Deluded

Chapter 35

Evangeline's P.O.V

Holding me tight against his arms, my head tucked under his chin as he rubbed my arms to keep me warm.

With my eyes tight shut, I could feel all my worries about my family or my parents fade away. With him, I feel the electricity running into my veins, keeping my heartbeat with happiness as dramatic it may sound, with him, I feel complete.

"I should go back inside. My parents are probably looking for me" I stated, making him frown.

" Stay a little longer" he responded, making me shake my head no at him.

"I can't. If they find us here then I'm dead" I joked, making him frown once again.

" Yeah" he mumbled as he let me go, tucking a strand of my hair behind my ear.

"You're so beautiful" he whispered against my hair, making me blush harder than ever.

"I-I should go" I mumbled again, earning an eye roll from him.

" Fine, come on" he stated as he extended his hand for me to take while I stared at it confused.

" No, you stay here. I should go first" I answered, while he looked at me as if I've grown two heads.

" Do we really have to be this secretive?" He questioned, making me smile at him.

" Do you want this all to end before it starts?" I questioned back, again rolling his eyes.

" Okay fine" he mumbled as he placed a kiss on my cheek, as he let me go while he waited patiently for me to go out first.

Striding back to the main hall, I spotted my mother at the same table I left her. Sitting beside her, she looked at me, concerned.

"Where were you? Your father was searching for you" She stated as she leaned in, not wanting the ladies sitting with us to hear her.

My heart pounded against my chest. I just hope no one saw us, else my father will kill me.

"I was at the balcony, getting some fresh air" I mumbled softly, making her nod her head.

" Okay, now stay here with me, alright?" She exclaimed, making me nod my head in return.

After a while of trying to engage with the ladies, I let out a soft sigh as I think of my soft bed back at the house, waiting for me but sadly here I am stuck at the event.

"Eva, come with me, my dear" my father spoke as he stood beside my sitting figure, extending his hand.

Taking his hand, I got up, following him towards the group of men, engaged in conversation.

"I want you to meet some of my good friends and partners" my father stated as we neared the men, making all of them stop talking as they stared at me and my father.

"Gentlemen, meet my daughter Evangeline. My one and only princess" my father introduced me, making my anxiety rise up from all the attention I was getting.

There were a total of five of them, three of them at my father's age and two of them young and looked around my age. All of them were wearing crisp suits and looked very formal.

Introducing themselves one by one as they shook my hand, I tried my best to calm my nerves and tried to not make a fool out of myself.

"Hello, I'm Cole," the last guy extended his hand to take mine into his lips as he placed a kiss. He's the same age as me and had bright blue eyes.

"Evangeline" I replied, taking my hand from him and slyly wiped it without him noticing.

I wasn't trying to be rude but the way he was eyeing me up and down was becoming very uncomfortable for me.

"Can I have a dance with you, Miss Evangeline?" He questioned, making me look at my father to see a smile on his face, urging that it's alright so I eventually had to accept his offer.

Walking towards the center, Cole placed his hands into my waist, smiling at me while I was dying inside, praying that this dance would end soon because I was getting bad vibes from as he stared down at my deep neckline without any shame.

Swaying a little, I could everyone staring at us so I kept my gaze down when my eyes fell towards the corner of the room where Abram was staring at us hard, making me gulp from how hard he was staring and on one corner where my father was watching us to with a smile on his face.

Once the music ended, I stepped back but Cole took me off guard by kissing my cheek.

Smiling awkwardly at him, I turn around to go back to my mother, ignoring my father's confused face.

I know he's trying to set me up with Cole and I'm not stupid to not get it.

Sitting with my mother, I let out a sigh making her look at me concerned.

"Mom, can we please go back home?" I requested.

" Why what happened?" She questioned while I stared at my father talking with Cole.

" I think dad's trying to set me up with that guy" I told her, making her just hummed in response.

" Don't think about it too much" she stated as she pointed her finger at the corner where Abram was standing, staring at me.

"Looks like your loverboy is jealous" she teased, making my cheeks heat up.

"Mom, you won't tell dad, right?" I questioned, a little bit scared just by thinking how my father would react if he gets to know.

"I won't, my love. Don't worry" she promised as she kissed my hand, making me smile in content and happiness.

But little did I know, it wasn't long before the storm hit. After all, it's always calm before the storm.