caleb interrupted. His giving Tess a look didn't go
Caleb's and together they skipped off to the dance floor.
to say something. Excusing himself, he walked away to attend
glances around. My uneasiness. "Relax, everything will be
did you say that?"
need another drink?" He
I wanted to say, but decided to go against
the bar to get us
didn't need anyone for support. I could deal with it alone. I wasn't still
back of my neck
I observed my
did I feel like someone was watching
to the first floor and stuck there. At the furthest corner, a figure stood there; his face in the shadow. Hands in his pockets, he stood unmoving, his body facing mine. Even if
Who is he?
"Em?"
fright, I whirled
just me," Warner said, putting his
I turned back again. And
"You okay?"
just startled me," I replied, wetting my
giving me his
girls with two glasses
small smile, I took
want to be
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