Chapter 18

"Will you dance with me, Your Highness?"

She had been so carried away by her thoughts that She had no idea what he had said and blinked rapidly.

He looked very familiar, but she couldn't place a face to the name. If only Cara weren't so far away right now, she would ask her. But Cara had gone to sit among them the other Maids, something that greatly annoyed her as she felt that there was no need to separate people like that.

She turned to her husband's side, but he was engrossed with whatever he was doing on his phone.

"Don't worry, I'm sure the king wouldn't mind."

She smiled and stood up. She didn't care if he minded or not, after all, he didn't care about her when he brought his mistress home.

"I can't really dance," she said and he smiled, noticing that she had stepped on him about five times.

Right from when she was young, Jasmine hated anything and any form of dancing.

"Are you and the king having problems?"

At his sentence, Jasmine pulled away from him, breathing hard as she wondered how so many people knew about it or was it just a wild guess? Either way, she had to do a good job of pretending that everything was fine.

"What?" Her brows pulled together into a frown.

"Any red-blooded man would kill anyone who dances with his beautiful wife like this," a smile was playing on his lips, making his face light up and making him look even more handsome.

She chuckled at that. If only Matt had seen her as he did.

"You think so?"

"What?" Her eyes widened as she realized that she had said that out loud.

He chuckled and it sounded so rich that it brought back memories. It was then that she realized who she had been dancing with and why he looked familiar.

"You're Alpha Jace!" She blurted out and he smiled.

"How are you, your highness?"

She smiled and nodded her head. After Matt had fought and laid Alpha Jace's pack to ruins, she'd heard nothing from him again.

"If you're having a bad time with your husband, you can just say the word. One word is all it takes and.." he winked and Jasmine chuckled, nodding her head.

"As much as I've missed you and am thankful for what you did for me, I'm quite content with my husband and wouldn't want to leave him anytime soon."

Although Jace had taken her because he wanted her children due to their powers, he had been very kind to her and had taken care of her. He was in love with her.

"If you say so, my lady."

"I uh..I have to get back to my husband now," Jasmine said, suddenly feeling like all eyes were on her.

He was about to say something when she walked back to her seat. She was expecting Matt to say something about her disappearance or dancing with a strange man, but he said nothing.

She swallowed the painful lump in her throat, wondering why she even cared about him or his thoughts.

Just then, the meal was served and she glanced at it. It looked really beautiful and appetizing, but it was so small that she felt that she could probably eat about ten servings without blinking an eye.

She was hungry already and began to dig in, trying to look as prim and proper as possible, while still trying to maintain her status.

When she was done, she felt even more hungrier than she had been and stared at the plate, willing for it to refill itself. She couldn't bring herself to Request for another serving. It was already bad enough that everyone thought she was having problems in her marriage, she didn't want any more nasty rumors.

Soon enough, the plates were cleared and replaced with dessert; a beautiful, warm, gooey, oozy chocolate topped with strawberry ice cream. She was almost drooling as she stared at it and couldn't help but moan in pleasure when she took her first bite.

From her peripheral vision, she saw Matt give her a weird look. But she was done caring about him or whatever he thought as she devoured the cake like no one was watching and ignoring the conversations around her.

She glanced at his Plate to see that it was untouched, just as she had thought.

She stood up after a while, feeling the urge to use the bathroom.

"I have to use the bathroom," She said, getting a grunt from him in response.

Jasmine walked to the lady's room and halted when she heard an all too familiar voice.

"The stain is horrible, it won't go off."

"Ughhhh. I had no idea that the bitch would be here!"

Her brows knitted in confusion. Both voices were very familiar! What was Leila doing with Rose? Her step-sister. The last she'd heard about her was that she had left the country.

"She's the Queen, what do you expect. I just didn't expect her to be actually here.."

"You didn't do your job well!" Rose snapped.

Jasmine was still pressed up against the door listening to them and wondering how and why Rose and Leila were acquainted and trying to make sense of their conversation.

"I don't even know why you're here. Isn't it risky? What if she sees you?"

"Oh please! I can do as I please and not even Jasmine can stop me. I'm sure she's on cloud nine thinking that she's going to find a way to get the king's affection again. The stupid bitch!"

A pregnant pause.

"Just be careful…"

"Why would I bother? When I already have all of his affection?" Jasmine said out loud, walking into the room and startling both women.

"Your Highness," Leila chuckled, her voice laced with nervousness.

"I have nothing to say to you, Leila," Jasmine turned to Rose.

"Hello Sister, finally crawled out of the hole you've been hiding?"