Share

75. The banquet

Author: Queen Ash
last update Last Updated: 2025-01-29 23:12:59
Clara's POV

At last, the banquet night has arrived. I’ve been preparing since the evening. Even though I wanted to do my makeup myself, Keith was adamant that I should have a professional makeup artist and hairstylist take care of my appearance. Now I feel just like someone stepping onto a runway instead of attending a banquet.

"Let me know if the model isn't to your liking. I'll make the change." The hairstylist said to me.

"Is it done?"

"Yes ma'am. Please take a look at the mirror."

I got up and walked over to the dressing table to see how I looked. As I stood before the mirror, a stranger's reflection met my gaze.

Her makeup is somewhat bold, not overly flashy, yet not as natural as her usual look. Her auburn hair is elegantly styled in an updo, with a few strands softly framing her face. Her beauty looks unreal and elegant, and what's truly surprising is that the woman in the mirror is me.

"What do you think?" The hairstylist asks me. "Do you like it?"

"Yeah. I like it so much. T
Continue to read this book for free
Scan code to download App
Locked Chapter

Related chapters

  • Second Chance For Him?   76. Captivated

    James' POVClara looks stunning tonight. I have to be honest, even if it's hard to say. She had never applied heavy makeup to her face before. And though she is always lovely, she often looks bland.Tonight, she donned a gown that wealthy women heading to an extravagant banquet would wear. Why has she never dressed like this before? It looks good on her.I was completely captivated by her while she spoke with Mrs. Sofia Martinez, a close friend of my mother who was coming over at her invitation. Zoe stood next to me, her eyes fixed on them as well.I hadn't noticed my wife until it struck me that she seemed unwell."What's wrong? Are you okay?" I placed my hand on my wife's shoulder, feeling a bit concerned as I noticed her looking somewhat troubled.Zoe just shook her head and offered a faint smile. "I'm good."Still, I knew she wasn't being honest. Then I realized what was making her look a bit cloudy like this.Mrs. Martinez praised Clara but entirely ignored Zoe during their earli

    Last Updated : 2025-01-29
  • Second Chance For Him?   77. Humiliated

    Clara's POV"Where are you taking me? Just leave me alone!" I yelled as James pulled me to the corner by the wrist as if I were just some animal.I politely asked him to let me go, but he ignored me. So now I didn't care anymore if anyone heard my screams.When James finally released me, my wrist was bruised and aching from what he had done. I held it tightly with my other hand. I shot him a look full of anger, but he met it with a completely unrepentant face. Yesterday, I believed he had changed from the terrible man I once knew, but today he proved me wrong. "What do you want?" I snapped."First things first, go ahead and change your clothes and wash that makeup off your face," James said.That instantly triggered my anger. Who does he think he is to give me orders like this? He really crossed the line this time. "No." I was on the verge of leaving when James stopped me and held me in place. I glanced around. Where's his wife who looked so upset with me before? I searched everywhe

    Last Updated : 2025-01-30
  • Second Chance For Him?   78. Tainted

    Clara's POVTheir disdainful glances, the way they make me feel like I'm less than human, it's all just too much to bear. I just couldn't keep it in any longer. I spun on my heel and hurried away. I didn't pay attention to the hall buzzing with guests and servants moving about.I didn't see when a servant walked in my direction with a tray full of drinks. We collided and the drinks splashed onto my dress before I had a chance to prevent it."I'm so sorry ma'am. I wasn't focused" The servant said, swiftly assisting me in getting to my feet."It's alright." She offered to help me, but I declined and quickly made my way to the bathroom.Looking into the mirror, I see that my dress is stained all over. This stain isn't going to budge, no matter how hard I try to clean it. So I went upstairs to my room to completely change my clothes.I put on my other gown, which is still new and clean. Checking my reflection in the mirror before heading downstairs.I wasn't really in the mood to return t

    Last Updated : 2025-01-30
  • Second Chance For Him?   79. Alone

    Clara's POVThe following morning, my head is pounding with pain. I opened my eyes and got out of bed to grab a glass of water from the nightstand. The pain in my head clouded my vision and threw me off balance; rather than grabbing the glass, I inadvertently bumped it, causing it to shatter on the floor. It fell apart right away."Shit,"Just as I was about to pick up the shards of glass strewn across the floor, the door to my bedroom suddenly swung open. Sarah and Layla rushed into my room."Mommy?" My daughter shouted and rushed to my side. She noticed the broken glass and glanced at me with concern. "Mommy you okay?""Just leave it, ma'am, let me clean it up." Sarah made me go, and then she gathered the pieces. "Did all the guests leave already, Sarah?" I asked. I needed to check that the house was clear before stepping out of my bedroom.I'm feeling dizzy and just can't deal with anyone else today. I needed a moment to clear my head."Yes ma'am," Sarah answered."Mr. James and h

    Last Updated : 2025-01-30
  • Second Chance For Him?   80. Dearest Sister

    Clara's POVKeith offered to take me anywhere I wanted, but honestly, I just don't feel like going anywhere today. So we just go along with Layla's wishes; where else would we go but the amusement park? After trying out a few rides, she looked a bit worn out, so we decided to take a break at a restaurant for a bit.I sit down the moment I spot a chair. I didn't have any appetite when my daughter went to place her order."Maybe you want something to eat? You haven't had breakfast." Keith inquired as he took a seat next to me."I'm not hungry.""Are you not feeling hungry, or did Zoe make you lose your appetite?" He asks.Keith gazed at me softly, and then he said. "No need to stress, I've got someone handling the removal of those shitty news."Does he know? Of course, he knows. He probably noticed the same thing while scrolling through his social media."Thank you so much," I said. Despite all his pressing matters, he still found time to attend to something as minor as this. "Zoe wasn'

    Last Updated : 2025-01-30
  • Second Chance For Him?   81. Shattered heart

    Clara's POVI move by instinct. I have to prioritize keeping my daughter safe first. After regaining composure, I hurried over to where Layla was standing. Her eyes were wide with pure terror as she heard the sound of the gunshot.I lifted her and nestled her face into the crook of my shoulder, placing my hand over her, trying to shield her from everything.I looked around, trying to figure out where the sound was coming from."We have to leave this place right now." Keith insisted. He positioned himself over me and Layla, trying to shield us."What's going on?" I was at a loss.Just a moment ago, everything was peaceful and okay. Then the sound of gunshots made everyone in the restaurant scatter on their own and rush for safety."I’m not sure. There might be a mass shooting, or maybe the police are searching for a fugitive nearby." Keith said. "We have to leave right now."I nodded.I held my daughter close despite my hands trembling with fear. As I was about to leave, something caugh

    Last Updated : 2025-01-31
  • Second Chance For Him?   82. Trouble

    Clara's POV"Clara?" Lily swallowed hard, swiftly shutting off her phone and slipping it into her pocket. "Why are you here? You should have a rest.”She pointed to the bandage on my arm with her chin. That just made me smile with a hint of irony. She’s the one who needs to take a full rest. Lily looks as pale as a ghost, and I can tell it's not just because I saw her talking to David; she really is unwell. She must have lost a lot of blood due to the earlier incident. "What about you?" I extended my hand, "Is that David? Can I talk to him right now?"I used to steer clear of talking to him. No one at home dared to argue with him. My uncle and auntie pamper him, treat him like a fucking king, and that's made him grow up thinking he can treat everyone around him like a servant.If I didn't do what he wanted, he would hurt me.I was always scared of David, yet this was the first time I wanted to talk to him."What do you need?" Lily's voice was raspy as she moistened her dry lips. "No.

    Last Updated : 2025-02-03
  • Second Chance For Him?   83. Safe

    Clara's POVThe clock strikes past midnight. I dozed off around an hour ago, right after the doctor came by to check on Lily's condition. I waited until she was sound asleep before I settled down on the sofa. I was flipping through a magazine, but eventually, sleepiness got the best of me."Miss?" A man's voice causes me to open my eyes. As my vision sharpened, I was finally able to see the man standing before me. Gazing at me with an expression of shock and disbelief. "Clara?""David?" A warning bell rang in my head immediately. I stand up.David stepped back. His face was pale as he looked me over from head to toe. "What do you want, David?" I snapped.I can still vividly recall what Lily mentioned during her earlier conversation with him. I see how he treats her, just like he treats me, even worse, and it frustrates me. Lily is his sister; how could he possibly do that to her? "I should be the one asking. What are you doing in my sister's room? And how!? How on earth are you stil

    Last Updated : 2025-02-03

Latest chapter

  • Second Chance For Him?   185. Truly loves you

    Clara's POVI regained consciousness an hour ago and now I'm just lying quietly while the doctor finishes his check-up. He took my blood pressure, examined the areas where I had injuries, and asked how I was feeling. He also ensured that I remembered everything, just to make sure I didn't lose my memories.“How is her condition, doctor? Is she alright?" Diana was the one who asked, and she seemed more worried than I was."I’ve had her checked out, and aside from the sprained ankle and the cut on her temple from hitting the hard surface, there are no internal injuries." External injuries can recover in just a few days with proper outpatient care and sufficient rest." The doctor said and I could hear Diana's sigh of relief.I let out a sigh of relief. My head was pounding, my vision felt foggy, and the bandage on my temple was really uncomfortable, but thankfully, I didn’t have any internal bleeding or anything like that. I heard from Diana that I took a tumble down the stairs to the

  • Second Chance For Him?   184. I'll help you relax

    Keith's POVFor a moment, I was just frozen, unable to look away. I felt a wave of guilt hit me immediately. What did I do? I’ve hurt Clara. I've hurt her for the second time today.I blinked. Once I regained my composure, I took the first step I knew I needed to take. I should go to the hospital to check on Clara and see how she's doing. I took out my phone and called Diana.As I waited for my call to be accepted, my eyes drifted to the stairs. My hand slightly trembled as I looked at how high and steep the stairs were. Clara fell from there and was immediately knocked out. She might have hurt herself or could be experiencing internal bleeding in her head. Oh god.It rang for just a few seconds before Diana finally sent my call to voicemail. “Shit!” I became increasingly frustrated.She has to be furious now. Diana probably believes I was the one who hurt Clara. L"I just want to find out how she's doing, and you won't even let me? Pick up the phone, Diana!" I let out a sharp hi

  • Second Chance For Him?   183. Horror

    Keith's POV“Didn’t I mention that Selena’s asthma was flaring up and she needed help? So when she called me, what should I do? Are you saying we should just overlook her?" I snapped back at Clara. "You're really selfish."I'm not sure what went on with me. I’ve never even shouted at her before. My anger towards her had just blown up since earlier at the restaurant the moment I saw her with James. I never thought that all this time she was going out with my brother without me knowing.Clara just shook her head. Her left cheek bore a faint purple mark, the spot where I had slapped her earlier, I felt a wave of guilt wash over me. But if I didn't do that, how would I help her realize her mistake? She crossed the line and I needed to guide her back to the right way."How many times do I have to tell you that Selena isn't a child, Keith? She ought to understand what actions to take to avoid situations like this, particularly when you're not around her-"I interrupted Clara abruptly. Ye

  • Second Chance For Him?   182. Hurt me but not my daughter

    Clara's POVAs soon as I got to the apartment, I plopped down on the couch. I felt both disappointed and angry. Now that I'm alone, I can clearly feel the pain in my face. I ran my fingers over the place where Keith hit me. What just happened felt like a nightmare that would never actually happen.“Did he really just slap me? Did he really hurt me? How could he do that to me?" I kept asking myself over and over. He is the man who has always been so kind to me, my best friend and the only one I had with me during my lowest time, and he just used his hand to hurt me. I really didn't want to accept that what just happened was actually real.However, there are times when our denial leads us to dismiss the truth, and that's not a positive indication. I know I have to face the reality that Keith had hurt me and he did it without a second thought.I got up from the couch and headed to the sink to wash my tear-streaked, messy face. I glanced out the window and noticed it was already evening.

  • Second Chance For Him?   181. My fiancee

    Clara's POVJames couldn't find the right words. It was just a straightforward question from me, but it really affected him. He now resembles a criminal caught in the act, unable to provide any explanation for my questions."I just want to ensure that a child receives the right treatment she deserves from her parents." He finally asked, "Is that a problem?" I just shook my head. Actually, he has a point. This time, I won't dispute it since I know I'm at fault. I suppose I’ll just come clean.I got up from my chair. I got the explanation I needed from him, and that's good enough for me, so I don't want to stick around any longer. I've got to head back now. James came along to find his footing. “Okay, I suppose it’s time for me to head out. I’ve received your explanation and I've made up my mind to accept your help, but there's one condition." I said, "I'll pay you back for all the money you spent on renovating my restaurant because I don't want to be indebted to you."Before James ha

  • Second Chance For Him?   180. He suddenly cares

    Clara's POVI scanned the other customers in the restaurant and then spotted him sitting at one of the tables. It's not hard to spot him at all. A tall figure and a strikingly handsome face reminiscent of a Greek statue, and how he carried himself made him always stand out among the crowd.Calming my heartbeat, I made my way to James' table. My steps are steady and assured. I know that I need to have a conversation with him, but I just can't get Diana's words out of my head since I chose to meet him here today. And how she cautioned me to be always cautious.“Are you sure he doesn’t have any other motives, ma'am? You know receiving help from someone like him seems a bit too good to be true. And what would make him want to help his ex-wife?" Diana asked just before I headed out to this restaurant.I was the one who asked for this meeting with James. To my surprise, he actually agreed with where I wanted to go. "I'll find out if I go see him and ask him straight up. How else would I kn

  • Second Chance For Him?   179. She doesn’t want divorce

    James' POV"Why does my mother want us to have lunch together?" I asked Zoe who was now assisting me in cutting the food before me.It's a gesture she hasn't made since we tied the knot, and now, out of the blue, she's done it. She sliced the appetizer and was just about to bring the spoon to my mouth when I stopped her. We were at a restaurant, and I didn't want to get any kind of intimate gesture from her.She seemed let down but chose not to argue. Zoe just set the spoon back down on the plate. She smiled as she replied, "We're a married couple, is that really strange?""Did you tell her what happened and that we're getting a divorce soon?" I inquired.She mentioned that she would take it upon herself to explain things to my mother, as I had already tried to share what happened, but my mother just didn't believe me. However, the way she continues to encourage Zoe and me to reconnect suggests that she might not be fully aware of everything, and Zoe hasn't shared the whole story wit

  • Second Chance For Him?   178. He doesn't care

    Clara's POVI wiped the sweat that had trickled down my temple and took a sip from my water bottle. My throat was incredibly dry. My entire body is sore, and it hit me how infrequently I really engage in physical activity. This is so embarrassing. I’m still in my twenties, but I feel like I’m already carrying the weight of an old lady doing a tough job.But as I looked around my restaurant kitchen and took in the progress we've made in transforming this chaos, I felt a deep sense of satisfaction and happiness. It wasn't instant, but little by little, we managed to fix it and even make it look much better."Excuse me, ma'am, what are your thoughts on the stove's current position? Should we move it or keep it as it was?" Diana approached me and pointed to the spot where the builders would be setting up a new cooking spot for the renovation.Even though the last place was nice and I used to enjoy it, I still feel a bit sense of trauma. My priority now is to make sure that the incident do

  • Second Chance For Him?   177. My daughter

    James' POVI shut my laptop right after the meeting wrapped up. I still had more work ahead of me, but I just couldn't concentrate on it. My mind was so scattered that I didn't even know what to do next. I suppose I need to reach out to Victor again to check on the results of the investigation he conducted regarding Clara.Yeah, I suppose I should. So I pulled out my phone and called him right away.Victor has been with me and my company for a decade, and I have complete trust in his skills. He said that he would share the results with me as soon as he finished his tasks. But this curiosity is driving me crazy, and I don't think I can keep it to myself any longer if I don't reach out to him now."Mr. Morgan, Good morning," He greeted me politely."Where's the result? Send it to me immediately, Victor. I need it right now!" I came off as really impatient, almost like a kid having a tantrum.What happened to me? You need to calm the fuck down, James."Oh, sure. I’ve wrapped up the inves

Explore and read good novels for free
Free access to a vast number of good novels on GoodNovel app. Download the books you like and read anywhere & anytime.
Read books for free on the app
SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP
DMCA.com Protection Status