****Ana reluctantly drove her car to the party, it already being underway for hours—an event she felt obliged to attend rather than genuinely excited about. In an effort to blend in and avoid drawing attention to herself, she opted for a casual knee-length outfit and tied her hair up in a high ponytail.She parked her car outside a posh hotel and stepped out carrying a gift bag. Suddenly, the sound of camera clicks nearby caught her off guard, causing her to freeze in her tracks and scan her surroundings apprehensively.Her fingers clenched the bag tightly, her pulse racing as her breath quickened with nervous anticipation. Without a second thought, she hastened towards the venue, instinctively following the unerring guidance of her intuition, since her gut could never be wrong and it was telling her that someone was hiding and looking at her.As Ana stepped into the venue, she collided with a woman, their bodies jolting against each other. "Ow! I'm sorry!" Ana exclaimed with urgency,
"Hey there, birthday queen! You can't spend your time in one person when the whole place is buzzing for you," Kendall's voice echoed from behind Emilia, who spun around with a playful grin. "Well, well, well, look who decided to crash the party!" she exclaimed before whisking Kendall forward. "Allow me to unveil the mystery girl I've been hyping up," Emilia declared, looking at Ana, "the one and only Anastasia!""Oh, hey there! I've heard plenty about you," Kendall remarked, eyeing Ana up and down with keen interest. To her surprise, Emilia's praises were spot on. Despite not wearing any fancy makeup or designer clothes, Ana still managed to stand out like a diamond in the crowd."Hello, a pleasure to meet you, Kendall!" Ana greeted with a polished smile, though she couldn't help but notice Emilia and Kendall's eyes darting behind her, piquing her curiosity. With a raised eyebrow, she turned around to see what had caught their attention, only to be met with an unexpected collision wit
****"Why?" Ana questioned, her brows knitting together in confusion. "I don't like it. He's not there to ease his boredom; he's out to butter you up. Give that fella the heave-ho, or find yourself a new perch," Richard grumbled, sounding like a wild animal at the sight of Mason cozying up to Ana, even though Phoebe was sitting with them as well.He had practically seen the whole shebang: Mason being casual by the door with Ana, then miraculously finding his way to their table. Ana pushed herself up from her seat and edged away from Phoebe and Mason, to avoid them listening to her conversation."Why do you care? Shouldn't you be focusing on celebrating your fiancé's birthday instead of meddling in my business? And let me make it crystal clear: you have no authority over me. I'm no one to you," Ana spat out angrily, her frustration mounting as she confronted Richard. Earlier, he had feigned to be uninterested in attending Emilia's celebration even though he had arrived far earlier tha
***** "You are going too far, Richard. I am not your property to wield your authority over. Your constant intrusion and control over my life have left me utterly drained," she yelled, her voice cracking with the weight of her emotions, as she struggled to wrench her hand free from his tightening grasp.Ignoring Ana's protests, Richard forcefully guided her to a secluded corner of the venue, a grassy lawn bathed in the soft glow of moonlight. With an indifferent demeanour, he swung her around to face him, his grip on her hand tightening before abruptly releasing her, his actions conveying a sense of dominance. Ana stumbled slightly, her body tense with anger and frustration."I clearly told you to stay away from him, but you deliberately seek him out. Are you trying to make me jealous?" he demanded, his words laced with frustration and insecurity. His hands clenched into fists at his sides, as he struggled to contain the turmoil roiling within him. "Is there any particular reason I w
****"Richard!" Emilia's voice echoed with urgency as she frantically scanned everywhere, her heart racing with anxiety. His unanswered phone calls only ignited her worry, prompting her to fear he might have hastily departed the party with Ana."Excuse me," Emilia's voice trembled with concern as she approached the guard stationed outside the hotel entrance. "Have you seen my fiancé, Richard Hill?"The guard glanced at her with a neutral expression before shaking his head. "No, ma'am. No guest has left the hotel yet. Perhaps he's in the bathroom or enjoying the lawn on the other side."Emilia's heart raced, "Thank you," she managed, her voice barely above a whisper, before hurrying off in search of Richard, her mind plagued with worry.Emilia swiftly pivoted away from the venue, her heels clicking against the pavement as she headed towards the lawn. She had already checked the men's washroom with no sign of Richard."Richard!" Emilia's voice echoed urgently from a nearby pillar as she
******Ana breezed into the washroom, swiftly adjusting her hair, only to find her lipstick absent as she caught sight of her reflection in the mirror."Well, looks like I need a lipstick," Ana quipped to herself, a playful glint in her eye. "I bet after tonight's escapade, I'll be on the fast track to hell," she continued with a chuckle before a soft smile spread across her lips as she reminisced. "Who knew I'd be having such a blast? This feeling is pure bliss," Ana mused aloud, accepting the rush of emotions with open arms, her cheeks tinged with a shy yet satisfied warmth."Easy there, Ana, no need to channel your inner teenager," Ana chuckled to herself, giving her cheeks a gentle pat before heading out. As soon as she stepped out of the bathroom she collided with Kendall, who regarded her with a quizzical expression."When did you come to the washroom?" Kendall inquired, her eyebrows arching in suspension as she took in Ana's appearance."Long!" Ana answered with a casual shrug
*****"Anastasia, come here!" Emilia's sudden shout echoed through the venue, causing heads to turn in surprise. Ana caught off guard, wore a confused expression, unaware of when her relationship with Emilia had blossomed into a close friendship."I am fine here, Emilia, cut the cake!" Ana said, her confusion escalating as Emilia's unexpected closeness seemed increasingly suspicious. There had to be a reason behind Emilia's sudden friendliness, and Ana was determined to uncover it."No, you are one of the guests I've been eagerly anticipating. I'd be over the moon to have you beside me while I'm cutting the cake. Surely, that's not too big an ask, is it?" Emilia's words dripped with honeyed deception as she spoke with a sweet pout. Ana's unease grew like a storm cloud as she stole a glance at Richard, whose expression was as clear as day – he was not on board. Seeking help from him would be like looking for a needle in a haystack."Go Ana, before your best friend ends up swimming in a
*****Ana's heart pounded in her chest as she dashed forward on her stiletto heels, the polished floor threatening to betray her balance with every step. Frustration mounting, she kicked off her heels, her fingers tensing with urgency. Yet, even as she fled, the ominous footsteps of the two men echoed behind her, a chilling reminder of the danger lurking close behind."Bitch! If you do not stop, we will suck you dry once we lay our hands on you," one of the thugs said, continuing to rush after Ana, who paid no attention because all she could think about was finding someone to save her.She dashed toward a vacant corridor. Her breathing was getting labored from running, so she ducked behind a wall and attempted to catch it.She quickly put her hand in her bag grabbed her phone out and straight dialled Richard. On the flip side, Richard hurried back to the bar where he had abandoned his phone earlier. His anger had driven him to leave it behind in his rush to confront Ana."Sir, your ph