Chapter 56 Fifty five

Chapter 56 Fifty five
Nora.

"Your dress..." Lizzie gasps in awe as I twirl once more in front of the mirror, savoring the sight. When I twirl, the dress momentarily wraps itself around me before elegantly sliding back into place. A sash of vibrant violet, adorned with deep purple diamonds, completes the attire. It fits me flawlessly, molding my torso beautifully, accentuating my feminine shape.

"It complements your skin wonderfully," Paara chimes in. I turn to them with a wide grin.

"Thank you, guys," I express emotionally. "Shall we?" I suggest, searching their eyes. Nervousness surges within me; I'm well aware that tonight, there will be a lot of attention on me. Not just because of the resplendent dress, but also due to my role as Howard's Luna.

I take a deep breath, and Lizzie, sensing my apprehension, reassures me, "You'll be just fine," as she rubs my back. We head out of my room, ready to face the crowd.

As we step outside, a waiting car is there to whisk us away. We enter, and it's merely a five-minute drive to our destination. The sheer number of people gathered outside takes me aback. I didn't anticipate such a turnout. My stomach churns with anxiety, and I'm suddenly overwhelmed with the urge to vomit.

"I'm going to throw up," I confess, swallowing hard to prevent it from happening.

"Are you okay?" Lizzie asks, her voice laced with concern. I shake my head. My breaths become shallow, my chest feels tight, and it's not just the crowd; I'm not feeling well.

The driver stops the car and turns around. "Are you alright, my Luna?" he asks, genuine concern in his voice. Feeling light-headed, I nod, reclining my seat. "I just need a minute," I mumble.

Lizzie and Paara wait patiently, while I sit in the car with my eyes closed, attempting to regain my composure. "We should call Howard," Lizzie suggests, but I shake my head.

"I just need a moment. It's just a panic attack," I say slowly.

"That is not how a panic attack happens," Lizzie protests, her worry evident.

"Are you sure you're okay?" I growl and open my eyes. "Lizzie," I snap, glaring at her.

"Sorry," she mumbles, a hint of a smile on her lips. I let out a sigh and gaze outside. Then, I open the car door and we step out. I didn't expect to encounter a horde of photographers; the flashes blind me. I lower my head and, with the help of the guards, we move towards the entrance. Moments before reaching the entrance, I feel strong arms enveloping me. When I look up, I see Howard's reassuring face, and his small smile works wonders on my state of mind.

"Come on," he says, guiding me inside. As we enter, the guests' cheers dispel the nerves that had plagued me moments ago. Howard keeps me close, and an inexplicable sense of safety envelops me. We're the center of attention as we walk down the red carpet, towards the heart of the hall.

The place is breathtaking, adorned with magnificent decorations that make it even more enchanting. "Ah, my daughter, you look so beautiful," Claude comments, and I respond with a cheeky smile.

"Thank you, Claude," I reply. Marie, too, remarks, "You look lovely tonight, Nora. Your dress is simply exquisite."

I take Marie's hand. "You've done a fantastic job with the decorations," I tell her. We share a moment of laughter, discussing the decorations and the desserts.

I leave Howard with his father, allowing me to mingle with the guests. I go table by table, extending my warm welcome to those in attendance. My heart somersaults when I reach the Greenbell Pack's table and come face to face with Miles. I'm astonished because he had informed me he couldn't make it, as he was scheduled to leave before the event started. Yet, here he is, his smile tempting me to reciprocate.

Ella's voice pierces the air, her comments dripping with sarcasm. She scrutinizes me from head to toe, folding her arms defiantly. Her childish antics continue to baffle me. "Hello, Ella, I'm glad you could make it," I respond, masking my exasperation with politeness.

She casts an appraising glance around the hall, seemingly unimpressed. "Yeah, I didn't have anything important going on tonight," she retorts, her tone oozing with disdain. I take a deep breath, mentally preparing myself for a potential showdown. The last thing I need tonight is more drama, especially after dealing with Howard earlier.

"And Eliana?" I inquire, hoping to maintain a sense of civility. However, Herman interjects before Ella can respond. "Eliana isn't feeling too well, but she sends her greetings," he explains. I find it suspicious, considering last week, I only saw Ella, and Eliana was nowhere to be found, reportedly locked up due to her human mate from a nemesis pack.

Ella's expression turns woeful, drawing Herman's disapproving gaze. He instructs her to sit down, and I can't help but shake my head in astonishment. It's almost surreal. The situation becomes even more bizarre when I realize the woman sitting between Ella and Herman is the same one I encountered at my parents' house during my recent visit.

"Care to tell me who she is?" I inquire, turning to Herman. Honestly, I lack the energy to engage in conversation with this woman.

Herman rises again, an inscrutable smile on his face. "Ah, this is Sasha, the woman I intend to marry," he announces. My eyes narrow, first at Herman and then at Sasha. "You're getting married? And I'm just finding out? Does Beta Jack know about this?" I probe, referring to my mother's beta.

Herman is momentarily taken aback by my question, but he quickly dismisses it. "Of course, everyone knows except you. You're so absorbed in your pack and your handful of husband that you had no idea. Invitations will be sent to your pack in a couple of weeks," he replies nonchalantly.

I feel a pang of hurt, especially for my mother. I can't believe that she considered this man a good husband. It stings that she had to live her life with him, and ultimately, he was her downfall. Swallowing back my anger, I muster a feeble, "Congratulations to you both."

The woman, Sasha, scoffs and turns away. Miles clears his throat and approaches me, offering a smile. "Hey," he greets, and I return the smile. "Thought you couldn't make it," I comment, my heart feeling lighter in his presence.

"My Luna," a servant's voice called my attention, and I turned to find myself the center of their request. “Your attention is needed at the dance floor.” 

With a graceful smile, I excused myself from Miles and made my way to the dance floor. The man who awaited me was none other than Claude, my father-in-law. It was an unspoken rule that I could never refuse him. At first, I mistook him for Howard, fearing he had spotted Miles and me together. I hoped against hope that he hadn't seen us, as I knew he strongly disapproved of Miles' presence at the event.

"I hope I wasn't interrupting anything?" Claude inquired, extending his hand towards me. I shook my head and accepted his hand. The tempo of the music dictated a slow dance, and we fell into its rhythm. 

My gaze wandered across the dance floor, searching for a glimpse of Howard. Alas, he was nowhere to be found, and I began to speculate whether he had stepped out for some reason.

The dance floor was a tapestry of couples in motion, with laughter and conversations filling the room. The night seemed to offer solace to everyone present, but my mind was a storm of conflicting thoughts. I had too much on my plate, and I struggled to determine where to begin.

"I can't thank you enough for what you do for my son. You truly are an angel sent from heaven," Claude praised me. I mustered a gracious smile, replying, "Anything to make him happy." It was the sweetest response I could offer to Howard's father without revealing the depth of my true feelings toward his son. I longed to convey the harsh reality of Howard's ingratitude, his selfishness, and his cruel nature.

“Just… anything to make him happy.” 

"But is he making you happy?" Claude ventured with curiosity, and my throat grew dry. Lying was not in my nature, and I found it challenging to look this elderly man in the eyes and deceive him to protect his son's reputation.

"You're not, aren't you?" he continued, answering his own question. "I shouldn't have forced you two..."

"No one forced me to marry Howard," I interjected firmly. "I married him out of love, and that love endures. I understand his difficulties and the weight he carries. Look around; we are all here because of his efforts." Claude's response was a warm smile, and he acknowledged, "This event happened because of you, not him."

Just then, a clearing of the throat drew our attention, and I turned to see Howard standing behind me. "May I steal her for a moment?" he requested, and Claude nodded, departing gracefully. 

Howard gently wrapped his arm around my waist, taking my hand. He looked down at me with a relaxed expression, and I couldn't help but notice his bandaged hand.

"How is it?" I asked, avoiding his piercing gaze.

"I've endured far worse. I see Miles still showed after I have disagreed to the idea," Howard began, changing the subject and leaving me momentarily speechless. I avoided his gaze and glanced around the room, anywhere but at Howard's face. But he had an uncanny ability to draw my attention back to him. His next words sliced through the air, "Is this your way of getting back at me for mentioning Karen?" 

Initially, I had considered explaining that I had no knowledge of Miles' attendance, but I realized that satisfying Howard's curiosity was no longer a priority for me. My resolve solidified as I firmly responded, "Miles is my family, and I can invite whomever I please, whether or not it pleases you." 

Howard chuckled in response, and I couldn't help but scoff, rolling my eyes at his demeanor. "Of course, I'm the clown," I muttered, turning my gaze away from him. He, however, disagreed, saying, "I didn't say that. You keep bringing up things that upset me," with a daring tone.

His audacity left me dumbfounded. "Excuse you?" I grunted, my frustration mounting. 

"C'mon, Nora, stop being dramatic," he whispered, pulling me closer. That was the moment when I could tolerate Howard's foolishness no longer. I gathered all my energy and stomped on his foot, eliciting a growl from him. I paid no heed to the prying eyes of onlookers as I stepped off the dance floor and made a swift exit.

Once the cool breeze outside hit me, my eyes welled with tears, and my throat choked on pent-up emotions. A burning desire to scream and vent my frustration surged within me. I didn't stop walking until I had distanced myself from the event, and I found an open space close to the park, which was still crowded. I stood there and let my tears flow freely, my stomach churning and a lightheaded sensation creeping over me.

"Fing Howard," I muttered, clutching my stomach. I couldn't believe I was ruining my makeup over this man I was irrationally in love with, a man I couldn't seem to evict from my heart. I hugged myself as the cold breeze enveloped me, and my uncontrollable shivering mirrored the tumult within me. I was deeply hurt, and I felt utterly lost. The idea of fleeing and never looking back crossed my mind repeatedly. I no longer wanted to return to Greenbell, and I couldn't bear to remain in this place any longer.

"Nora," a familiar voice called out. I gasped, turning to see Miles approaching with evident concern. "Miles," I cried out and fell into his arms. He didn't need words; all I desired was his comforting embrace. I wanted him to hold me until I had cried my heart out, and that's precisely what he did. Miles held me like a baby, soothing me through his silent presence.

"It's okay," I heard him murmur, and I clung to him as if he might vanish if I let go. I didn't want him to stop hugging me because it had been far too long since I had felt this level of comfort.

"You will be okay," he said again, but I couldn't accept his words, feeling they were a lie. I was convinced that I would never truly recover from the hurt Howard had caused me. I was torn between giving up and waiting for a miracle that might never come. 

Taking a deep breath, I felt a wave of nausea, but I chose to ignore it. My stomach revolted, and I pushed Miles away, rushing to the nearest bush to vomit everything I had eaten for lunch. Something was definitely wrong with me. But after emptying my stomach, I felt considerably better.

"Nora? What did you do to her?" Howard's voice cut through the night air as he barked at Miles. "Are you okay?" he asked me, rushing to my side. I swatted his hands away, shifting back. "Don't," I gasped, my breath ragged. He appeared perplexed, turning to Miles, and accused him, "You did something to her?"

Miles, outraged, retorted, "What do you mean? You're the one who broke the girl, and now you're blaming me for your mess." Tempers flared as Howard clenched his fists.

I stood between them, raising my voice to quell the brewing commotion. "Don't," I warned Howard, my head beginning to spin, my vision blurring as the world around me grew hazy. Lizzie and Paara appeared, concern etched on their faces, but I couldn't assure them that I was okay, because I was far from it. I felt on the verge of passing out.

"Don't fight, you two," I mumbled, my voice growing faint. I could barely hear, and my eyesight deteriorated as people gathered around us. I felt hands around me, and I weakly pushed them away, knowing they were Howard's.

"Nora..." I heard an echo of my name before succumbing to the darkness.