Chapter Three

"Maryanne! Hurry up, the banquet is starting already! You will be introduced soon!" Sally exclaimed softly. If one took a look at Sally, one would assume she is as soft as her voice was. They would never know how strict and hardened she can be. Sally always did everything with top-notch elegance.

"Mom, what makes you think I heard you?" Maryanne said, walking down the stairs to find her mother, dressed just like royalty should. Her mother was beautiful, and she was happy to have inherited the beauty. 

Sally grabbed her cheeks softly, patting them. "Just two days at home and you have grown so beautifully! I can't wait to see what happens when he shows up today."

"Who?" Maryanne asked.

Sally giggled softly, shying away from the question. "Hurry now, we can't be late."

Maryanne rolled her eyes. Her mother was just so pretty and petty too.

"Okay, Mom." 

She walked out of the house in her fairy dress. She didn't know whose idea it was to make such a dress for her but she loved it. The dress had different colors but they were all related to pink and purple. Some rose pink seemed to transition to a deep royal purple and kept on switching between the two colors as it went every which way. The dress was not exactly body hugging but it fit right, perfectly even. It had a slit in the front that was slightly below her middle thigh. Off the shoulder and had a low back. 

Her brother helped her into the car while her mother helped herself. She shook her head. That was her family. If her father were to be around, he would drive his wife in his car while Michael would always drive her. 

When Maryanne arrived at the venue of the banquet which was the ground floor of a big hotel in the state. She loved the decorations and the vibe they gave. Her brother led her backstage where she sat until she was introduced by her father. Then she walked out majestically, giving off the royal vibe she was accustomed to.

Thomas, Florencia, and Matilda were extremely shocked to see the person who walked out from behind the stage. Thomas's shock was even worse because he couldn't believe that he had treated her like crap when she could have changed his entire life.

"Is she truly a Bullyvan?" Matilda asked, sneering visibly at her.

Thomas scowled at her expression. "Wipe that sneer off your face, Mom."

"Or what?" Matilda refuted. "Forget about family background or anything, once a fool, always a fool."

Thomas thought about his mother's words. Perhaps she was right. Even if Maryanne did come from a nice and wealthy family, if she was a fool, her family's wealth couldn't change that. Gradually, his scowling expression also turned to a sneer. He could just embarrass her right in front of her guests to show everyone what kind of a person she was.

He stood up from his seat. Florencia's eyes followed him wherever he went. For her, it was alright since the girl was out of their lives. Honestly, the only issue she ever had with Maryanne was the fact that she was after Thomas and she was prettier and better than she was. Seeing Thomas going to speak to her made her uncomfortable.

"Where are you headed?" Matilda inquired. "Sit down my boy. It's not the time yet."

Thomas sat back down. He might hate what his mother asked him to do, but he could never refute her. Nobody could refute her, not even his father, and he was the Alpha.

Maryanne could see how Thomas stood up, only to sit back down. She smirked. Thomas Donovan is and will always be a fool.

"If you keep smirking like that, people will assume you are scheming something evil," Michael said behind her.

Maryanne turned to smile at him. "But of course, I am scheming something wicked right now. Worse than evil, Michael."

"Oh, you," Michael said, shaking his head. He loved his sister so much, he would support her even if she went into the street to break someone's car.

She shrugged. "Who invited the Donovans?"

"Uh, Dad I guess. Mom would have never wanted to invite anyone she felt was beneath her class and you know she feels everyone is beneath her class." Michael explained.

Maryanne giggled softly. "But of course. It's not like it's entirely a bad thing that they're here too. I am quite happy for them."

"Them?"

"The Donovans and then there is Florencia Douglas," Maryanne said, staring at the lady, straight in the eye. "The one who never learns a lesson."

"And I mean it literally, 'cause she's so dumb! I'd teach her something and ask her what I said and she's stutter and fumble then get angry and begin to yell."

Michael frowned. "Yell at you? Who the hell does she think she is to yell at you? And she dares to show her ugly face here? I'm throwing her out!"

"No brother." Maryanne held his arm to stop him. "I like the fact that she is here. It should teach her a thing or two by the end of the banquet."

"Also, I have plans for them." She said, smiling wickedly. "Great plans to welcome them to England."

Michael shivered at the sight of his sister's wicked face. Was he a brute? He couldn't begin to think about what she had planned. It was time for the meet and greet session.

"If my calculations are correct, Thomas will come to me to try and embarrass me because he thinks I'm in love with him."

Michael scoffed. "As if."

"That's what I'm expecting I'm counting on him to do that. If he fails to do it, my entire plans will not be put in place." She said. "I will then have to plan on the spot. But knowing Thomas, he's not that smart, he will do just as predicted. I can bet on it."

"Whatever happens, don't get too close to people like him, they tend to rub off their stupidity on the rest of the world."

Maryanne nodded. Michael touched her head affectionately and offered her a sweet smile before he left.

Maryanne smiled throughout her way down into the crowd. She knew that people would want to meet her. Someone tapped her from behind, she turned quickly to find a man there. He was somewhat masked but she caught a glimpse of his eyes, they were golden. He looked familiar too.

"Have we met before?" She murmured. Right then, Thomas showed up, obstructing her view of the man. Maryanne's soft expression turned into a terrible scowl instantly, she glared at Thomas.