Rella took a deep breath as the car door opened and Stefan offered her his hand. She gazed up at him and smiled, he smiled back before she took his hand and he pulled her out of the car. He kept his promise about coming back before the charity ball.
"You ready?" He asked.
"I was born ready." She said even though her insides were screaming.
Stefan kissed the back of her hand before he laced his fingers with hers and said. "You look stunning."
She was wearing a red form fitting off shoulder cocktail dress with silk gloves on both of her arms.
"And you don't look bad yourself."
"Not fishing for compliments or anything but that's all you can think of?"
"I know you know how jaw droppingly gorgeous you are so let's not make your already big head inflate like a balloon."
Stefan chuckled. "My wife has a wild sense of humour who would've thought?"
"And that's why you love me."
"Hmm that amongst other things. You're sweet, caring, bold and have a big heart." Stefan listed staring into her eyes with such devotion that Rella's heart stuttered. "I could go on about all the attributes that made me fall in love with you and it would take all night. I'm sorry that I misjudged you in the beginning."
Was this a night of sweet confession or what? Why was he being all mushy all of a sudden? And why does he have to remind her of something she was trying to forget. Rella felt like the wall were closing in on her as she thought about all the lies and deceit, all the secrets she didn't know where to even begin to talk about.
Rella stared up at Stefan, his gaze was unwavering and the love she saw in his eyes almost brought her to her knees until she was reminded that she doesn't deserve it, that she doesn't deserve someone like him.
Would he hate her? Would this love she saw in his eyes remain just for her even after her deception unravels?
Tears stung her eyes.
"Are you okay?" He asked concern etching his voice.
"I've never been better."
When her lips touched his it was a soulful kiss that made tonight magical, losing themselves in each other until someone cleared their throat.
"Get a room please."
It was Christian.
"Oh buzz off." Stefan retorted while Rella chuckled.
" Hello Christian."
He leaned into her as he said, " Hello Cinderella." He kissed her cheek and pulled back leaving Rella too stunned to speak. Christian smiled meaningfully and she almost gasped. Does Christian know?
Her heart was pounding in apprehension. He could just have meant that she reminded him of the fictional Cinderella but then the look in his eyes suggested he meant more than that. Her mom had been so obsessed with the fictional Cinderella that she wanted to name her daughter after her but she ended up having twins instead and she named them Cindy and Rella–CindyRella.
Rella opened her mouth to say something but Stefan interrupted.
"Go get your own wife and get your mouth off mine. Let's go darling." Stefan said. Rella put her hand in the crook of his arm as he led them both into the sprawling gardens of the MacIntyre house where the White Rose charity gala is being held.
She was thinking too much into this Rella thought, there's no way Christian knew who she was if he did he would've told Stefan. One thing she knew about Christian is that he's fiercely loyal. She tried to catch his eye again but couldn't and she tried to not think about it too much.