hapter 10
Chapter 10
The engagement ceremony unfolded at an exquisite private winery.
It wasn‘ t ostentatious or dripping with unnecessary grandeur, yet every corner radiated an understated elegance that spoke of thoughtful care.
The guest list was intimate, composed mostly of men and women around Lucas‘ s age, their poised demeanor hinting at their
stature.
As Lucas led me into the venue, the lively hum of chatter instantly heightened.
A man with an easy, welcoming smile called
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out, “Sister–in–law! Long time no see!”
Startled, I turned toward him, racking my brain for a semblance of familiarity, but his
face drew a blank.
Noticing my confusion, he laughed and pointed to himself.
“It’s me, Theodore! I used to visit the Spencer family to shoot hoops with William back in school. You were always near the court… feeding ants!”
Feeding ants?
No memory came rushing back despite my best efforts.
Truthfully, anything connected to Lucas had always felt distant, like fragments from a
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storybook I hadn’t fully read.
The room broke into hearty laughter, and the teasing began in earnest.
“If that’s the case, we‘ ve all met her before!”
“Sister–in–law, wasn‘ t it at the café on Royal Mile Street?”
“Little sister, I’ve definitely seen your pictures!”
Their playful remarks sent waves of heat rushing to my cheeks.
For the second time that day, I felt my face burn, though this time under the spotlight of good–natured teasing.
Sensing my unease, Lucas wrapped an arm
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around me, his voice warm yet protective.
“Avery’s a little shy. Be gentle with her, or I’ll have to keep her all to myself.”
The man who had mentioned basketball
chimed in again with a mischievous grin.
“Sister–in–law isn‘ t shy! She used to play with snakes in the garden!”
I lowered my voice in defense, “Those were corn snakes. They don‘ t bite.”
Lucas leaned closer, his breath warm against my ear as he whispered, “Avery, even corn snakes can bite when provoked. That’s not exactly the best lesson for kids in the future.”
My face flared a deep crimson.
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We weren’t even officially engaged yet, and
he was already talking about raising children.
Before I could respond, he lightly pinched my earlobe, his touch teasing.
“I think your cheeks are so red, you don’t even need makeup.”
“I do need makeup,” I blurted out instinctively, still flustered.
“I have to record a video later.”
His smile widened, his tone effortlessly indulgent.
“Alright,” he said with a slight nod.
Then, turning to the stylist nearby, he added, “Please take Avery to get her makeup done. She needs to look her absolute best on
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camera.
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“Don’t worry, Mr. Spencer,” the stylist replied with a knowing grin. “I’ll make sure Miss Avery looks stunning.”
The stylist stepped forward and gestured for me to follow.
“Miss Avery, right this way.”
I cast a quick smile at Lucas and the others before following her toward the makeup
room.
At last, as I stepped out of the whirlwind of teasing and whispers, my face, hot from one wave of embarrassment after another, finally found a moment‘ s reprieve.
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At the same engagement venue, William lounged against the bar, his posture relaxed yet exuding an air of nonchalance. He lazily swirled the wine in his glass, his smooth banter with friends masking the tension simmering beneath his calm exterior.
Every so often, his gaze flicked toward the door, betraying his unease.
Only thirty minutes remained until the engagement dinner, yet Avery was
conspicuously absent.
That wasn’t like her.
He knew he had been distant lately, brushing off her feelings and demanding she apologize to Amanda. It had undoubtedly hurt her, but Avery was no stranger to swallowing her
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pride for his sake.
In his mind, no matter how upset she might have been, skipping an event this significant was entirely out of character.
After all, she adored him, didn’t she? Her love had always been steadfast, and her reluctance to stray from his side was something he’d come to rely on.
She had to be doing this on purpose, he thought bitterly.
Waiting for him to make the first move, to coax her back into attending the engagement
dinner.
The audacity. Avery was growing bolder, more defiant, testing his patience on a day as
monumental as this.
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The more the thought churned in his mind, the tighter his grip grew on the wine glass. Fury simmered beneath his composed exterior, threatening to boil over.
Finally, he raised the glass high and let out a sharp laugh. “Come on, everyone! Let’s keep drinking! No one leaves this place sober tonight!”
The crowd froze for a moment, exchanging puzzled glances, uncertain of whether he was serious or merely trying to mask something deeper.
