IMPRESS. [Book 1]

Chapter Forty-Six: The Ballroom Brawl.

IMPRESS.

Chapter Forty-Six: The Ballroom Brawl.

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Natalya's POV~

"Is this true, Natalya?" Zac's softening brown eyes averted to my shocked ones, hoping what he was hearing was untrue.

Too bad it wasn't.

I wasn't moving, everything around me felt delayed. "I-"

Preston cut me off, "yes or no Natalya? And careful what you say..."

I- I- Fredrick's eyes were intensely burning into mine and pleading that I don't utter a word.

Zac wanted to move towards me and wrap me in his arms but he knew that he couldn't vex Preston in any way by showing too much affection to the "prize" he was offering him.

Instead, he sighed out running his fingers through his hair in frustration and shut his eyes momentarily. "Your silence only speaks yes, Natalya. Give us an honest answer-"

I wasn't going to confirm or deny anything. In fact, I was planning not to speak at all but...

Fredrick thought different, he really believed I would sentence him to death the first chance I got, and because he thought this way- he confirmed the rape allegations by getting ready to run.

Preston lifted his finger up and immediately, Blake and Kai had Fredrick trapped by their undeniably muscular arms.

"We are going to kill him... you hear me. We are going to rip that little piece of ginger shit apart limb from limb... And I order you to watch, Natalya."

Zac growled through his teeth and the edge in his voice had my lips quivering and toes twitching. He was speaking to my emotionless stance, trying to capture the attention of my saddened eyes.

Now...

You know those times when you just want to throw yourself into a river, the times when you believe life is against you and that it's only going to get worse... Well, I want to throw myself in a river right now.

Everything was muted for a long while as I felt every single eye of the countless noble guests scattered around the ballroom burning holes into every inch of my body.

I wanted to shrink into a mouse and hide in my own little cave, however, I didn't have the power to that. What I did have the power to do was turn invisible but that wouldn't pan well either.

The elegant ladies hooked to their male partners, surrounding this mad scene that had been created by none other than my traitor cousin Ella and my nightmare terror Fredrick, looked at me sympathetically - sending me pitiful eyes and pouts.

I knew they were trying to be compassionate but I couldn't help but feel awkward under their gazes.

Some ladies were less sensitive and instead, looked me up and down in judgement and distaste. They were the ones who made me feel like complete and utter shit. It was the same with the men, some were soft-hearted and some simply just shook their heads in outrage.

Harrison did have his arm around my shoulders before Ella opened her dirty mouth and spilt my secret to everyone! And I mean almost every high-class Lady and Lord in Asten. But, when Harrison felt my shoulders stiffen and heard my heart rapidly beat, he turned me around so he was embracing me in his arms once again.

I hadn't realised it until my vision became blurry that my eyes were watering and so, all I could make out from squinting over Harrison's shoulder as he hugged me was a huge crowd forming again. This time there was no chanting, just distant gasping and then roaring from two very very very veeeeeeeeeeeeeeery pissed off men I knew.