Chapter 2

Glancing down at my robe, I noticed the patches at the cuffs and hem, the wear and tear from my time spent in mountain solitude.

"This is what I wear for my spiritual practices," I said, undisturbed by her mockery.

Betty laughed, sharp and mocking. "Aria, surely you haven't given up on love just to live as a hermit?"

Laughter erupted from the relatives as they caught sight of me.

"Seriously, who dresses like that anymore? You look like you're begging in the streets."

"I know, right? You're practically radiating poverty. Did you escape from some rundown place?"

"Aria, it's your cousin's big day. Can't you put on something nice? You've been to college, for heaven's sake. Why do you seem to be moving backwards in life?"

Betty sauntered over, oozing fake concern. "Let's not be too hard on Aria. Maybe she's just strapped for cash?"

She paused dramatically and continued, "I'll tell you what. I'll have the makeup artist whip up a bridesmaid dress for you, how about that?"

I glanced at her cake face with a pound of makeup and could not help but snicker.

I replied calmly, "That's alright. Those of us dedicated to spiritual practice aren't hung up on appearances."

The mocking resumed instantly after my comment.

Betty sidled up to me, her voice a conspiratorial whisper.

"Aria, if you're struggling to find a date, I could get Joseph to set you up with some of the security guys from his office. They might be a bit on the older side, but they'd sure take care of that man-crazy itch of yours!"

I was about to snap back when her eyes locked onto the lucky charm at my neck, her pupils shrinking in shock.

"Wait!" she lunged, yanking the charm so hard the cord burned a red line into my neck.

"How do you have this lucky charm?!" she screeched, her voice shrill with panic.

"This is my husband's family treasure, and he always kept it with him!"

The chatter in the banquet hall died down, all eyes suddenly on us.

I rubbed my stinging neck and met her gaze with serenity as I replied, "This is my lucky charm."

"Absurd!"

Betty's cheeks turned a fiery red as she thrust the lucky charm at the onlookers.

"Take a good look, everyone. This charm has 'Clark' etched on the back. It's obviously the treasured heirloom of the Clark family!"

She turned the charm over, and there it was: the name 'Clark' handcarved into the metal.

"Aria, you didn't steal from my husband, did you?" Betty questioned.

The relatives around us burst into a frenzy.

"Unbelievable! Aria's a thief!"

"All that education, wasted!"

"No wonder she looks like a peasant. She's got the guilt of a thief!"

I calmly observed the commotion with detachment.

I had carved that lucky charm myself, and the "Clark" on the back was only there because Joseph would not stop nagging me to include his last name.

"Betty, this isn't your husband's charm. It's just a matching pair to the one your husband has."

There were two of those charms: one with Joseph, one with me. They shared a secret bond, channeling a ceaseless flow of mystical energy from me to him, altering his fortunes.

Should either charm break, Joseph's health would plummet back to its frail state.

However, before I could get a word in, Betty's hand flew up and she struck me across the face.

Slap!

The sound rang out in the hall. My cheek stung with pain, but I faced her with undisturbed calm.

"Aria, have you no decency? To think you'd share a lover's token with my husband?"

Betty's scream pierced the air, her face, once meticulously dolled up, suddenly contorted in rage.

"I snooped through Joseph's phone and guess what? His top contact is you, his little side piece!"

She lunged, her fingers clawing into my skin as she seized my collar.

"I should've known! He's always 'got something to take care of'. Yeah, right. He was meeting up with you, you homewrecker!"