Aryanna had the best makeup artist in the city adorning her for the gala. Her stylist pulled apart her closet for the perfect dress for her to wear.
It was a tough call to make, seeing as her closet was made of designer dresses from the best designers in the country. Most of which were limited edition and worth more than her salary.
The people attending to her hair and makeup were envious of Aryanna. Everything in her room was of best quality and expensive. The picture frame of her and Sebastian on their wedding day positioned above her bed didn't help lessen their jealousy.
Aryanna sat still and let them do their work. Her focus was on her phone, Faber sent her the files of the employees at the Devonte spa. She was doing her best to memorize their faces and their names. A perfect distraction to keep her mind from troubling thoughts.
Sebastian and Henifer detested the idea of attending the gala. They expressed their displeasure openly. Sebastian was forced to go because she desired to attend the gala. However, Aryanna knew that he was unhappy but she didn't know why he felt so.
She tried to pry the information out of Faber and Dyana, unfortunately the two knew nothing of the reason. Henifer and Sebastian's light energy faded with the mere mention of the gala so Aryanna didn't dare ask them about it.
"I think this combination is fire. What do you think, madam? "
Aryanna turned her head, she found her stylist holding up a coral red high slit form-fitting dress. She dangled a pair of black heels. The dress had a beautiful white floral strap.
"It's beautiful, " she excused herself to try the outfit. The dress hugged her body like a second skin. Aryanna run her fingers over the soft fabric, a weak smile formed on her face.
The dress reminded her of her mother. She thought back to the photos she had of her mother, in one of them her mother wore a gorgeous red dress to a party.
"I miss you, ma, " she let out, her voice barely a notch above a whisper.
To the world, her mother was the worst person for falling in love with a married man. Aryanna tried to hate her for leaving her with a legacy that makes a target of people's hatred. However, she missed her and felt her absence every time she took a step towards a better life and she wasn't there to cheer for her.
Her heart squeezed in pain. She admired her mother in her expensive dresses from outside the picture frame. She got to frock in a similar dress in her life and she imagined her mother standing behind her, admiring how beautiful she looks.
"If you are watching over me. I want you to know that i'm going to be alright, " she uttered. Tears brimmed at the bottom of her eyes. Aryanna raised her eyes to the ceiling and blinked her tears away.
She sighed. Aryanna twirled on her heels and headed out the room. Her mind clouded with vivid images of her mother. She was curious about her mother's story. To know what compelled her mother to pursue a married man knowing well that her a mistress never gets to run off to the sunset with their lover.
"Wow, you look amazing! "
"So beautiful! "
"Gorgeous! "
The girls were awed by Aryanna's beauty. The dress fit her so well, one would think she was the inspiration for the designer. Aryanna smiled. She received the compliments with a warm heart.
She took a seat at the dressing table and had her hairdresser style her hair. Her hair was held in a neat bun with diamond floral pins adorning the bun.
Aryanna wore a diamond necklace around her neck, bringing out her collarbone and enhancing her beauty. Her replendent look gave off a simple yet dazzling presence to her.
She started at her reflection in the mirror. The image of her mother coming to life with her glow-up. For the first time, she felt her presence strongly around her.
"You remind me of someone, " the stylist let out with a distant look. "A famous model that vanished from the world twenty years ago...what was her name? " she scratched her head in contemplation. Trying to recall the name of the person Aryanna reminded her of.
Aryanna knew the stylist thought of her mother. "We dont exist for just one path, Aryanna ," her mother's words echoed in her head. She averted her eyes from the mirror to the door, she waited, hoping her mother would walk in the next moment and hold her hand.
The glamourous path fate threw her in felt so surreal she worried she was losing her mind. In that moment, Henifer stepped through the doors. "Are you ready?" She inquired of Aryanna.
Ayanna smiled, her birth mother might not be around but she found a guiding light in her mother-in-law. Henifer gave her asecond chance of having someonce to call mother in her life.
A chance Aryanna refused to let go to waste. She hastily got up from her seat and rushed over to Henifer's side. She gave Henifer a tight hug. "I'm the happiest girl in the world to have you here with me," she uttered with a gleef smile plastered on her lips.
Henifer patted her back. She caressed Aryanna's back lovingly.
"Can you please just...hold me. For a little bit," Aryanna let out in a pleading tone.
The princess treatment was overwhelming to her. It felt like she was playing a dangerous game without so much as a peek at the rule book. One that explains the do's and dont's of the whole situation.
"I can hold you for as long as you need, child," Henifer assured.
Aryanna tightened her hands around Henifer. Scared she might slip away and disappear if she held on gently. Her head resting on her mother-in-law's shoulder. One of the best things that came with her new life.
"You are the best person I know, mom, " she reported. Henifer smiled.