Chapter 209
“Why would you say that?” asked Millie confusedly.
“I heard you three,” Flora turned her sharp gaze toward the platform, where Millie’s two friends were still standing, “talking wrong about my sister p>
Millie kept a calm look on her face as she finally halted. “Miss Flora, I’ve also heard what you did to your sister. Kindly reflect upon your actions rather than threatening me. I’m sure even if you tell what my friends and I talked, your own sister wouldn’t believe you p>
Flora’s hands clenched into fists, but keeping her silence was the best in that moment.
“Now, please excuse me,” Millie said and walked ahead.
Flora felt her heart began palpitating, and she looked at the crowd around herself. Her gaze started turning blurred, hallucinating that people surrounding her were laughing and mocking her.
Flora staggered back a step, shaking her head as her hand instinctively moved to her chest, trying to ease the growing tightness. Somehow, she managed to slip away from the crowd and grabbed a glass of water from a passing waiter. She drank in slow gulps, trying to calm the spiraling thoughts.
Lowering the glass, she walked over to a nearby table and gently set it down.
“You alright?” came a familiar voice.
Flora looked up, startled. Zander stood before her.
“Yes,” she said quickly, lowering her eyes before offering him a polite nod.
Zander didn’t push. “I met your parents earlier,” he said instead.
“Why?” Flora asked, a flicker of concern in her tone.
“Your father submitted a formal request to leave the pack… permanently,” Zander replied calmly.
Flora nodded faintly. “Yes. We’re relocating to San Ravendale p>
“I wish you the best,” Zander said with quiet sincerity. “A fresh start might be exactly what you need p>
“Thank you,” Flora whispered. “And… I’m sorry for always being rude to you in the past p>
Zander chuckled lightly. “How many times are you going to apologize for that p>
Flora fell silent. He noticed the way she nervously pressed her nail into her index finger, the tension evident.
Without thinking, Zander reached out and gently held her hand. She flinched, startled, blinking as if his touch had pulled her from a dark thought.
“Flora,” he said gently, “if you ever need help, or just someone to talk to, you can call me. Don’t let other people’s words drown you. I know you can rise above it p>
Flora hummed. “Thank you, Zander. Despite everything, you’ve been so good to me. I’ll not let you down. You’re the only one who still believes in me p>
Amelie was stunned to see Zilia standing in the hall. Her eyes instinctively shifted to Gabriel.
“It’s part of the plan,” he whispered reassuringly in her ear.
“Oh,” she murmured, quickly masking her surprise.
Zilia approached with a composed smile and extended her hand. “The gown looks stunning on you,” she said graciously, handing over a beautifully wrapped gift box along with a bouquet.
Gabriel smoothly stepped in, taking them from Zilia and passing them to a nearby servant.
Amelie responded with polite ease, mirroring Zilia’s calm demeanor. But as her gaze shifted, it landed on Casaio, who was now walking toward them.
’I wonder how Prince Casaio manages to keep such a composed face while playing along with this farce,’ Amelie thought, watching him carefully.
Around them, guests exchanged murmurs. Some admired Zilia for the grace she maintained, while others whispered about how she was never truly ready to marry Casaio.
’Was it necessary to bring Zilia here?’ Gabriel mindlinked his brother, concern sharpening his tone.
’Yes,’ Casaio responded through the link. ’She received a call from someone named Jake. He hasn’t shown up yet, but he claims to have an important message for her p>
’Make sure nothing goes wrong,’ Gabriel warned.
’Rest assured. Everything is under my watch,’ Casaio replied. ’Though I’m curious to see how Jake plans to enter this grand palace hall, especially when the invitations were strictly reserved for close associates p>
’Maybe someone from these close associates will help him,’ Gabriel said and looked at Zilia, who was asking about Amelie’s pup.
“We shall excuse ourselves. You two may continue,” Gabriel said, leading Amelie away before she could respond.
Zilia’s fingers clenched tighter around the clutch the moment she felt Casaio’s arm settle against her lower back.
“Did you help Jake get an invitation?” Casaio asked, his voice edged with accusation. “I’m sure it’s not the first time you’ve done something like that p>
“I did help him a few times,” Zilia replied calmly, without flinching.
“And you take pride in that,” Casaio scoffed, his tone laced with sarcasm.
“No,” Zilia said firmly, locking eyes with him. “I did it to protect my brother p>
She glanced briefly at his hand. “You can remove your arm from my back. We’re not lovers anymore p>
“But we have to pretend we still are,” Casaio said with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
“Did you bring me here just to fight with me?” Zilia muttered under her breath.
Without waiting for a response, she pulled away from Casaio and walked off, uncaring of how the public display might taint their already fractured image as a couple. She needed space, distance from his accusations and the pressure of keeping up appearances.
Her mind was filled with many strange thoughts as she weaved through the elegantly dressed crowd, barely registering the smiles and glances thrown her way. Just as she reached the far end of the hall, a figure stepped in front of her, halting her in place.
She looked up, and instantly recognized the stranger. Jake.
But he didn’t speak. He simply handed her a small folded piece of paper.
Before she could react, the lights suddenly went out, cloaking the hall in darkness.
Startled, Zilia spun on her heels to look for him, but Jake had already vanished into the crowd.
A few seconds later, soft lighting returned, casting a golden glow over the room. A gentle piano melody floated through the air and Gabriel stepped into the dancing floor with Amelie.