Chapter 521: Unhealthy Appearances

Cylus watched Mina being escorted into the event by one of the men assigned to unaccompanied women. She laid eyes on him once before throwing back her shoulders and walking into the venue, full of pride he was happy to see on her. Cylus felt as though he had seriously messed up in casting Olivia and Mina aside, and now his father was sneakily trying to force Olivia back into the family at Mina's expense.

Cylus watched Mina walk past everyone as if there was no one in the room at all. The dress she was wearing had rounded shoulders, modest cleavage and came all the way down to mid-calf level. The long sleeves and length of the dress covered her well, but it did not hide the fact that she was a very voluptuous woman, and he could tell that many men had already undressed her with their eyes.

Without thinking, Cylus began walking toward Mina, wanting to tell her that wearing a dress the same color as her hair did not mute her appearance, but enhanced it. He wanted her to know that she still stood out, for nothing more than to make sure she stayed safe and kept her guard up. He didn't even bother to sit beside her or wait for her to look at him; he simply blurted out the question he was holding, but Mina chose to ignore him and respond to Vanya, his last-minute date, instead.

"I do believe you were there when I asked your boyfriend to never speak to me again."

"Come on Mina; are we going to remain at odds forever?"

"Not forever; just until one of us dies." Cylus chuckled, and Mina turned away from the man. He went to step closer to her, but Vanya tugged at his arm.

"She isn't worth it," the woman whispered, and Cylus knew it was his fault that Vanya believed she could talk about Mina in that way.

"And Olivia?" he asked, thinking that his cousin was planning on uprooting her entire life in Pan to get away from her family.

"Olivia is an adult; she should be able to make her own decisions." Cylus glared at Vanya, realizing for the first time that she never had Olivia's best interest in mind when she contacted him. As Mina had said, she used Olivia to drive a wedge between them, and he was an idiot to have let it work.

----

When Cylus and his date stopped hovering around, an older woman who had been sitting at the table introduced herself as Mrs. Jenkins. Mina did not know of the woman, so she tactfully introduced herself and her nonprofit and Mrs. Jenkins followed suit. They were not surprised to find that they worked on forking ends of the same spectrum. The woman stood and Mina stood with her. They linked arms the way a mother and daughter would, and the older woman took her time introducing Mina to people who shared a common interest.

There were not just women, but also men who were interested in partnering up with Mina. One man had lost his daughter to suicide. She killed herself after a failed marriage caused her to lose everything. At the time, she was five months pregnant with her ex-husband's child, but when she was found, both she and the unborn baby were beyond help. His nonprofit focused on mental health and suicide prevention in young adults.

"I hope you don't mind me asking, but you seem rather young to have already been married and divorced," a nearby man said. Mina politely bowed as she replied.

"I am twenty-three, and I have yet to marry, but like you, someone I care about was negatively affected by divorce and I offered my services."

"Meagan Walsh; am I correct."

"The person you are thinking about is correct, but I kindly remind you that her name is Meagan Hill." The man respectfully tilted his head to Mina, appreciating her use of proper and polite speech.

"Most women keep the name."

"Because they are unhealthily trying to keep appearances. To them, changing their name back makes it real, and some of the women we have worked with are not ready to accept the reality." A series of nods went around the group.

"Have you worked with many women so far?" Mrs. Jenkins asked, and Mina shook her head.

"Not personally, but Miss Meagan has."

"Is she coming tonight? I would love to speak with her about her work."

"Unfortunately, it was best for her to stay behind." Another series of nods went around, because many people already knew Harvey Walsh was at the event, and he was not a person who would show up alone.

At the end of her small meeting, Mina went back to the table where she sat, hoping to once again blend in, but a younger woman blocked her path. She braced for whatever accusation she was going to receive, because the look the woman wore told Mina that she was unhappy.

"Miss Harlow?" The woman questioned sweetly. "My name is Hailey." Mina shook the woman's hand, and she used the opportunity to add the rest of her title. "Carson's wife." Mina was worried, she did not want the woman to cause a scene based on misunderstandings, but she quickly relaxed because Hailey didn't appear to be out for blood just yet.

"Carson has told me about you, and I have seen a few films you are in." Hailey looked confused, almost apologetic, but she kept her composure like a true actress.

"You've heard about me?"

"Mostly about what you have not done, but yes, Carson has been honest." Hailey brought her hand to her lips.

"Did he tell you why we are separated?" Mina nodded and the woman turned red in embarrassment. Hailey and Carson's marriage dissolved because she wanted to continue pursuing acting as a single woman. She was involved in all sorts of relationship scandals, rumors, and gossip that Carson believed would end after she went on hiatus to give birth, but it became worse because according to him, she said she needed to become relevant again.

"I know what you want to ask me, and I think you should take it up with him instead." Mina walked past the woman, who just stared at her as if she were sizing her up.

"Have you met her?" She suddenly called out, no longer caring if the conversation was overheard. Mina slightly bowed her head knowing that the woman was referring to her daughter, and she returned to her seat, only to be stared at by another bitter woman.

"See babe; I told you she would be here. That is Zane's girlfriend or maybe his ex now." Mina smiled at the woman. She had forgotten all about Nancy, and ignorantly believed she would never see the woman again.

"Miss Nancy, you look much better. It appears you found someone to help with the problem you had." Nancy's smile faltered, and Mr. Walsh, her date, smirked at Mina.

"My son always did have excellent taste in women," he said as he shook Nancy off and approached Mina, who had yet to sit. "By the expression on your face, I say that you already know who I am."

"I do, and I also know that you and I have no common interests. I wouldn't want you to waste time by speaking with me, so I'll just run along." Mina went to walk away but was grabbed roughly.

"Do pass a message along to my wife for me. Tell her that I said she has thirty days to stop what she is doing, or I will stop it for her."

"I think you meant ex-wife, and I will do no such thing." Mina tugged her arm away from the man with a cold smile that was met with a lustful one.

"I can make you a very happy woman if you would allow me."

"You mean as happy as you made Miss Meagan?" Mina rolled her eyes and walked away from the man, hoping to find and glue herself to Mrs. Jenkins for safety.