“I’m in love with you, Loraine. Deeply. I want to reim your affection, reim you, and start over.”


    His direct gaze left Loraine in a state of rare disarray. She hastily freed herself from his grasp,


    stammering, “I must return, it’s gettingte.”


    She could never erase the memory of their three-year union from her mind. Even if they were to restart,


    she knew she couldn’t revert to their past selves.


    She recalled Cayson’s words. They were like marred timber, forever altered and unable to revert to


    their original form.


    With a surge of emotion, Loraine dashed from the garden.


    Marco watched her receding figure and let out a sigh.


    Was it too soon for him to have revealed his feelings?


    Back in the dance hall, Loraine hastily donned her mask, attempting to regain herposure before


    returning to her seat.


    With neither Cayson nor Jennie in sight, a hint of unease stirred within her, prompting her to seek


    Jennie and head home.


    She scanned the dance floor and eventually found Jennie, who seemed utterly engrossed in her dance.


    The man apanying Jennie sported a fox mask and stood tall and Lean, making Jennie appear


    even more delicate.


    Her friend’s neck glistened with a thinyer of sweat, evidence of a prolonged dance. Her eyes were


    Locked onto her dance partner, drawing an image in Loraine’s mind of an innocent rabbit being


    watched by a predatory wolf.


    Loraine knew Jennie like the back of her hand. Despite her outward feistiness, Jennie was naive and


    easily manipted. Had she fallen prey to this stranger’s charm?


    Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Ang’s Library


    Suspicious, Loraine inspected the duo.


    The longer she observed, the more peculiar it seemed.


    Was it merely her imagination, or was it residual anxiety from her encounter with Marco?


    She felt an uncanny familiarity with Jennie’s dance partner. And the more she scrutinized the fox-


    masked man, the more it reminded her of


    Marco’s silver fox mask. Could they be a matching set?


    The man, donning a fox mask even more mboyant than Marco’s, danced with Jennie, smiling like a


    cunning fox attempting to Lure an innocent, endearing girl.


    Loraine scoffed. Marco was truly a piece of work! He had deceived her and had even enlisted his friend


    to deceive her innocent and adorable best friend.


    On the dance floor, the man in the fox mask gently wrapped his arm around Jennie’s waist, giving her a


    yful whirl. Ducking his head down, he jested, “Jennie, what’s the secret to your irresistible charm?”


    Thepliment left Jennie feeling a rush of warmth spread across her cheeks, causing her to be


    slightly more bashful.


    She was by no means a ballroom expert, yet she found herself there, twirling at the request of the


    mysterious fox-masked man. He was her knight in shining armor, thoughtfully shielding her from other


    suitors and patiently coaching her in the art of dance. His charming wit, his gentle demeanor, and his


    engaging conversation…