Chapter 4

CHAPTER FOUR: ENGAGEMENT PARTY

✧FAITH ZEICAN LEE✧

It’s been a month since Chloe and I started dating. I’ve taken this time to get to know her, and so far, I’m starting to really like her. Why wouldn’t I? She’s a sweet girl. At first, I was a bit nervous around her, but now I feel more at ease because she’s easy to get along with. She knows how to carry on a conversation when she notices I’m getting quiet, which sometimes happens due to my shyness.

It turns out Uncle Ryan’s source was unreliable—his assistant apparently got the info from a friend working at a Herald company. But what I’ve seen in Chloe contradicts that news. She’s genuinely kind and sweet.

One moment that really stood out was when we passed an elderly beggar on the street. Usually, I stop to give something when I see a beggar, but at that moment, I hesitated, thinking Chloe might be uncomfortable given her sophisticated demeanor compared to the elderly person who was dirty and smelled odd. To my surprise, Chloe stopped and handed some cash to the beggar on her own. That really impressed me.

In this month of dating, I haven’t seen anything about her that would turn me off. I’m glad I listened to Dad and gave Chloe a chance. If I had backed out right away, I might have regretted not getting to know her.

Actually, I told Mom and Dad last week that I was on board with the arranged marriage. As soon as Mommyla heard that, she immediately reached out to Chloe’s family to set up our engagement. And now, here we are at the Heralds’ home. It’s not a grand affair—just a gathering for family and close friends.

I stood by the large bay window, taking in the view of the impeccably groomed garden. Lanterns dangled from the trees, and fairy lights shimmered as twilight fell. The gentle murmur of conversation and laughter drifted in from the backyard, where our loved ones mingled with glasses of champagne. The scent of roses and freshly cut grass blended with the mouthwatering aroma of catered hors d'oeuvres wafting through the open French doors.

“You look incredibly nervous, Faith.” I turned to see Love approaching, with Hope in tow, both holding glasses of champagne.

“Why are you alone here?” Hope asked, taking a sip from his glass. I’d been standing there for a while, having chatted briefly with Chloe’s parents and met a few of her friends before deciding to take a moment alone.

“My jaw’s sore from talking non-stop to entertain the guests,” I replied with a smirk. “How about you? Isn’t your jaw aching from all the people you’ve approached? What gossip have you picked up this time?”

He laughed at my comment, which was spot on. When we arrived early, he suddenly disappeared from our side. When we searched for him, we found him shaking hands with every guest he approached, looking like a politician on the campaign trail. Meanwhile, Love stuck close to Mom and Dad, and Summer was with Aunt Baby.

By the way, Uncle Ryan and his wife, Aunt Wynter, are here too, along with their kids—Meng and Moy, the sixteen-year-old twins, and Sunny, their thirteen-year-old youngest. Despite Uncle Ryan’s busy schedule, he managed to make time for my engagement party. But right now, it’s just Mom, Dad, and their close circle mingling.

“I was going to save this for when we got home, but whatever,” Hope said, stepping closer to me and pulling Love along, making sure no one else could overhear. “I heard from one of the ladies I talked to earlier that Lucio and Jody Herald actually have one more child.”

"What?" Love asked with a furrowed brow, mirroring my own puzzled expression as we both stared at Hope. We were both confused, especially me. During my month of dating Chloe, she never mentioned having a sibling. I never thought to ask, because as far as we knew from the news, Chloe was the only known heiress of the Herald family.

“Yeah. They say there’s another child, a girl. I heard some whispers earlier that this younger sibling of Chloe’s is abroad. But others claim she's actually here in the country.”

I glanced over at Chloe, who was across the room chatting with her closest friends. She was wearing a pale blue dress that perfectly highlighted her eyes, and she was laughing with them. Why hasn’t she mentioned that she has another sibling?

As if she sensed my gaze, Chloe looked over and caught my eye. She smiled, and I responded with a smile of my own. After excusing herself from her friends, she made her way through the crowd towards me, her movements graceful and effortless.

“Having fun?” I asked as she slipped her arm around my waist once she reached me. It’s only been a month since we started dating, but she’s already comfortable being this close. Sometimes she holds my arm, sometimes my hand, and now her arm is wrapped around my waist from behind. And that’s perfectly fine with me, especially now that she’s my fiancée.

“I’m having the time of my life,” she replied, her eyes sparkling. “Everything is perfect. Thank you for coming into my life, Faith.”

"Chloe, it's you who has made everything perfect." I gave her a forced smile, feeling embarrassed by my two silent twins. I knew they were secretly laughing at me, especially Love, who had never been a fan of sweet nothings.

Chloe giggled and stood on tiptoe to whisper in my ear. "I still can't believe we're getting married."

“Maybe I’m the one you’re gossiping about, huh?” Hope said with a laugh.

Chloe laughed too. “Maybe?” she teased.

Since Chloe and I started dating, today was the first time she met Love Andrei and Hope Ryker when we arrived at her family’s home. They seem to be getting along well, though Chloe seems to connect more easily with Hope. Chloe mentioned that Love appears grumpy and aloof, so she feels more comfortable with Hope.

As Chloe and Hope continued their playful banter, the sound of a spoon tapping against a glass interrupted us. Chloe’s father, Lucio Herald, stood at the head of the makeshift stage, a broad smile on his face. "May I have everyone's attention, please?" he called out. The chatter died down, and all eyes turned towards him. "I just want to say a few words about my daughter and her handsome fiancé."

Chloe's cheeks flushed as her father began to speak about her childhood, her accomplishments, and the joy he felt in seeing her find someone as wonderful as me. As Mr. Herald finished his speech, the crowd erupted into applause. Even Hope and Love joined in the applause beside us. Most of the guests were looking our way, and I was taken aback by Chloe’s next move. She pulled me in for a quick kiss before turning to face the crowd, who were raising their glasses in a toast.

“To Faith and Chloe!” everyone cheered. I was left stunned, as was Love. Only Hope had a mischievous grin on his face, clearly amused by Chloe’s unexpected kiss.

“To us,” Chloe whispered softly, clinking her glass against mine, the sound bringing me back to reality.

-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈

I stood alone in a corner of the room. Chloe had gone back to her friends, and Love and Hope were at the table with Uncle Ryan. Even from a distance, it was obvious Hope was getting under Meng’s skin again, as Meng’s face was twisted into a scowl while seemingly arguing with him.

Laughter and conversation filled the air but felt distant to me. The warm glow from the chandeliers cast gentle shadows across the elegant decor, and the tantalizing aroma of the buffet table was inviting. When I glanced toward the buffet table, I noticed a shadow moving at the edge, seemingly approaching the direction of the table.

Intrigued, I took a step closer, trying to get a better look. The shadow moved cautiously, as if hesitating to approach. When I peeked around the wall she was hiding behind, I saw a woman who looked to be around the same age as my cousins Meng and Moy. She was dressed in a simple, worn-out outfit—an oversized pink T-shirt paired with black leggings and old slippers. Her hair was tied up haphazardly, clearly not combed. She scanned the room nervously, her eyes flickering between the buffet table and the mingling guests. It was evident she was trying to gather the courage to approach the food, but something seemed to be holding her back.

Was she hungry?

I watched her for a moment, captivated by her hesitant grace. She took a tentative step forward, then paused, seemingly reconsidering her decision. Her uncertainty was palpable, and I felt a sudden urge to help her feel more at ease.

Summoning my own courage, I stepped out from behind the corner and approached her. "Hi," I said softly, not wanting to startle her.

She then turned to look at me, her eyes wide with surprise. She swallowed several times, her face showing clear signs of nervousness. After a moment, she lowered her gaze to the floor and fiddled with the hem of her T-shirt. She stayed that way for a few seconds before turning away from me.

"Wait," I called out, making her stop and slowly turn back to me. "I'm Faith Zeican," I said with a friendly smile. "Are you looking for something specific at the buffet, or just trying to decide what to try first?"

She furrowed her brow, her expression uncertain. It was hard to tell if she didn't understand me or if she was hesitant to engage.

"Are you planning to get some food?" I asked again, and she seemed to relax slightly at my friendly tone.

"Y-Yes." She started to pull away, as if wanting to leave.

"Wait." I walked over to the buffet table myself, grabbed a plate, and began loading it with various dishes. Then I returned to her, offering the plate. Now that I could see her up close, I noticed an undeniable innocence in her features.

"Th-Thank you," she murmured, her shoulders relaxing a bit.

"What's your name?" I asked as she took a couple of steps away from me.

She stopped but kept her back turned as she answered.

"Poppy."