Chapter 8

AMELIA’S POV 

I couldn’t help but feel a flutter in my chest when I heard his name, Julian Pierce. 

So, Ethan was wrong. Julian was exactly the kind of man I would like, he's definitely my type of man, if my heart didn’t already belong to someone else.

“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Mrs. Harper,” Julian said, his voice smooth, a soft smile curling his lips.

 His dark hazel eyes seemed to trace every detail of my face, as if he were memorizing me.

 “Or may I call you Amelia?” I tilted my head, keeping my tone polite but firm. “I’m sorry, Mr. Pierce, but we’re just getting acquainted. Only my friends call me by my first name.

“I understand,” he said, his voice warm. 

“Though I do hope I’ll earn a spot in the friend zone soon.”

“Time will tell, Mr. Pierce,” I replied, offering a small smile of my own.

His hand was still stretched out so I hesitated, then placed my hand in his.

 Before I could react, he turned it gently and pressed a soft kiss to my knuckles.

I pulled my hand back quickly, heat creeping up my neck, why did he do that. What if someone saw us? Or better still Ethan? I wouldn't want to cause more pain Ethan.

 “Alright, Julian. Nice meeting you.” A chord of music floated through the air, and Julian’s smile widened.

 “May I have the honor of your first dance tonight? Mrs Harper”

I shook my head, my mind already elsewhere. 

I didn't know whether to say No or look for an excuse. 

“Actually, I’m looking for someone, so I’ll have to go now.”

“Second to the last, then?” he pressed, his tone light. 

“Surely you’ll be done with whoever you’re searching for by then.”

“I’ll look forward to it,” I said, managing a polite smile.

He bowed, of course being a gentleman and said, “Thank you, Mrs. Harper.” 

I nodded and turned away, weaving through the crowd. 

The party looked really lively but my thoughts were tangled up on Ethan. 

Earlier, the way he’d looked at me, the sting of his words, either ways he had left me unsettled. I’d walked away to clear my head, but now I was searching for him, hoping to talk things out. 

I didn’t expect to feel so drawn to someone like Julian in the meantime, and it left me feeling off-balance.

As I moved through the room, I caught sight of Ethan. He was standing alone,with a drink in his hand. My heart sank. Has he seen me with Julian? I just hope he didn't, the thought made my stomach twist.

 I wanted to go to him, to explain, but before I could, a man approached me, he looked familiar until it hit me, it was Nathaniel Brooks. 

He greeted me with a warm smile, and soon we were laughing, his easy humor making me forget about Ethan for some seconds. He leaned in to whisper something, and I couldn’t help but laugh again, the sound bubbling up despite the weight in my chest.

When I glanced back to check for Ethan, he was gone. My heart gave a painful lurch. I excused myself from Nathaniel and scanned the room, but Ethan was nowhere to be found. 

The music swelled, and I found myself pulled onto the dance floor by another guest, my body moving to the rhythm while my mind stayed totally on Ethan.

 I swayed in the man’s arms, but all I could think about was the hurt I’d seen in Ethan’s eyes earlier.

 I caused this Or was it something else? After the dance, I slipped away before anyone saw me again and asked for a dance, and I needed air.

 I stepped out onto one of the balconies, the cool night wrapping around me like a balm. 

The moon cast a soft glow over the gardens below, illuminating the roses and the lilies growing side by side.

 Lily. My namesake. I used to love them, their delicate white petals and sweet scent. 

But now, knowing how Ethan felt about them, or rather about me they seemed tainted.

I leaned against the railing, my fingers brushing the cool metal, and took a deep breath. The party hummed behind me, but out here, it was just me, my thoughts and the night.

 I didn’t know where Ethan had gone or what he was thinking, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was definitely wrong.

Julian’s charm, Nathaniel’s laughter, the music, the lilies it all mixed up together, pulling me further from the one person I wanted to be so close to.

I closed my eyes, the scent of the lilies drifting up from the garden. They were beautiful, but dangerous, just like Ethan thought I was. 

And maybe he was right. I was definitely dangerous