Chapter 17
My phone buzzed again, insistent, shrill against the quiet of my room. I glanced down. My mother. Again. For the past twenty-four hours, I hadn't picked up a single one of her calls, and I wasn't about to start now. Not after yesterday. Not after everything. I let it ring. And ring.
Mimi, perched on the edge of my bed, shook her head, smirking. "You're going to break your phone if you keep ignoring her like that."
"I don't care," I muttered, sliding it into my clutch. "She can call all she wants. I'm busy."
"Busy getting ready to turn the prince's party upside down, maybe?" she teased. Her mischief made me grin, a tiny flicker of comfort in my nerves.
I stood in front of the vanity, my stomach twisting. My reflection stared back at me—extensions perfectly blended with my natural hair, cascading waves brushing my shoulders. Mimi had laid out everything meticulously: palettes, brushes, false lashes, shimmering powders, lipsticks, hairpins.
"Stop staring like a deer in headlights," Mimi said, sharp but caring. "Tonight, the room is yours. You need to own it. Every eye will be on you, Leah, but only if you let them see the queen in you."
I nodded, swallowing hard.
She started with foundation, expertly smoothing it across my face. Each stroke erased shadows and fatigue from the day before. Contouring came next—cheekbones drawn sharper, jawline defined, highlighter dusted along the tops of my cheeks, the bridge of my nose, even under my collarbones. The glow made me feel… powerful, illuminated.
Then came the eyes. Mimi applied dark, smoky shadows, blending expertly to create depth and allure. She pressed false lashes onto my lids, long and dramatic. I blinked, unsteady. My eyes seemed larger, sharper, commanding.
"And lips," she said, holding up a bold red, deep enough to make anyone pause. "You want them to remember you when you speak, when you smile."
I closed my eyes as she applied it. When I opened them, I barely recognized myself. The timid girl I knew had vanished. In her place stood someone fierce, magnetic, almost dangerous.
Next, the hair. Mimi attached extensions, blending seamlessly. She teased and pinned strands, letting waves fall over my shoulders like soft, dark silk. The transformation was staggering. I hardly recognized the girl in the mirror—powerful, beautiful, untouchable.
Finally, jewelry. Long, dangling earrings, delicate bracelets that shimmered, a simple clutch. She stepped back, inspecting her work. "There. The Leah that the prince and everyone else will never forget."
I took a slow, measured turn, letting my eyes sweep over the full effect. The black satin dress clung to my curves, plunging neckline, bare back daring and bold. Every detail screamed transformation.
My heart thumped wildly. Part of me wanted to hide. Another part wanted to stand tall and let everyone see. Mimi clapped her hands. "Now move. Show them who you are."
The car ride to the palace was tense, each red light, each turn magnifying the flutter in my chest. My pulse raced as I glimpsed my reflection in the tinted window. Perfect. Gorgeous. Magnetic. And yet… nerves still twisted inside me.
When we arrived, the palace glimmered under the night sky. Music floated from inside, lights shimmered, laughter and chatter blending together. I stepped out of the car, heels clicking against the polished marble, and I paused, taking in the hall. Glittering gowns, crisp suits, chandeliers reflecting every hue. My stomach tightened.
I stepped forward, scanning faces, trying to focus on anything but the tension coiling inside me. For a moment, I didn't see him. Not yet.
A tap on my shoulder startled me. Mimi grinned, mischief in her eyes. "Look at him," she whispered. "The prince. He's looking at you."
I froze.
Across the hall, perfectly poised, he watched. Not moving, not speaking, just looking. And yet, the intensity of his gaze made the room shrink. My pulse hammered, my lips trembled. My stomach twisted, nerves and excitement intertwined.
I wanted to run. To hide. But I was rooted in place, caught in the pull of his attention.
I took a slow breath, trying to steady myself. The dress hugged my body like a second skin, bold, daring. Hair flowing perfectly over my shoulders, lashes long and heavy, lips red and commanding. I felt… exposed, yet alive.
Then Kian appeared, a calm presence in contrast to the storm building inside me. "Huh… so all that shopping yesterday… it was for the party?"
I forced a small, casual smile. "Something like that."
"Why didn't you tell me?" His voice held curiosity, a hint of surprise.
"I… didn't think it mattered," I said softly.
He chuckled, and our conversation drifted to the music, the decorations, the people around us. But my eyes kept flicking to the prince. He remained perfectly still, his gaze fixed, unreadable. There was something in it—jealousy, admiration, desire—quiet but undeniable.
My hands clenched my clutch. My chest felt hot, the weight of attention pressing down. The bold dress, the daring neckline, the bare back, cascading waves of hair—it all screamed confidence, but I wasn't used to feeling so… scrutinized.
The MC's voice cut through the hall sharply. "Ladies and gentlemen, the dance floor is now open!"
The music swelled, slow and melodic. Couples moved gracefully, swirling and spinning, lights glinting off gowns, suits, crystal.
Kian stepped closer, extending his hand. "Shall we?"
I nodded, stepping toward him, seeking comfort in his presence, a small anchor in the sea of tension. My heart thumped as I moved, ready to follow the rhythm.
Just as I was about to start dancing with Kian, a tap on my back froze me.
I turned.
The prince stood there, his gaze unwavering, piercing. "May I… may I have this dance?" he asked, voice low, controlled, commanding. "It would be a pleasure to dance with you."
My chest tightened. My mind raced. I looked at Kian, who waited patiently, expecting me to move with him. Then I looked at the prince, whose eyes had followed me since I entered, full of silent intensity.
My heart thundered. My legs felt weak. Every eye in the room was on me, every whisper and glance adding to the pressure.
I wanted to move toward Kian, to feel safe, to breathe. But I also wanted to surrender to the prince, to the intensity, to the magnetic pull between us.
I was standing there, caught between them, torn, frozen, utterly overwhelmed.
Who should I dance with?
I didn't know.