Chapter Three: Love Confession

I walked away from the balcony and back into the hall.

The music was gentle and soft, couples were pairing up to dance. It was now or never.

It was true that I’d had an unhealthy crush on Asher for years, it was also true that I’d imagined many times what it’ll be like to finally admit it to him, and I’d be a liar if I claimed the curiosity I’d once felt was completely dead.

More than ever, I wished for a glass of something strong—anything to dull my mind to what I was about to do.

I made my way to Asher with my heart somewhere in my throat. I felt light-headed from all the nerves, and my mouth seemed to have lost all its moisture. As I got closer, I felt the sudden urge to bolt for the door, but Rosalia’s threat hung heavily over my neck, leaving me with no other choice but to keep walking.

Asher was surrounded by a few of his friends, and as much as I wanted this to be a private moment, I knew I couldn’t get him alone on a day like this.

This could go really, really bad, I thought to myself, as I took the last few steps that brought me right before him.

He’d been laughing at something Jacob—the gamma’s son and his closest friend, had said, when he noticed me.

“Hey,” I wanted to say, but the words stuck in my throat, never left my lips

“Can I help you?” he asked, brow cocked.

“I—yes, Actually, I wanted to congratulate you on your… big day!”

“Thank you, Beatrix.”

A chill ran through me, I couldn’t deny I liked the way my name sounded against his lips. 

I turned, and was instantly met with Rosalia’s stare, urging me on.

“I also wanted to talk to you,” I started again.

The soft nod he gave was the approval I needed.

I rambled on unintelligibly, “I know this is weirdtosay—but, I’ve heard a crushonyou since…forever, and I know you’regettingmarried to my sister, but, I just thoughtyoushould know that—"

“Hey, calm down,” Asher cut me off to say, “Now repeat that, but much slower,” 

“I love you!”

The words had escaped my mouth before I could think it through.

Suddenly, there was silence.

Not just amongst the men standing before me, but from every single member present in the ball.

The music had gone off too.

They’d heard me. Every single person in the ball had heard me.

My gaze found Rosalia’s, and I realized a moment too late that this was a setup.

Then, laughter burst out from every corner. I turned red, as tears of shame filled my eyes.

Rosalia walked up to me.

“Pathetic,” she hissed at me, before linking her arms in Asher’s.

Her actions shouldn’t have surprised me, yet, it did.

Once again, I was left wondering what I’d done to have her hate me this much.

Without another word, I turned around and fled from the party.

~*~

The ball was over, but my humiliation wasn’t.

The video of my ‘love confession’ was all over social media now.

“You should steer clear of me for the next few weeks—or months,” I said to Audrey. It was going to be bad on her reputation if she was seen around me after what happened.

“I can’t believe Rosalia could be that cruel,” she said silently to herself.

“Has Asher spoken about it?” I asked offhandedly, to hide my curiosity.

“Actually, no.” she answered, thoughtfully.

“He must think me a fool, and a selfish one at that,” I complained, hating the fact that I still cared about what he thought of me.

“You don’t know that,” she said, discouraging my assumption.

“It doesn’t matter anyway. As embarrassing as that was, it’s not exactly my biggest worry right now—” a knock interrupted me.

“No doubt a summon from my father,” I muttered with a tight smile, as I made my way to the door.

Just as I’d predicted, it was a maid here to inform me that my presence was requested at my father’s office immediately.

“I could come with you, you know—for moral support,” Audrey offered.

“I assure you, you don’t want to be there when my father rains hell and brimstone on me for embarrassing our family. Again.”

 .

Wasting no time, I headed for my father’s office. The last time I’d arrived a few minutes later than he’d requested, I’d ended up with a bruised eye.

Father’s summon was never good news, never. It was always about something I did wrong—and there was always something.

I stepped into his office and was immediately met with his fuming gaze. He wasn’t alone.

Rosalia and my mother, Grace, were with him. Mom looked twice as pissed as he was.

I should know better than to speak, but clearly, I didn’t.

“I’m sorry about the ball—I didn’t mean anything I said to the Alpha,” I defended.

The fact that my parents had witnessed the whole thing filled me with a fresh wave of embarrassment.

Mother walked past me to shut the door, and for some reasons, that left me feeling uneasy.

“How could you do this, Bellatrix?” my father thundered. There wasn’t just anger in his eyes, but pain too.

“I—”

“Shut up!” he roared, “Don’t you dare open that filthy, lying mouth of yours.” He warned.

Of course, no one ever cared to hear my part of the story.

“Who is he?” my mother asked, and I blinked, confused. “Who is the bastard that got you pregnant?”