Read The Trap Of Ace [by Eva Zahan] Chapter 17 – A knock descended on my door.
“Coming!”
Putting the lipstick down on the dressing table, I attended it. Judy, our house help stood there with a white box in her hand.
“Sorry to disturb you, dear. But this has come for you,” she said, handing me the parcel.
For me?
“What’s in it? And who sent it?” I glanced down at the box.
Her shoulders lifted. “I’ve no idea, dear. A courier boy just gave me the parcel and left. Anyways, I’ll leave you to this. A lot of chores are on the hand.”
Nodding, I flashed her a smile along a thank you and closed the door.
I searched for a name on the box, but there wasn’t any. Who could’ve sent it?
Biting my lip, I unpacked it.
A gasp slipped through my lips as my eyes landed on the red gown lying in it. Taking it out, I unfolded it. It was the same gown I saw him checking out that day.
A note that was placed beneath the gown, caught my eye. With a skip of my heart, I picked it up.
This one was left out from trying. So I want to see it on you tonight.
A
So, he… bought it for me?
A warmth surged through my chest as I ran my hand on the beautiful cold shoulder gown. The fabric felt smooth under my palm.
Holding it against me, I stood before the mirror. It looked… beautiful.
But why did he get it for me?
Flashes of that night on the road floated in my mind. That horrible night we’d almost faced the d***h…
My hands clutched the dress tight.
A car had lost balance and strayed up in our way. To save us, he’d to avoid a collision and our car ended up hitting a street lamp.
I closed my eyes as the fear of that moment hit me back.
How he’d put his arm over me to save me from getting hurt, not caring for himself. Even after the seatbelts, I was about to hit my head with the window glass if not for him. The hit was that severe. Good thing that both of us didn’t get any major injuries. I got a small scratch in my leg. But his shoulder was hurt. The jerk of the c***h and the way he stretched to protect me, had his shoulder a muscle injury.
I was so rattled after the incident that he’d to clutch me to his chest for almost half an hour until I gained some composure.
I hated that feeling. The fear I felt at that moment. The fear of d***h, the fear of losing him…
I shook my head, shaking off the inauspicious thoughts.
I shouldn’t be thinking of that. Everything is alright now. Today is Tess’s official engagement night, so I should just concentrate on that.
I looked back at my reflection.
This dress.
Shouldn’t I be mad that he sent another gift for me? But I wasn’t. The red tint on my cheeks proved that.
A sigh left me.
doing? I was wandering away from my goal: avoid him until the three months passes and I can finally go
just
I bit my lip.
ready?” Mom
yelled back, my gaze returning back
Should I?
***
the red carpet that led us inside the Valencian Mansion. It should’ve been called a castle instead,
A typical rich, classy, sophisticated, yet contemporary and dazzling atmosphere. And why not, after all it
people and rushing waiters, we found her at the tail of the grand staircase at the middle of the vast hall, surrounded by a group of her friends. Flaunting a sea green mermaid
as her gaze caught us approaching her, she rushed to us followed by Caleb and threw herself on Mom and Dad. Both of my parents had moisture in
beside. And
Instead of her regular sandalwood, the fragrance of Jasmine filled my ambience as she engulfed me in a hug. Pulling away, she eyed me up and down. “This isn’t fair! Only the bride should look that gorgeous in her engagement, not her little sister!” she complained, frowning.
who’s radiating the evening with your beauty. You look stunning!” Then my eyes fell on her neck. She wore the necklace we chose
shaped diamond that dangled down the slender
He wouldn’t even go to the mall, just order an expensive one randomly online!” She rolled her
He told her?
my surprise, she nodded her head. “He told me how you chose it for me. Thank you, Em! Otherwise I don’t think I would be wearing my best
of someone. The flutters
Where is he?
the dresses? I hope they weren’t that bad,” I asked,
fell over her face. “What dresses? What’re
you along your necklace. He made me try them to
he didn’t give me any
to her, then what did he do
them
in my hand as
had some other plans with them,” I
he wanted to give them to me on other occasions? You know, he bought all the
That made sense.
lifted off as
I just not care? She mustn’t have missed the
attention. And when Tess moved and that person appeared
bumped into at Coopers Fabrics, back in NY, and
here at this
on his face as Tess
It’s been a long time!” He said, shaking his
You finally got free
work. You can’t avoid
said Dad, as that man shared pleasantries
him to me. “And Arthur, this is Emerald, my
the infamous Emerald Hutton. I finally got that lucky to have the pleasure of meeting
Ace’s uncle?
that I already met him
him a hesitant smile. “Nice to meet you too! By the way, we’ve
Dad raised their
met? Where?”
He titled his head, dark eyes puzzled.
Coopers
dear! I’m a little lost here. Maybe I forgot. It’s the proof that
again, something flashed over his eyes. But it was gone as
***
tonight? I don’t see him anywhere,” asked Casie, sipping on her drink. She arrived
I replied, holding back the urge to look around
me at all. I’d be happy that he wasn’t here. But… he wouldn’t miss his cousin and best friend’s engagement, would he? Then where the h**l
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