Chapter 5: Stolen glances and silent plans.
Mila's fingers trembled as she locked her phone and slipped it into her purse. Anna's message had unsettled her far more than she wanted to admit. Can we talk later tonight? The words echoed in her mind like a warning bell. What could Anna possibly want to say?
The grand hall buzzed with laughter, music, and clinking glasses—the perfect disguise for the storm raging inside Mila's chest. She perched on the edge of a velvet-upholstered chair, trying to calm the chaos, but her heart was a runaway drum.
Across the room, Damien leaned casually against the bar, sipping his drink, his gaze flicking toward her more than once. Mila caught the way his eyes darkened with something unspoken every time they met hers. It was maddening—and impossible to ignore.
She tried to focus on the chatter around her, but every conversation was just noise. Her mind was stuck on that kiss, on the way Damien looked at her like she was both a temptation and a threat.
A waiter approached, and Mila took the offered glass of sparkling water with shaky hands. As she raised it to her lips, Damien's voice cut through the noise, low enough for only her to hear, "You look like you're about to jump out of your skin."
She glanced at him, surprised he was that close. "Just tired."
He smirked. "Right. 'Tired.'"
She rolled her eyes, but there was a flicker of a smile. "Better than 'terrified,'" she shot back.
Damien's eyebrows quirked in challenge. "Maybe we're both terrified."
Before she could answer, Anna appeared, gliding into the room with her usual effortless grace but a seriousness Mila hadn't seen before. Anna's eyes locked on Mila's, and the air thickened.
Mila's stomach twisted into knots.
As Anna made her way closer, Damien subtly shifted, positioning himself between Mila and the rest of the room, almost like a silent guardian. His glance toward Mila was brief but intense—like he was trying to read her thoughts, or maybe warn her.
Anna stopped in front of Mila, voice soft but firm. "We need to talk. Now."
Mila nodded, forcing herself to stand. Her legs felt heavy, but she couldn't back down—not now.
They moved away from the noise and the prying eyes, settling into a quiet corner where the air felt heavier with unspoken things.
As they settled, Anna leaned in, her voice dropping to a whisper.
"Mila, I've been thinking... I want to do something special for Damien before the wedding. Something he wouldn't expect. A surprise."
Mila blinked, caught off guard. "A surprise? Like what?"
Anna smiled, but there was a flicker of nervous excitement behind it. "I don't want to say too much just yet. It's got to be personal. Something only someone close to him would know."
Mila folded her arms, considering. "You want my help?"
Anna nodded, eyes shining with a mix of hope and mischief. "Exactly. But you have to promise not to tell anyone—especially not Damien. It has to be a secret."
Mila's heart beat a little faster. This was unexpected. And somehow, it felt like Anna was trusting her more than ever.
"Alright," Mila said, a small smile tugging at her lips. "You've got yourself a partner in crime."
Anna laughed softly, the tension easing a bit between them. "Good. Because with everything going on, I need to remind Damien how much he means to me. And who better to help than my sister?"
Mila nodded slowly, feeling the weight of the moment. It wasn't just about a surprise. It was about trust, loyalty... and maybe something more complicated she wasn't ready to admit yet.
End of chapter 5.
What do you think Anna's secret surprise could be, and why is it so important?
How do you feel about the tension between Mila and Damien—will it break or build?
Do you trust Anna's intentions, or do you sense something deeper beneath her plan?
What would you do if you were Mila, caught between loyalty to your sister and your own feelings?
How do you think this surprise will affect the relationships between Mila, Damien, and Anna?
What do you think Mila is most afraid of right now?
How will Damien react when he finds out about this secret surprise?
Can Mila really keep this secret without it changing everything?
Please,drop your thoughts in the comments.