Before Alexa could even consider making a run for it, a regal figure descended upon them. Victoria Gardier, the matriarch of the Gardier family, was a vision of grandeur and elegance. She looked at Alexa's mother then at Alexa up and down, her gaze as sharp as the diamonds she was draped in. Her posture was regal, her aura dominant, and her diamond-encrusted necklace was a testament to their family's wealth."Good afternoon, Mrs. Larossa and daughter...""Good afternoon, Lady Victoria.""I am Victoria Gardier, the mother of three Gardier siblings, Gilbert, Jean, and Jessica." she introduced herself to Alexa, her voice smooth as silk, her smile as polished as the diamonds she wore."And this young lady must be...?""Ah, Lady Victoria, this is my daughter, Alexa," her mother interjected, pushing Alexa gently forward. She gave Alexa a reassuring squeeze on her shoulder, but it did little to quell her panic."Oh God," Victoria echoed, her eyes taking in Alexa's stunned expression. "What a

Just as Alexa were trying to control her tears, a chilling presence approached them. It was none other than Dionysus, or Dio as he liked to be called, the cousin of Jean and Gilbert.Dio, even in his edwardian era dark blue 'costume' was still a striking figure, with piercing green eyes and white hair still untied wildly, made him look like a vampire. Alexa never loses an awe seeing his facial feature almost mirrored Gilbert's. His usually icy demeanor had a strange warmth when it came to Alexa. They had met earlier in the night of the bloody Reverie Dinner party and had quickly formed an unlikely friendship."Lord Dio," Lady Renata greeted him, trying to hide the quiver in her voice.Dio was known for his cold demeanor, and even the composed Lady Renata couldn't disguise his intimidation."Looks like someone let the cat out of the bag," Dio said, his voice cool, but a mischievous glint in his eye."That was supposed to be a surprise, Renata."Before Lady Renata could retort, Dio turn

Under the cover of darkness, Jean slipped out of the mansion and made his way towards the garden after he saw Alexa was standing alone near the fountain. The moon bathed the landscape in a soft glow, setting a somber tone for the confrontation that was about to take place. He found Alexa still alone, standing with empty eyes near the marble fountain."Alexa," Jean called out, his voice echoing in the quiet garden. She turned around, her eyes widening in surprise as she recognized him."Jean," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "What are you doing here? No, don't meet me alone. Gilbert might saw us."He strode towards her. "We need to talk about your engagement to Gilbert."Alexa took a step back, she was about to run but Jean held her hand, her eyes darting to the mansion in fear. "Jean, please let me go. If anyone sees us..."But Jean was too hurt, too angry to listen. "So you're just going to marry him? Why don't you tell me? You lied to me. You said that you barely remember h

After the engagement party, Alexa found herself stepping into the Gardier's grand mansion for the first time. Despite the late hour, Gilbert was already waiting for her, offering a polite smile."Welcome, my sweetheart," he greeted, extending his hand towards her."Lord Gilbert.""Don't call me that, I am going to be your husband. Just call me Gilbert.""Gilbert.""Shall we take a tour of your new house?"Alexa nodded, taking his offered hand as they began their tour. They strolled through the grand entrance hall, passing by elegant rooms filled with art and antiques, the grand paintings of each member of the family. Gilbert explained the history of the mansion and each room's significance, but Alexa's mind was elsewhere. Home theater, wine cellar, private gym, spa, art gallery, and even the garage of luxury cars, she ignored it all. She was still coming to terms with the sudden changes in her life. Eventually, they arrived at a set of large, ornate doors. Gilbert turned to her, his e

As the breakfast continued, Gilbert couldn't shake off the unease that had settled over him. Something was amiss, he was sure of it. He needed to get Alexa away from the table, away from whatever was going on.With a quick, calculated move, he 'accidentally' knocked over Alexa's glass, the liquid spilling onto her dress. Alexa gasped, her eyes wide as she looked down at the growing stain on her dress."Oh, sweetheart, I am so sorry," Gilbert announced, his voice filled with staged regret. He rose from his seat, his gaze meeting Alexa's. The rest of the table watched the scene unfold, their breakfast momentarily forgotten."It's alright, Gilbert," Alexa said, her voice shaking slightly. "I'll...I'll go change.""I'll accompany you," Gilbert offered, standing up. "After all, it's my fault."The room erupted in a mixture of gasps and laughter. "Oh, Gilbert!" one of the family members exclaimed, a teasing smile playing on their lips. "Already so eager to undress the lady?"A chorus of lau