Aveline
I didn't know she was gonna be at this party.
Like—why the hell is she here?
Mireline came over, her voice snapping me back to reality.
"What's going on, hmm?" she asked.
I sighed. "Sis, she's the one… that hot tomboy—oops~~"
Why the hell did I just say hot out loud?
Am I an idiot or something?
My eyes went wide. I couldn't believe I said it, and even worse—I said it in front of her.
That witch.
She looked at me.
Yup. That teasing smirk… I know it too well. It'll haunt me to my grave.
I'm so, so done.
I wanted to dig a hole and push myself in.
Why me?
Mireline grinned. "Okay, okay. So you, little rabbit, just called her hot?"
I mean... she's not wrong...?
But still. No way I'm saying that out loud again.
"Nope," I said quickly.
She ignored me and dragged me over to the Daniel Sun family.
Thank god their mom wasn't here—like we all know those rumors about her being out of her damn mind… and honestly? They're true.
Mireline dragged me in. We greeted Mr. Daniel Sun, his daughter, and his son.
And then, being the menace she is, she straight-up said,
"Excuse us, Uncle,"
—like we're some polite family.
(Okay, yeah, the Vale and Daniel families know each other, but still.)
She added, "Max, let's go grab a drink,"
and left me with this cold, short-tempered... person.
I was awkward as hell, but what could I do?
I'll kill her later.
For now... I gotta survive.
Ruby looked at me.
"Last time, we didn't really get to know each other, right?" she said.
She stretched her hand out for a handshake.
"My good name is Ruby Daniel Sun."
I shook it, barely. "I'm Aveline Vale. It's… not nice to meet you."
She said, "Same."
(Ugh. The audacity.)
Then Mireline came back with Max and said,
"Guys, why aren't you dancing? Show us some classic moves! I heard Mr. Ruby here is a pro dancer~"
She's the only one who knows I dance. It's my passion.
Mom? She'd kill me if she found out.
You get it, right? Sister-to-sister secrets.
Dad never complains. He's more of a "do what you want" guy.
But Mom?
Nope. She'd dare me to try… and I remember what happened last time.
(But that's another trauma dump.)
I looked at Ruby, deadpan, gave her my bittersweet smile.
"Sure, sure. I also heard that."
"You don't mind, right?" I asked, hoping she'd say no.
But of course, the universe hates me.
She agreed.
Why is life so cruel?
At least Mom didn't come. If she had, I'd be very much dead by now.
Anyway, we walked to the center.
The background music was soft, classical, romantic.
I liked the rhythm. Calm and flowy.
She placed her hand on my waist—confident, like she's done this a thousand times.
I rested my hands on her shoulders.
Under my palms, her muscles were solid. Not soft. Strong.
Her eyes were unreadable. Emotionless.
Unfortunately.
She gently held my hand and tightened her grip around my waist. We began.
We moved with the music, and I swear… her red eyes were mesmerizing.
I couldn't stop looking at them.
She suddenly said,
"I wasn't expecting you to dance this well."
"…What do you mean?" I raised a brow.
She smirked.
"You kind of summoned yourself in front of my Lambo that day. So I figured you didn't know how to walk properly."
I wanted to slap her.
"Excuse me?! I'm a dancer. Only my sister knows that."
She leaned in. "You're a dancer? Then why've I never heard about it?"
"Because my mom hates it. That's all," I huffed, rolling my eyes.
Then she smirked again.
Before I could prepare myself, she bent me back gently, and leaned in close—way too close.
Her lips brushed against my ear as she whispered,
"Mmm. I like your perfume.
Just sweet… like you."
OH. MY. GOD.
Her voice tickled in my ear.
She suddenly took both my hands, and now she was behind me, holding them gently in front of me. And the fun thing is that she rested her hands like we were connected.