◤𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕕𝕒𝕞𝕪◢ - It Started With Vomit!

Chapter 30: An Engagement Party to Remember

Cautiously, Amy approached to examine the bags' content, pulling out blingy dresses and expensive jewels that weighed more than they should've—metaphorically and literally speaking. 

"Lucy, these are ridiculously expensive, aren't they?"

Pinching the pink of Amy's jolted expression, "Oh!" Miss Tenrec cheered, her chocolate cheeks turning maroon with delight. "Your French has improved so much in such a short time!" 

"Kank ku," Amy struggled to say, gently tearing Lucy's overzealous hands away from her face. "But just understanding French can only get me so far."

"No, no, no! That won't do!" Lucy chided, jumping to remove Amy from scrutinizing the collection of rare fabrics, precious metals, and intricately crafted shoes she'd hauled—and created—all by herself. The way Rose offered them no regard and simply jumped from one to the other was reprehensible. But that was beside the point. 

"My point is that you mustn't patronize your success, Madame Rose! Most people can't even do that much!"

"Thank you," Amy muttered, moving the conversation in a preferable direction. An automatic, schooled smile plastered across her features, in hopes that it would alleviate Lucy's uncertainties and keep future questions about the depth of her sincerity at bay.

"I shall have no problems with in-laws, dignitaries, associates, or political figures tonight, then!" Amy quipped, trying to not appear too overwhelmed by the idea of her own engagement party.

She counted on the tenrec falling in line with her sardonic humour. But Lucy remained silent, staring at her friend with an unimpressed bearing. 

"I will have you, so everything will be fine." 

"And If I weren't there?"

"Then I'll have Maria," Amy answered confidently, bringing a cool blue robe up to the warm lustre entering from the room's alcove windows. "She's coming tonight with her husband, isn't she?"

"I heard you two fought." Lucy's voice was curt and laconic. "So, yeah. I don't think you'd have her either."

"Pardon?" 

Amy slouched into her spine, settling the dresses in her hands onto the floor, sprawled across an icy marble embrace. 

"I hadn't wanted to come to this conclusion," Lucy pushed the bend of her lips disappointedly, "But you failed to mention a certain someone. A person who should've come above all else, before me or Maria."

Struck with sudden realization, "Right!" Amy gasped, jerking upwards. "That's right! I'll have Shadow with me tonight!"

"Oh, don't give me that bullsh*t." Lucy giggled inappropriately, perturbing both Amy and the two new people who'd entered the room seconds earlier. "You clearly do not love Shadow. Not even a teeny-weeny bit, Madame Rose."

Recalling the pain her fiancee had inflicted on her mental health a week ago and didn't deign to apologize for, "If I may speak candidly," Amy subconsciously blurted out, earning a floppy smile from her interlocutor. "Do I have to?" 

Not wanting to come off as petty or meddlesome, she'd sagely decided to swallow her pride and refrain from commenting on the occasion, allowing the media to have their fill of the chaos at her expense. However—"No matter how highly everyone esteems him, I must admit that I only liked the allure of attracting an Adonis." Amy caved in. "Only a fool would submit to an unfeeling partner voluntarily."

"MISS MARIA, I KNEW IT!"

"Lucy Tenrec! What in God's name are you instigating?"

"Woah! What a lovely surprise this is!" Lucy stood on her feet, getting up from her haunches as she headed toward the dumbstruck individuals, greeting them by the names "Little K" and "Big M". After hugging Maria (and attempting to embrace Kayden) she decided, out of nothing but a personal whim, to ask what they were doing at the residence.