A Valley of hate and Love

EpisodeTen

Arianna’s Emotional Rollercoaster and Royal Ball Preparations

Arianna returned to her room, collapsing dramatically onto her bed with a groan, followed by her kitten, Lolly. Melinda, who was standing nearby, raised an eyebrow.

"Any complications? You returned with the cake and coffee," she inquired, noticing Arianna's mood.

"I got what I want, but I messed up. Again," Arianna muttered, feigning tears.

Melinda groaned in response, "How did you mess up? We planned everything out."

"Nothing went as planned. I spilled coffee on his shirt, and then an unwanted guest showed up," Arianna explained, rolling her eyes and lying back down.

Melinda raised her brows. "Lady Imelda?"

Arianna scowled. "Yes, indeed."

"Remember, she’s your English lecturer, not a threat," Melinda advised.

"I’ll tell Kyros about this," Arianna retorted, a little defensively.

Melinda arched her brows. "Now you’re relying on him? I thought he was just a temporary husband?"

Arianna’s eyes widened in shock. "What are you talking about?"

"Your phone, ‘Hubby for now,’" Melinda teased before leaving the room.

Feeling abandoned by Lolly, who ran after Melinda, Arianna collapsed back onto the bed, dramatically flailing her limbs. Her moment of self-pity was interrupted by a message notification from her group chat. Jaelyn and Solar were both messaging her.

Jaelyn asked, "Who’s bored at home?" Solar quickly followed with, "Let's hang out!"

Arianna sighed and replied, "Sorry, I can't hang out. Let’s meet on Monday."

Solar, teasing, asked if Arianna's mystery person from the previous night was her boyfriend. Arianna quickly denied it, though Solar insisted on calling him "hot."

Arianna sighed, wondering whether she should reveal her marriage to the group. But for now, she decided against it.

The Daniel Mansion: Keliah’s Schemes

At the Daniel mansion, Keliah was busy obsessing over Duke Chris. Dona entered her room, teasing her about stalking him. Keliah shot her a sharp look before Dona revealed the arrival of their ball dresses.

Keliah was determined to outshine Arianna at the royal ball, hoping to catch Chris's attention. "I need to look hotter than this," she declared, admiring herself in the mirror.

Her sisters seemed to agree, though Dona commented that Arianna would likely skip the ball. Keliah believed that Arianna’s new marriage to Chris might change things, but Dona remained skeptical.

Chris and Arianna’s Royal Ball Preparations

At Chris’s castle, Jeremy informed him of the upcoming royal ball. Surprised, Chris expressed reluctance but agreed to attend, since the king had personally requested his presence—and specifically, that he bring Arianna along.

Meanwhile, Arianna spent the day studying but felt disconnected and bored. She was overwhelmed by her workload, and when she checked her phone, she found a message from Chris, telling her to get dressed and meet him in five minutes.

Arianna scrambled to get ready, grabbing a dress and rushing out of her room. She was led to the car, where Chris was waiting. "You’re three minutes late," he chastised her as they drove off.

Arriving at a towering building labeled “Fashion & Luxury,” Arianna was initially confused but thrilled at the prospect of what awaited inside. She soon found herself in a luxury spa, getting her hair done and enjoying a meal of her favorite chicken and pasta. After finishing her meal, she was pampered with a manicure and pedicure.

She felt rejuvenated but still hungry for Chris’s attention, hoping he would notice her transformation.

Shopping for the Ball

When Arianna finally joined Chris in the luxury store, she was led to a dressing room where she tried on several stunning dresses. After settling on a red, figure-hugging gown, she couldn’t help but admire herself in the mirror. Her heart raced as she waited for Chris’s approval.

As Chris entered the room, their eyes met. Arianna hoped for a compliment, but he remained as cold as ever, merely stating, "Let’s go."

Arianna’s heart sank, but she followed him, trying to shake off the disappointment. Outside, Chris’s bodyguards awaited, and Arianna felt a deep pang of sadness, realizing that despite all her efforts, Chris was still emotionally distant.

Unexpected Intimacy

At the car, Arianna struggled in her heels and stopped, not knowing how to continue. Chris, noticing her discomfort, offered his arm, but when she hesitated, he swept her up in his arms and carried her bridal-style to the car.

Arianna was stunned, her emotions all over the place. He gently placed her in the car and, to her surprise, complimented her. "Gorgeous. You look beautiful," he said, making Arianna blush fiercely.

Before she could process it, Chris leaned in and kissed her cheek, sending her heart into a whirlwind of emotions.

Chris chuckled, sensing her nervousness, and closed the door, leaving Arianna breathless, her heart racing. She couldn’t help but smile at the unexpected gesture, wondering if this was a glimpse of the man behind the cold exterior.