Chapter 921
Ariana stood, her disbelief palpable.
How could it be so coincidental that they picked her?!
Utterly embarrassed, she longed to avoid the gaze of anyone in the room.
Just as she contemplated declining, the host strode forward, holding a * Applause microphone, and declared, “Welcome our two Lucky guests followed his words, led by his own claps.
The audience joined in, yet their eyes couldn’t help but gravitate towards Ariana’s attire, sparking murmurs of discussion.
Trapped in this predicament, Ariana realized escape was futile.
With reluctance, she ascended the stage, her discomfort tangible.
Both Ariana and Holden were like reluctant ducks thrust into the spotlight, their expressions far from composed, especially Holden’s.
Even behind his mask, his foul mood was evident.
“Can you dance?” Holden’s words cut coldly through the air, directed at the flamboyantly dressed individual before him.
Ariana, overcome with embarrassment, could only manage a hasty nod in response.
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She couldn’t help but steal a glance at the man before her.
Towering over her by a head, his impeccably tailored suit accentuated his impressive physique.
His posture was erect, shoulders broad yet tapering to a slender waist, projecting an aura of dominance.
His golden butterfly mask, adorned with silver edges, gleamed icily under the Lights, mirroring the sharpness of his jawline.
He exuded an air that seemed unapproachable.
Masked as he was, Ariana couldn’t help but envision a flawless countenance beneath it.
Strangely, a feeling nagged at her, suggesting a familiarity with him.
He bore a faint resemblance to Holden, even obscured by the mask, yet his presence exuded a far colder aura than Holden’s.
Their hairstyles differed, offering some distinguishing features.
Holden — how could someone of his demeanor be present at such a dance? Ariana briefly contemplated but chose to refrain from delving further into his identity.
The music commenced, beckoning them to dance, and they drew nearer to each other, moving in harmony with the rhythm.
As the distance between them closed, Holden caught a delicate whiff of Ariana’s fragrance, triggering an inexplicable flutter within his heart.
Ariana remained oblivious to Holden’s reaction, her own nerves consuming her attention
It had been an extended period since she had last danced, and the intricate steps eluded her memory.
With mounting anxiety, her missteps multiplied.
In a mere heartbeat, she unintentionally trod on her partner’s foot, a misfortune repeating itself four or five times.
Flushed with embarrassment, she repeatedly murmured her apologies in a hushed tone.
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When her voice reached Holden’s ears, a sense of familiarity dawned upon him, though its origin remained beyond his grasp.
He clasped Ariana’s hand, guiding her through the dance as the music swirled around them.
Yet, her attire was ill-suited for the twirling motion, causing her to stumble.
Inadvertently, she ensnared her own skirt and collided with Holden’s chest.
“Sorry, sorry, sorry,” Ariana stammered, her distress palpable.
Panic surged within her, the desire to vanish from the stage nearly overwhelming.
However, Holden just frowned slightly.
As her body had collided with his just moments before, an inexplicable quickening of his heartbeat ensued, an anomaly in his normally steady emotional state since the accident.
An unsettling intuition gnawed at Holden, a feeling that all was not as it should be.
Urgency surged through him, compelling him to conclude the dance.
Ariana shared a similar discomfort, her unease augmented by the warmth of Holden’s gloved hand at her waist.
The delicate aroma of tobacco entwined with juniper enveloped him, intoxicating her senses
Ariana realized that they couldn’t continue like this.
In that pivotal moment, an abrupt, disdainful snort from him jolted her back to reality, shattering her reverie.
For an instant, that cold sound bore an uncanny resemblance to Theodore’s voice.
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