Chapter 7
The ball was only a twenty-minute drive away. But for Ella and Henry, it felt like a three-hour journey.
Halfway to the ball, Ella realized she had forgotten her phone in her dorm room.
Henry suggested they turn back, but Ella refused.
The silence inside the car was heavy. Ella tried every possible way to avoid Henry's gaze, which was nearly impossible since she was sitting right beside him.
Several times Henry seemed like he wanted to say something, but each time he stopped himself.
Ella slowly rolled down the car window and leaned her head slightly outside, looking at the night sky.
A gentle smile appeared on her face.
"We're here," Henry said.
Ella sat up properly and smiled.
Henry stepped out of the car and walked to her side, opening the door for her.
"Thank you," Ella whispered.
He offered his hand, and Ella gently placed hers in it.
Together, they walked toward the ball.
As expected, not everyone was allowed inside. There were at least five bouncers standing at the entrance.
Instead of going through the front entrance, they used the VIP entrance, which led directly to the main hall.
Many girls waved at Henry and winked at him while sending vicious glares toward Ella.
Ella rolled her eyes, but she couldn't hide the annoyance—and slight jealousy—on her face.
Henry noticed.
"What's wrong? If you don't want to go in, we can stay out here."
Ella smiled gently.
"It's nothing. Let's go in."
She forced a small smile.
The moment Henry and Ella stepped into the main hall, all eyes turned toward them.
The hall was enormous. The lights were slightly dimmed, while soft white spotlights illuminated the center.
Ella gently waved as people took pictures of them.
"They look perfect together," someone whispered.
"Hm, not really," another girl said. "I prefer Henry's ex, Xendaire."
"But I heard Xendaire is one of the guests tonight."
The girls gasped.
"I feel like this ball is going to be very interesting."
The three of them chuckled as they sipped their wine.
Henry's brows furrowed as he noticed several men smiling and waving at Ella as she walked past.
One of them even tried to approach her.
Henry shot him a cold glare that was enough to send chills down the man's spine. The man quickly backed away.
After a while, Henry excused himself to greet some guests and get Ella a drink.
Ella walked around the hall alone.
No man dared approach her.
She looked around the hall in awe.
It was breathtaking.
The golden chandelier sparkled above, and a magnificent fountain with golden angel statues stood at the center of the hall. Beautiful paintings decorated the golden walls.
Everyone looked stunning. Not a single guest looked out of place.
Even the cars parked outside were worth enough to buy hundreds of Ella's favorite dresses—though Ella herself wore clothes worth billions of naira.
As Ella walked slowly through the hall, smiling and greeting people politely, her hand suddenly froze.
Her eyes landed on Henry standing with another woman.
Even from behind, the woman's elegance was undeniable.
People walked past them, whispering quietly.
Ella already had a feeling who it might be, and the thought drained the strength from her body.
She forced herself to walk closer.
Each step felt heavy.
She wanted to run, but that would attract too much attention.
When she reached them, she forced a smile and stood beside Henry.
Then she finally saw the woman's face.
Ella felt her blood run cold.
The woman was breathtaking.
Her emerald-blue eyes shone brightly. Her long black hair flowed perfectly over her shoulders. Her lashes were flawless, and she wore no jewelry, yet her simple pink gown made her look elegant beyond words.
A perfect smile rested on her lips.
"Hi, I'm Xendaire," the woman said as she extended her hand.
Ella forced a polite smile and shook it.
Before Ella could say anything, Henry introduced her.
"This is Ella… my girlfriend."
Ella smiled politely as she tried to remember where she had heard that name before.
Henry excused himself for a moment.
Ella was about to leave when Xendaire's smile slowly disappeared.
"So… you're my replacement."
Xendaire looked Ella up and down.
"Not bad."
Ella frowned in confusion. She didn't understand what the woman meant.
She simply walked away.
"Replacement?" Ella whispered.
"What does that mean?"
Then suddenly it hit her.
"That night…"
Six Months Ago
After walking upstairs, Ella sat on her bed nervously.
"What did I just say?"
"How… what should I do? How can I even get an appointment with Henry and beg him to pretend to date me?"
"Someone who has twelve bodyguards following him everywhere…"
"What should I do?"
Suddenly she remembered something.
"Wait… Sapphire once told me she worked as Henry's secretary at an event for a month."
Ella grabbed her phone.
"I'll call her."
Sapphire answered immediately.
Ella explained everything.
"So basically," Sapphire said, "you lied to your family about dating a guy you've never even met."
Ella sighed.
"You're making it sound worse than it already is. The point is—what am I going to do?"
"Come to my house now."
"Now?"
Sapphire hung up.
Ella sighed.
"Okay…"
"I've also already booked a date with Henry in two weeks, and my sister Ruka is escorting us."
Sapphire laughed.
"You have to be joking."
"I wish I was."
"I'll be at your place in forty minutes."
Back to the Present
"Ella?"
No response.
"Ella?"
Henry leaned closer.
As he bent toward her ear, Ella suddenly turned.
"You called m—"
She stopped.
Their eyes locked.
For a moment, it felt like the entire hall disappeared.
Their faces were only inches apart.
Ella felt her cheeks burn.
One small movement and they might have kissed.
Henry quickly stepped back.
The only person who noticed was Xendaire, who tightened her grip on her glass.
Henry cleared his throat.
"I wanted to ask if you would dance with me."
"A dance?"
He nodded.
Ella hesitated before finally agreeing.
Henry led her to the stage.
Music began to play, and a white spotlight shone on them.
The crowd clapped.
Several other couples joined them on the stage.
Henry placed a hand gently on Ella's waist.
A warm feeling spread through her body.
She looked into his starry black eyes.
For once, his cold aura felt warm—almost protective.
He guided her perfectly across the dance floor. Every movement was graceful.
Ella placed one hand on his shoulder and held his other hand as they moved with the rhythm of the music.
When the song ended, they bowed slightly to each other.
The crowd erupted in applause.
They stepped down from the stage, both strangely happy.
Just as Ella thought the evening might end peacefully—
Xendaire approached them.
Her expression clearly showed she did not approve of the dance.
She looked at Henry, her eyes slightly teary.
"I would like to speak with you."
Ella frowned.
"Why?"
Even she was surprised she had asked that.
"And alone," Xendaire added coldly.
Henry glanced at Ella.
"Ella… please excuse us."
Ella already expected this.
There was no way he would choose his contract girlfriend over the woman he truly loved.
After all, Xendaire was the reason he agreed to the contract in the first place.
Ella walked away without looking back.
For the first time in her life…
She felt like the other woman.
"I need some fresh air," she whispered.
She walked outside the hall.
The area looked different from the entrance they had used earlier.
It was quiet.
Empty.
Ella looked up at the dark sky.
"Where's the moon?"
"Maybe it went on vacation," she murmured.
She sighed.
"I don't think Henry has ever smiled at me that sincerely before."
"That was embarrassing… being asked to excuse them."
She turned slightly.
Her karate training made her instantly alert.
"Is someone there?"
No response.
She sighed.
"Let me just go back inside."
Before she could move, a cloth suddenly covered her nose.
She struggled, but her body began to weaken.
Her vision became blurry.
She saw the silhouette of a man standing in front of her.
Using the last of her strength, she screamed:
"Henry!"
Someone held her arms tightly.
She tried to kick, but her body felt weaker and weaker.
Her earrings fell to the ground.
Her legs finally gave out.
Her eyes slowly closed.
"Carry her to the van," a woman's voice said coldly.