CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN

Jack threw a punch which Mr. Black easily caught.
"Are these supposed to be muscles? how cute" Mr. Black said to tease him.
Mr. Black then leaned down to Jack's level and said.
" I'd watch it if I were you" Jack took his hand back.
" Fuck you"
" Let's go Miss Amelia"
Lia followed Mr. Black and they went elsewhere. Mabel followed behind them but kept a low profile, so that she wouldn't get noticed.
" Hello Lia, Mr. Black"
" How unfortunate for me to run into you, Mr. Stone," Mr. Black said.
" You are still giving me the cold shoulders, I see"
" Josiah, thank God you are here. I really needed someone to keep me company" Lia said.
" I've been by your side all this while," Mr. Black said.
" He bullied you, didn't he?"
"He did"
"Well sorry sweet cheeks, I can't stay"
"Then let me follow you" Lia pleaded with Josiah.
"Trust me you will be better of with Black plus I don't want to die tonight, I am sure Mr. King won't spare me if you did" Josiah blew her a kiss and left.
She suddenly shivered.
"It's so cold, all of a sudden" Lia said as she wrapped her hands around her body.
"It's probably just you," Mr. Black said.
"Well since you are perfectly fine let me wear your Jacket"
"I'm not your husband," Mr. Black said from behind her and suddenly disappeared.
Lia looked around her trying to find where he ran off to.
" How could he just leave me here?" Lia whined.
" Who left you?" Lia almost jumped from the sudden appearance of the madame.
"Thank God you are here Madame, I'm so lonely"
"How have you been enjoying the banquet so far?"
"It's so boring, I just want to home" Lia complained.
"Just do what I always do. Stare at the awful choice of clothing people are wearing and laugh. That's the only reason I come to these pointless gatherings anyways"
" Oh"
" Look over there, the girl in pink. What is she even wearing, I can have a heart attack just by staring too much" The madame said and laughed.
" I don't see anything wrong with it"
" Hmm, I have this friend"
" And?" Lia asked, excited to hear a story.
" He is an optician"
" So?"
" I can take you to meet him, to get your eyes checked" The madame said and laughed at her Joke.
"..."
" I will be right back," The madame said.
" Wait, where are you going?"
" I see something eye-catching, I have to take a closer look"
" Wait don't leave me here. Nope, she is gone. I'm all alone again"
Lia stood there for a while. She noticed about six girls coming her way and Mabel was at their front.
She sure does know how to make friends fast. Three of the girls surrounded Lia. The remaining two stayed by Mabel's side.
" Just look at her, girls." one of the girls said.
" So fake," Another one said.
" You guys, don't say that about my sister. I'm sure she just wanted to leave a good impression, right Lia boo?" Mabel said.
Lia wasn't in the mood to deal with such childish acts. She turned around to leave.
" Oh look, she wants to go running to her sugar daddy. What is he going to do to us? I'm so scared" Another one said.
Lia paused. She turned back to face Mabel.
" That's right Mabel told us all about how much of a slut you are. You went from trying to seduce her boyfriend to finding yourself a big shot"
" It's not like that guys. She was just blinded by love that's why she did that. But now she has found through love and married her current husband" Mabel said trying to defend Lia.
" Sister just know that I support your relationship with brother in law, even though he might be old and ugly"
Mabel grabbed Lia's hand.
" Let go of me" Lia smacked Mabel's hand away causing Mabel to stagger back.
"How dare you push her away? She was even trying to defend you just now. Don't you know that she is the future Mrs. Griffon?"
"She is acting all arrogant because of the dress she is wearing"
"Is it even an original?"
"Who says my dress is fake" The madame came back.
Mabel's five minions instantly moved away from Lia. They couldn't afford to anger the madame.
However, Mabel didn't get the message.
"Ah, so you are the one who plagiarized the dress"
"Plagiarized?"
"You did a good job, I must give you that. I was almost deceived"
"Do you have any idea who you are talking to?"
"Of course, you are nothing but a fraud. But nothing is expected from a wrinkled old lady"
"Old? Wrinkled?" The madame's eyes twitched.
" Do you even take care of yourself properly?" Mabel asked.
By now all of Mabel's minions were watching from a far distance. They couldn't afford to anger the madame just because they wanted to curry favor from the Griffons to please their fathers.
A lot of people were already watching the show that was on display. Mabel had crossed the line.
Everyone knew Madame Marie for her short temper.
There are three things you should never say to her.
1. She plagiarized.
2. Call her old.
3. Her jokes aren't funny.
Mabel has just done two of them. The madame suddenly put her hand on Mabel's head and gently stroked it.
This confused a lot of people watching them. Mabel's head was suddenly bent backward and she was crying for help. Madame Marie was pulling on Mabel's hair as hard as she could.
"Let me enlighten you, stupid bitch. I am Madame Marie" Mabel's eyes widened.
" But of course, I wouldn't expect an ill-bred child like you to know that or have respect for your elders"
" I'm sorry, please let me go, I'm pregnant" Mabel pleaded.
" Pregnant or not, I would have beaten you up to a pulp. But I don't touch the skin of ugly creatures"
The madame paused.
" Even the thick layers of makeup couldn't hide your hideous face. These were my favorite gloves and now I have to throw them away because a rat couldn't stop talking, I'd watch myself from now on if I were you"
The madame finally let go of Mabel's hair and stormed off. Mabel felt relieved as blood rushed back to her scalp. She lowered her head in shame and left.
Lia was yet again left alone.
Suddenly the whole banquet became silent. Everyone was staring at something or rather someone.
The dark prince had finally made an appearance. People who didn't know who he was were all curious about him.
Those who knew him were frightened. They felt as if any little mistake they make will cost them their heads.
The girls and a few married women gazed at him lustfully. He was too handsome to resist.
None of their stares bothered Leo the slightest bit. He kept on a straight face. He only had one person in mind.
Lia was also staring at Leo. She took in his appearance. He wore a matching blue suit with her blue gown.
"It looks like hubby has arrived" Mr. Black whispered in Lia's ears.
"Where did you come from?"
Mr. Black just shrugged.
Leo looked around the crowd in search of his wife. They finally made eye contact. Leo eyed her up and down.
His mood instantly changed. It became gloomy all of a sudden. He started taking fast steps toward her.
Everyone who was in his way made a clear path for him to walk through like a true king.
Leo stopped walking as he reached Lia's front. Lia noticed the angry look on his face and wondered what she could have possibly done wrong.
Leo took off his jacket and placed it over Lia's shoulders.
"Why did you come here naked?" Leo asked.
"What do you mean by that?"
"I didn't pay so much money just for you to come here wrapped in a towel"
Lia laughed.
"That is the design of the dress Leo, there is nothing wrong with it"
"You can only wear these kinds of clothes in front of me. Understand?"
Lia just nodded.
Leo took Lia's hand in his large warm ones and kissed her knuckle and cheek. Lia had completely forgotten about the stares.
"Let's go," Leo said as he began to lead Lia away from the crowd. Lia just followed obediently.
Mabel was of course envious of Lia as always. Her plan to humiliate Lia went wrong. She had finally seen the mysterious figure Lia married.
She hated Lia even more for having a happy ending. Even though Mabel didn't know who he was yet or how much power he held, she still felt threatened that her plan to destroy Lia will not work.
Suddenly a new idea popped into Mabel's head. She grabbed a glass of red wine from a steward nearby.
She wanted to pretend a fall and spill the contents of the glass on Lia.
Unfortunately for her, Mr. Black saw through her plan and stuck his leg out. Mabel tripped on it and fell flat on her face.
All eyes were now on Mabel. Some people looked at her with disgust while others scowled at her.
"You should be careful" Mr. Black extended his hand.
Mabel didn't expect that the assistant would fall for her charms, but to her surprise, he took the glass that had somehow managed not to break from her hand.
"We can't afford to break such a fine piece of glassware, now can we?"