Deceptions of the Heart II: Love is going to be the death of me

Engagement party

Every type of noble person were attending the engagement party of Max and Roxanne tonight. The garden of the Rider mansion was filled with high-class people and friends of the family.

The garden was decorated beautifully. The gardener had taken care of the flowers which filled each and every corner. Tables with delicious meals were placed on every side of the huge grassy space. White ribbons adorned the plants of the garden. Latterns were hanged on the trees.

Roxanne was sat at the main table next to Max drinking some wine. She was wearing a beautiful scarlet dress with small maroon diamonds on top. Max on the other hand was wearing his black suit. His shiny black hair was combed backwards whyle Roxanne had a pretty ribbon braid.

The girl's face was full with sorrow and anger as well as disappointment.

"Was this your doing?" she asked Max with a tone of fury.

"My doing? My doing!? Seriously!?" Max snapped back in disbelief.

"I told you I'm not interested in you!" the girl slammed her glass against the surface of the table.

"You've blamed me for everything, are you gonna blame me for this too!? In the end you're going to tell me that I knew that my father was alive!"

Roxanne had enough. She stood up from the table furiously.

"You're lucky that you had no idea for this or else I would have spat wine on your face!" she growled and then walked away.

Max remained at the table pouring a glass of wine to himself.

Roxanne walked around the garden. She soon spotted Thorn who was also invited at the engagement party. The woman was shining tonight. She was wearing a shiny black dress that was cropped on her left side and ended up having a single strap on her left shoulder.

The young woman approached her and tapped her shoulder.

"Hey". She began.

Thorn turned around to face her.

"Roxy! Congratulations on your engagement!" wished Thorn and raised her glass.

"Can I talk to you in private?" asked Roxanne.

Thorn who noticed Roxanne's discomfort replied with a 'sure' and followed the girl behind a bush.

"You don't seem happy with your engagement Roxy". Observed Thorn.

"Of course I'm not! This is all stupid Candace! My life couldn't get any worse!" complained Roxanne.

"Does this have to do with the fact that you don't have feelings for the boss?" asked Thorn.

"Why Max or anyone else did not do anything to prevent it? Why YOU don't do anything to prevent it!?" cried Roxanne.

"Woah, woah, woah there Roxy! I'm just an employee, I'm not a matchmaker. I can't get involved in their family business". Explained Thorn.

"But above all Lizzy gets on my nerves. That bitch of a woman!" Roxanne spat out with rage.

"Max's former wife?" Thorn almost chocked on her drink. "I thought she was gone for good".

"I am 100% sure that she and that Mr Rider have something in their minds".

"That's for sure. Maximus' father never meant good". admitted Thorn at Roxanne's statement.

The girls' chit-chat was interrupted by a clinking on a glass. Max's father wanted to make an announcement.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I need your attention for a moment. I firstly want to thank you all for attending this engagement party and wishing to the soon-to-be married couple. Speaking of marriage, I want to announce that my son's and his beloved's wedding will be next week!"

As soon as Leonard announced those words the attendants of the party cheered happily. On the other hand, Max choked on his wine and Roxanne almost lost her consciousness.