Evening arrived, and the waiter ushered Antonio's entourage into the Mills Mansion, which had suddenly taken on an attractive manifestation. The lights were in their full glory, illuminating the fancy wall frames and sparkling walls. Antonio walked hand in hand with his mother, sporting a brief smile. His auburn hair was exclusively cut in the latest style. He courteously greeted Jessica and settled in the hall.
"Darling Antonio, Claudia's a beauty, and you'll love her," his mother constantly repeated, encouraging him. He wasn't ready for marriage, and he was sure the matchmaking would be a failure. Antonio grabbed a glass of wine from the tray and settled to converse with Jessica.
"It's like you haven't aged a day, Jessica," he smiled knowingly, leaving the older lady blushing. Antonio had never seen Claudia, and he simply ached to get the matchmaking over with. Jessica introduced him to her fleet of friends. Soft music pervaded the atmosphere, and a couple was already waltzing mildly at the furthest end of the hall. Antonio glanced around and noted that the host certainly had a zest for portraits.
Antonio strolled to the balcony. The house party was now in full swing. Jessica certainly had the whole event planned out in such short notice. He fancied the starry night and soon got lost in its eminence. The wind blew softly against his tanned skin. Antonio smiled and closed his eyes.
"Beautiful, right?"
A voice jolted him from his repose. It was dark, save for the night stars fairly illuminating that part of the building. He looked around, and his gaze settled on her. They were separated by colorful curtains, and her voice seemed closer now. He moved toward her and slowly peered through the curtain. There she was, petting a cat with a smile as she sat on the chair.
"Aren't you enjoying the party?" Darya chuckled and dropped the cat. Antonio suddenly frowned. She was the girl from Charlotte and Sons. It was she who called him crazy while she almost collided with his car.
"I know you," he said with raised brows.
"Yes, you're a fan of Tami Hoag," Darya laughed heartily.
"You almost ran into my car earlier today," he said, now standing beside her. Darya gasped and cupped her lips. Antonio relished her reaction. He was expecting a string of apologies, but Darya stared straight at him. She deserved an apology.
Antonio laughed at her audacity. There was something intriguing about this tall lady with dark eyes and braids that made him cast an intent gaze on her. Antonio heard his name from the hall and nodded at Darya before advancing to join the party.
Dianne was engrossed in conversation with Jessica when her son approached them. Antonio smiled at the women, delighted to hear their discussion. It had been an hour since they arrived, yet Claudia had not made an appearance. The soft waltz playing in the background reached its crescendo, capturing everyone's attention as Claudia entered the room in a stunning silver gown. Her hair was elegantly styled in a bold bun, accentuating her striking features. Antonio could feel all eyes on her, including his own. She walked towards him with a graceful stride, a bashful smile on her face, extending her hand for a handshake. Antonio paused, taking in the sight of Claudia. She exceeded his expectations, her beauty surpassing mere words. He took her soft hands in his and smiled deeply. The older ladies discreetly disappeared, giving them space to converse.
"Mum mentioned that you arrived yesterday," Antonio remarked as they took their seats. Claudia nodded, expressing her admiration for his mother.
"She's such a hardworking woman."
"So is Jessica," Antonio added. A brief silence fell between them, but Antonio swiftly steered the conversation towards their personal stories. He had come to take over Stone Company, hoping to follow in his father's footsteps.
"And what about you?" Antonio inquired.
"I'm a writer," Claudia began, "I've published some short stories, and I'm here because I needed a change of scenery for my next work." Her eyes were fixed on him as she passionately described her love for writing and her aspirations for her future projects. Antonio found Claudia's personality captivating. They continued to chat, and Antonio couldn't help but compliment Claudia's attire. They briefly took to the dance floor before rejoining the older ladies. Jessica couldn't help but gush about how stunning they looked while dancing. Antonio blushed inwardly. He was determined to forge a deeper connection with Claudia. As the party came to an end, people left the mansion with excitement etched on their faces. Antonio escorted his mother to the car and, after waving at Claudia, he glanced up at the balcony, locking eyes with Darya. She smiled, and his anger towards her pride softened. Darya nodded knowingly until the car was out of sight.
Darya remained true to her promise. She retired into her room, collapsing on the bed while her toes peeked out from under the covers. Her thoughts drifted to her father. He was a dedicated farmer who owned a vast stretch of land in Estova. She remembered his favorite words about her mother, "While I was racing my horse through the fields, I saw her racing towards me fearlessly, and I couldn't help but stop."
"Berny had started buying some lands in Estova, and when she set foot on these beautiful fields, she asked for a price to own all of them. Can you guess what I told her?"
Her father had revealed Berny as the price. Anderson had been terribly ill and upon the Doctor's final visitation, he announced a great improvement in her father's health. Unexpectedly, his health deteriorated yet again. And as he groaned in pain, Darya remembered seeing her step-mother take a brown envelope into his room. He died before they arrived at the hospital. The content of the envelope was revealed as her father's will which pronounced Claudia as Ander
son's true Heiress.