“There’s something I should tell you.”
“Of course, Mother.”
“Please don’t be angry.”
“Why would I be angry?”
“I know you already said no—”
“But you still invited Tiara to attend tonight’s ball.”
Joy nearly gasped out loud. “H-how did you know—”
“It’s alright. I’m not angry.”
She looked into her son’s eyes. She could tell he was not lying. And not angry either, as she feared. Instead, it was worse.
“Arkane—”
She wanted to plead with him.
Please be merciful. Please be gentle. Please.
But it was too late.
The lights had gone out, the music had changed, and the host was already proceeding with the next part of the script.
“Tonight, Foxtown celebrates a new season. A season of second chances and mended hearts. A season where love blooms lovelier the second time around. Ladies and gentlemen, Lady Tiara Sauller.”
Flowery lights roamed the ballroom ceiling and walls while a lone golden ray of light followed Tiara as she slowly made her way down the same grand staircase he had descended earlier.
It had been six years since he had last set eyes on her.
Six long fucking years.
And yet it only felt like yesterday when she had destroyed him by being her true self.
His hand closed at his side. He opened it.
The tempo of the music was changing in rhythm to Tiara’s steps. She was closer now, close enough that Arkane was no longer able to gaze in her direction without actually looking at her.
She slowly came into view.
Her golden locks longer than he remembered. Turquoise earrings to match her eyes that were now sparkling with unshed tears.
Damn her.
Did she really think he would fall for that? His family owed the Foxes a favor. That was the only reason he had agreed to this fucking sham—that, and the press piece that needed to keep its attention elsewhere for another month while Benedict handled what he was handling. And if she had just come here without pretending once again she was all innocent like she was doing now—he could’ve let bygones be bygones.
But as she came up to him, the crowd sighing as he bowed, and she curtsied—
“May I have this dance, milady?”
She swallowed hard.
And then she stammered out, “Y-Yes.”
The microphones above them caught the exchange perfectly, and it had the whole crowd melting.