Anna turned off the water and lifted her gaze to the bathroom mirror. Even with her makeup removed, the reflection staring back at her was breathtaking—her flawless skin, delicate features, and luminous eyes were proof of the ticulous beauty treatnts and procedures she had undergone.
Is it the lack of stress or just the obscene amount of money I’ve spent on skincare? she mused, tilting her head slightly. I’ve never looked better in my life.
She let out a quiet, almost bitter sigh. It was ironic—when she was married to Robert, she had plenty of money at her disposal, yet she had deliberately kept herself subdued, never daring to outshine Susanne or Colette. She had played the role of the humble, accommodating wife, blending into the background to keep the peace.
What a foolish mistake that was.
Her expression darkened as she leaned in closer, inspecting the irritation in her eyes. They’re so red... Another sigh slipped past her lips. I hate these damn contacts.
She had never needed glasses or lenses before, so adjusting to them had been a struggle. Even in the privacy of her ho, she forced herself to wear them, training her body to accept them as naturally as washing her face each morning. It was a small but necessary sacrifice.
And the one ti I decided to break the habit and go out without them, I got hit with a gust of sand straight in my face. A wry smirk tugged at the corner of her lips. Almost like William sensed my little rebellion and sent out divine punishnt. I suppose I deserved it.
Deciding it was ti to put an end to her self-pity, Anna opened her clutch and slipped her fingers inside, searching for the case of new lenses. Her breath hitched as her fingers brushed against smooth fabric and cold tal—but not the familiar plastic of the case.
Her eyes widened in disbelief.
I cannot believe this. A frustrated groan escaped her as she tipped the clutch upside down, shaking its contents onto the marble countertop. A lipstic, a folded tissue, and her compact mirror tumbled out, but the contact lens case was nowhere to be found.
God, there is no way!
But the truth was unavoidable. She replayed the mont in her mind—Violet had handed her a fresh case of lenses before they left. Anna had taken out her phone to make space for them in her clutch, but then they got distracted, chatting about sothing aningless.
In the end, neither the phone nor the lenses had made it inside.
A deep, exasperated sigh left her lips.
"The second ti I take out these lenses, and I get punished for it imdiately." She muttered under her breath before narrowing her eyes at her reflection. "William Stark, if you can hear right now, haunting people while you’re still alive is bad manners!"
Shaking her head at her own ridiculousness, she quickly gathered her scattered belongings and ran her fingers through her hair, ensuring she still looked presentable. There was no helping it now. The mask would conceal most of her face, and hopefully, no one would notice the changed color of her eyes. But she had to be careful.
If William finds out I made such a ridiculous mistake, he’ll be insufferable about it.
Pressing her lips together, she considered her options.
I don’t even know where our car is parked... Another sigh. Fine. I’ll just sneak back into the event hall and find Violet—without running into William.
She straightened her posture and took a deep breath before slipping out of the bathroom, her heart pounding as she scanned the dimly lit corridor.
She should be near the entrance... A flicker of hope sparked in her chest. At least, I hope she is.
With that small flicker of hope, Anna tucked her clutch and mask under her arm, pushed her hair forward to shield her face, and slipped out of the bathroom. She moved cautiously, her gaze darting around to ensure she wouldn’t accidentally bump into anyone.
Luck, it seed, was on her side. She managed to weave her way back to the event hall unnoticed. But just as she stepped inside, a dreadful realization hit her like a splash of ice-cold water.
Crap—I don’t have my mask on!
Panic flared in her chest. As her fingers shot up to retrieve the mask from under her arm, a cold hand suddenly clamped around her wrist. Before she could react, she was spun around with startling force.
The abrupt motion sent her off balance, her heels slipping against the polished floor. She barely managed to steady herself, her breath caught in her throat. But the mont she lifted her gaze to the one who had seized her so carelessly, her knees nearly buckled again.
A violent shiver coursed through her, like tiny aftershocks rippling through her very bones.
Robert...?
It was him. Even with the dark, intricately designed mask obscuring part of his face, she could never mistake those sharp features or the unmistakable glow of his brown eyes.
How could she?
Once upon a ti, she had loved this man. Adored every line of his face, every nuance of his expression.
Now, those sa brown eyes were staring at her—wide, confused, and just a little lost.
Realizing just how close their faces were, Anna sucked in a sharp breath, instinctively bringing her free hand to her mouth. But Robert didn’t pull away.
His grip on her wrist tightened, his fingers wrapping around it with painful intensity as he yanked her hand down, forcing her to et his gaze. His eyes, darkened with a mix of disbelief and sothing unreadable, burned into hers.
A faint crease appeared between his brows, his expression caught between recognition and confusion.
No... this can’t be happening.
Her heartbeat pounded against her ribs. He can’t recognize . It’s impossible. I look like an entirely different person.
And yet, Robert’s lips parted slightly, as if he was about to say sothing—when murmurs began rippling through the growing crowd around them.
"This woman is stunning!"
"I recognize that dress—wasn’t she with William Stark tonight?"
"Wait, what’s going on? Did that guy just attacked her or what?"
It was only then that Anna noticed the mask clutched between Robert’s fingers.
A chill ran down her spine. Steeling herself, she swallowed hard, forcing her voice to remain steady as she finally spoke.
"Excuse ... where did you get that?"
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