Larryâs smile crystallized, his gaze flecked with scorn.
âHumph, so you decline a dance with me? Do you cling to the notion of being the cherished girl of the Moreno couple? Youâre now just a murdererâs daughter⦠My offer was a courtesy! I shall ask once more.
Will you dance?â
The color drained from Selinaâs cheeks as she held firm.
âMy answer stands, I am unwell.
â
Her distinguished status diminished, yet she refused to grovel before one she deemed unworthy.
Could he not see their mismatched heights made him look all the more diminutive?
With a scoff, Larry barked, âShame eludes you, it seems.
Mark my words, just you wait!â
He turned around and departed.
Selina inhaled sharply, quelling the surge of sorrow within her, and cast her gaze in search of the Moreno couple.
Boldly, she had arrived, seeking the spotlight.
Now, with Aldrichâs impending engagement to another, she was left with no choice but to establish a new safeguard for herself.
Yet the elite carried an air of disdain.
She was determined to prove she hadnât lost her standing.
At that moment, the banquetâs music ceased, and a voice echoed through a microphone.
âEsteemed guests, today we celebrate the Moreno coupleâs daughter reclaiming her place.
Surely, itâs only fitting for the gifted among us to exhibit their talents in honor of her return, wouldnât you agree?â
The voice, achingly familiar, prompted Selina to halt and turn toward the stage, where Larry stood, poised for mischief.
The crowd, initially puzzled, soon showed their youthful zest with an affirmative cheers.
Larry proclaimed, âI daresay the most gifted here is Selina, once a butlerâs child under the Morenoâs roof.
What say we have her grace us with a dance?â
A hush fell for a heartbeat, then applause rippled through the crowd, eager for spectacle.
They all knew of Selinaâs dance prowess, her former glory.
With her fatherâs crime history, they relished the prospect of her descent.
At Larryâs behest, they eagerly agreed.
Selinaâs expression darkened; she hadnât anticipated Larryâs swift, spiteful retaliation.