Rushing back to powder room Aryanna couldn't contain the anger inside of her that was begging to get out. She was so disgusted by Carlos and having to slow dance with him made her want to vomit.
She rinsed her face with water. Aryanna hated the parts of her that once loved Carlos. The parts that blinded her to his barbarity.
"You seem to be very close with Sebastian," she heard by the door and prayed that it was a figment of her imagination.
Aryanna turned her head slowly hoping it wasn't him but to her disappointment, Carlos stood by the washroom door talking to her.
"He is my husband. Isn't that how the two of us should be?" she questioned.
"Husband?" he asked walking into the room and locking the door behind him.
"What are you doing?" Aryanna panicked.
"Nothing, just making sure we talk in private."
"Get out," Aryanna demanded, feeling bad about his presence in the room.
"You know when I first saw your transformation, I thought you were the most beautiful girl in the world. But then I saw you standing next to Sebastian at the meeting. I felt really jealous and hurt, Aryanna," he said to her seeming hurt.
Aryanna wanted to laugh when she heard what he said. To think that he could say such things after what he did to her.
"You know on the night of the Devonte party, I had the whole night planned out in my head. I thought I'd surprise you but I was the one who was surprised. Quite a show you and Leah put together," she said.
Carlos grabbed her by the hand and pulled her closer to him. He held her in his arms. "I know for a fact that you still love me very much. You couldn't have forgotten me so easily," he whispered sweetly in her ear.
"Let go of me," Aryanna enunciated and tried to push him away.
"Not until you admit the truth."
There was a sickening silence for a moment, followed by sounds of opening doors in one of the cubicle behind her.
Aryanna and Carlos looked back in surprise. A girl in her teens stepped out. She glanced at the scene before her with a frown on her face.
"This is the Lady's washroom, you skunk! " she blubbered as she made her way to wash her hands. "Get out!" her commanding aura astounded Aryanna and Carlos.
"You should mind your own business," Carlos snapped at her.
The girl stared at her reflection in the mirror, the fixed the edges of her hair and smirked.
"That coming from a man stalking someone else's wife to a washroom... Hmmm... "
Aryanna seized the opportunity to pull away from Carlos. She took a giant step back to put distance between her and her ex.
"Just wash your hands and get out. This doesn't concern you," Carlos retorted.
"I'm Jasmine Kincade, " she let out. Her name semt shudders all over Carlos's body. Aryanna raised her stunned gaze at Jasmine, with a careful look, she caught her resemblance to Raul Kincade. "My family is hosting the gala today and i'd hate it if a jerk like you ruined it with a scandalous rumour, " Jasmine added.
Carlos gritted his teeth. He didn't have the courage to argue with Jasmine and risk her family's wrath. He could only swallow his pride and back away.
"I can have you arrested for harrasment and violation of our privacy by trespassing into the ladies washroom, " Jasmine coldly informed Carlos.
Cold sweat formed in drops on Carlos's forehead. He grew nervous at the threat Jasmine threw his way.
"I'm leaving, " Carlos let out.
"She might love you, she'd take you back if only you weren't a fragment, " Jasmine said.
'Right hook,' Aryanna thought.
"If only you weren't a fragment of a man. Then maybe... Just maybe... She'd choose you, " Jasmine continued.
'Left hook! ' Aryanna hollered internally.
"But you are a splinter of a man so how can she love you," Jasmine handed out her upper claw.
Aryanna saw a younger version of Henifer in Jasmine. She was fierce and on point like Aryanna's mother-in-law.
"You! " Carlos lost his temper at Jasmine.
"Are you hard of hearing? Didn't you hear me, I told you to get out! " she snapped her fingers and shooed Carlos away like he was a fly.
Carlos glared daggers at her as if getting ready to incinerate Jasmine the next minute. He clenched and unclenched his fists in anger.
"I have an idea, you should go and try anger management. You have a lot of rage and no place to vent it, it will help you, " Jasmine folded her hands and gave Carlos a mocking glance.
Aryanna internally applauded Jasmine. Aryanna wished she had half the confidence Jasmine already established at such a young age. Then her life would be filled with fragrance and colour.
Carlos stormed out of the washroom offended by Jasmine's arrogance.
"Thank you for your help, " Aryanna appreciatively expressed.
"You can think me with a meal, " Jasmine said. "How about lunch tomorrow at your place, " she suggested.
"Sounds good, " Aryanna jumped at the idea. Jasmine saved her from an embarrassing situation with Carlos. Lunch was the least she could do to thank her for her help.
"I'll bring my family with me. Is that alright? " she inquired of Aryanna.
"It'll be my pleasure to host you and your family, " Aryanna confidently declared.
Aryanna took Jasmine contact and phoned her so Jasmine can have her contact too. The encounter felt like a dream. Aryanna never imagined that a time would come where she'd not only meet a member of Kincade family but also have their number in her phone.
Her marriage to Sebastian opened doors to new opportunities that bend the rules of possible for her.
"There you are, Aryanna! " Clara exclaimed as she spotted Aryanna in the washroom.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Aryanna," Jasmine let out. She excused herself and sauntered out of the washroom.
"See you tomorrow. Why are you seeing Jasmine tomorrow? " Clara asked.
"I'm hosting her and her family tomorrow for lunch at my house, " Aryanna shared the news happily with Clara.
Clara's face pale. Color drained from her face as she heard the news. Aryanna noticed the change in her expression and paused. "Is something wrong? " she asked.
"Why did you invite Jasmine and her family for lunch?"
"She saved from an uncomfortable situation just now. I wanted to thank he... "
"By ruining your marriage?" Clara cut in.
Aryanna's face twisted. Fear crossed her eyes from Clara's words. The pit of her stomach knotted and fell.
"Why would having Jasmine and her family over for lunch ruin my marriage?"
Clara released a sigh. She massaged her temples softly and spoke, "Innocence and naivety are sweet qualities to have Aryanna but they'll get you used and eaten alive. "
"I don't understand, " Aryanna panicked, her heart pounding loudly.
"Jasmine used you, Aryanna, " Clara let out. "She took advantage of your innocence, " she added.
"I still don't get it, " Aryanna leaned back. "How would she benefit from coming to lunch at my house? "
"She would gain favor with her father."
"What does that have to do with anything? " Aryanna was clueless.
"You are aware that Richard Kincade is Sebastian's father, right? " Clara questioned.
The question fell on Aryanna like ice cold water. She would be lying if she said she knew of Sebastian's relationship with the Kincade family.
"I think you need to speak to Sebastian."
An uncomfortable feeling settled at the pit of her stomach. Her thoughts flashed back to the evident hatred Sebastian and Henifer had towards Monica and Raul Kincade. The weight of her decision to invite Jasmine and her family to lunch at the Leerstrom manor dawned on her. She shivered.