Her Husbands

and full table was covered with all kinds of dishes and desserts, the only thing that kept me here. Irene was sitting on other side while her daughter was on the opposite. I was sitting at th

made me look at him. "I love you, Hazel. What else do you need?" I smiled at his words. "I know but-" "No buts. I cannot stand seeing my childhood friend bawling her eyes out and looking like an ugly pig," I smacked his arm and laughed. This was the reason why he was my safe place. "Who're you calling a pig. You look like a donkey, you leech." He laughed as he dodged my attack. My mood was suddenly lifted. Dominic and I were childhood friends, when I was born, he was two years old and we spent almost most of our childhood with each other when my mother died, Dominic's mother raised me. "Anyways, your father will be mad if you will not show up for greetings." I rolled my eyes. "He's right." I glanced over my shoulder, and my eyes widened in shock when I saw Cassius standing a few feet away from us. "I..." I looked at him startled as he took a step towards the fountain next to me. "My Lord," Dominic bowed as he stepped away from me. I frowned but kept quiet as Cassius didn't even look at him. "I'm feeling thirsty," I gulped as he mumbled holding my gaze. Dominic blinked at him and bowed again. "I'll bring something for you, My Lord," he said before walking towards the door. My eyes widened watching his retreating back I felt betrayed when my vision my blocked by black silk. To reduce the awkwardness between us, I stepped back to create a space between us. "What're you doing here?" I asked politely, looking at the water in front. "To be honest... I'm not a big fan of balls." He shrugged his shoulders. "And you?" "Well, I've never been to one." He glanced at me. "Why? Hora is known for hosting the best balls in the whole region." I almost laughed. With a small smile, I looked his way and shrugged my shoulders. "I don't know. I was not allowed to." His brows furrowed in a frown and he turned his body towards me. "Then why today?" "For the food." He chuckled and I held back my smile. He grinned and somehow he became that much more handsome. "Not for me then?" "Well, I didn't see you talking to me," I smirked. For the first time this night, I saw him chuckle. He turned his head and held my gaze with the same intensity as before. "I...I just needed some fresh air." I averted my eyes. His gaze was too intense and captivating. He raised his head and I couldn't believe how much he towered over me. "Tell me about yourself." I raised a brow. "Nothing is interesting to know." He smiled that rare smile again. "It's for me to decide." "Um... there's nothing much," I tried hard to think. "Just my father's daughter, my mother died when I was a child....and rest is for the whole world to see." "That's why you don't seem to fit in." He said. I scoffed at his blunt remark. "Well, thanks for that...I needed a reminder of how much different I was from them." "On the contrary, you're the most beautiful woman here." I looked at him startled. "....are you insane?" He laughed for the second time that night. "Nice way to take compliments." "Pardon me," I said averting my gaze as my cheeks get hot. "Compliments are rare for a girl like me." He furrowed his brows as he looked down at me. "Why so? You do not fancy your family?" I sighed. "It's not like that.... they're not exactly my... favourite," I said frankly. I took a deep breath and stared at the garden below. "Honestly, aside from my father and two of my sisters, none of them like me very much. But like everything, my father's love is... conditional. He says he loves me but...I want his actions to justify his words." There was a look of sorrow in my eyes. I looked up at him and put on a fake smile. "I'm a boring person, I know." He gave me a small smile. "Quite contrary." I couldn't figure him out. Why was he so interested in me when Isabella was just sitting on his l