I won

Avia mingled with guests at the party. She got to know new people and had the chance to chat with old friends who received an invitation.

Her family was yet to arrive at the party. Avia suspected that they may not come. They disliked Joem to the core and would never entertain the idea of celebrating their wedding.

Avia's eyes searched the party for her husband. After the truth she had come to learn, she was more than eager to spend some time with Joem at the party.

She wished to share a meal with him, make a toast, and if it wasn't too much to ask for. She hoped they would open the dance floor with a slow dance. Her heart had gotten the reassurance she needed that her beloved was still hers. She wasn't going to let him go again.

In every direction, she searched. Joem was nowhere to be seen. It was his party and he saw it fit to be late. "Congratulations," Avia heard behind her. The voice broke her concentration.

She turned around. Avia's breath hitched at the person before her. Nathan stood there looking good in a brown suit. Avia swallowed.

Today was supposed to be their wedding day. By that time they should have been husband and wife. Yet, the man was there congratulating her on getting married to someone else. Avia felt guilty.

Nathan didn't deserve to be treated the way he was. Although he wasn't her choice, she still felt the way Joem handled the matter was a little insulting to Nathan.

"I'm sorry, Nathan," she apologetically lowered her head. There was nothing else she could do. She was married, and that couldn't change nor could she make it up to Nathan for the betrayal.

"You never told me you knew the most powerful man in the country," Nathan spoke up.

Avia pressed her lips together. Until the announcement made by Beabianca, she too had no clue of Joem's status.

When she has known him. He was a kind-hearted man who found fulfillment in the simplest of things. The powerful man she got to see today was different from the man she loved. Even though the heart hadn't changed.

She was a fire while Joem had become ice in the time that they were apart. Avia was determined to melt his ice and bring back his smile and happiness before Joem freezes her and puts out her flame.

"I didn't know how to say it," she lied. "I should have said something earlier. I'm terribly sorry for the inconvenience I caused you."

"Is he good to you?" Nathan asked.

Avia recalled the moments she shared with Joem. When he hugged her to comfort her from crying. The moment when he admitted that he had been waiting for her and kissed her.

Her face bloomed. Giving Nathan the answer he needed without uttering a word.

Everyone watched Avia with interest. She was the subject of their talk and the object of their envy. Avia was oblivious to the eyes that were cast on her. They spoke of her luck to marry Joem and her beauty.

Feeling jealous of her flawless skin and beautiful complexion. Most of them wished they could trade places with her.

The cameraman went around taking pictures of Avia from all angles. Making certain to capture her beauty from all sides. Avia continued to daydream about her husband.

"Where is your husband?" Nathan voiced out the question. It was the question that everyone wanted to know. They were curious as to why Avia was welcoming them alone.

Most of the guests had come to the party to have an audience with Joem. To be able to talk him into working with them on their various projects and works. When they didn't see him, they got nervous and impatient.

"He should be here soon," Avia responded.

No sooner had she spoken than gasps could be heard coming from the entrance of the halls. Flashes of cameras could be seen from the distance. All eyes turned to the door to see which important figure had arrived.

Avia and Nathan turned their attention to the door. They shared a confused glance and went back to watching the door. A crowd was gathering around the door, desperately trying to catch a view of the latest entry to the party.

"I wonder who that is?" Avia voiced out her thoughts. Her curiosity had been piqued. She was eagerly waiting to see who was attracting so much attention.

Security guards came to the scene. They pried the people away, disbanding the crowd of people that had formed around the guests. Slowly her sight became clear and she could make out the guests.

Avia's body went as pale as death. Her heart throbbed exotically, threatening to break its cage. She stood aghast with her eyes popping out of their sockets at the sight before her.

She stared at the perfect picture of the most beautiful couple she had ever seen. And the image broke the frame of the picture she had created of herself and Joem. Her hopes shattered to pieces.

Her eyes were unable to look away. Her eyes stayed on Joem and Beabianca standing in the middle of the room. With Beabianca's hand wrapped around Joem's arm. They wore matching outfits and were dressed in red.

Beabianca wore a red off-shoulder dress that stretched down to her ankles. She marched the look with black heels and a black clutch. She wore a diamond necklace around her neck, bringing out her collarbone and enhancing her beauty.

Her hair was held in a neat bun with diamond circlets adorning the bun. Her ears were adorned with butterfly earrings made of diamonds. She shimmered all through. From head to toe, she wore her outfit like a queen.

Joem stood next to her holding her clutch in his left hand while lending his right arm to Beabianca. He was dressed in a red tailor-made suit made to compliment Beabianca's dress to perfection. Black leather shoes correspond to Beabianca's heels.

He wore a diamond bracket on his wrist from the same set as Beabianca's jewelry. It wasn't difficult to see that they got dressed together.

"Wow, they look heavenly!"

"How gorgeous!"

"I wish I was her!"

"They look like a match made in heaven!"

"They are made for each other!"

Compliments and comments flew from around the hall. The people at the party were awed by Beabianca's beauty and forgot about Avia.

"This way," Joem ushered Beabianca forward. He held her gaze as he spoke to her. Beabianca locked eyes with Avia, and she smiled.

No matter what happens she was always going to mean more to Joem. Avia could try all that she wanted but nothing would change her place in Joem's heart.

"I won," she mouthed to Avia.