Echoes Of Eternity

Chapter 2

The party was extravagant, held in a grand mansion with chandeliers sparkling overhead. The rooms were filled with elegant guests dressed in fine clothes, sipping champagne and enjoying gourmet food. Music played softly in the background as people danced and mingled, their laughter echoing through the halls. The atmosphere was lively, yet sophisticated, with every detail meticulously arranged to create a night of luxury and indulgence.

Evelyn followed her father around the gathering like a lost puppy. The high heels that were killing her feet only added to the misery of this terrible night.

While her father met and greeted people, introducing her to each one of them, Evelyn couldn't shake the feeling that she didn't belong here. Her cheeks hurt from all the fake smiling-pretending to be a fun, outgoing person was exhausting.

She pulled out her phone and tried calling the last dialed contact-Hayley, of course. She waited and waited for her to pick up, but was sent to voicemail.

"Evelyn, meet Mr. and Mrs. Anderson."

Evelyn was snapped back to reality. She looked at the couple standing in front of her, a man and a woman in their mid-40s.

The man wore a slight smile, and she felt a strange sense of familiarity, as if she recognized him from somewhere. But that seemed impossible; she'd spent most of her life cooped up in the house.

Her mind struggled to place the connection but failed miserably. So, she plastered on another fake smile and greeted them with a polite "hello." They laughed softly, expressing how happy they were to meet her. She couldn't help but wonder if all rich people were this good at pretending.

She could hear her father bragging about their achievements and success in the town, but she paid no attention to it. The only thing she focused on was how to maintain her plastered smile.

She was fairly certain she hadn't heard her father mention their son-or maybe he had, but it went in one ear and out the other. But now, standing in front of her, was a boy about her age.

She didn't have time to make sense of it all before she found herself placing her hand in his outstretched one for a handshake.

Her eyes met his, which were already on her. She wasn't smiling now; her expression had turned cold. She couldn't muster a fake smile, perhaps because he wasn't smiling either.

"Caleb, meet Evelyn, Mr. Wilson's daughter and the sole heir to the Wilson Group," his father introduced.

Caleb acknowledged her with a polite hello, but she couldn't bring herself to speak.

His eyes weren't as cold as his features; they were soft, even warm. They gave off a sense of calm and peace.

He cleared his throat, and her gaze dropped to their hands. Embarrassed, she quickly withdrew hers.

"We'll catch up with you later. Enjoy the party," his father said to them.
Caleb's eyes lingered on her for a few seconds before he averted his gaze and moved away.

Her father turned toward her. "Are you feeling okay?" he asked, noticing something was off.

She tensed at his question, aware that her behavior might seem strange. "I'm fine, Dad. You wanted me here, so I came. I just feel a little out of place, that's all. But I really admire how you handle people." She gave him a warm smile.

"I understand, but I want you to open up too," he said genuinely.

"Yes, Dad, I hope so. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to get some fresh air."

Her father nodded, and she walked away from the bustling crowd to the outside grounds. Finally, a place that was calm.

She wondered if she would ever get used to this-the people, the gatherings, the chaos.

While her mind was adrift with thoughts, she noticed someone standing beside her.

"You don't seem to be enjoying the evening," Caleb said, one hand in his pocket, the other holding a drink. He seemed quite used to these kinds of events.

"No, it's just that I don't really know anyone here," she replied.

"And it's frustrating to just move around and meet people you don't know," she added.

"Well, isn't that what all the rich kids are supposed to do? Follow in their parents' footsteps, lose themselves in these parties that are really just for business deals?" He took a sip and turned to face her.

"It sounds like you've been to places like this before."

"Of course. My parents are obsessed with these high-class parties and expect us to accompany them. So, I can totally relate to what you're feeling." His eyes lingered on her face a moment longer before drifting away.

"But your parents seemed nice. I don't think they would force you to be somewhere you don't want to be." A small smile formed on her lips.

"They can do whatever they want while chasing fame. Their priority has always been to achieve more success, and it doesn't matter to them what we wish for. Sometimes, I really wonder if things would have been different if they had paid a little more attention to us." He sighed, continuing, "I don't know why I'm sharing my family's situation with you so easily. It's just that it's private for me, and I don't like sharing it with others."

"It's fine, just go with the flow and relax. I'm not judging. But you seem to hold a lot of grudges against them, yet you still seem calm. If we weren't having this conversation, I wouldn't have known what was going on inside your mind."

He shook his head with a slight laugh. "Pretending is the easiest way to deal with everything, I guess."

"This is the first time I'm having a conversation with a stranger, and I'm actually enjoying it."

"Maybe it's because our vibes matched. So, tell me, why are you here?" His question caught her off guard.

"The same reason as you, except I wasn't forced. It was my father's wish for me to accompany him. According to him, as I'm getting older, I need to be introduced to certain people in society. I need to know them too, just in case I plan to join the family business. Even though I'm just a teenager, he seems to be so thoughtful about this future situation."

"So, what do you think?"

"About what?"

"Joining the family business?"

"I haven't thought about it. It's not something I'm concerned about right now. I'll see if everything works out fine."

Caleb nodded in understanding.

Evelyn checked the time on her phone and turned to him. "I need to leave; Dad must be waiting for me. It was nice meeting you."

"Likewise," he said.

As Evelyn turned to leave, she heard his voice, "Will I see you again?"

"Maybe, on one of these nights." She smiled at him before quickly disappearing from his sight.

Although the night felt long, it finally came to an end. She returned home feeling tired and sleepy. After changing into her comfortable clothes, Evelyn spent some time texting Hayley, sharing some of her insights with her.

Before drifting off to sleep, her mind went to Caleb. She really liked the idea of sharing the same set of thoughts with someone. It made her feel like she wasn't the only odd one out there. It's funny how a small conversation can make you feel better. Maybe that's the magic of words; they can both destroy and heal.