This chapter is among the MOST touching chapters we've ever written! Comment on every line you like & give it the appreciation it deserves!

We'll genuinely be devastated if it gets undermined because it took us a lot of work :(((

Oh, and on a side note, we personally had the trailer music playing as we wrote this chapter, so if you'd like to listen to something, this is our recommendation to you:)

P.S. check out a couple of VERY important & interesting A/N's at the end :)

And by the way, we have basic dance knowledge so excuse any unprofessional descriptions you read :)

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A string at the deepest core of my heart tugged. Hard. 

And blood froze in my veins. 

As my eyes widened.

Huh?

What did she just... say?

'This is Carolina De Françis, Rickard's fiancé.'

A series of flashbacks shot to my mind in a split of a second.

'I was not sure whether it's my place to bring this up, to be honest, but considering I can see how things with Charlotte are... advancing...Carolina is back in London.' –Sarah Dowell's voice shot to my mind.

'When we get out to the crowd, let us separate trajectories. I cannot be seen with you in public for tonight.' –Rickard Ellington's statement.

And that... farewell-like kiss.

It all made sense now.

Lava-like tears rose up my tear glands.

Oh but I'd be damned if I let them fall at such a moment.

My mouth went dry, as one thought sank in more and more and more.

I was apparently nothing but a side chick.

More flashbacks of Rickard Ellington Conway's different sides and aspects I'd encountered in our travels, and even before that and throughout our advancing... relationship... shot to my mind.  

And they stabbed my heart. Over and over and over.

It was pain I have never experienced before.

Not when Paris Fiore was introduced and seemed like someone close to him.

Not when he got a new secretary to replace me and she was very good-looking and hot.

Not when I learned he'd bedded Aria Faulkner and thought she was beautiful.

Not when I thought he cared for Sarah too much. 

Not when I saw that stripper eating over his neck in Dubai.

Not even when Reina Collins returned. 

Never before. 

Maybe because whatever we had between us was not as advanced as now.

A cozy memory of snuggling into his broad, warm back and falling asleep securely hit my heart.

Maybe because I had not seen the sides I'd seen of him on many occasions recently.

His lip twitch back when he was feverish and falling asleep before me flashed before me.

Maybe because he'd not made me feel as though I'm... different as he'd done recently.

Various moments from our time in the planetarium hit me like a truck.

And it all hurt too much. 

In complete silence, I eyed the blonde beauty before me, gazing into me and observing my shook state. A further reason for my pain sunk in, as I eyed the diamond ring in her right ring finger.

This felt too real. 

A fiancé... an engagement... a ring... a seal.

Why did he do this to me? 

I stood up, unable to force a smile this time, as I just nodded courteously, biting my red lips so hard so that I could swallow my tears back. And I walked away wordlessly.

I can't cry here. Not when I knew they were both looking at me awaiting my breakdown. 

My entire body shivered, as the crowd from around me started moving back, and apparently the area I'd reached was the dance floor area in the middle of the yacht, with a band of guitarists, violinists, drummers, flute-players, and even a pianist, all of which playing simultaneously. 

Few couples were harmonically dancing on the floor at the sounds of the music, and the scenes only pained my heart further.

Couples...

As the music subsided, a silhouette appeared on the stage at that. 

Oh...

My heart sank in darkness as I eyed Lady Agatha Ellington smile graciously at the audience before her.

What... does she want?

She held the microphone, as her golden dress shone beneath the lights, and so did her golden-white hair. Her diamond set also reflected, bringing all eyes at her.

As she arced her purple lips into an arrogant smile, she raised her chin up, fixing her bright hazel greens unflinchingly in the audience's direction.

"I have decided to take this initiative," she held her whiskey glass up in cheers, "Because I'm feeling rather euphoric for the night." 

Oh, she really wasn't joking when she said she was having a very good time eh? 

"Not only is Lord Keith among my favourite business figures in the industry." She announced, her smile widening at someone some feet away.

Looking there, I saw Sebastian Evan Keith, graciously standing among a group of women, as he smiled at her enchantingly.

The handsome devil! Seriously?!

"But this yacht ball hosted by him will be the first to be attended by my daughter in law, after she'd come back from her studies in France!"

And she raised her glass in that direction.

And all snapped in that direction.

Carolina De Françis stood between the crowd, clearly having not expected to be signaled out at such a moment.

She fidgeted, yet handled it perfectly, as she gracefully, arrogantly smiled in Lady Agatha's direction, her grey eyes unflinching and her pink lips glowing under the lights.

Chatters and applause from the crowd was heard. 

"Carolina, I am very delighted to have you back!" She kept her psychotic smile, as she raised her glass in a third direction at that.

And all eyes shot towards him following her action.

And my heart gave a long painful tug.

He stood next to Leonard Beards, and he had a whiskey glass in his left hand.

Chin raised up, jaw clenched, and an unfazed deadly look in her direction. As though his features were sculpted straight from the coldest mountains worldwide, his face mirrored no expression but ultimate haughtiness and disinterest.

"And I am sure my step son, The Rickard Ellington Conway is equally delighted!"

Ouch, heart! Stop clenching!

Lava rose up my tear glands again, as I felt my throat hurt from all the clenching I was doing to prevent any gasp or sob or sniff from escaping me.

No, not now Charlotte, not now!!!

Her eyes, for a split of a second, shot towards me at that, sending shivers across my spine.

And then she directly turned towards the music band, signalling at them before she turned towards the audience again.

"So, Rickard, Carolina... Won't you honour the audience with a dance to remember?"

And that was it. 

My vision blurred, yet no tears came down.

From between the crowd, I eyed as Rickard Ellington's orbs widened in stun, and the vice-president next to him stiffened.

He was fast to recover, his expression freezing again. And his eyes snapped in her direction.

And their eyes met.

His and Carolina De Françis'.

It was as though they were... communicating.

And Carolina smiled calmly at that. 

No. Stop. 

The world suddenly turned into black and white for me, and the entire sounds were muted.

As Lady Agatha descended from the stage.

And the two silhouettes approached it. 

This hurts so much. 

Rickard Ellington Conway and Carolina De Françis made their way to the stage, and the Adam was first to arrive.

But he descended not.

As he awaited her.

In seconds as she arrived, he extended his hand towards her, and she took it thoughtlessly.

And they ascended to the stage. Hand in hand.

I turned. That was it, I could not watch this.

I was moving to leave, when a hand came against my shoulder.

Eyes widening, I slowly was able to take in the features of the hand.

This hand... gemstone rings... a rollex...

I gasped, eyes wide as I eyed the source.

His smile was as casual as ever.

And his chest tattoos still showed from beneath his open chemise. 

His deep jades were eating every single feature of mine, as they glinted with playfulness, yet... weird sincerity.

"Shall we relive that dance experience in the waters of the Thames this time?"

My eyes widened at Sebastian Keith in pure disbelief.

And I got what he was hinting on... The 'Dance by the Thames' we danced on back in his last days in London before I went back to the company.

My heart sank. 

And yet something dark glinted in it.

It was that loneliness I'd felt back then.

The feeling of having lost something irreplaceable.

And once again, Sebastian Evan Keith seemed to be that small ray of light reaching out for little Charlotte in the dark.

As I eyed the couple some feet behind him, a weird, inky, and very dark feeling stirred inside my heart.

It wasn't just hurt.

It wasn't just disappointment.

It was... anger.

Why... Why did he do this?

"So?" Sebastian Keith's voice came, carefreely, "The band is waiting." He kept his smile as he shrugged.

A small smile twitched at my lips. 

He was such an irresistible spirit.

I nodded, and took his hand as it extended out for me.

Chatters rose as we made our way towards the stage.

-"Wow, isn't that the lady his lordship had made an entrance with?"

-"Out of all the women dying at his feet for the night..."

-"And it's his first dance for the night as well...!"

-"Not to mention at his own hosted ball...!"

I ignored all the chatters I could hear, as we neared the other couple at the stage.

And their attention just then fell on us.

Carolina De Françis eyed us casually, unflinching.

The grey in her eyes glimmered with one clear thing as it slightly darkened.

She knew us.

Both Sebastian and I.

Too well. 

What...?

I didn't get the chance to observe her longer.

Not when another pair of orbs was burning holes through me.

I dared look towards him, while alarming my entire system not to break down. 

And what an expression he had.

Priceless. 

His lips were parted, frozen. And his jaw was tight, clenched like steel. 

His eyes were wide, storming wide. And the blue in them was pure icebound. They were not even freezing, just purely disbelieving. 

If anything, his expression was one I'd seen only once since I'd first met him.

Back when I slapped him in the car when Reina Collins had returned. 

And maybe showing up with Sebastian to the dance floor was just that to him at the moment.

A slap that he, with all his mightiness and glory, did not see coming.

Sebastian smiled at the couple, tightening his grip slightly around my hand. "Excuse us for intruding, and please don't mind us." 

Slowly, Rickard Ellington's expression had started to defrost at that. 

And darkness started falling on his features, as his eyes fell on me again. 

I looked back, my eyes unfathomable I was sure, because I myself did not know what I was feeling. 

I knew for a fact though that two feelings were certainly there, intertwined:

Hurt, yet also grudge.

Lord Keith minded our gaze exchange not, as he gently tugged at my hand to move behind him as soon as Carolina De Françis nodded at his comment.

I followed to take our positions some steps away, and he gestured at the music band to start playing.

We took our waltz position, and music slowly started upbeating from around us.

Sebastian's back was towards the couple some steps away, and so was Rickard Ellington Conway's back turned in our direction.

Meaning I and Carolina De Françis were looking eye to eye.

The moment she noticed that as well, her lips twitched, as she intensified her gaze in my direction.

And she neared him even further, running her long and thin fingers alluringly over his muscular neck, in an act to purposely and consciously hurt me.

My chest constrained, and I felt my breath get stuck in my lungs, as I gulped, avoiding her gaze.
Both men moved at once at that, leading the dance with the first step. 

And we moved.

Like two animated pairs programmed identically on some video editing app.

It was a good thing I still clearly remember the dancing lessons I'd taken in college, as well as my latest dance with Sebastian Keith; as I was able to keep up with the pace perfectly.

Maybe I was extra focused as well because I had some... competition...

As my eyes alternated at the couple, I eyed as Rickard Ellington Conway moved lead his partner around the dance floor like some military show, and she followed perfectly. 

His gaze was freezing, and clearly at a darker state than any other I've seen during the night.

Music rose, and I could tell from Sebastian's lead that a spin was coming.

I didn't mind that, as I awaited the perfect moment for him to give me the signal

Three, two, one...!

He spun me, and I realized as my back turned towards him, that Rickard Ellington had also spun his partner at the same moment, meaning she had her back towards him.

He seemed to have noticed the same thing, as his eyes fell into mine.

And time paused at that.

The millisecond seemed so long.

A millisecond where we both had our eyes off of our partners, and at each other.

My heart forgot how to beat, and it ached. 

Particularly as I saw how his orbs... which never lie... stormed wildly upon falling on me.

It was as though they wanted to devour me before... 

Before–

The spin ended, as I faced Sebastian Evan Keith.

–I ended up in another man's arms again.

I bit my lips fiercely, the hell am I thinking!!!! 

I blinked, noticing Sebastian's gaze fix into me, as it glowed enticingly. 

He had his composed smile, and yet this time...

In addition to the honesty and genuineness it always held when directed at me...

It had challenge.

And his beauteous and alluring jades held clear challenge in them.

And he pulled me even closer than before, as I felt his rippled and hard chest muscles against me.

"Careful there, tough one." He mouthed, enticingly as he lead the dance professionally, and I noticed something extra in his eyes at that.

It was as though he was... offended? Wha...?

He took me by surprise at that, as I noticed his choreography changed.

W-Wait... What... he's.... changing his choreography from the other couple?! As in we're not... mirroring them anymore...

And he buried his irises into my soul.

For a second, managing to clearly take me by surprise, thus invading my thoughts completely.

"No woman dancing with me can have her eyes on another man."

And he moved me, faster and according to further layers of the beat.

I gasped, my eyes slightly wide, yet still managed to keep up to his pace.

"S-Sebastian..." I managed out in confusion. 

He spoke not, as he moved gracefully over the music, and I noticed he was not eyeing me.

No, more specifically, he was eyeing someone... behind me...?

It occurred to me at that... what he's done...

He'd changed his choreography in a way where I don't even have to see the Ellington President and his fiancé. 

And was fixing Mr. Ellington with those deep, wild, yet clearly challenging jades of his, as he moved me smoothly.

Slight relief washed over me somehow from the realization.

Because at least... I wouldn't have to gaze at him dancing with his fiancé in his hard and muscular arms.

Pain washed over my heart, as I sighed, eyeing the Adam before me as we moved smoothly. 

I'd pissed him off, didn't I...

I pouted softly, "I'm sorry if I was disrespectful." 

He blinked, turning back towards me in surprise.

A slight chuckle escaped him, as he fixed me with his carefree look. "Not at all. I was just teasing you, and you should know that." 

I frowned, "Excuse me?! You call that dark expression a tease? I feared for my life for a second there, Mister!"

He chuckled again, and we turned to the music. 

I smiled seeing his chuckle, as I spotted Lady Agatha glaring at us from afar. Ha! Serves you right?!!

"My, is Lady Agatha going to be okay if I'm dancing with one of her favourites?" I teased, smirking at him.

He blinked in surprise, before getting my reference and laughing throatily. "I'm an enemy of her despised step son, why would she not like me?" He mouthed smoothly, as he grimaced, "I gotta say though man, is she hard to handle!" He spoke in a chuckle.

I giggled at his expression, and somehow at that, our choreography demanded a spin. 

Getting the signal, I counted to three, allowing his lordship to spin me again. 

I couldn't help my gaze which fell on our opponent couple on the dance floor.

I couldn't help many things at this moment, in fact...

I couldn't help that tiny glimpse of hope at the deepest core of my heart from emerging about him having his eyes on me in case he was spinning his partner as well.

Only, he wasn't spinning her, because our choreographies were different now.

And so what I couldn't help at that was the single traitor tear which climbed out of my lid... when I saw him pull his partner closer by placing his left hand at the pit of her back, turning with her as she buried her head into his neck.

Luckily enough, my traitor tear disappeared due to the velocity of the spin, as I landed in Sebastian's arms again. 

And he saw my expression. 

His eyes darkened, and his smile faded, as he seemed to be able to read the clear sadness and hurt my eyes were no longer doing the effort to hide. 

His jaw tightened, as his eyes snapped to the couple behind us at that, glinting with something... weird.

Something like... anger...? 

It was directly concealed, as he moved his jaw.

"Charlotte," He started, snapping my attention towards him as our pace remained. "Do you have any experience in latin dancing? Salsa or Jive, for example?" 

I blinked, frowning in confusion at him, "B-Barely. And definitely not quarter my knowledge of ballroom." 

He kept his gaze into the couple, and I noticed the music was heading towards a final, epic upbeat before reaching a dramatic end.

His orbs were glinting, and challenge was clearly dancing within them.

"They are going to end their dance with an intermix of a latin multiple spins." He stated coolly, and I could tell he was observing them enough to be able to guess from their lead to music. 

I eyed him in confusion, and his orbs snapped to fix into mine at that, glowing with clear determination and