Araceli POV
Maddox walked over respectfully.
"Ms. Chancey, please."
Melany snapped out of it.
"No, I'm not leaving..."
Melany grabbed Micah's hand and screamed, "Micah, don't let your daddy kick me out! I'm not going anywhere! I'm cold...can you let me go inside and rest first? I won't make any more trouble! I won't..."
Disgust and a bit of intolerance surfaced in Micah's eyes. He pursed his lips and said, "Mom, you can go upstairs and rest for a while, and don't attend the party tonight."
Melany didn't even dare to look at Raphael's eyes and hurriedly ran into the hall, heading for the second floor.
Calm returned to the surroundings.
Krish lowered his eyes, came over, and whispered, "Mommy, let's go back after we drop off the gift."
I smiled and stroked his hair.
"Baby, don't worry. Later you take Valeria upstairs to play with Essel and Micah. I'll come get you guys when I'm going back."
Essel said confidently, "I'll take good care of Vallie.Ms. Chancey, just relax!"
I smile and nod.
Raphael told Maddox to send all the kids upstairs.
When the kids were gone, Raphael turned his head, looked at me, and whispered, "I didn't send Melany an invitation. Melany was invited by my mother."
I froze.
Was he explaining himself to me?
The fact that Melany showed up at Royal Pack was expected, so I didn't really feel like this needed an explanation.
I smiled, "Come on, let's go inside."
I walk in after Raphael, carrying my gift box.
I was wearing a long dark green dress tonight. The dress sparkled under the crystal lights.
Raphael and I caught everyone's eye the moment we walked side by side.
Raphael's mother, Catherine Lancaster, stood in the doorway.
She looked over calmly and was stunned.
I froze for a few seconds too, but I quickly came back to my senses.
Raphael took one look at me and slowed his pace, taking my hand.
I didn't look at Catherine again and just followed Raphael forward.
"Mrs. Lancaster."
I said respectfully as I placed my gift on the table and walked up to Catherine.
The servant at the side took the gift box and placed it on the table in the middle of the banquet hall. It didn't take long for the table to be piled high with gift boxes.
Catherine nodded.
"Raphael, it is..."
I was a little worried about Raphael blurting out that I was his girlfriend since I had no intention of publicizing the relationship just yet, so I took the lead and said, "Mrs. Lancaster, I'm Araceli Chancey. Nice to meet you."
Catherine frowned.
"Araceli Chancey? I think I've heard that name before..."
Suddenly, a familiar woman's voice came.
"Araceli, what are you doing here?"
Melany came over and asked in mock surprise. She stood beside Catherine, took Catherine's hand, and said, "Mrs. Lancaster, she's my sister. She told me earlier that she had to stay home with the kids and wouldn't have time to attend the party. That's why I'd be so surprised she's here."
Catherine's expression turned suddenly cold. Her gaze sharpens, scrutinizing me.
I met Catherine's gaze with a smile, calm, collected, and always graceful.
I hadn't wanted anything to happen with Raphael at all, so whatever Catherine thought of me, I didn't care.
I bowed slightly. "Mrs. Lancaster, excuse me."
The ballroom glittered as night fell. Huge crystal chandeliers hung from the high ceilings, radiating a soft glow that illuminated the entire hall.
The ballroom was bustling with people.
Raphael had been called away by a couple of mall partners, so I was ready to head upstairs to find the kids.
That was when Melany suddenly walked up to me and whispered through clenched teeth, "Araceli, how dare you come to Royal Pack! I'm going to make you look good!"
I smiled mockingly, "Melany, do you think I'll be afraid of you?"
"I'll have everyone insult and spit on you!" Melany sneered, "Did you really think you could marry into the Royal Pack? Let me tell you, Mrs. Lancaster only likes me and only wants me as her daughter-in-law! You're nothing but a known slut!"
I shook my glass of red wine.
"Then why are you wasting your breath with me?"
I glanced at her and prepared to head for the second floor.
Melany was so angry that she almost lost her temper and the corners of her mouth twitched, but the gazes of countless people in the banquet hall were looking this way, so she didn't dare to get angry and had to suppress the anger in her heart.
I was instantly aroused. I smiled as I admired her fake calm face and said carelessly, "Mrs. Lancaster would like you and want you to be her daughter-in-law because you gave Royal Pack two children."
"Exactly! Are you jealous of me?" Melany lifted her chin in triumph, "I gave Raphael two children! No matter what happens, I'm the mother of two children! No one can throw me out!"
I mocked, "Do you have time to talk to me after your party? I promise you'd love to hear the news I've gotten lately."
Melany narrowed her eyes.
"What do you want?"
"Nothing, just a casual conversation. I'll meet you in the parlor later when the party's almost over."
I snorted coldly and turned, glass in hand, up to the second floor.
Four kids were on the second floor watching cartoons and laughing. I heard Essel's laughter before I even walked up.
I instantly felt a lot more comfortable inside. It was as if all those feelings of unease and anxiety disappeared at once.
What did I have to be afraid of? Essel and Micah were my children.
Melany's lies were soon to unravel.
I watched cartoons with the kids for a few minutes before the party officially started downstairs, so I got up and walked downstairs.
The living room was filled with groups of conversing guests.Raphael and a few of his friends were talking, laughing and having a good time.
I stood on the second floor and caught a glimpse of Raphael.
Raphael was always the most visible man in the crowd wherever he was. It was as if he was a born emperor, with an inexplicable majesty and elegance.
I was lost in thought. Suddenly, a voice came from my mind.
The voice was so familiar yet strange, as if it resonated with my brain.
It was my wolf, Eve.
In that moment, I felt as if everything around me had stopped in that instant. I closed my eyes, unable to hear all the sounds coming from the outside world, and tried to catch Eve's voice.
"Araceli. Can you hear me?"
I dared to take a deep breath then, trying to calm myself.
"Eve, is that you?"
I asked her.
"Araceli, it's been a really long time since I've talked to you..."
I burst into tears filling my eyes.
It was her! She had come back.
"Eve... I miss you so much. Can you tell me what happened to you? Why haven't you talked to me again in all these years?"
"Araceli, do you remember that night five years ago? Your daughter was on the verge of suffocation. You prayed that you would give anything to save her. After that, I was transferred into her body..."
"What? "
I was completely shocked.