Chapter 343
Mia swung open the door to her suite, revealing a spacious living area bathed in warm light. My eyes widened at the sight of it all—the floor-to-ceiling windows offering a breathtaking view of the city skyline, the elegant furnishings that exuded luxury at every turn.
"Welcome to my humble abode," Mia said with a smirk, gesturing to the lavish surroundings.
"It's... it's beautiful," I murmured, unable to tear my gaze away from the stunning panorama before me. Elegance was still unfamiliar to me, but my mother was right at home.
Mia's smile widened as she made her way to the closet, her heels clicking against the floor with every step. I followed, my heart pounding with a mixture of excitement and apprehension.
"I have just the thing for you," Mia declared, disappearing into the depths of the closet.
I watched with bated breath as she sifted through the racks of designer dresses, my mind swirling with questions. Why did she forgive me so easily? Perhaps this was a test of some sort.
I forced a smile in return, but my mind was already racing. This was my chance to snoop around, to see if Mia was hiding anything sinister. With practiced ease, I excused myself to the restroom, but instead of answering nature's call, I made my way to the bedroom.
I couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt as I rifled through Mia's belongings, but my survival instincts kicked in, drowning out any moral qualms. My eyes scanned the room, searching for anything out of the ordinary.
And then I saw it.
By the bedside table, amidst a clutter of pill bottles, lay a small bottle of Viagra. Next to it, a few blood pressure pills. My stomach churned as I tried to decipher what I was looking at.
But that wasn't all. My hands shook as I reached under the pillow and felt the cold, hard metal of a gun. I swallowed hard, my heart pounding in my chest. This was far beyond anything I had bargained for.
Without a second thought, I snatched the gun and slipped it into the waistband of my pants. I had no idea what Mia was planning, but I wasn't about to stick around to find out.
Soon enough, with a flourish, Mia emerged from the closet, holding up a shimmering dress that seemed to sparkle in the dim light. It was unlike anything I had ever worn before, a breathtaking creation that seemed to shimmer like liquid silver in Mia's hands.
"I think this will suit you perfectly," Mia said, her voice low and seductive.
I hesitated, my fingers itching with the urge to reach out and touch the dress. It was exquisite, yes, but it also felt like a costume—a disguise to hide the truth of who I really was.
After dressing up, I made my way back to the main room. Mia was still at her vanity, meticulously applying her makeup as if all was right with the world. But I could see the tension in her shoulders, the way her fingers trembled ever so slightly.
"Would you like me to do your makeup, darling?" she asked, her voice saccharine sweet.
I hesitated for a moment, torn between suspicion and self-preservation. But then I nodded, forcing myself to play along. If I wanted to make it out of this alive, I had to keep up appearances.
Mia's touch was surprisingly gentle as she applied the makeup, her fingers tracing delicate patterns across my skin. For a moment, I let myself relax into the sensation, allowing the familiar ritual to wash over me.
But as the minutes ticked by, my mind kept returning to the gun hidden in my dress. I couldn't afford to let my guard down, not even for a second.
As the pulsating beat of the music throbbed through the crowded nightclub, I could feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins. Mia stood beside me, her expression cool and composed as she surveyed the scene before us. But beneath that calm exterior, I could sense a tension simmering just beneath the surface.
"We should get a drink," I suggested, trying to break the ice as we navigated through the throngs of people.
Mia nodded, a hint of reluctance in her eyes. "Sure, why not?"
We made our way to the bar, squeezing past the gyrating bodies on the dance floor. The air was thick with the scent of sweat and alcohol, a heady combination that made my head spin.
"What'll it be?" the bartender asked, a smirk playing on his lips as he eyed Mia up and down.
Mia ordered a vodka soda, while I opted for something a little stronger—a shot of tequila, the burn of alcohol searing down my throat.
We found a quiet corner of the club, away from the pulsating lights and deafening music. Mia sipped her drink with practiced ease, her gaze drifting across the crowded room.
"So, Evie," she began, her voice low and measured. "Why’d you change your mind? You came all the way down here just to make amends?"
I shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. "I gave it some thought, and I realized that I’d rather be here for my mother than chase some guy who’s got one foot in a prison cell.”
Mia furrowed her eyebrows. “Is that so?”
“Let’s not get so serious tonight, huh?” I nodded my head to the music, already feeling the buzz. “Let’s just enjoy your last nights of freedom."
As Mia and I navigated through the crowded dance floor, a woman approached us, her eyes bright with excitement as she took in our outfits.
"Wow, you both look amazing!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with genuine admiration.
I smiled, grateful for the compliment. "Thank you so much!"
The woman's eyes flicked between us, a curious expression on her face. "Are you two dressed up for a special occasion?"
I glanced at Mia, a mischievous twinkle in my eye. "Actually, we’re celebrating the loss of my mother's bachelorette status."
The woman's jaw dropped in disbelief, her excitement bubbling over. "No way! That's incredible! Congratulations!"
Mia's cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she tried to downplay the attention. "Oh, it's really not that big of a deal."
"Congratulations! You're going to make such a beautiful bride," one woman gushed, clasping Mia's hand in hers.
Mia forced a tight smile, her discomfort palpable as she tried to deflect the attention. "Thank you, but it's really not that big of a deal."
But the crowd wasn't about to let her off the hook that easily. They peppered her with questions and compliments, each word adding to Mia's growing unease.
Sensing an opportunity to stir up some mischief, I leaned in close to Mia, a mischievous glint in my eye. "Come on, Mom. You're practically royalty now. Let's show these people how it's done."
Mia shot me a warning glance, her eyes flashing with irritation. "Evie, don't."
But I wasn't about to back down now. With a wicked grin, I turned to face the crowd, my voice loud and clear above the music. "Come on, everyone! Let's give it up for the soon-to-be Mrs. Hayes!"
The crowd erupted into cheers once more, their enthusiasm contagious. Mia's discomfort only seemed to grow as she attempted to keep pace with the pulsating rhythm of the music.
"Evie, stop it!" Mia hissed through gritted teeth, her face flushed with embarrassment.
I could feel the tension mounting between us, but before either of us could say another word, the bartender appeared at our table, a tray of shots in hand.
"On the house," he said with a wink, setting the tray down in front of us.
I hesitated for a moment, my mind racing with a thousand different thoughts. I needed to keep my wits about me, although my brain already seemed to be swimming in alcohol.
Mia watched me carefully, her gaze lingering on my face. "You're not looking so good, Evie."
I waved her off, trying to brush off her concern. "I'm fine, Mom. Just a little dizzy, that's all."
But she wasn't convinced. With a determined expression, she stood up from the table, grabbing my hand in hers.
"Come on," she said, her voice soft but firm. "Let's get you out of here before you make an even bigger fool of yourself."
I tried to protest, but Mia wouldn't hear of it. With a sigh of resignation, I allowed her to lead me out of the club, the sounds of laughter and music fading into the distance as we stepped out into the cool night air.
