Differences

Chapter 11 - Alaina

New chapter ~

Let the ball begin!!!

Enjoy your read🥂🤍

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The whole ride to the venue was a blur. Luke Taylor told me that I was beautiful. It was probably one of the most ridiculous thing that had happened in my life.

All my life I was told I look awful. It didn't matter what kind of clothes I wore, the times I've changed my make up style, cut out sugar, salt, carbs, anything, and I was still the ugly one. But this man managed to say that I was beautiful.

And now I was overly conscious of him. The way he's relaxed in his seat, overlooking outside through the window, the soft scent of his cologne, him next to me on the car as we made our way to ball. 

I wanted to believe that he was telling me the truth, his eyes filled determination to get the message through, but I couldn't help but question his eyesight. Does he wear glasses? Or maybe contacts? Maybe he forgot to wear them. Maybe that was why he thought I looked, . . . beautiful. There wasn't really any other explanation. But I've never seen him have glasses or put in, take out contact lenses. But then again, I haven't seen him enough to know.

The ride to the ball from our house wasn't very long but the place was located just as secluded as our residence. And it was just as large, but more castle like. I didn't even know a place like this could exist in America. I had assumed castles or castle-like structure just exists in countries with or had Royal families like England or Germany, but apparently not.

The entrance was as grand as they describe in fairy tales. Lamps illuminated the drive towards the venue with two large fountains on either side of the long cascading stair with a rich velvet carpet draped over, leading to the entrance. I felt like a princess traveling back in time with my own red velvet dressed, accompanied by my black and gold mask, encrusted with small fine jewels decorating the exterior parts.

I was about to get out of the car but my husband, takes my hand, preventing me from opening the door.

"Wait." He orders and then gets out, rounding behind the car and then opens my door. I've never had this kind of treatment before and so I was unsure what to make out of it, but he opens my door and reaches out a hand for me. I stare at him for a couple of seconds, unsure why he was putting in so much effort but I take it, getting out of the car in the process.

I liked this. A lot.

My husband bring my arm into his and we start walking up the extravagant stairs towards the double doors. Going up four flights of stairs isn't a struggle for me usually, but with these heels, it was. The ball hasn't even started, and I was already failing this task. The only thing that stopped me from falling was his firm hold of my arm in his.

We stop right in front of the double doors that were yet to open. He look towards me, I look back, our eyes locking. A hint of mischievousness, determination, and something else, that I've never seen in anyone's eyes before. Was it joy, delight, relaxed? I didn't know. But he wasn't annoyed. He wasn't annoyed about coming here, or the fact that he had to come with me.

I felt something within myself relax and give him a small smile which he had returned back, along with a nod. Then the double doors slowly open, our names being announced, and we walk in.

🌹

Rich, orange gold lights lit from candle lights with intricate designs, and chandeliers with large diamond crystals dangling from the tips of gold metal, illuminated the whole place gold.

Down below, participants were chatting and sipped on their glass, while others danced to the slow graceful music featured from the live orchestra.

It featured a similar staircase from the outside, made of  soft red marble, that divided into two flights of stairs which weaved around to meet, to where we standing currently.

It was breathtaking.

This was the kind of place where my parents or my twin siblings would go, on the few occasions they showed their faces around. I was envious of them, dressing up, dancing, drinking, talking, but it was never enough to be jealous. I was never a social person anyway.

And yet not that I was seeing the view in person, I was suddenly hit with the idea that I was missing out. Casted away in their shadows, only to be known as the vicious, vile, killer of the De Luca family. Someone to be feared of someone to stay away from, someone that was best to be left in the dark.

But now, all their eyes were on us. Whispers spread, and I suddenly tense up. I didn't like the attention we were receiving. I was sure they were talking about all the terrible things I have done to date, and I was sure he would hate me for it too.

Perhaps he sensed me tensing up he bends down, his lips just in front of my right ear and whispers, "They're just a bunch of brainless assholes, thriving on gossip. Think of them like birds. Always staring and pounce on gossip as their energy source, much like birds taking every hot chips they could find."

An unconscious smile forms on my face and I couldn't help but laugh a little, but I quickly cover it. Half my face may be covered by my mask, but even I know my smiles, my laughs, they were so, odd. Weird. Ugly. Unpleasant.

I look down, guilt taking over me as I am reminded once again how awful it must be for him to have to deal with me, but he gently takes my chin with his fingers, so I was facing him.

I take in his appearance, he wore a similar mask to mine, except it had no jewels which was replaced by small intricate designs covered in gold of his family crest at the top. A lion. It displayed of power, authority, grace. Which wasn't necessary since the man himself illuminated those off from himself, much like his father. And god he was breathtaking, even if half his face was covered.

"I take one look around this place, and I'm yet to find anyone as beautiful as you, Love. Will you give me the honour to be your first dance once we get down there?" He asks softly, and I was beyond surprised. Love? It was probably for show. But no one would've been able to hear us. Maybe it was out of obligation. But I couldn't be any happier.

I give a small nod in reply with my hands in his, we started to descend and make our way down, for our first appearance in front of public.

I may not be the most suitable, wife or bride to be, but in this moment I allowed myself to believe I was. I let him take me down and to make my temporary fairy tales comes true.

Just today, I told myself. Just for tonight I can be like Cinderella. Borrowed on time but I'll make the most of it.

For the first time in my life, I was like a Princess, the centre of attention.

His attention