Chapter 105
KASMINE
I sat in front of the mirror, staring at my gorgeous reflection
I looked stunning tonight. Except it was for the wrong mang
My little black dress hugged my curves in the right proportion. The fabric stretched over the swell of my hips, traced the dip of my waist, and framed my breasts with a deep V–cut that ran deeper than the turmoil I felt inside me, exposing my cleavages, which were full and firm.
Mum had made sure every detail was perfect, down to how my hair had been styled
She made sure to tell the maids the exact hairstyle I should wear that would compliment my light makeup and dress style.
They had gathered my curls into a loose updo, full and elegant as if the strands had been caught mid–motion and pinned in place by the wind itself.
Soft tendrils slipped free, lazily framing my face, their curls brushing against my skin in delicate spirals. At the nape of my neck, wisps of hair teased my bare shoulders, adding softness to the otherwise sultry look.
It looked effortless like it had just fallen into place on its own–except it had taken them almost an hour to get
just right.
No wonder Mum wanted me home in time. She needed time to mold me into the flawless woman Alpha Jaden would see tonight. The woman I was expected to be.
How important was this man?
A man I had never met, yet I was being dressed and polished for him like some rare jewel to be displayed. Like a prize waiting to be claimed.
I
It
No matter how hard I tried to push away the urge to call Kester, my fingers had a mind of their own. Before I could stop myself, I was dialing his number again.
And just like twenty minutes ago, the call never connected.
Unreachable.
I stared at the screen, my heart tightening in frustration. A part of me craved an explanation. I needed to hear from him that he had known… That all this time, while he was keeping me locked in a cage of possessiveness, he had already handed me over to another man.
How could he act like he wanted to keep me to himself forever when he knew I already belonged to someone else
-legally, contractually, and permanently?
A bitter laugh rose in my throat, but I swallowed it down.
“This would go better with that dress, honey,” Mum startled me. I didn’t hear her come in. I had been too lost in
my own storm to notice.
Mur stepped closer, draping a delicate diamond necklace over my collarbone with a smile on her face. “It’s exquisite, isn’t it?” she murmured.
The diamonds glittered under the soft vanity lights. I reached up hesitantly, my fingers brushing the elegant chain. It was beautiful. Elegant. Exactly the kind of thing anAlpha’s wife should wear.
Chapter 105
But it didn’t interest
“This will go perfectly with your dress,” she added. “Take this one off,” she gestured at the gold necklace on my
neck
I swallowed. “I don’t want to wear the diamond.”
Mum’s hands stilled. Her eyes flicked to my reflection in the mirror, narrowing ever so slightly. “Don’t be difficult, Kasmine.”
I shook my head. “I mean it, Mum. I want to wear my gold
A tense silence stretched between us, as thick as the perfume she had chosen for me to use. “Darling, you can wear that any other day. Tonight is different. This isn’t just dinner–It’s your future.”
I rolled my eyes, “Kester gave this to me and asked me never to take it off. And I don’t plan on disobeying him tonight,” I bit out. Anything to frustrate her efforts tonight
Her jaw tensed. “This dinner is important, sweetheart. The liamond is refined, elegant.” She reached forward, her fingers brushing my wrist. “It sends the right message.”
Before I could protest again, the door swung open.
“Isn’t she ready yet? It’s past six already.”
I turned to see my father standing in the doorway.
“Dad?” I blinked, surprise coloring my tone, “Isn’t he meant to be the one waiting for me to arrive? The restaurant is just about twenty minutes away from here. Why must I leave now?”
“You want to paint a perfect picture, baby. Bad first impressions are more detrimental than you think,” He crossed the room, crouching before me so we were at eye level. His smile was warm and affectionate. “Now, be my good little princess and be on your way, okay?” His knuckles brushed my cheek in a featherlight stroke.
“But, Dad… I don’t want to go,” I gave my resistance one more shot, even though I knew what response awaited
- me.
“You have to. You’d love Jaden. He’s a good man,” Dad said, “Make sure you make a good impression and make us proud.”
The drive to the restaurant was quicker than I anticipated, the quiet hum of the engine doing little to calm the storm brewing inside me. The city lights blurred past, golden against the night, but I barely noticed.
My fingers idly traced the cold chain of my gold necklace while my thoughts wandered in different directions. Before I could sink further into my thoughts, the car slowed to a smooth halt. The chauffeur stepped out and opened the door for me, and I reluctantly slid out, my heels clicking against the polished pavement.
I lifted my head, taking in the restaurant before me. Velarid. One of the most exquisite restaurants in town, for its impeccable service and clientele who reeked of old money.
known
Everything about it screamed luxury.
As I stepped inside, the air was thick with the aroma of truffle, aged wine, and something faintly floral. The murmur of hushed conversations filled the space, and my heels sank into plush carpeting as I approached the
host’s stand.
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Chapter 105
“Reservation?” The man at the podium barely looked up, li tone very polished.
1 cleared my throat. “I’m here for a reservation under Jadet Viero,”
That got his attention. His gaze flicked up, scanning me for a second longer than necessary before offering a polite nod. “Right this way, Miss.”
I followed him through the softly lit space, passing tables occupied by the kind of people who lived in wealth like it was second nature.
I wasn’t new to such a setting. My family was wealthy, too,
The stares I got from men who admired me and women who looked like they’d die of envy from how beautiful I looked tonight, almost made me lose my balance. But no, I was used to getting such attention.
Soon, we reached a private table nestled in the corner, separated just enough from the rest of the restaurant to give the illusion of seclusion. A single candle flickered at the center, Illuminating the pristine white tablecloth, the expensive glassware, and the untouched plate settings
But no Jaden.
Seriously?
Hooked at my watch, and it was already ten minutes to seven.
That was so ungentlemanly of him.
But I sat either way.
And waited.
And waited.
Minutes bled into each other, the slow tick of the clock on the wall stretching my patience thin. I glanced at my phone. 7:18.
By 7:25, irritation replaced any nerves I might have had.
By 7:30, my fingers tapped against the table in a slow, rhythmic beat of frustration.
By 7:35, I was done.
1 huffed out a breath, gripping my clutch and pushing my chair back. Enough was enough. He could explain to my father why he decided to waste my time.
But just as I straightened to leave, I felt a shift in the air.
I turned, and the sight I met nearly stole my breath.
A man walked through the entrance, the kind that commanded attention without even trying. He was tall, broad- shouldered, and dressed in an effortlessly expensive black–on–black ensemble.
His dark, tousled hair framed a face that was obscenely handsome–sharp cheekbones, a strong jawline, and a mouth sculpted with the kind of arrogance that only men like him could carry so naturally.
But his eyes. Gods, his eyes.
They were the kind of dark that swallowed everything whole, a bottomless abyss laced with something unreadabi
It had to be him.
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Chapter 105
I barely noticed 1 had stopped moving.
He moved with slow, intentional grace like he owned the very ground he walked on.
And then, just as effortlessly, he reached the table.
For one stupid moment, I found myself thinking that maybe, just maybe, he wouldn’t be as terrible as I’d imagined. That a man who looked like that wouldn’t
“You were about to leave,” he noted, “How impatient.”
I blinked.
What?
His gaze swept over me, slow and assessing, before he pulled out a chair and took his seat, completely unconcerned that he had kept me waiting for over half an hour.
He leaned back, effortlessly composed, eyes locking onto mine. “Tell me, Kasmine,” he said, voice dripping with condescension. “Are you always this quick to run when things don’t go your way?”
The audacity.
My fingers clenched around my clutch, a sharp wave of irritation surging through me. I had expected a lot of things tonight, but this?
I almost swallowed the words that burned on my tongue, my heart hammering against my ribs. But I let it out. “You kept me waiting for…” I was saying when he rudely interrupted me.
“Sit back down, Kasmine. I have an important meeting to catch up with in…” He looked at his wristwatch, Roughly an hour from now. We don’t have all night.”
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