ing to find a look that succinctly defined the age I just turned. Elegance never came easy, Mother would say

g expectations of the surprises this dinner would hold. One thing was certain, my mothe

to tingle, and my head went wild with

e prepared for it.' Her voice rang at the back of my mind, a distan

as my mother; not even my fat

back of my mind that with each additional year came more responsibility. I was the only standing heir to

as I cleaved my hair with a rather heavy brush. "The celebr

country economically. A family of nothing short of affluence and wealth, just like ours, if not more. Ge

, a conglomerate, they called it, but the plans seemed to vanish after Julie's dea

cara. As much as a happy day this was supposed to b

satin dress owned me, hugging my body right, and the sequins sparkl

like a tailor-made item for the dress, I was good to go.

ignated for a night like this. The stairs were well carpeted- a red plush rug

he same table as the Thornes even in Julie's lifetime. It made my stomach show of

th an aura that practically instructed one never to utter a word again. It was elegant,

d that even before I looked, they were already looking- hard, penetrat

on billboards and every advertisement the internet has to offer. My heart leaped to my throat

s locked attention was on me, measuring my every step, following me, and flinging me dow

pret. He was my sister's fiance. Why, then, did he loo

ald's parents and mine sat at the same table; the rest of the guest

e utterly blank. "Good evening," I began. "It's a ple

, my dear." I didn't know if that was a note of her dis

ld, whom, for no reason, enjoyed staring at me. From my seat, his icy blue ey

ine by gods, and he knew it. His dark hair was slicked back, leaving just a t

country in the past. I tried to tear my gaze away, but I was

Julie fell for

ut through the awkwardness that plag

ware that I'd been lost in my reve

he saying

er lips were tightly pressed together. It was impossible to tell if she was

his woman thoroughly checked me out like I would steal a purse at the mall

esponse while retaining eye contact with me

hand on my thigh, grounding me into place. What the hell wa

the tension in the air. "You'd see with

ssment from Gerald's mother's backhanded

's father added. The first thing I'd heard him

together. It was too overwhelming for me, so I snapped up and pu

pposite direction. I had barely taken a step when

lammed my face onto his chest. "Ger

rely noticeable moment and I startled back,

. Gerald had never spoken to me, and sudde

. "This..." He mentioned and fished o

madness. Gerald slowly getting on one knee before me, in fr

I whispered. "Wha

ld you make me the happiest m

looked at me so earnestly, as though he'd been waiting for th

xpectant faces, and my stomach caved. My mother made eye cont

the room seemed to fade into a blurry blurb, leaving me, my sister's

to this moment, and they wan

ald, I muttered. "Y

are in the world while my world crashed from wall to wall. An applause rippled from the crowd

and headed to the ladies, out of breath and confused. I picked up my phone a

nly confidant. "How's the party going!?" Her vo

ted. "I just..

ha

rald T