CHAPTER FIVE:The Reception

Anna’s POV – Present

The applause fades, but the stares don’t.

They linger.

Sharp. Curious. Measuring.

My cheeks ache from smiling, but I don’t let it drop. Not here. Not now.

Xavier’s hand is still resting lightly at my waist.

Not possessive.

Not intimate.

But steady.

Supportive.

A silent reminder—

You’re not alone.

The reception hall glows under gold chandeliers, their light reflecting off polished marble floors and crystal glasses. Soft music floats through the air, elegant and controlled, just like everything else in this room.

Wealth whispers from every corner.

In the tailored suits.

In the effortless confidence.

In the way people look at Xavier—

And then at me.

This world does not belong to me.

And yet—

I stand in the center of it.

Mrs. Cortez.

The title still feels unfamiliar.

Heavy.

Like something I’m borrowing rather than owning.

The Performance

Guests approach one by one.

Smiling.

Polite.

Curious.

“Congratulations.”

“You look stunning.”

“Quite the surprise.”

Each word is wrapped in courtesy, but underneath—

Questions.

Judgment.

Speculation.

Who is she?

Where did she come from?

Why her?

I respond carefully.

Softly.

Measured.

Controlled.

Every answer practiced in my head before I say it.

Because one wrong word here could echo.

The Weight

Then I feel it.

That familiar weight.

Not physical.

But undeniable.

Maxwell.

I don’t need to look to know he’s watching me.

But I do anyway.

And there he is.

Closer than before.

Madison beside him.

Of course.

Her dress is elegant. Understated. Perfectly balanced between attention and restraint.

She always did know how to adapt.

How to fit into any room.

How to belong.

The Confrontation

Maxwell clears his throat.

“Anna… I didn’t expect—”

“Congratulations,” Madison interrupts smoothly.

Her voice is light.

Controlled.

Perfect.

Her smile is flawless.

But her eyes—

Calculating.

Searching.

Trying to understand something that doesn’t make sense to her.

“You look… different,” she adds.

Not a compliment.

An observation.

A challenge.

The Change

I meet her gaze.

Calmly.

Not defensive.

Not apologetic.

“Yes,” I reply.

A small pause.

“I suppose I do.”

For once—

I don’t shrink.

The Shift

Before either of them can say more—

Xavier’s hand tightens slightly at my waist.

Not enough to hurt.

Just enough to ground.

He steps half a pace closer.

Not aggressive.

But territorial.

His presence shifts the air instantly.

The room doesn’t change—

But the power does.

Xavier

“Is there something you need?” he asks coolly.

His voice drops a few degrees.

Controlled.

Sharp.

Final.

Maxwell straightens instinctively.

Like he recognises something in Xavier that he cannot challenge.

“No. We were just—”

“Offering congratulations,” Madison finishes smoothly.

Recovering.

Always recovering.

Xavier nods once.

“Then you’ve done so.”

A polite dismissal.

Effortless.

Powerful.

No raised voice.

No scene.

Just authority.

The Retreat

They step back.

But not without looking.

Maxwell—

Confused.

Regret flickering where confidence used to be.

Madison—

Still.

Too still.

And then I see it.

The flicker in her eyes.

Confusion.

Disbelief.

Calculation shifting into something sharper.

How?

How did Anna end up here?

The Truth

What she doesn’t know—

Is that I’m still figuring that out myself.

After

“Are you alright?” Xavier asks quietly, his voice meant only for me.

I nod.

“Yes.”

A pause.

Then, more honestly—

“I will be.”

His gaze lingers on me for a moment.

Like he’s assessing more than my answer.

Then he nods once.

“Good.”

Simple.

But it settles something inside me.

The Realisation

As the night continues—

More guests.

More smiles.

More whispers—

I realise something.

This world doesn’t feel as impossible as it did an hour ago.

Still unfamiliar.

Still overwhelming.

But not unreachable.

Because I’m not standing here by accident.

Even if I don’t fully understand how I got here—

I didn’t fall into this.

I stepped into it.

Final Line

And this time—

When people look at me—

I don’t look away.