CH 5

Everyone whispered amongst themselves, wondering what Elena was going to announce. The room buzzed with anticipation, a charged energy that had everyone leaning forward in their seats. Ivelle stood up abruptly, the sudden movement making her vision blur for a moment. But before she could take a step forward, her uncle, Gabriele, reached out and grabbed her arm. His grip was firm, his voice low and threatening.

"Be a good girl now. You know what’s at stake, don’t you?"

The words sent a cold shiver down Ivelle’s spine. She knew Elena was up to no good, but Gabriele’s warning was clear. One wrong move, and everything she cared about—the fragile wellbeing of her grandmother, the carefully constructed image her family depended on—could crumble.

Elena’s voice rang out, confident and commanding. "Ivelle Hudson, who also happens to be my sister, will be getting married soon, just like her sash says."

The crowd erupted in whispers, confusion written across their faces as they tried to connect the announcement to the event at hand. Ivelle’s breath hitched, her mind racing as she processed Elena’s words. This wasn’t just a family gathering anymore; it was a trap.

Elena continued, savoring the attention. "I know you’re all wondering who the lucky groom is. It’s none other than Arden Marino!"

Applause filled the room, loud and overwhelming. Ivelle felt like the walls were closing in on her, the sound amplifying her sense of helplessness.

Among the guests, murmurs carried a mix of admiration and envy:

"Of course, she’s a Hudson. They’d never settle for anything less."

"The Marinos are a powerhouse, and Arden is the acting CEO. She’s hit the jackpot."

“And have you seen him? He’s so handsome!”

Ivelle’s friends—Celine, Briana, Nami, and Liam—looked at each other in surprise. They hadn’t expected this, not after the sudden break-up months ago. But seeing Ivelle standing next to Gabriele, her uncle’s hand on her shoulder and a tight smile on her face, they assumed she had simply changed her mind.

Elena’s voice cut through the buzz again. "Let’s welcome the soon-to-be couple to the stage!"

Ivelle felt trapped. She shot a glare at Elena but kept her composure, plastering on the happiest smile she could fake as she made her way up to the stage. On the opposite side, Arden approached, his presence commanding as ever in a tailored suit that showcased his powerful build. The room seemed to hold its breath, eyes glued to them as they met in the middle.

Arden greeted her with a charming smile, the kind that once made her heart race. Now, it only filled her with disgust. He reached out, placing his hand possessively on her waist. Ivelle stiffened but maintained her smile, opting to take his hand off her waist and link their arms instead. The crowd watched, none the wiser to the tension between them.

“They look perfect together,” someone commented, oblivious to the truth.

“She’s so lucky. Arden could have anyone, but he chose her.

Ivelle’s lips twitched at their naïveté. If only they knew what kind of man Arden really was—a controlling, manipulative jerk hiding behind a façade of charm. Arden’s gaze never left her, and when he leaned in close, she could feel the heat of his breath against her ear.

"Didn’t I tell you, sweetheart? I always get what I want," he whispered, his tone smug.

Ivelle kept her smile, her voice just as sweet. “Let’s see about that.”

He chuckled softly, eyes gleaming with challenge. “Our wedding’s in a month. Let’s see what you can come up with before then.”

Before she could respond, Elena raised her glass high. “A toast to Ivelle and Arden!”

Waiters dressed in crisp black and white uniforms moved swiftly through the crowd, their trays laden with glasses of champagne and a deep red drink that Ivelle didn’t recognize. One of the waiters approached the stage, offering a glass to Elena first, then Arden, and finally Ivelle. She took the glass without hesitation, the rich red liquid swirling inside. At this point, she’d already downed several drinks, each one dulling the noise around her and making everything feel just a bit more bearable. She didn’t know what this one was, but it didn’t matter—it was just another thing to help her get through the night.

Arden downed his glass effortlessly, his eyes never leaving Ivelle. She followed suit, taking a long sip. The drink was sweet with a bitter aftertaste, but she hardly noticed. Arden made a move as if to kiss her in front of everyone, but she avoided him by raising her glass again, drinking more than she intended just to keep her distance. Arden smirked and shot a quick, knowing glance at Elena, who simply smiled back.

As the applause died down, Elena raised her glass with a dazzling smile, turning toward the bride and groom. "I must apologize to our lovely newlyweds for momentarily stealing their shine on this special day," she said, her voice laced with feigned humility. "But how could I resist sharing such joyous news? Love is truly contagious tonight!"

Nami, glowing with happiness, beamed at Ivelle. “Are you kidding? This is amazing! Double the celebration!” she exclaimed, clapping her hands together. “Ivelle, you deserve all the happiness. And Arden—well, he’s just the perfect catch.”

Elena’s voice cut through the moment. “Thank you, everyone! Please continue enjoying the party!"

As soon as the announcement ended, Ivelle walked off the stage quickly, her head buzzing. Her friends found her near the bar, their expressions a mix of confusion and teasing.

“Ivelle, you minx!” Celine laughed, playfully nudging her shoulder. “You never told us you were back with Arden.”

“Yeah, what’s going on?” Briana added, smirking. “I thought you two were done for good.”

Ivelle forced a laugh, feeling the effects of the alcohol more than she wanted to admit. “It just... happened.”

“So all those dramatic texts about leaving him were just for show, huh?” Nami teased as she walked up to the group with Liam on her arm, shaking her head with a playful grin.

“Ivelle, you’ve always been the queen of drama!” Briana said with an eyeroll.

Ivelle shrugged, masking the turmoil inside. “I was just a little insecure. You know how it is.”

Celine gave her a knowing look. “We thought it was just another one of your fights. You’re both stubborn, so it was bound to happen, right?”

Ivelle let out a nervous giggle, feeling the sting of their teasing but unable to correct them. If they only knew the truth—that she was being forced back into this engagement for reasons beyond their understanding. But instead, she played along, pretending everything was fine.

“Yeah, something like that,” Ivelle said, waving them off. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I need another drink.”

"As long as you're happy sis," Liam said patting her head.

Even though they weren't related by blood, Liam had always taken care of her even during her college days when her family had left her to fend for herself because the company wasn't doing well.

She nodded at him before turning away. She walked toward the bar, her head pounding from the rush of emotions and the alcohol coursing through her veins. As she tried to collect herself, Martina, Arden’s cousin, approached with a condescending smile.

“Well done, Ivelle,” Martina said smugly, looking her up and down. “Now that Arden’s decided to take you back, don’t mess it up this time.”

Ivelle bit back a retort, knowing it would do no good. She simply nodded and walked away, feeling the sting of humiliation but too drained to respond. Her head throbbed as she downed another drink, trying to block out the mess her life had become.

As she stared at the bottom of her glass, Ivelle couldn’t help but think that things always seemed to fall apart when she needed them to stay together the most.