Chapter 57


    Cat fight It pretty much looked like I was far too dumb to be Aren’s wife… ording to his mother at


    least. I had spent hours scrutinizing every detail of that jewelry box, but nothing had brought me any


    closer to cracking the opening mechanism! It was killing me! I had always been a riddle master, but


    now… I couldn’t even see the damn riddle! Discouraged, I took a picture of each side of the box, put it


    back into the safe, and went to bed.


    For the next few days, I kept looking at the pictures I took during every coffee or lunch break, hoping for


    a sudden revtion. At least I got the exact distraction I needed so I wouldn’t feel like a sex-addict


    suffering from withdrawal. I texted Aren several times, but curt, short replies were the only messages I


    got back from him. I knew I should me him, though. He must have been struggling to solve every


    problem before the wedding date. After two days, I stopped even ending my messages with a question


    mark, sending him words of encouragement instead.


    Fortunately, there were no problems with the rest of the wedding-rted issues. Michael was fascinated


    with the pattern I had sent him and decided to recreate it on one side and the back of the dress. I


    couldn’t wait to see the final results… not to mention that I was getting crazily excited at the mere


    thought of Aren seeing me in that dress.


    I spent most of my daytime sitting with Veronica. At least, she did all the talking, and I mainly nodded and


    shook my head on rare asions, just to stop her imagination from going overboard. I was learning a lot


    about things that had never mattered to me before, from flower arrangements to different types of


    napkins. As the days went by, I wasn’t as ufortable around Veronica as I was the day I met her. I


    was even able to make my own suggestions, feeling quite confident about it. Nheless, there was one


    wedding-rted matter that I kept pushing to the deepest corner of my mind-our wedding was supposed


    to take ce in the Wintons’ mansion.


    I dyed the unavoidable, trying to settle most of the wedding arrangements without needing to go


    there, but that was it. Veronica stated that it was as far as she was willing to go without visiting the ce.


    I agreed reluctantly,forting myself that Neil would go there with us, but an hour before we were


    supposed to meet, he called me repentantly… “I’m truly sorry, Ms. Bell. I need to prepare some urgent


    documents for Mr. Lan, so you will have to visit the mansion without me. Everyone is notified that you are


    coming, and I can take care of any inconveniences if they ur by phone. I cannot apany you in


    person though, “he said.


    I sighed, reluctantly epting the reality. I understood the situation, and I knew that Can was banned


    from the mansion, but it didn’t change the fact that I felt as if I was walking into a snake’s nest.


    “Veronica… there is something you need to know before we get into the mansion…” I said as we were


    on our way there. “The rtionship between my future inws and me is ratherplicated…” I shot her


    a thin smile.


    She raised her eyebrows at me. “Meaning? I don’t need to prey, but I’d rather know how badly screwed


    up your rtions are.”


    My mouth twitched in a reluctant grimace, but she quickly caught the meaning of my concern. She patted


    my shoulder and smirked. “I signed the confidentiality use, so don’t worry. One of the reasons Mr. Lan


    has chosen me is that I can keep my mouth shut. I wouldn’t tell a thing even if you told me that you’d


    murdered someone.”


    Iughed nervously before taking a deep breath. “I used to date Mr. Lan’s stepbrother, Can, although I


    had no idea that hisst name was Winton when I got involved with Aren… Can was always an


    abusive type, and the way our rtionship ended wasn’t good either. Long story short… Can is now


    banned from getting close to me or the Wintons’ mansion, and both, he and his mother, hate my and


    Aren’s guts.” Veronica blinked her eyes, her brain processing everything I said at a great speed before


    her lips stretched into a thin smile. “Good to know.”


    She said that she would have my back if anything happened, but it didn’t lessen my anxieties. As we


    arrived, we were greeted by the grey-haired chambein, who introduced himself as Lucious Maffei. I


    couldn’t ignore the way he looked me up and down with disdain when he thought that I would not notice.


    “Could you show us the garden, Lucious?” Veronica hid her firm demand under a courteous smile. He


    cleared his throat, his eyes, for some reason, glued to my face. “Certainly,” he said. I bet that the bastard


    intentionally led two women on heels like us through the grass path where we struggled to take a single


    step without losing bnce. Finally, we reached the spacious grass field bounded by the arched line of a


    pine grove. Veronica narrowed her eyes, scanning the ce, and then pointed at the area by the trees.


    “We can set the bower right by the trees,” she said. “I’m afraid that’s impossible,” the chambein cut in


    curtly. “Madame is nning to grow a rose flower bed in that very area. The fresh soil will be delivered


    tomorrow.” I took a deep breath, ignoring the throbbing temple vein. “How about that area?” I pointed at


    the simr-looking area on the left of the mansion.


    “You cannot use that space either,” his response came.


    Veronica huffed in frustration. “Why not?” she called out.


    “Because I said so.” We heard a nosy, irritating female voiceing from behind us.


    When Veronica and I turned around, we saw Vanessa walking our way. She was wearing a fitted,


    aquamarine, knee-length cocktail dress with her hair pulled up in a neat, perfectly styled bun. As she


    walked closer, the chambein bowed down as if she was his queen. Well, I had no doubt that he was


    working for her more than he was working for Augustus.


    “Hello, Vanessa,” I greeted her, forming my lips into a polite grin. “This lovelydy standing next to me is


    my wedding nner, Veronica. As you can see, we are trying to set up the area for the aisle and the rest


    of the venue.”


    “Yes, I can see that.” She scoffed, scanning me and Veronica from head to toe.


    Veronica gave her a courteous nod and stepped back, trying to get away from the line of fire. We both


    knew that this woman came here to cause trouble. I could see what she was doing. Nheless, I


    wanted to know how far she was willing to go with her cheap scheme. “You said that we could not use


    that area… Why don’t you suggest another ce for us,” I said daringly. She smirked. “You can set your


    venue inside the grove or on the back side of it. There is a field of dirt you can use as well.” Veronica


    raised her eyebrows in disbelief. “Is she for real?” she muttered, standing close to me so that only I could


    hear her. “I’m afraid so,” I replied, adjusting my voice to the volume she used. I knew that I could call Neil


    to help me with this situation, but this woman irked me too much for me to wait. “You truly think that you


    own this ce, do you?” I chuckled coldly. “Watch your mouth, cheap bitch!” she spat, nonchntly


    crossing her arms over her chest. “Oh, you call me names… again. I must have mistaken you for a


    ssy woman before.” I covered my mouth with my hand in a theatrical gesture. She groaned in anger


    and rushed to p my face. I caught her hand, my fingers curling tightly around her wrist.


    “Watch it, Vanessa,” I hissed. “I tried to be kind, but I am not a pushover, and believe me, you don’t want


    me to show my ws.” “Let go of Mrs. Winton this instant!” the chambein roared, reaching his hand


    my way. “Back off, Lucious!” I growled. “Try to touch me, and you will face severe consequences!” The


    old man hesitated to move but sent me a vicious glower instead. I smirked coldly and released Vanessa.


    JVU


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    “How dare you?!” she thundered, rubbing her wrist.


    I nced at Veronica, who hid behind me, watching the whole scene with her mouth open wide. As our


    eyes met, she grinned wickedly and showed me her thumb up. I smiled at her before shifting my eyes to


    the viinous two.


    “Are we done with the drama already?” I sighed and rubbed my temples. “Let me get things straight. My


    future husband and I didn’t want to have our wedding here-we were invited by the head of the Winton


    family. Augustus Winton coaxed my fiancé into this, promising the best this mansion could offer. Now,


    should we try again, where you will let us n the damn wedding the way we want, or should I call the


    head of this family and prove how much your authority around here is non-existent?” Vanessa opened


    her mouth, ready to yell her venomous words out, but gestured at her, raising one finger to stop her.


    “Think twice before saying anything. Your words could cost Augustus Winton eighty million dors


    because that is the worth of the investment he is counting on,” I said as the corners of


    my lips curled into a smug smirk. She heaved a sigh of frustration and anger. “n your shitty venue


    wherever you want! Just don’t get anywhere near my son!” I chuckled, spreading my arms wide. “Don’t


    worry. I wouldn’t look for your son even if he was thest person living on Earth.”


    With a spiteful growl, she turned around and started walking back to the mansion. Lucious nodded briefly


    and darted to follow her. Only when we were left alone did I sigh in relief.


    “Wow!” Veronica jumped up and pped her hands. “That was epic! I wish I had recorded it. I have never


    witnessed a drama like that in my life!”


    “Thank God, they’re gone…” I muttered, realizing how much this poor encounter had exhausted me.


    “You were awesome, Ms. Bell! You were like Mr. Lan-intimidating, firm, butposed!” Veronica giggled


    agitatedly.


    Her words made me smile and blush like an idiot. Was I like him? Probably not, but I couldn’t help but be


    a little proud of myself. Who would have thought that an introverted person like me would one day turn


    into a dangerous predator?