Chapter8 Party

The wake had lasted for three emotionally draining days. Aurelia had been compelled to stay at the Di Angelis residence, receiving a constant stream of family members who had traveled from far and wide to pay their respects to the late family head and her father, Atticus. It had been an exhausting ordeal, but Aurelia had played her part with grace and composure. Right after the somber funeral, Aurelia had made a hasty departure, fearing that her stepmother and half-sister might conspire to summon her for a family meeting. She knew that Atticus had left behind a complex web of financial and business matters, and she did plan to deal with those issues – only that she was determined to address them on her own terms. Her priority for now was to meet with her father’s advisors before dealing with any Di Angelis family drama. Aurelia did not ask for Mr. Klint’s help nor did she bother to contact Dante. As she returned to the Castellan residence that evening, she was surprised to find a lively house party in full swing. The main hall had been transformed into a vibrant party venue, with dim blue and red lights casting an intimate atmosphere. Young adults from the elite circle danced to the music, enjoying the extravagant affair. The DJ was even someone Aurelia recognized as a popular figure on social media. It was a stark contrast to the somber mood of the past few days. Even with her confidence and her sense of security in herself, Aurelia felt totally out of place. She wore a haphazardly styled outfit that could make her fit in if she just took the time to fix her haggard appearance and bedazzled herself like the other women. Her entrance did not go unnoticed. A man in the midst of the revelry greeted with casual surprise, someone she recognized as January Paradis, heir to the Paradis family empire that dominated the mall industry of Esparia. “Oh, look who’s here!” January exclaimed, his voice carrying above the music. “It’s the new bride.” “Mr. Paradis,” Aurelia greeted him politely. “Where’s Maximus?” January’s eyes bulged at hearing her call Dante with his first name, but he cleared his throat and scratched his head. Her voice had been loud enough for a couple of people nearby to hear her. It caused a ripple of murmurs among the guests. She had addressed Dante by his first name, a breach of etiquette among those who knew him, so January was momentarily taken aback. “Well, she’s certainly a bold one,” January muttered to himself before addressing Aurelia, “Maximus is in the makeshift lounge, but I must warn you, you might not like what you see.” “Thanks,” Aurelia said as she turned around and walked towards a bunch of makeshift lounges where guests could freely talk. Men sat and boisterously laughed while the women giggled. As she approached, she couldn't help but notice the compromising positions of some of the guests, causing her cheeks to flush with embarrassment. The view made Aurelia feel a little embarrassed, but she honestly didn’t care very much. Her eyes narrowed as she tried her best to locate where that blasted husband of hers sat. Once she was close enough, she finally saw him. Dante was surrounded by a crowd of people. And perched on his lap was none other than her cousin, Annalise. When she came over, the eyes of the people followed her. She looked out of place in the middle of this party, but her aura and momentum were enough to attract their attention and demand their respect. With a composed demeanor, she addressed Dante, her arms crossed firmly over her chest. “Maximus,” she called out, her voice cutting through the hushed room. The people who were talking animatedly suddenly fell into an awkward silence. Dante’s eyes shifted up to her with what looked like surprise. He looked like he hesitated between pulling Annalise closer or shoving her away out of guilt. Anyway, it didn’t really matter to her. An evil idea rushed through her mind as Aurelia suddenly had an itch to see a good show. “Aurelia,” Dante greeted her with an easy grin. “How lovely to have you finally join-” Click. Aurelia snapped a photo with her phone, the flash illuminating the room and causing the guests to shield their eyes. “Aurelia! What was that all about?!” Annalise shrieked as she jumped off Dante’s lap and advanced toward her, her expression livid. “Why did you take a picture of us?!” Aurelia smiled, eyes disappearing into crescents as she wiggled her phone in front of her eyes. It was obvious she was enjoying the spectacle. “Of course, it’s to help Maximus divorce me so he can be with the one he loves! Shouldn’t you be happy about it?” Annalise’s expression changed into a series of unpleasant twitches. Dante suddenly appeared by Aurelia’s side and made a grab at her phone, but she was quick enough to pull it out of the way. “Maximus, you’re not going to tell me to delete the picture, right?” “Aurelia,” he hissed, “delete that photo.” Aurelia stared into his dark eyes and then burst out laughing, her eyes dancing with mischief. “Maximus! Don’t tell me, you can’t commit to the woman you love?!” Annalise’s face darkened. Although the nature of Dante and Aurelia’s relationship should humiliate Aurelia, the way she cleverly laid things out and exposed them to the public reversed the situation completely. Dante gritted his teeth. “I already said it, didn’t I? I do not have any plans of divorcing you.” As the discord between the trio continued, it drew the attention of the partygoers. Onlookers began to gather around, forming a curious and hushed audience. Gossip and speculation spread like wildfire, with murmurs and whispers circulating through the room. “It seems like Dante and Aurelia’s wedding really was just arranged…” “Isn’t it always like that? But what makes theirs worse is that on the day of the wedding, there was a shooting…” “Not only that, but I heard Dante left Aurelia behind as well…” “So it’s true that Dante and Annalise are a real thing, but don’t you think there’s something strange about all this?” “Most arranged marriages never last, some of them divorce once the agreements have been settled or if both sides agree their benefits aren’t enough anymore.” “Dante’s love for Annalise is fickle. Someone of his stature can fight for Annalise so he can divorce his current wife, but he chose Aurelia.” “So much drama, they haven’t even been married for a week.” The room buzzed with whispered conversations, and the guests couldn’t help but dissect the drama unfolding before them. They had expected a lavish celebration, not a front-row seat to a marital dispute. The fact that Dante had chosen to stay with Aurelia despite the public humiliation only fueled their curiosity and speculation. Aurelia took in the atmosphere, glee glinting in her eyes. She could feel the weight of their collective gaze, but she refused to let it unnerve her. Instead, she turned her attention back to Dante, her voice carrying an air of feigned contemplation. “Well, I’ll think about it,” Aurelia sighed as she pocketed her phone. “I’m a believer in romance, so it just makes me feel guilty to see my cousin and you be hopelessly in love while I get in the way. Maybe if I talk properly to the matriarch and patriarch, they might hear me out–” Before she could finish her sentence, Dante’s hands shot out, gently but firmly cradling her face. The room seemed to fade into the background, leaving only the two of them in that charged moment. His lips met hers in a sudden, unexpected kiss.