If there was ever a man who defied expectations, it was this one. His behavior was utterly unpredictable. Lucy was dumbfounded. Given the whispers of a family curse and his striking looks, she'd pictured a brooding, princely type. Instead, she was met with something entirely different.At first, she'd hoped for a glimpse of recognition, a flicker of interest. But then she wished she hadn't. Hope was a fickle mistress."I wonder why the moon isn't out tonight," he mused, extending a hand to Katherine. Despite the tousled hair, he was undeniably attractive. Smooth skin, a perfect jawline, and lips that any girl would envy. From the side, his lashes were long and curled.Katherine gracefully accepted his hand. "Why?" she asked, intrigued."Because it's ashamed of your beauty," he replied, kissing the back of her hand without breaking eye contact, causing her to blush.Lucy's carefully constructed image of the cold prince was shattered."May I guess your name?" he asked.Katherine lowered her gaze briefly. "Please."He feigned thought. "No, I don't want to know your name. To me, you're love."Lucy's mouth gaped as if to vomit. She was disgusted by his blatant flattery. He seemed to notice."Is something troubling you, miss?" he inquired."Not me, your moon. I mean, your mouth," she retorted.He snorted. "Is she always this sharp?" he asked Katherine."A little," she replied, earning a glare from Lucy.He slipped between them, placing a hand on Katherine's waist as if in a protective embrace. "Don't be friends with someone so bitter," he whispered.Katherine laughed. "She's my sister."
"Oh, my goodness." The young man feigned regret. "Well, marry me and I guarantee you'll be rid of her."
"Ash!" George warned from a distance. "Leave her alone."
"Why?" The young man named Ash shrugged.
George's face turned red. He strode towards them. "She's my fiancée, you bastard!" he snarled, reaching them. He pulled Katherine's hand, pulling her away from Ash.
"Oh, damn!" The young man looked disappointed. "If you get bored with her—"
"Get lost, Ash!" George said fiercely.
The young man's shoulders slumped. He turned around and saw Lucy was still there. "Well, what's your name?"
"Get lost!" The girl then left. She couldn't understand what was going on in the mind of a young man named Ash. With a face like an angel, how could he behave like a devil? Lucy couldn't comprehend it. How could her heart beat so fast for a guy like that? She was sure it was just a mistake.
Throughout the party, Lucy was determined to avoid Ash. However, the young man seemed to suck up all the attention. The girls swarmed around him like bees around a flower. Or rather, like flies around a carcass. Despite being surrounded by half a dozen girls, the young man still flirted with other girls who happened to make eye contact with him. It was so immoral! Lucy scoffed when Ash looked at her. She added his name to her list of men she never wanted to marry.
The girl still hadn't given up on trying to get Daniel's attention. But as the night wore on, she hadn't had a chance to approach him until Katherine came to her, urging her to leave.
"Oh, come on! Just a little longer." She saw her chance to approach Daniel. He was alone.
"Alright, I'll go then." Lucy nodded. She downed a glass of wine to bolster her courage. She walked towards Daniel, trying her best to maintain what she thought was a charming smile. Then, someone bumped into her, spilling wine all over her dress. The girl gasped in shock. Especially when she realized it was Ash.
A group of girls giggled. They called out to the young man to return to their group.
"Okay, girls, who's your favorite darling?" Staggering slightly, the young man returned to his group. Apparently, he was already drunk.
Lucy's face turned beet red. "Damn you, Ash!" she shrieked.
The young man stopped. He turned. "You called me?" His eyes were half-closed as he approached Lucy. "Do you miss me already? I've only been gone for a moment."
Lucy's blood boiled at Ash's nonchalant attitude. She clenched her fists in anger.
"Oh, Ash! Tell us the story again." The girls tugged at the young man's shirt. They seemed to resent Lucy for stealing their beloved's attention.
The girl suppressed her anger. Especially when she saw Daniel approaching her. No, no, not now.
Lucy panicked. She remembered Katherine's words about men not liking dirty girls. She gritted her teeth in annoyance, then turned and left the house. She had no choice but to go home. Her plan to become a Silverstone had completely failed.
As soon as she got into the carriage, a stream of curses poured out of her mouth. She cursed Ash so much that the coachman probably wished he were deaf. Even when the carriage entered her family's courtyard, Lucy's anger hadn't subsided.
The girl stepped out of the carriage. As her foot touched the last step, she jumped. She held her dress high. But then she froze, realizing her house was eerily quiet and dark.
There was no light. No sound.
The baron's carriage was still parked in the courtyard.
Lucy's heart leaped as the wheels of the carriage creaked, leaving the house. Now she was alone in the courtyard.
Suddenly, a cold wind swept over her skin. Her hair stood on end. She had a bad feeling about this.
She swallowed hard before stepping onto the front porch. "Mags!" she called out.
No answer.
Her steps were hesitant as she reached the open front door. "Kathy!"
Her feelings were growing increasingly unsettled. She was sure something was wrong. Slowly, Lucy entered. She felt her way along the walls of the hallway. The house was so dark she could barely see anything. "Ma-Mags. Don't play like this. It's not funny, you know!"
No response.
A foul smell hit her nose. But it wasn't the usual rotten egg or spoiled vegetable smell. It was like the smell of a long-dead animal that had been picked clean by small creatures. She felt like vomiting.
"That's enough! I'm not in the mood for a surprise party!"
Still no response.
"Mags! Kathy!" Her voice trembled. "Come out! You've scared me enough! I give up!"
But there was still no answer from inside. Lucy's body shook with fear.