A Dance with Destiny

Chapter 3

Mattheo stood in the center of the crowded ballroom, his gaze sweeping over the sea of faces, his friends trailing behind him with amused grins on their faces. Blaise, Enzo, and Theo exchanged knowing looks as Mattheo's frustration became more palpable with every second that passed without a trace of the mysterious Diana. He had no idea why he was so captivated by her—after all, it wasn't like he didn't have countless girls vying for his attention. But there was something about her, something that made him feel a tug he couldn't ignore.

"Mate, you're not still thinking about the Greengrass girl, are you?" Theo asked, his voice dripping with mischief as he slung an arm around Mattheo's shoulders. "I mean, we all saw her run off after that kiss. She's not exactly your type."

Mattheo shot Theo a glare, but his eyes never stopped scanning the crowd. "I don't know what she is," Mattheo muttered, the words barely audible over the music. "But she's different."

Blaise, who had been observing the situation with a smirk, leaned in and added, "You're not seriously going to chase after her, are you? We all know how this will end. She's a Greengrass. Pureblood royalty. She's not meant for you, mate." He likes to cause a little mischief along with Theo every now and then.

The words stung more than Mattheo expected. He wasn't a fool—he knew the dangers of getting involved with someone from a family like the Greengrasses, especially someone like Diana. His name was already tainted with rumors of trouble, and the Greengrass family had their own reputation to uphold. But the memory of the softness of her hands in his, the warmth of her lips against his own, had left a mark that he couldn't simply shake off.

"She's different," Mattheo repeated, more firmly this time, his voice barely a whisper to himself, but enough to catch the attention of Enzo. His friend, who had been quiet for most of the night, spoke up with a shrug.

"She's definitely hiding something. Maybe she's just not ready for whatever this is... and maybe neither are you, Mattheo." Enzo paused, glancing around the room before continuing. "But you can't just let her slip away without finding out who she really is."

Mattheo's eyes narrowed as he considered Enzo's words. He couldn't deny that there was something about Diana that intrigued him—a quiet strength that set her apart from the others. She wasn't like the usual girls who threw themselves at him, and for the first time in a long time, he found himself wanting to know more.

His friends, on the other hand, were less than thrilled about his pursuit. Pansy, who had been hovering nearby, joined the conversation with her trademark sharp tone.

"Honestly, Mattheo, you're wasting your time," she said, her eyes narrowing as she crossed her arms. "She'll only bring drama. You're not a fool, you know how her family works. They're all about appearances. If you get tangled up with her, it'll be nothing but trouble."

But Mattheo wasn't listening. He was already moving through the crowd, his eyes trained on the spot where he had last seen Diana slip away. He wasn't about to back down, not when he felt this pull. Something in him had changed the moment their lips met, and he wasn't about to let it go without a fight.

"Diana!" he called out, his voice cutting through the noise of the party. His friends groaned in unison, clearly not expecting him to actually follow through.

Mattheo's eyes flicked from one corner of the room to another, but there was no sign of her. He could feel his frustration growing, the energy around him becoming heavier as his determination fueled him. She couldn't have disappeared completely, could she?

"She's gone, mate," Blaise said, the tone in his voice indicating that they should just let it go. "Let her hide. You're not going to find her now."

But Mattheo ignored him. His heart was thumping too loudly for him to care about what his friends thought. He couldn't stop thinking about her laugh, the way her eyes had sparkled when she danced. She's hiding, but I'll find her.

Pushing past the last few revelers, Mattheo turned toward a darkened corner of the ballroom, near the marble pillars where he thought he had seen her retreat. His steps slowed, his pulse quickening as he rounded the corner—and there she was.

Diana stood in the shadows, her figure illuminated only by the faint light from a nearby chandelier. She looked like she was trying to make herself small, her eyes wide as she caught sight of him.

Mattheo's heart skipped a beat. She was even more beautiful up close, and the sight of her hiding away made something inside him tighten. He could see the uncertainty in her eyes, the mix of curiosity and fear. She was clearly not ready to face him, but Mattheo wasn't going to let this slip away.

"I know you're there," he said softly, his voice gentle yet firm, as he stepped toward her. "You can't hide from me forever."

Diana stepped back, her face flushed in embarrassment, but she didn't run. Instead, she stayed where she was, watching him with wary eyes. For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then, slowly, she tilted her head and asked, her voice barely above a whisper, "Why are you looking for me?"

Mattheo stood still for a moment, contemplating the question. He had no real answer. He only knew that he couldn't stop himself from wanting to know her, from wanting to figure out what had happened between them in that fleeting moment.

"I don't know," he admitted, his voice quiet. "But I think I need to."

Diana swallowed hard, her gaze never leaving his. The air between them was thick with tension, and even though she felt the pull, she still wasn't sure if she was ready to face whatever consequences this connection might bring. But at that moment, as Mattheo stood before her, all she could think about was the feeling that had ignited inside her—the feeling of being seen.

Maybe, just maybe, this was the start of something neither of them could walk away from.