At the Ball Party
1170 Words
The moment Cathie walked through the grand entrance, the atmosphere changed. Laughter and conversations gradually quieted down, and some people raised their glasses mid-air. At first slowly, then all at once, everyone’s attention was drawn to a presence that was impossible to overlook.
“Whoa… look.”
“Is that Cathie Valente?”
“I thought she and Jake had broken up...”
“Wait… who’s that man with her?”
Their voices were loud enough for Cathie to hear even as they tried to tone down their gossip.
She walked alongside Rowan, their steps perfectly in sync, his tailored black suit enhancing her quietly commanding presence. Cathie’s dress hugged her figure with elegant precision, making a statement without being overdone; confidence was woven into every stride. They moved with effortless grace.
Cathie caught every word and felt the familiar, thrilling warmth settle in her chest. A tingle of satisfaction followed. Of course they were watching. Of course they were talking.
Just two days earlier, when Jake ended things publicly, she had been the subject of pity, sneers, and hushed whispers. They hadn’t expected to see her so soon; some probably thought she would vanish for weeks or even months before reappearing humbled.
Others might have imagined a public apology... or perhaps a desperate move to win Jake back.
None of them anticipated this.
And certainly not him.
Rose trailed a few steps behind, vigilant and observant as per her profession.
They were nearly at the doors of the grand hall when suddenly Rowan's phone vibrated sharply in the silence.
Cathie froze for a moment, surprised.
Rowan reacted immediately, pulling it from his pocket with an apologetic expression that felt… inconvenient.
He glanced at the screen briefly before looking at her.
“Um…” he cleared his throat. “I’m sorry. If you’ll excuse me, I need to take this.”
Cathie shot him a sharp glare as he turned away toward a nearby corner.
For half a second, she wondered if it was some kind of joke.
Her gaze followed him sharply and incredulously. Every eye around shifted to her now… waiting and watching as if measuring her response.
She should have said something, maybe even yelled at him for this interruption, but acting rashly could complicate their plans as a corporate couple.
Taking a deep breath, she clenched the fabric of her dress briefly before lifting her chin and stepping forward.
Rose followed silently behind her.
Inside, the atmosphere buzzed with celebration. It was late evening, and this gathering was anything but ordinary. The Valente family was hosting a private party for Aunt Anika’s birthday, who is Mr. Dylan Valente's younger sister—Cathie’s father.
The grand hall shimmered under cascading lights, while crystal chandeliers cast a warm glow over the polished marble floors. Soft music played in the background, mingling with laughter and conversation as friends, family, and distinguished guests filled the room.
A server quickly approached her, holding a silver tray laden with glasses of wine.
“Your dress looks stunning on you, ma’am.”
Cathie accepted a glass of wine and returned a practiced smile. “Thank you. I appreciate it.”
Compliments flowed easily; they always did. She was accustomed to being admired, evaluated, and sometimes envied. Tonight was no different... unless her plan to hire a husband turned out to be yet another misstep.
“Please, Rose, help me look for him,” Cathie said to her assistant, feeling undeniably odd about this request.
“Yes, ma'am,” Rose replied with a nod before turning away.
Just as Cathie lifted the glass to her lips, she heard her name called warmly by a familiar voice.
“Cathie?”
She turned to see Julia standing there, eyes widening in disbelief before softening into delight. Her heels clicked once as she crossed the room and embraced Cathie in a hug that carried a faint scent of jasmine and familiarity.
“Oh my God,” Julia laughed softly as she pulled back. “It’s really you! It’s been years since I last saw you in college.”
Cathie's smile started as an automatic response but soon became more genuine. “Julia… wow! You're back?”
“Just flew in yesterday,” Julia replied. “I heard about the engagement and thought… there's no way I’m missing this. I was swamped at work preparing for my move; everything was chaotic. I’m so sorry I didn’t come sooner.”
Cathie tightened her grip slightly around the stem of her glass.
“It’s okay,” she said evenly, maintaining her composure.
Julia glanced around the hall with admiration. “This place is incredible—so very Valente! So... the wedding's next week, right? I came early to help you prepare; I assumed tonight was part of the celebration.”
She paused smiling brightly.
“And…” her gaze flickered briefly toward the entrance before returning to Cathie “...your fiancé. Jake, right? And the man you arrived with... is he just a friend? Or...”
The word "husband" lingered unspoken between them.
Cathie felt a slight shift in her demeanor. A sickening stillness settled in her chest as memories replayed mercilessly.
Images flooded back uninvited: white silk, laughter over champagne, her father’s proud smile… Jake’s warm touches and his voice cutting through the loud music at the private night room. And then there was that moment when everything froze... the betrayal marked by Helena’s lipstick. It all felt unreal.
Her smile wavered for just a second.
But Julia seemed to notice.
“Hey,” Julia said softly. “Cathie… what’s wrong? Is everything alright?”
Cathie lowered her head slightly, unable to maintain eye contact as the glass of wine trembled in her hand.
“HEY”
With her head still bowed, Cathie was about to speak when she sensed a shift in the air behind them.
Slowly, sharp heels approached with an unmistakable presence that filled the space like poison cloaked in jasmine elegance.
“Oh?” a sweet voice purred as she drew near. “You should let Cathie answer that.”
Cathie didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.
Of course, it was Helena.
Her stepsister stood beside them now, draped in champagne satin, exuding perfect posture and a gentle smile that could easily deceive strangers. But Cathie recognized it for what it was... the same smile Helena had worn on the day everything turned into a nightmare.
Helena tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her eyes glinting with feigned concern.
“Isn’t she your friend? How odd… to hide such important news.”
Julia blinked in confusion. “Hiding… what?”
Helena raised her hand slightly as if brushing away invisible dust from the air.
“Oh, don’t look so shocked. You did hear about it, didn’t you?”
She fully turned toward Julia with a wide smile.
“Jake broke up with Cathie. Right here. At her engagement party. In front of her father. In front of everyone.”
- Writer
