Chapter 6 – The Ball
LYNN
A ball? Ethan had mentioned it casually, but now that the word had lodged itself in my mind, I couldn’t shake the curiosity gnawing at me.
“A ball?” I asked, my voice betraying my
confusion.
Ethan paused, his hand resting lightly on the doorframe. “Yes, a ball,” he said, glancing at me with an unreadable expression. “Tonight, some people will be arriving soon to help prepare you. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.”
Prepare me? For what? I didn’t have time to ask more questions, as he turned to leave, his footsteps echoing in the hallway before he disappeared.
I stood there, rooted to the spot, still trying to piece together what was happening.
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Before I could dwell on it any longer, the soft click of the doorbell interrupted my thoughts. I opened the door to find a few women standing on the other side, their hands clasped in front of them, waiting expectantly.
“We’re here to prepare you for the evening, Mrs. Montgomery, one of them said with a soft smile, bowing her head slightly.
Mrs. Montgomery. That title was still strange to hear. The reality of my marriage to Ethan was slowly starting to sink in, despite everything happening so quickly.
Without a word, I stepped back, allowing the women inside. They moved with purpose, their hands already beginning to work their magic as they guided me upstairs.
The transformation was almost instant. They started with my hair, pinning it back in loose curls, letting it fall around my face like a veil of silk. One of the women
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applied a light layer of makeup, enhancing my features without overdoing it. As they worked, I sat still, my mind elsewhere. What was Ethan‘ s plan for tonight? How was this all going to unfold?
By the time they finished, I hardly recognized myself in the mirror. The simple dress I’d worn earlier had been replaced with something far more glamorous. It was a deep emerald gown that clung to my body in all the right places, its neckline modest yet elegant, the hem sweeping the floor. The women stepped back, their eyes scanning me as if checking for any flaws.
“You look stunning, Mrs. Montgomery,” one of them said, offering me a soft smile.
“You‘ re ready for the ball.”
I barely managed a tight smile in response.
“Thank you.”
As I descended the stairs, my heart
fluttered uneasily in my chest. My thoughts raced back to the conversation I’d had
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with Ethan earlier. I had no idea what to expect tonight, but I wasn‘ t about to back down. If this was the chance to make Javier regret everything, I wasn’t going to let it slip through my fingers.
The moment I reached the bottom of the staircase, Ethan appeared at the foot of the hallway. He was impeccably dressed in a black tuxedo, his hair neatly combed, his eyes alight with a knowing gleam.
His gaze swept over me slowly, his lips curling into a small, appreciative smile.
“You look incredible, Lynn.”
The compliment was so unexpected that it left me momentarily breathless. I blushed, feeling a warmth spread across my face. I wasn’t used to being complimented like this, especially not by Ethan.
But as I returned his smile and allowed my eyes to linger on him, I realized that he was, in fact, very handsome. The sharp angles of his jaw, the confident posture, the way he carried himself–all of it seemed to
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Chapter 6 The Ball
make him appear even more striking in the evening light.
I took a deep breath, gathering myself. “You don’t look too bad yourself,” I
said, returning the compliment with a teasing grin.
Ethan raised an eyebrow, his smile widening. “Is that so? Well, I’ll take that as a compliment.”
We both laughed lightly, and for a moment, I allowed myself to enjoy the simplicity of the moment. But the weight of everything -of Javier, of the marriage to Ethan, of the complicated emotions swirling inside me- sereminded me that this was no fairytale.
Ethan offered me his arm, and I took it
without hesitation. We left the house together, the evening air cool against my skin as we made our way to the waiting car. The drive was short, and as we approached the grand estate where the ball was being dheld, I couldn’t help but feel a little
apprehensive.
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mores re mansion loomed before us as we
ited the car, and the doorman–dressed a crisp black suit–greeted us with a athertather
rmal bow.
bad bad
apom Welcome, Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery,” said, opening the door for us to enter.
webrow hank you,” Ethan replied smoothly, Web? Medling me inside.
Should I announce your presence?” the Mightlyarman asked.
oyenjoy th
the weigh
han gave me a knowing smile and
dded, “Yes.”
inarriage
sons swive crossed the threshold, the sounds of
this wassic and laughter reached my ears. The
- We left
was in full swing, guests milling about. his arm a
vish gowns and tuxedos, wine glasses. and, their conversations punctuated by
linking of crystal.
ing airco
our way to
rt, anday moments after we entered, the here the man called out, “Mr. and Mrs. help but fatgomery, welcome!” His voice was
his announcement drawing the
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attention of the guests nearest the
entrance.
But just as we took our first step deeper
into the room, a voice cut through the air, sharp and unmistakable.
“That’s a lie!”
I froze, the words echoing in the grand hall. The room fell silent for a brief, breathless moment, all eyes turning toward the source of the interruption. I didn’t need to look to know who had spoken.
Javier.
