Chapter 22
Chapter 22
A week later, countless eyes fell on me as I got out of the Rolls Royce, dressed in a tube top, floor-length rose gold dress and a platinum mask with luminous pearl butterfly wings on my face.
I ignored the stunned admiration of those present and slowly raised my head. My gaze swept the place I had not seen for a week, my lips curled into a smile.
I handed the invitation to the bellboy at the entrance, and he led me into Alpha Michael’s manor.
Tonight was the Luna Masquerade Ball. Enzo told me that Michael would be announcing the union and marriage between his daughter, Melissa, and Enzo tonight.
With my appearance, this announcement would be more dramatic for sure tonight. I have never held my head up this high, not have I examined those in power this closely, because I had always been a poor, pathetic, lowly, and dirty slave to them. So, I could feel nothing but irony as I watched one man after another hand me their business card and give me fawning smiles. It was even more ironic when I caught sight of the white fence that I had painted was now tipped over and destroyed by the storm. Casually picking up a glass of wine, I stood in a dark corner to survey all the men and women who passed by me. All of them had masks on their faces, and it was difficult to tell everyone apart. However, I was still able to recognize Melissa right away.
She was wearing a fluffy, pink layered dress, and a white mask adorned with diamonds. She stood in the crowd, looking like a “doll” that she had described to me previously.
I narrowed my eyes. She really is a little princess. The spotlight follows her wherever she walks.
But this seemingly perfect girl had a heart as vicious as the deadliest poison in the world. I sipped on my red wine, trying to shove down the suffocating feeling in my heart. “What are you looking at?” A low voice whispered in my ear. I looked up to find Enzo standing beside me, studying me. “You look lovely today,”
he said. Enzo also looked very handsome in his white tuxedo suit. He was wearing a platinum mask with a luminous gold butterfly that matched mine. Original content from NôvelDrama.Org.
After a brief moment of surprise, I replied, “You should accompany your fiancée.”
“Awesome. You can speak in long sentences now,” Enzo said as he chuckled softly. “But I’m indeed accompanying my fiancée right now. It’s a pity she’s ruthless and has yet to
acknowledge me as her fiancé.”
The corner of his lips was slightly downturned, as if he was indeed sad and hard-done-by. I could never resist when he had such an expression, so I could only lower my head and not say anything. “You’re ignoring me again,” Enzo muttered. “I’m afraid that someone would see,” I argued back “So what? Many men approached you tonight, right? What’s one more?”
I had nothing to refute that. Enzo sighed in my ear. “Can’t you tell that I’m jealous?”
Of course I could. The way he spoke sounded like someone owed him a million dollars.
“I didn’t promise them anything,” I said firmly. He nodded, then shrugged. “But you didn’t agree to be with me either, right? I’m no different than them, then.” He was acting like a discarded lap dog, honestly. I couldn’t help but say, “You’re not the same as them.” But as I said that, fireworks suddenly exploded in the sky, drowning out my already faint voice. After the bout of fireworks, Enzo leaned closer and asked, “What did you say just now?” I opened my mouth but didn’t dare to repeat my words. “You misheard. I didn’t say anything.”
Enzo looked confused.
He couldn’t stay at my side for too long because he was Cold Moon Pack’s Alpha after all, and one of the main characters of this ball. So, after reminding me not to drink too much, Enzo ‘walked back into the sea of people. Alpha Michael went up the steps, holding a glass of champagne as he turned around to look at the crowd below him.
He seemed to enjoy this feeling of being surrounded by thousands of people. His old, wrinkled face looked a little more brightened than I remembered. If there had been anyone in this family that I still held expectations for, it would be Alpha Michael. Compared to Ellen and Melissa, he was my closest relative after all. Even though he hadn’t cared about me in the past nineteen years, he also hadn’t gone out of his way to make my life miserable. I always thought that he might have feelings of family love towards me deep down, but now it seems that it was just wishful thinking on my part. He seemed indifferent to the news of my death. This realization burned away the last vestiges of any attachment I had left for this family, and
I completely let go of any expectations I had for them.
The ball soon reached its peak.
Enzo would invite his female partner for the opening dance in the middle of the courtyard, where countless lights were hung.
And everyone thought that this female partner, by default, would be Melissa. Even Melissa thought so. Enzo walked through the crowd and under their watchful eyes, looked to be headed towards Melissa. Melodious, elegant music played in the background. Melissa held her head high, the smile on her lips grew bigger, as her chest rose faster with every step Enzo took.
‘What a suspenseful scene,’ I thought.
But…
When Enzo reached her, he didn’t bow or stretch out his hand. Instead, he raised his chin slightly and gave her a mocking smile. He glanced at Melissa from the corner of his eye, then walked right past her joyful and excited gaze. The smile on Melissa’s face froze, and she turned her neck stiffly to watch Enzo walked up to me and came to a stop.
Enzo stood tall in front of me before bowing. His left arm was slightly above his waist behind his back while he bent his right arm toward me. Then, a low, gentle voice floated into my ears. “May I?” he asked.