A/N: Please, kindly add this book to your library and comment your thoughts. Happy reading!
Present time…
Arielle and the other girls sat at the furthest end of the table. 'I just want to go home and sleep.' She said inwardly. Arielle looked at the food on her plate and as good as it looked and smelled, she could not savor it.
Arielle was already tired of the ceremony itself and she had not been chosen, goodness knows who will choose her. She noticed Davis staring at her the other time and she knew from the look he had on his face, he was going to pick her.
She didn't want him to though. Not because she was scared of Chloe or anything, she just didn't have the strength for any fight, and besides she didn't like him.
Arielle looked left to find Anna, Bella, and Emma eating without a care of the world. She shook my head slightly and smiled.
"Don't shake your head, Ari, I have to eat to my fill. Where would I get this kind of food again?" Anna asked with a pout when she saw Arielle shake her head and Arielle just laughed.
Anna glared at Arielle and continued stuffing herself.
"I didn't say anything, Anna." Arielle replied innocently.
"Hmm… you didn't but your expression said it all." Belle said it's raised eyebrows.
"Alright, alright, eat to your satisfaction. I won't say anything." Arielle said to them and they both turned back to their food.
Arielle gazed around and caught Davis staring at her, his gaze lingering for a moment before he looked away. Suddenly he excused himself from the table and started walking towards her, his movements casual and deliberate but before he could reach her she heard the King announce,
"Let's move over to the hall for the last activity of the ceremony, which is the groom and bride dance." The King said with a smile and the guests stood up from their seats and exited the dining hall.
Arielle didn't waste time and got up from her seat also, "Let's go girls." She said to Emma, Anna, and Belle. The four of them exited the hall.
Davis stood rooted in his spot and after some minutes he went after Arielle.
The grand hall was bathed in a warm, golden glow, because of the hundreds of candles that lined the walls Above, the crystal chandeliers refracted the light, casting tiny rainbows across the ceiling and walls.
The men took their brides to the dance floor and out of courtesy, they took the girl's hands and bowed slightly to press a kiss on the back of their palm.
The musicians in the lower balcony of the hall started playing music that wafted through the room. The men placed their hands on the small of the girl's backs and as the music continued, the couples glided across the floor, their steps in sync.
Arielle was standing with her friends as they looked at the couples on the dance floor.
"What will happen to us now Ari?" Emma asked with furrowed eyebrows, her tone laced with worry.
Arielle sighed, she also could not tell what would happen to those who had not been chosen by any man. They were not many though, just three girls remained plus she and her friends making them seven in number.
"I don't know, Emma." Arielle said. She scanned the room and her gaze caught Davis, who was walking towards her, again. "What does he want for goodness sake?" She muttered.
Anna looked at Arielle, her eyes scrunched up and her mouth twisted to the side, looking confused, "Who does who want, Ari?" She asked Arielle.
"Huh? Ohh… it's Davis, I don't know what he wants and I don't want any problems with Chloe as I don't have any strength for her." Arielle replied.
Anna nodded in understanding as she turned to look in the direction Arielle was staring at.
Davis was just some steps away from them when Chloe stopped him from getting to them. Davis's eyes blazed with anger, "What do you want Chloe?"
Chloe smiled not at all affected by Davis's angry gaze at her, "It would do you no good to get angry Dave, the King and Queen are watching." She said mischievously.
"I don't want to dance with you Chloe, I have told you countless times that I have no interest in you." Davis explained slowly.
"Why? Because of that bitch, Arielle? I wonder what you will say when you find out about her secret?" Chloe said with clenched teeth.
"Watch what you say about her, Chloe. And what secret are you talking about?" Davis asked with raised brows.
"Ohh…" Chloe chuckled. "Your Majesty." Chloe said and as Davis was about to turn around to face the "King", Chloe dragged him to the dance floor.
Davis's jaw clenched as he tried to control his anger. "Watch your steps, Davis, you don't want to embarrass yourself in front of all these people.
You are so cute when angry."
Chloe smiled as she tried to touch his cheeks but he brushed her hands away.
He kept his anger in check and moved his body and Chloe's according to the music.
Chloe discretely signaled to a man across the room. Having understood what she meant, the man nodded and went ahead to carry out the task. Chloe smiled in satisfaction.
Arielle sighed in relief when she noticed Chloe whisked Davis away. Her relief was caught short when a man approached her and asked her to dance.
"A dance, my lady?" The man asked stretching forth his palm for Arielle to place hers in it.
Arielle wanted to decline at first but it would be embarrassing to reject the man when he just asked for a dance.
She placed her hands in his slowly and they strode towards the dance floor. He placed his hand on her back and she placed her hand on his shoulder moving to the rhythm of the song.
Arielle cast her eyes down not looking at the man she was dancing with.
"You dance well my lady." The man complimented her with a smile.
"Uhh.. Thank you…." Arielle said pausing in her sentence, to let him know that she was asking for his name.
"Chris. And you're looking stunning my lady." Chris replied.
"Thank you Chris and I'm Arielle, it's a pleasure meeting you." Arielle said with a smile also as she noticed the man was smiling at her and he seemed like a gentleman.
Chris smiled, "The pleasure is all mine Arielle." He twirled her and brought her to himself again. He glanced at where Chloe and Davis were.
Chloe nodded at him and he nodded back. Chris continued to dance with Arielle and moved her little by little without her notice towards Chloe.
Arielle's gaze caught Chloe who smirked at her and she just rolled her eyes.
Chloe moved Davis to where Chris and Arielle were but because Davis wasn't interested in the dance in the first place, he didn't notice anything.
Chris bumped into Chloe and moved Arielle towards Chloe.
Chloe let out a cry as she was about to fall to the floor letting go of Davis in the process. She smirked and then grabbed onto Arielle's hair.
Arielle widened her eyes as she tried to stop Chloe from dragging her hair further but it was too late and her white hair came into view.
She hall turned quiet and she swore that if she should drop a pin on the floor she would hear it but that was the least of her concern right now.
She heard gasps around her and whispers.
"Ah! Arielle move away from there!" She heard Anna scream her name but she couldn't move as her secret had been revealed.
"The chandelier Ari! Move!" She heard her mother scream from where she was standing and she looked up but it was too late.