Semua Bab Her Exodus, His Regret. : Bab 11 - Bab 19

12. The names on the guest listThe day for the engagement party finally closed in leaving the Voss manor in a state of quiet frenzy. Staff moved to and fro with shiny trays, florists adjusted the towering arrangements of lilies and roses and the faint sound of classical music which collided with Sasha's crisp commands floated across the hall. Diane arrived just an hour before noon, her presence sharp and efficient. Her gaze cut through the the details that Sasha has fussed over for weeks but her face remained unreadable. She walked to the living room, with Greta following quietly behind her. "We'll make sure nothing goes wrong" she said, as though issuing an order rather than reassurance. Upon hearing about her arrival, Sasha rushed downstairs, her face shrouded with a sweet smile. She had already sent Ma'am Camille to prepare a cup of tea that would be served. "Mom, you're here" she said with a curtsy before sitting opposite the older woman. "Of course. I wanted to see how prou

14. The man two tables away. The hand that held Sasha's waist tightened, enough for her to wince. Lucien's distracted gaze finally broke and he looked at Sasha whose face now held an aggrieved look. "My bad" came Lucien's cold apology. "Seems like you're distracted" Sasha said with a tight smile, her gaze flickering to the lady draped in that wine-red dress. "Let's get this done with" Lucien said, his voice low and flat. From where she stood, Dahlia moved, calm and graceful, her steps light as she walked towards the guests tables. No one recognized her. No one dared to. Not in Lucien's circle. Well, except Adrian and Damien. She was the wife no one dared speak of."She's really pretty" Adrian murmured, his eyes following her till she disappeared into the seated crowd. Damien said nothing but his silence said enough. His gaze lingered, still caught in whatever spell she carried. "What?" Adrian nudged him lightly. "Are you also into her?" he pressed, a mischievous grin forming. D

16. Something as black as fear...It was already the fifth minute since Dahlia left her seat and Lucien couldn't ignore the dark loom clawing tightly at his chest. He looked at his wrist watch again. With each tick of the clock hand, his heart hammered loudly almost clouding his sense of hearing. To think she's someone he never had anything for...and now, her absence is making him restless. What a maddening woman!Sasha noticed his silent distress, her face etched with worry. "Is everything alright?" she asked him. Lucien didn't reply immediately and just looked at the seat where Dahlia had left from. "I hope so" he said absentmindedly. Sasha reached for his back and patted him gently with a cute smile plastered on her lips. "You don't have to be anxious or anything. I'm here, aren't I?"Lucien looked at her just for few seconds. "Mm" was the flat reply. "Excuse me" he muttered and walked out. Sasha looked at his retreating back which was as icy as ever, a sudden sadness creeping i

18. Marked and Dismissed. The party came to an abrupt end due to the pool incident and guests began to leave one after another. Headlights flashed against each other at the parking lot, like water in a fountain. Cameras kept flashing, trying to get hold of the remaining tea of the night.In a dark corner, a man stood with one of the guests, asking questions about the pool incident. However, before the person could answer, Sam and Jace as if programmed, appeared, silencing both the person asking and the one replying.Jace and Sam looked at themselves without a word their gazes cold like icicles on an ice rink. Just a slight dip of their heads, and they went their separate ways. At the patio, Lucien stood, with a cigarette in hand. He lighted it and took a long puff from it, exhaling as though it was the most effortless thing to do in this world. Footsteps approached from behind. He turned. It was Jace. The latter bowed before closing in. "Boss, everyone has been silenced" Jace said