Leanna

[Secret]

Twinkling lights were carefully laid out like stars under the faint glowing moon while the warm summer breeze swayed in a gentle dance, and the leaves clashed in a soothing serenade.

Elegantly draped tables surrounded a wide flamed finish stone floor at the center. The setting was planned with extreme attention to detail to match the theme.

It was straight out from a fairy tale with men and women competing who was fairest of them all!

Camera operators and different medias going on and about, making sure that everything was ready and perfect as they waited for the debutante.

All these decorations, the atmosphere, the settings . . . it was breathtaking –– if not for the tense atmosphere.

Men and women alike took turns to stare at a table with five simply dress otherworldly creatures, leisurely sitting, conversing in their own time and space.

Many emotions fluttered about, envy, jealousy, curiosity, admiration . . . Above it all –– disappointment.

No one said the words everybody was thinking. It was like a taboo that shouldn't ever be said out loud. It was the only thing the women tried not to affirm in desperation. Being ignorant was the only thing that held their hopes and dreams together.

But there was always that one person who couldn't read the atmosphere.

"Is Cain Fay and Leanna Lee going out?"

. . .

. . .

The supposed to be jolly atmosphere turned into a depressing burial.

----

[Leanna's POV]

"Did you have sex?"

Juices spilled from my mouth at Zoe's out of the blue question. I put down the bottle of tropical juice and was about to wipe my lips when Cain, sitting beside me, was faster. He grabbed a tissue, and with all gentleness, wiped my lips clean.

Series of the crowd's sharp intakes of air sliced through the silence as they stared at me with gaping mouths. I shifted my eyes here and there, wanting to know if someone heard Zoe's question, and accurate enough . . .

Lots of people did.

I shot her a pointed look.  "N-No we didn't . . . yet," I whispered.

Zoe grinned and licked her lips. "But you did naughty things?"

This Girl!

"I-I . . ."

My face flared. I lowered my head, too embarrassed to admit what we did.

"It's written all over your face." Zoe then slid her eyes on the man beside me.

I knew without even looking that Cain was smirking, holding a smug expression –– oozing with pride while pretending to play with his bottle of beer.

"Zoe, don't ask me these kinds of questions in front of these many people," I hissed.

"Pft . . . Why not? Everyone knows already that you two are going out by now," Zoe continued to tease and place me in the hot seat.

Why does this girl like to put me in an awkward situation?

Out of the corner of my eyes, Zoe gave a thumbs up at Cain, and the latter reciprocated with a nod.

When did they became close?

"Zoe, whose side are you on?"

"I'm always on your side." She gave me a toothy smile. "But of course, if I have to choose between you and Cain Fay, I'll choose Cain Fay."

"Wha––" I yelled but didn't know what to say. Then I raised my hand in surrender. "I'm not talking to you."

I fixed my eyes on the two quiet people in front of me. Estela and Zhander hadn't said a single squeak. They were not even talking to each other!

Up close, Zhander's right cheek had a bruise. It was turning purple while his lips were busted and a little swollen.

Did something happen?

I was going to ask when Cain's warm palm caressed my leg up to my thigh under the table. Dragging my dress along with his hand, the skirt glided against my skin, showing more than half of my thighs.

I gasped and took a sharp turn facing him when his fingers continued to stroke my bare thighs. His eyes were stuck on his bottle of beer, pretending he was not doing anything naughty under the table.

Somehow . . . this situation excites me. Like we were doing naughty things, only the two of us know.

Our little secret.

. . . or so I thought.

I intertwined our fingers, stopping his advances when I noticed Zoe's smirking face, Estela's teasing gaze, and Zhander's shifting head.

I knew they couldn't see what we were doing. But why did it felt like they could see right through us?

Zoe stuck out her tongue as he held her chin in one hand. "Idiot, your face gave it all away."

----

[Leanna's POV]

[Thoughts]

Gasps and whispers resonated in the fantasy-like setting beachfront when Sophia Collin came out accompanied by Arnold and Emma Collin on both sides.

She strolled like a frail lady on the stoned floor into her flowery throne.

The mother and daughter have both flowery headbands with falling vines, which dangled down their waists. The headdress must have been a quick remedy to secure their wigs on their head, but even so, I got to say –– Sophia looked stunning.

I took a peek at the man beside me and found him staring at my exposed legs full of longing and wants.

Pft!

I put our intertwined fingers on top of my thigh and placed his palm on my bare skin as I rested my hand on his.

Without wasting another second, he performed light, ticklish scratches on my flesh as he broke into a satisfied smile.

I retrained to shook my head as shifted my attention back to the beautiful fairy girl who was now sitting like a Queen on her flowery throne.

*snort!

My attention flicked to Zoe. Her eyes were on Sophia and Emma, sparkling with malicious intent.

----

Holley took occasional peek at the man he both loved and feared at the same time. She never forgot that horrid night, that event which forever left a scar on her heart.

But even so, she still loves Cain with every fiber of her being. Like she was obsessed with having him.

She made a mistake attacking him. She learned her lesson the hard way. She thought that she could get away with everything because of her name. Because of her family. She had forgotten that Cain was a Fay. A family rumored to come from a long line of powerful military descent.

She knew now not to mess with him.

But he has a weakness.

His body trembled with hate as she looked at Leanna's blushing face.

That's right, even though Holley didn't want to admit it. It's bright as the sun that Cain Fay is in love with Leanna Lee.

Holley's hands tightened into fists –– so hard her nails dug into her palms.

His only weakness.

As long as Cain Fay had a weakness, she could work something out. She refused to give up. If she couldn't have him, then . . .

. . . no one can!

----

Sophia strode like a Queen on the marble floor. There were undoubtedly high-quality eligible bachelors, but her eyes only took notice of the two handsome men who stood out from the rest even with their simple clothing.

She was disappointed about Zhander, and she was not crazy enough to pick a fight against someone like Estela Fay.

She licked her lips and glanced at the cold, intimidating man.

At first, she had doubts about Cain Fay dating Leanna Lee . . . but seeing it now.

It is true.

She smirked and straightened her back as she raised her head with a smug expression on her face.

Hmp! It's just a country bumpkin. I'm more beautiful than she is and much more appealing.

She was confident that she could grab Cain Fay's heart. She knew she was the most beautiful girl tonight. She made sure of that. She swore that after this day, Cain Fay would be hers.

As soon as she sat on her throne, she noticed a girl with unruly pink hair in a simple dress who stuck out like a rose among the vines.

Zoe?

Impossible! How did she . . . ?! I destroyed her dress!

It was undoubtedly Z O'nier originals. The man's signatures were written all over it.

She may be the Queen of all fairies, prim and proper. But Zoe was like a rebellious pixie Goddess, attracting everyone's attention.

She clenched her jaw when Zoe turned her way and shot her a mocking smirk.

At the same time, on the other side of the table, Nicholas Farrell was covered by layers of cold sweat. It was a good thing he hadn't done anything to Leanna Lee or else . . .

He grabbed a bottle of beer and gulped it all down.

He realized that the one protecting the girl –– was Cain Fay himself.

How she grabbed the elusive man's attention was beyond his comprehension. Every nerves and cell of his body gave up on any idea to harm her.

Fuck!

I almost got myself killed!

Nicholas had many emotions written all over his face. Now that he also knew that Zoe made friends with the Fay's and even with Zhander Jansen, things have gotten a lot more complicated.

I have to back out of this plan.

He was not suicidal. He knew when to stop when the situation turned dangerous for him.

He grabbed another bottle of beer and ignored all the beauties who were vying for his attention. His gaze remained lock on that woman with pink hair.

Looking at her now like the first time he saw her.

Wild and untamed.

So free.

So happy.

So . . .

. . . beautiful . . .

Nicholas swallowed his beer in one swig.. Maybe that would stop his heart from beating so fast.