"You look absolutely breathtaking. No... that word isn’t even enough to describe how beautiful you are, my love," Alexander whispered into her ear, his gaze sweeping over her reflection in the mirror.
He wrapped his arms around her from behind, pressing a soft kiss against her bare shoulder. His voice was low and teasing as he murmured, "I’d rather keep you here with all night."
Rain chuckled, turning to face him. "Tempting, but we have sowhere to be," she said, gently tugging his hand. "Father Rock and the others are probably waiting for us already."
Alexander let out a dramatic sigh, though a playful smile lingered on his lips. "You’re too cruel, dragging away when I just want to admire my wife a little longer," he teased, but he still allowed her to pull him toward the door.
Rain rolled her eyes fondly. "You’ll have plenty of ti to admire later. Right now, we have an event to attend."
"Fine, but once this event is over, you’re all mine."
Rain smiled to herself, shaking her head as they stepped out of the room together. Alexander had beco more clingy than before, and she couldn’t help but wonder if her charm was truly that powerful. But then again, perhaps it was more than that.
She and Alexander must be fated to be together, for him to fall for her again, this ti even more deeply, despite not having any mories of their past together.
She glanced at him, a soft smile tugging at her lips. There was sothing magical about how love seed to find its way back, even when the past was lost.
They soon arrived at the venue, entering the grand hall of the most prestigious hotel in the city. As expected, the place was teeming with reporters, and the sound of cara clicks filled the air as they captured the arrivals of every guest associated with the Lanes.
Rain had heard a lot about Sebastian’s family. His wealth and influence were undeniable, and it seed that every major event they hosted attracted prominent personalities from all fields.
This anniversary celebration of Lane, Inc. was no exception. Sebastian’s mother had a love for throwing lavish parties, and it was clear that this was one of the grandest. It was also customary for the employees and staff to have their own celebration, separate from the high-profile event, though the two often took place side by side.
As soon as they entered the grand hall, Father Rock began introducing Rain and Sanya to everyone as his beloved daughters-in-law. Flashbulbs popped as caras flashed all around them. Rain wasn’t used to being the center of attention like this, but she was relieved to have Sanya by her side for support.
"Rock! You have such beautiful daughters-in-law! How fortunate you are!" Mrs. Lane exclaid, offering a warm smile to both Rain and Sanya.
"I know, right? I’m so proud that my sons know how to choose such perfect partners," Father Rock replied with a satisfied grin, causing both Rain and Sanya to blush.
"But where’s William?" Judge Darwin, Sebastian’s father, asked, glancing around the room.
"Oh, he’ll be here soon. Ah, there he is!" Father Rock said, pointing toward the entrance. Everyone turned their attention to the door, where William had just entered.
As soon as Sanya spotted her husband, she quickly excused herself. "Please excuse , I’ll go grab my husband."
anwhile, Alexander turned to Rain. "I’ll just have a quick word with Eric and Sebastian," he said with a smile. Rain nodded, and before she could settle into the crowd, she was startled by soone suddenly hugging her arm.
"Sis!"
Rain blinked in surprise, turning to see Alyssa grinning up at her. "Wow, look at you," she said, her eyes taking in Rain’s dress and the attention she was getting.
Rain chuckled and gave her a light hug back. "It’s a bit much, but I’ll survive. How have you been?" she asked, happy to see her sister-in-law.
"I’m good, just keeping busy with everything," Alyssa replied. "But you, wow. You really know how to shine in a place like this."
Rain smiled, feeling a bit more at ease with Alyssa by her side. It was nice to have family around in such a formal setting.
"I know, right? I made sure to look my best tonight. There are going to be plenty of single n here, and I’m trying to figure out who could be a good match for before my father arranges a marriage for !" Alyssa scoffed, clearly unimpressed by the thought.
Rain chuckled, then asked, "Don’t you know who he’s chosen for you?" She had heard it was Sebastian Lane. Alexander had also ntioned that it was a choice between Sebastian and Alyssa’s father, but Alyssa was unaware of it.
"I don’t want to know, and I definitely don’t want an arranged marriage!" Alyssa replied with a shrug. "I want to marry soone I choose!"
Rain let out a dramatic sigh before glancing around the room, scanning the crowd for potential matches. "Hmm..." she murmured with a playful smile. "How about Eric?"
Alyssa raised an eyebrow, her expression skeptical. "Eric?!"
Rain amusingly nodded.
"No way!" Alyssa responded quickly, scrunching her face in distaste. "There’s no chemistry between us. I don’t feel anything for that man!"
Rain laughed softly at Alyssa’s reaction. "You’re being too picky," she teased.
Alyssa rolled her eyes, clearly not amused. "I’m serious! Eric may be handso and all, but there’s no chemistry. I’m not marrying just for looks or status. There has to be a connection."
Rain raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile tugging at her lips. "Then what exactly are you looking for?" She paused, watching Alyssa closely, curious how she’d react when she dropped the na Sebastian.
Alyssa scanned the room, her eyes narrowing as she surveyed the crowd. "Soone with ambition, but also a sense of humor. And of course, they should be smart enough to keep up with . That’s non-negotiable."
Rain couldn’t help but smile at Alyssa’s straightforwardness. "Well, I’m sure you’ll find soone soon. You definitely won’t have trouble with all the options here tonight."
"I hope so," Alyssa said with a sly grin. "But I’m not settling for just anyone. Besides, I have a feeling my dad already has his own plans for . The man can’t help himself when it cos to matchmaking."
Rain chuckled, understanding just how much Alyssa’s father liked to control those aspects of his daughter’s life, as Alexander had ntioned. But despite the heavy hand, she couldn’t fully bla him. Alyssa was his only daughter, and Uncle Mark just wanted to ensure she married soone who would treat her well and protect her. In that sense, Sebastian seed like the perfect match.
Rain glanced toward Sebastian, contemplating the few tis they’d crossed paths. While she didn’t know him well, Alexander did, and his opinion carried weight. He even seed to think Sebastian would be a good choice for Alyssa.
"Just don’t let him rush you into anything," Rain advised, her voice gentle but firm. She placed a reassuring hand on Alyssa’s arm. "You’re still young, Alyssa. There’s no need to hurry into marriage. Take your ti, make sure it’s the right choice for you."
Rain understood the pressure of family expectations but also knew the importance of making decisions for yourself, especially when it ca to sothing as significant as marriage. She just hoped Alyssa could see that too.
"Don’t worry, I won’t," Alyssa replied, her voice filled with determination. She glanced around the room again. "But seriously, who’s the most eligible bachelor here? I need a backup plan in case things get tricky with my dad."
Rain shook her head with a smile. "You’re impossible."
Alyssa shrugged. "Hey, a girl’s gotta keep her options open."
"Hmm, what about Sebastian over there?" Rain asked casually, pointing in his direction.
Alyssa hesitated before responding. "But he’s scary. That man is so serious, I an... I even wonder if he’s capable of love. He just works and works. He never talks, and... I can’t explain it, but don’t you find him too intimidating?"
Rain noticed the slight shift in Alyssa’s tone as she spoke about Sebastian, the way her gaze lingered on him a little longer than it should. It was different from how she had dismissed Eric so quickly. Alyssa wasn’t as quick to write off Sebastian.
"I also feel like he doesn’t like . I’m just a kid to him," Alyssa added with a pout.
Rain chuckled softly, about to respond, when suddenly a commotion erupted across the room. Both she and Alyssa turned toward the source of the noise. Reporters and caras were swarming, and people were rushing toward the entrance, making the atmosphere tense with excitent.
"Looks like soone important just arrived," Rain murmured, her curiosity piqued.
"It’s the president..." Alyssa murmured under her breath, and Rain’s gaze followed in the direction of the commotion. There, walking with a confident stride, was Saul Watson, the president of their country.
But what really caught Rain’s attention was the woman beside him. Her smile was wide and charming as she hugged the president’s arm, waving to everyone.
Rain’s expression soured instantly.
"Carla," she muttered with a frustrated sigh, feeling a knot tighten in her stomach.
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