The Girl Who Lived A Thousand Years | #Wattys2017 √

Chapter 23- Weird Feelings

"Lady Van Harlin, it's time to leave." Caspen said as he knocked on my door. I had this bad feeling since yesterday and I felt like I'm going to get sick for the first time. My whole body was refusing to function and I felt like I was so tired that I needed to sleep but it was all useless.

It was the first time in my life that I felt so hopeless, like my life is draining.

I quickly fixed my bag and went out of see Caspen already waiting for me in the limousine.

"How much time would we spend travelling?" I asked him.

"Four hours to be exact my lady, your hotel room is already prepared and Marissa and the crew are waiting for you."

I just nodded and decided to watch the raindrops fall on the car's window. It's been raining since yesterday and it gave me a great feeling.

The room was large and it even looked liked a house inside with a complete set of furniture and all you need to survive.

"The conference will start soon, but you can still rest for a while Lady Vanna."

"Thank you Caspen, oh, before I forget, you'll accompany me again, the usual." I said and he winked at me.

Time had passed so fast that I didn't notice I was running late for the conference, it wasn't new to them for the Ivanshovs were always the ones who arrive late for anything. That's just who I am.

My entrance brought great silence in the crowd as the man by the door announced my arrival.

"Lady Ivanella Matreena Van Harlin, granddaughter of Ms. Matricia Ivanshov and the only heir of the Ivanshovs, with Lord Caspen Balthimore."

They stared at me wide eyed and I became accustomed to all those stares. Who wouldn't stare at someone who screamed power, that I suppress them all even if they combined everything they had.

I had been a different person for the past years since Mr. Cole, the american businessman I met at the Lescoart's ball tried to steal money from my company.

Maybe I had been too soft on everyone that they forgot who they were dealing with.

I had been tracking Dawson Laczowski, the person hunting the originals since I returned to the Ivanshov empires. He is currently in Nigeria and seems to have taken a new interest in other things. I've heard he married his partner, Sargent Amanda Cross.

I socialized with all the people in the place, talking to prominent businessmen who wanted to be my partners. I wanted to help them all, and everything I ever wanted from them is their loyalty.

I moved out of the place and stared at the stars in the sky from the balcony.

"Hello there, beautiful stranger." Ashton whispered in my ear as he covered my eyes from behind. I quickly removed his hands from my eyes and stared at him wide eyed.

"I didn't expect you to be here, I thought your dad will be attending?" I asked as his smile slowly turned into a frown.

"My mom didn't permit him to attend, he just got out from the hospital last week and he needs to rest." His father had a heart attack recently and by the looks of it, his condition isn't going to be well.

"I'm glad he's okay now." I said even with the reality that is right before my eyes.

"I think he won't last any longer, he's lived and suffered long enough." His emotions didn't escape his eyes. I knew he loved his father so much, but everyone in this world exists for a limited time. Time is the biggest enemy of humankind, we might now realize how important it is until one day, we wake up and realize that we somewhat wasted it.

Time stopped for me a long time ago.

I hugged Ashton as he shed a few tears. I considered him as a younger brother over the past years. He acted so childish around me and he showed his true self around me. He comforted me when I'm lonely and I did the same for him. He had became family, like Carl had been.

"Ally?" A voice from behind interrupted my thoughts.

I stared at him, and my body felt weak like before.

I showed no emotions at all, maybe I had lived as an empty shell for too long I had become accustomed to it.

He shifted his gaze to Ashton who is now standing at my side, his hands never leaving my hips.

"I'm sorry, I must have mistaken you for someone else." He said as he stared at Ashton and his hands once more, clearly annoyed and pained at the same time.

"I'm afraid we haven't met yet. I'm Ivanella Van Harlin." I extended my hands to shake his. Shock was evident in his face and he didn't even bother to hide it.

We shook hands and the moment our skin contacted, sparks of electricity had tingled from our hands to my entire body.

He too seemed to feel it but I preferred to be oblivious of his effects to me. I took my hand back nonchalantly.

"And you are?" I asked as I realized he haven't said his name.

"Mikhail Samuel Levin, it's nice to finally meet you, Carl wasn't wrong."

"I'm sorry what?" He shook his head.

"Nothing, before anything, can I have this dance?" He said as he offered his hands. Ashton took a defensive step knowing I'm not that comfortable with people now, but I just nodded.

"I guess I'll leave early Vanna, I need to check on some things first for the conference tomorrow."

"It's fine Ashton, I can handle myself I have Caspen." He left and I finally took Mikhail's hands, clearly taking my death wish.