Chapter 28

ARIA'S POV

The cool night air had helped clear my head, but as I stepped back into the bustling banquet hall, the noise and heat overwhelmed me.

I spotted Evelyn sitting at our table and made my way over.

"There you are!" Evelyn exclaimed as I sat down. "Where did you go off to?"

I forced a smile, not wanting to rehash the drama. "Oh, I just had to make a quick call. No big deal."

Evelyn's eyes narrowed slightly. "You sure? You look a bit drained.”

"I'm fine, really," I insisted, desperate to change the subject. "How was your trip out?"

Evelyn's face lit up. "Oh my goodness, you won't believe what happened!" She went on to share a hilarious story about a mishap with her driver and a carton of materials for designing a dress. Soon, we were both laughing so hard tears were rolling down our cheeks.

"I swear," Evelyn gasped between giggles, "I've never seen cartons move like that in my life!"