As the sleek, black car rolled to a stop in front of the sprawling mansion, my breath caught in my throat. The imposing structure loomed over us, its walls made of dark stone and adorned with intricate carvings. Coco emerged from the vehicle, her white dress billowing behind her as she exchanged words with the security guard at the gate. I couldn't help but wonder who lived in such a grand estate.
The driver assisted us out of the car and I hesitated, suddenly longing for a quiet night alone reading novels on my phone in a secluded cabin in the woods. But as I thought about the rumors and legends surrounding Wolfsville, that peaceful escape didn't seem so appealing anymore. With a deep breath, I stepped out of the car and joined Coco and my flatmates who were eagerly waiting for me.
"What a grand entrance," a smooth voice said, drawing my attention away from the mansion. I turned to see Mr. Lowell's younger brother, his handsome face wearing an amused expression. He held out his hand for me to take and with a mischievous glint in his eye, I decided to play along. He pulled me close to him and placed his hand on my waist.
"I must be struck by luck today to stumble upon the most beautiful girls gathered here tonight!" he exclaimed with a charming smile.
Coco smiled at us and took each of our arms in hers before leading us into the venue. Everywhere we looked, there were sparkling crystals and elegant chandeliers, making it feel like we had stepped into a fairytale. The air was filled with the scent of expensive perfume and rich food, adding to the luxurious atmosphere.
It was almost as if the entire venue had been specially decorated just for Melissa. I had never seen such a look of pure joy and happiness on her face before - perhaps her fiancé truly was her soulmate.
We followed Coco to the back of the mansion where the party was taking place, catching envious stares from other guests along the way. As we approached two men engrossed in conversation, one with dark hair suddenly turned around - it was Mr. Lowell.
The very same Mr. Lowell I had come here to forget. How could I have been so foolish? Of course it was the Lowell family who would throw such a lavish party. And in that moment, I also realized, he was Melissa's fiancé.
Coco introduced us to Alarick Lowell and my heart sank as I saw the way Melissa's eyes lit up at the mention of his name. I knew then that I never stood a chance with him - she always got what she wanted. But to my surprise, she stretched her hand out towards Leon instead of Alarick.
Leon grabbed and kissed the back of her hand, "Unfortunately, I'm not Alarick Lowell but Leon Lowell." We were all taken aback by what was happening in front of us. Melissa seemed to be embarrassed, which was also a first for her. She prided herself on always being composed and put together.
But now, as she stumbled over her words and blushed beneath her perfectly applied makeup, I couldn't help but feel a sliver of satisfaction. Maybe there was a chink in her armor after all.
Alarick also reached for her hand and kissed the back of it, "I'm Alarick Lowell, your fiancé," he declared possessively, shooting annoyed glances at me.
"And who are these other beauties you've brought around?" Leon asked, his eyes still focused on Melissa.
"They're just my flatmates," Melissa replied dismissively, not bothering to introduce us further.
We girls exchanged uncertain glances before Joy spoke up. "Well then, I guess you don't need us here anymore. We'll go mingle with the other guests," she said with a forced smile, leading us towards the bar.
As we walked away, I couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. Disappointment, yes, that my crush turned out to be Melissa's fiancé. But also relief, knowing that maybe he wasn't as perfect as I had imagined. And above all, a newfound sense of defiance towards Melissa and her hold over me. This was my chance to break free from her shadow and make my own path in this world.
As we made our way through the opulent mansion to the bar, Joy's sharp eyes caught Melissa's gaze lingering on Leon, instead of her intended groom. We approached the polished mahogany bar and ordered our drinks- they opted for a vibrant green spiced concoction, while I stuck with a more traditional cocktail. The air was thick with the scent of freshly cut flowers and expensive perfume, a stark contrast to my usual surroundings. Most of the guests seemed to be enjoying the unique drink, but I couldn't bring myself to try it at my boss' lavish engagement party. The three of us quietly sipped on our drinks when Sarah finally broke the awkward silence, "What now? We all saw that Melissa is into Leon, right?" We both nod in agreement. Joy massages her forehead, "I honestly had no idea. Who would have thought that her parents would choose Alarick Lowell as her fiancé?" "Well, actually, it was rather thoughtless on our part. Who else in Wolfsville would be a suitable match for her and her family?" Sarah replies dryly. They both look at me with apologetic expressions. "Don't worry; they'll never go through with it. You saw how he looked at me," I reply confidently.
The girls tried to cheer me up by dragging me onto the dance floor, but I couldn't seem to shake off my thoughts and ended up back at the bar, nursing a few more drinks. After some liquid courage, I finally ordered a strong spiked drink.
I took a sip and was hit by an unexpected herbal flavor as Rawson Lowell appeared next to me. Before I could react, he was already leaning in close and making advances towards me. Intoxicated from my previous drinks and his persistent kiss, I struggled to push him away. But as my senses slowly returned to me, I managed to break free from his grasp. His kiss may have affected me, but being around Rawson always meant being tied to his powerful and wealthy family- something I knew I couldn't handle. Just as I escape by heading to the restroom, he asks me with a hint of desperation, "Haven't you missed me? I imprinted on you to keep all the others away, but you're still not interested?"
"Imprint?" I thought to myself, bewildered and unsure of where this conversation was headed. Desperate for some space and alone time, I quickly excused myself and darted towards the bathroom, muttering, "Excuse me, I need to use the ladies' room."