A Frosty Reception
Ava stood at the edge of the grand ballroom, her delicate fingers wrapped around a champagne flute. Everywhere she turned, eyes followed her—some judging, others curious, and all of them distant. Her gaze drifted to Alexander, who moved through the crowd with the effortless grace of someone born to the world of wealth and power.
His aura dominated the ballroom, his deep laughter ringing out, commanding attention, but when his hazel eyes met hers across the room, they were guarded. For a moment, she wondered if he was as nervous as she was.
Taking a deep breath, Ava approached the small group where Alexander and his parents stood to say hello. Her heart pounded in her chest, and her palms grew sweaty and nervous, but she summoned the courage needed to face them. "Good evening," she greeted them with a warm smile on her face, forcing her voice to sound calm and collected to keep her emotions in check.
Evelyn Sinclair turned to face her, the movement so slow and deliberate that her icy blue eyes sharply swept over Ava from head to toe with disdain, without responding to the greeting. William Sinclair, Alexander's father, stood beside his wife and remained silent as well. His expression was unreadable, and he didn't spare her a glance.
Just as the tension reached its peak, Alexander's voice broke the silence, "Mother, Father, isn't Ava beautifully stunning tonight?" His voice was smooth and steady.
"She's… adequate," Evelyn replied, mockery laced in her tone. The casual cruelty in Evelyn's voice was as sharp as a knife meant to hurt, and it succeeded.
Hearing the words, Ava felt the sting deep in her chest. She swallowed hard, forcing herself to remain composed despite the tears that threatened to surface. "Thank you," she replied, her voice giving away her emotions.
She knew that Evelyn never really liked her. The memory of their first encounter was still fresh in her mind—the way Evelyn had looked at her with disdain when she learned that her precious son, the heir of the most wealthy, influential, and powerful family in the world, was dating the daughter of a mere chauffeur.
"As the heir of the Sinclair estate, he should be with someone of his status, not someone like you," Evelyn had said.
However, when Ava brought it up to Alexander, he brushed it off, telling her not to be bothered by his mother. "You're with me, not her," he said dismissively, as if it weren't an issue.
But standing here, Ava had thought the disapproval was temporary, that she would eventually be accepted if Evelyn realized she loved her son and wasn't with him for anything else. She was no longer just Ava; she was now Ava Sinclair, a name that should have brought a sense of belonging, but instead felt like a weight too heavy to bear.
In need of an escape, she caught sight of her father sitting near the edge of the room. As the father of the bride, he should have been sitting at the front. She excused herself to check on him.
As she passed through the crowd, she caught whispers about the bride who had stolen Alexander's heart—whispers so loud that they seemed meant for her to hear, which she did.
"She's pretty, I suppose," one woman murmured, "but so… ordinary. I heard she's the daughter of their driver."
"I wonder how she bewitched him," the other woman murmured back.
Ava pushed back the tears threatening to fall, forcing a smile as she nodded politely to passing guests. But her already fragile self-esteem was taking a hit, the judgment in their eyes like they were measuring her worth.
"Ava?"
A soft voice brought her out of her thoughts, and she turned to see Lilly, Alexander's cousin, approaching her. Unlike the others, Lilly's smile was warm and genuine. "You must be feeling overwhelmed by all of this," Lilly said gently.
Ava nodded, the tears she had been fighting threatening to surface. "It's too much," she admitted, her voice barely a whisper.
Lilly too felt the unspoken hostility in the room. "I know it's hard putting up with all of this, but remember what I've always told you—don't take it personally. You did nothing wrong," she said, reassuring Ava that she wasn't the problem—they were.
"Thank you, Lilly. I feel better now. Thank you for making me feel welcome," Ava replied gratefully, a smile spreading across her face, knowing that she had someone in the house who was on her side.
Lilly gave her a gentle hug and said, "You're part of the family now. I'll always be here for you. Just give me a call when you feel like talking to someone." She glanced around the room before adding, "Let's take you back before 'Evelyn' finds something to complain about."
Lilly's emphasis on "Evelyn" made Ava chuckle.
Lilly had a playful and childlike side to her, which drew people in. Alexander, who always wore a cold expression, seemed to lighten up a bit when Lilly was around.
As soon as they reached the Sinclair family, Evelyn's icy gaze locked onto Ava. "Where were you?" she asked. "I hope you did not do anything to affect the reputation of the Sinclair family," she added.
Ava opened her mouth to respond, but the words stuck in her throat. Lilly quickly stepped in, her voice calm and steady. "We were just greeting some of the guests, Aunt Evelyn, nothing to worry about," she said politely. Ava couldn't help but admire Lilly's confidence.
Thankfully, Evelyn did not press the matter further. Ava felt relieved, the knot of tension unwinding in her chest.
Just then, Alexander returned. "Dear cousin, where did you go, leaving your beautiful newly wedded wife alone?" Lilly teased, nudging his shoulder playfully.
"I went out for a smoke," Alexander replied casually.
"I told you to stop smoking. It's not good for your health. Or do you want to leave your wife a widow so soon?" Lilly responded, her concern evident.
Alexander's expression darkened, and he shot her a glare. "Mind your business," he snarled dismissively.
He then made his way to Ava and took her hand. "We're leaving. We have important matters to attend to," he said.