SNEAKY MESSAGES AT THE DINNER

[A MESSAGE FROM THE AUTHOR TO ALL THE READERS OUT THERE!!!

Dear Readers:

Sincere apologies from your author for not uploading for the past 24 days. Due to a technology issue, I was unable to use my account, but on behalf of the incident, I have uploaded three more bonus chapters.

I must thank the readers who still supported me with their most valuable power stones during the past few days of my absence.

Thank you!

yours,

osm_1015]

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It was around the time of eight-thirty. Lily escorted Vilian to the dinner. She was the last to attend the dinner, which made her pique the attention of everyone present in the hall.

"There you are, dear! We've been waiting for you," exclaimed Mrs. Fenan.

"Pardon my lateness, and for keeping you all waiting," apologized Vilian as she sat between Eric and Daniel. Right opposite her was Astrel. Why was he here, thought Vilian as she glanced at him.

"Bon appetite, my dear!" the voice beside her interrupted her from her thoughts. Vilian turned to face him only to back away. Eric was close to her So close that made her feel nostalgic and nauseous. Her hands flew to her nose with a cringing reaction. Eric was embarrassed.

Eric was taken aback. He sat straight and blew air to his hand as he smelled his breath. 'Smells good,' thought as he smelled and glanced at Vilian who started to have her dinner.

A smile tugged Astrel's lips as he observed what Vilian did. The dinner went silent but it didn't last long as she expected. Eric was irking her by putting a show in front of everyone, acting like a gentleman.

'Gentleman my foot. A monster,' cursed Vilian. She touched nothing that was served by Eric. Not even the juice he poured.

"Don't they look good?" commented Mrs. Fenan as she glanced at Eric and Vilian.

The little appetite Vilian was long gone. She felt the food taste bitter every passing second.

"Vili? Isn't the food to your liking, dear?" questioned Mrs. Fenan. "I've seen you playing with the food." The genuine worry was visible in the concern she shared.

"Try these... I assure you, you'd love it," she said as she gestured to the maid to pass the smoke salmon & lemon risotto.

Vilian nodded her head and thanked Mrs. Fenan, and she waited for the maid to serve her. When she lifted her fork, she felt a nudge on her foot, causing her to glance down.

Astrel?

She glanced up at him and questioned him with her eyebrows. He eyed her phone. Just as he did so, her phone resting beside her plate lit, indicating a notification.

She read the message,

[Unknown Number: The pepper's too hot]

Vilian saw Mrs. Fenan waiting for her to try. She gave a smile and cautiously had the dish. Just like that, it was hot, but she didn't show it off.

After a while, another message popped up,

[Unknown Number: Try the soup]

Vilian didn't ignore his suggestion. The crockpot chicken gnocchi soup was perfectly to her liking. A smile graced her lips as she glanced at Astrel. She slid the phone down to her lap and texted sneakily.

Astrel glanced down at his phone,

[Little Kitty: Thank you!]

[Little Kitty: You seem to know my taste]

A smirk broadened his lips as he read the message but didn't reply to her. Vilian waited for his response. She gazed at Astrel, who smiled at her for a brief moment.

Demus raised the wine glass and tapped it twice, gaining the attention of everyone dining with him.

A few seconds passed by and he spoke clearing his throat, "I would like to let you'll know the engagement date of my daughter, now that we've concluded the discussion. We expect to arrange it in a month's time. Till then, we'd love to grow the bond between both families. That saying, parties, and gatherings are the most to be expected as a tradition," announced Demus with a polite smile. Happy and exciting applauses could be heard from the dining hall.

Vilian would have nearly rolled her eyes with annoyance if it weren't for Mrs. Fenan. She smiled at Vilian dearly with much love.

Her personality didn't match one bit of Eric's.

"I hope it's more than enough for the young one's get along with each other," commented Mr. Fenan and continued, "Am I right?"

Eric agreed with his father, but Vilian did say nothing but gave a crooked smile.

Her phone buzzed on her lap, catching her attention. Her eyes glanced down. Astrel had sent a congratulatory sticker with a smirking emoji and a cat.

[Unknown Number: Congratulations, Little Kitty]

She sent a no-thanks response.

[Unknown Number: The feast does not seem to look yummy, is it?] came a question that brought a smile to her, but she didn't respond to the message.

"Eric, you can take her out tomorrow. It would be a good starting for both of you," said Demus.

"Sure, Mr. Frost." The smile on Eric's lips never left.

He leaned toward Vilian, earning a glare from her, "You see, your father permitted me already."

"That does not change the fact that I'll not go," she rolled her eyes and took the juice glass which was earlier filled by Eric. He grinned as he saw her bringing it to her mouth. But the grin didn't last long. The next moment the juice spilled on Vilian's dress. She glanced at him with a smirk.

"Now, if you'll excuse me," she whispered to him and gasped as she glanced at her dress and neckline surprised. "Oops! I'm sorry, but if you'll excuse me," she said as she stood up from her chair. Lily came running hastily.

"Oh, dear! What a mess. I hope you're alright," exclaimed Mrs. Fenan and gestured to Eric to help her. Eric nodded.

"Let me help you to the washroo-"

"Thank you, but I'm alright. Lily, if you could take my things and follow me?" She dismissed Eric politely. But he felt embarrassed as he saw her walking away with her handmaid. He gritted his teeth and smiled as he sat back.

Everyone continued having their dinner.

"Lily, take my things to my room. I'll be back." Lily nodded her head and walked away. Vilian headed to the nearby washroom. Letting the water flow from the tap, she dabbed the water on her dress. She could not help but giggle.

"Unbelievable..."

"Gosh! You almost killed me!" Vilian exclaimed with a startled look. The intruder didn't intrude on her current giddy. She felt like she went back to her young self, being bold and mischievous.

The shoe steps tapped on the bathroom tiles. Vilian continued to clean the juice stain, but her eyes followed the black shoes, which took slow steps toward her.

"You know you shouldn't be here."

"Says the one who isn't shooing me away," she heard his whisper right above her.

Another pair of footsteps echoed out the hallways alerting Vilian. She gazed up into the reflection behind her in the mirror with her widened eyes. Vilian turned behind and whispered louder, "You must not be here!"

"With what other expression will I listen to those same words?" questioned Astrel. The smirk never left him.

"This is not the time to be sarcastic!" Vilian Hurried tried to find a way to hide him. She slid the white curtain hanging around the bathtub and pushed Astrel to fall into it. She squeaked an apology but didn't spare another glance at him as she slid the curtain close.

"Vilian! Are you in there?" came the angry voice of her stepmother following the knocks over the wooden door.