One final glance at the mirror, and Stella sighed with satisfaction...toatlly ready for the evening.
Her red-wine mermaid dress hugged every curve perfectly, her ebony wavy hair cascading down her back in a sharp contrast against her fair, baby-soft skin.
Though she might not be the perfect beauty, but she had always believed in herself even at this time.
With just the right proportions in all the right places, she was very confident she would make heads turn anywhere..
And Bruce...he would definitely be over the moon seeing this day come true after so long.
With a soft smile on her lips, she glanced at Linda from the mirror. "What do you think?"
Linda's mood had not been right since the day the preparation for this engagement began.
Time and time again she had to ask her what the problem was but the response had never gone down well with Stella.
It had always been one of her many sentences.
Babe, Bruce isn't the right man for you.
Can you just quit this relationship and see the kind of man he is?
Bruce is cheating on you...you should break up.
Time and time again, Stella had tested Bruce but the result had always returned clear.. he was faithful.
Linda shook her head lightly. "I have no comment other than my previous words...break up with Bruce."
Stella sighed. "But you know he didn't do me any wrong... wouldn't that be..."
Linda raised her hands up in surrender. "It's okay..I just hope you wouldn't regret it."
Stella turned around and pulled her into a warm hug. "I believe Bruce wouldn't be so bad...staying with me when my family thought I was garbage..."
Linda shook her head helplessly.
A moment later, Stella turned around and headed to the door and immediately her hand reached the doorknob, Linda's voice drifted over, soft yet probing.
"Ella, are you really going through with this engagement?"
Stella froze and slowly turned around, confusion knitting her brows as she met her gaze.
"Bestie, I thought we've resolved this issue?" She asked softly.
"I am just worried about you." Linda answered, her worry etched on her face.
"Linda," she called softly, forcing a smile. "You know how long I've prayed for this moment?"
Linda had always known about that, she shook her head lightly.
"I know, Ella. You've always loved him, placed him above everything, adored him, and cared for him more than yourself. But think about it…does he feel the same way for you?"
Stella's heart lurched, the words stung but there's no need to worry.
Bruce had always been sincere and if there's any reason for anything to go wrong it certainly wouldn't be at this time.
Besides...
Linda had never liked Bruce for anything and had always been against her relationship with him.
She had always been skeptical about him, often calling him pretentious and self-centered.
Sometimes, she is left to be the mediator between them.
Even earlier, while the stylist was fixing her hair, she had noticed Linda's patience wearing thin, as though she was restraining herself from snapping.
"Inda," Stella called, her voice softening. "I know you and Bruce have always been incompatible, but he's definitely a good man. You will come to like him with time," she tried to pacify.
Though she had that lingering feeling that it's impossible between both of them.
Linda scoffed, rising slowly to her feet. "Like him? Impossible."
She walked over to Stella, her hand draped across her shoulder, her voice heavy with emotion she couldn't place.
"Can you just walk away from this engagement and… and start over again with someone who loves you?"
Stella carefully unclasped her arm from her shoulder, her gaze meeting hers. "At this moment, it is too late to walk away."
Linda smiled at her response as she placed her hand across her lips, a playful smile on her lips yet her eyes held a mix of emotions swirling in them.
"You don't have to go to the extreme," she said, sighing exasperatedly. "I will see you after the banquet." And with that, she turned and walked out, the door closing softly behind her.
Knowing her so well, Stella understood just one thing she was angry but then they couldn't continue to argue over this.
Stella sighed, hoping to seek her out after the banquet, possibly explaining to her.
With a deep breath, she left the room and decided to head to the banquet hall.
"The banquet must be starting soon," she muttered, feeling relieved and happy.
The moment she entered the hall, the brilliance of it all stole her breath.
A bright smile plastered on her face. The smile was genuine and heartfelt. An expression of how she felt...exceptionally happy.
Crystal chandeliers cast golden light over elegantly dressed guests. Music drifted gently through the air, mingling with the soft hum of conversation and clinking glasses.
Everyone looked glamorous, the men in razor-sharp suits, women glittering in evening gowns.
Carefully, they milled around the hall with their wine glasses in hand. No doubt amidst this banquet, business must go on.
But for Stella, it doesn't matter. It was already her blessing to find the top echelon and power players of Crown City gracing the engagement.
Yet amidst all the wealth and prestige, her heart swelled with pride.
This was her engagement. Her night. A dream came true.
It didn't matter that most of them were here because of her father, James Norton, or because of Bruce. Tonight, she was the reason they'd gathered.
She exhaled sharply and took a step forward.
She took a glass of wine from a waiter passing by and weaved her way through the crowd with a polite smile.
For a moment, everything felt perfect.
But the next moment, the lively chatter in the hall turned into hushed, soft murmurings.
Slowly, she turned around, and her breath caught. Her hand trembled slightly before it tightened on the glass in her hand.
Her eyes were wide with disbelief at the scene unfolding before her.
Bruce George, her fiancé, had his hand wrapped around her sister's waist as they marched into the hall, footsteps in sync as though they had rehearsed it for this moment.
Stella's heart tightened.
His gaze was gentle, his eyes soft, and reverence etched on his face as he whispered to her, her cheeks flushed with shy delight.
The scene was too intimate and
misleading, or so she thought, while dread gnawed at her heart.
"Phina?" She whispered, her voice trembled with shock.
As though she heard her, Phina raised her brow, a cold, mocking smirk played on her lips.
For a moment if felt like a dream.
No like an illusion, she blinked, hoping she was mistaken.
Yet they were there, his arm snaked around her waist, bodies clasped together. Her dimples showed how happy she was.
Stella's heart fell.
She swallowed the bitterness that had welled up in her heart, her feet unconsciously moving towards them.
Several thoughts raced through her mind just to qualify the reason why they both came in together or why he had his arms around her waist.
But there was none.
"Sister," she called, her gaze trained on their intimate posture. "You came together?" She asked after a deep exhale.
*
*
*
*Stella's gaze darted between Bruce and Phina then the wide hall brimming with guest.
She hoped her question would diffuse the suspicion already brimming within the hall about their relationship.
But Bruce's next word left her frozen at a spot.
"Yes," Bruce replied flatly, his tone void of warmth.
Just before she could recover from his answer, he brushed past her without sparing her a glance.
His hand subtly tightening around Phina's waist as though she would be lost in the crowd if he let's go or may be he might lose her.
Under the gaze of everyone around, he led her straight to the stage. Stella's chest tightened with dread clawing at her heart.
His every move and gesture toward her was both tender and gentle as though she was some sort of porcelain doll that might shatter any moment.
And whenever his gaze flicked to Stella it turned cold and emotionless, the strangers' eyes as though they never met.
Gone was the tender gaze that trailed her when she walks.
Gone was the gentle smile that curls his lips when they met.
Stella hasn't met this Bruce George in all the years of their courtship and even in the past few weeks.
Had it been a lie all the while?
Was she just carried away or had he always been like this?
The more she thought about it, the more she wasn't reconciled.
Her gaze followed him, her pulse raced with trepidation as he took the microphone from the MC. a sense of foreboding washed over her.
"I have an announcement to make," Bruce smirked, his deep voice echoed through the hall.