Chapter 46
Chapter 46
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Rhysand:
As we made our way through the crowd, the weight of the evening pressed down on me more than usual. I kept my hand at the small of her back, not entirely sure whether it was to guide her or to keep myself grounded
The tension between us was palpable, but beneath that tension, something deeper stirred–something I didn’t want to face just yet–something I’ve been desperately trying to jgnore in order for my sanity to stay alright.
I glanced at her, my throat tightening, not just because of how she looked in that dress, but because she was more than I ever expected. And that unsettled me more than I cared to admit.
Evelynne broke the silence first, her voice low, “You look like you’d rather be anywhere else,” she commented, as I led her over to one of the seats at the front.
To be honest, her words were nothing but the truth, and it came as a shock to me, cause I had always loved attending the charity event, any at all, at least once in a month.
As long as the money gotten from it will be used for a good cause.
Without bothering to deny her words, I responded, “Observant.”
Her laugh was quiet, almost lost in the noise and bustling around us. I stared down at her, subconsciously keeping the expression on her face engraved in my mind.
I could count the number of times she have genuinely smiled in any of our conversations over the week, and it wouldn’t even reach a handful.
“Do you even enjoy these things, or do you just need to tolerate them?” Her eyes glanced around the room, and I watched how she ignored all the stares directed at her, “Standing here right now, I don’t think I love being stared at and having all the attention to myself.”
Despite her words, she seemed to be coping well with the stares by thinking of ways to keep conversation going on between us. And she was also very good at ignoring the stares.
I cast a sideways glance at her. “You tolerate them. The sooner you accept that, the easier it is.”
She raised an eyebrow, sipping from her champagne glass, “You say that like it’s something sort of law of nature.”
“In my world, it is.”
Reaching a table with a mix of red and gold colours for the cover sheet, I pulled out a chair for her to seat on, I’m this unfazed cause I’ve gotten used to it, you will too, eventually.”
Evelynne hummed, her gaze drifting over the crowd. “So, what’s the worst part? The endless small talk or the fake smiles?”
I shrugged, keeping my eyes forward, and trying to not turn my gaze towards her, only to get distracted by those emerald eyes and the fucking sexy gown she was dressed in.
I had never wanted anyone so badly that it began to itch me down to my mind, but this woman before me was entirely different.
“Neither. It’s the expectations. Everyone wants something–an introduction, a deal, validation.”
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06, 11 feb
Chapter 46
She studied me for a moment, her expression thongxist “but she to pow
The question caught me off guard 1 panced at her, wing for curiosity is key mas
There was no edge to her tone, just growing interes. 1 asked away and a thing of your fooded my thoughts which caused a sudden ware of drondon to me.
Threading, carefully and thinking about her question, I stared at the cont, wading exeryone cause to so take their seats. “Only aim is to get through this without being dragged into mything I don’t care done
“That’s it? she asked, amusement coloring her voice, to get absor
“No” I paused, sitting comfortably on the chair before awwering “Exerg magte to most people talking about westmen they don’t understand
Evelynne broke into a smile beside me. A quiet but warm laugh, “You make that sound like it would become an exciting evening for you”
I didn’t respond, but I could feel her studying me, probably looking for a crack to look into my moveme
After a moment, she pursed her lips, eyes staring up to meet mine as the spoke again in a ligner tone. “Okay, if you had to pick one thing you actually like about these events, what would it be? There has to be something”
I considered it, looking around the room and completely ignoring the eyes on us glancing around the room. The exit” Evelynne’s lips quirked into a smile, and I could tell she was holding back a laugh. “I should’ve known
Our conversation was easy but sparse. I wasn’t much for chatter, and Evelynne seemed to understand that without needing it spelled out.
We continued sitting in our chair for a long time as my gaze traveled across the room, ignoring the gazes on us, particularly from the women.
As we sat there, the noise of the event around us was a dull hum in the background. My focus was split between keeping my expression neutral and trying to ignore the fact that Evelynne was sitting so close. Her perfume–a subtle, intoxicating sceng -kept drawing me back to her, making it harder to focus on anything else.
Evelynne, seeming oblivious to the effect she was having on me, was scanning the room with mild curiousity.
Silence settled between us, except for the continuous noise around us.
Dropping my now empty glass cup to the table, I noticed a sudden shift in Evelynne’s mood.
Her expression wavered as she tried to remain focused. Her gaze had fixed on a point across the room, and every trace of the easy banter we’d been sharing shattered, as she kept staring
Frowning, I turned my gaze towards were she was looking at, and then my eyes fell on the man dressed in a black tailored suit and a woman clinging into his arm possessively as they sat at the other end of the event.
I glanced back at Evelynne. Her face was pale, her hands clenched into fists on her lap. She seemed to be struggling to breathe, “Wh–why… are they here?” she asked, “Why are they at this event?!” her tone was sharp and bitter, with eyes blazing with fury.
“What’s Desmond and Gabriella doing here?”
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