The Alpha’s Slave

Chapter 43

SEBASTIAN’S POV

The night sizzled with the whispers of the cool breeze. Beneath a velvety sky adorned with stars, the moon’s gentle radiance bathed the lawn which was the venue for the dinner party.

Dressed in a baby pink brocade suit and a matching bowtie, accompanied by a crisp white shirt, slacks, and polished black patent leather shoes, I stepped out feeling incredibly confident and amazed with what I was seeing before me. Catherine had outdone herself in picking such an eye-catching outfit for me.

The lawn was transformed into an enchanting backdrop for the dinner party. It was crisp, well-manicured and smooth against the soles of one’s shoes. Twinkling fairy lights were used to adorn the trees and entire surroundings, adding a magical look to it.

Surrounding the beautiful lawn were dinner tables draped in white linens. On these tables lay shimmering silverware and crystal glasses that glinted under the soft lighting. Fresh flowers adorned their centre, with their sweet scents filling the air. Delicately plated dishes, like edible art, graced the settings, while candles cast a warm glow. Chafing dishes were used to keep the food warm, releasing aromas that combined with the surrounding floral scents.

With their pianos, guitars and soulful angelic voices, a live band were playing soft music that added to the liveliness and beauty of the surrounding at a corner of the lawn.

I kept on bowing, smiling, and shaking hands with the arriving guests until my cheeks and palms felt tingly, and my neck grew a little stiff. Everyone was dressed in shades of baby pink and white. The colour Catherine had picked.

As I was welcoming the guests, I happened to catch a glimpse of Catherine giving instructions almost angrily to someone I suspected was one of the staff of the event planning company in charge of the event. She was a perfectionist. Always making sure everything was perfect and matched up to her taste. I had barely seen her all day. All because she was busy with the party preparations.

The moment she dismissed the staff and caught sight of me, she smiled and then winked at me seductively before making her way to me.

She screamed royalty and stood out in her off-the-shoulder gown, adorned with sparkling pink crystals that caught the light and set the evening aglow. The bodice hugged her form with elegance, while the skirt flowed like a dream across the manicured lawn as she drew closer to me.

The gown reminded me of the one I had given Brianna when we had our small dinner party the first day she arrived at the castle. The only difference was the colour. Brianna’s was blue while Catherine’s was pink.

“Hey hun,” her hands gently rested against my chest, and a kiss graced my lips, her feel lingering just a bit longer. “Take a look at you, all devilishly handsome. I’m thrilled I chose this colour and outfit for you. It’s absolutely perfect, just like you.”

“You’re not bad yourself. You’ve got that angelic look like you were sent from heaven to keep this devil in check,” I chuckled, and she responded with a chuckle of her own. Her blue eyes held mine for a lingering moment before finally breaking away, leaving a trail of intrigue and at the same time puzzle in their wake.

Some of the guests were already looking in our direction. Nervousness was beginning to spread through me. But Catherine was unbothered. Adjusting my bow tie, her hands slid down and smoothened the bits of rumples on my chest and arms.

“They can’t stop staring, can’t they?” She asked with a smug sly smile, her gaze still focused on my chest. Furtively, she raised her head and glanced around like a mischievous child who had stolen something precious and did not want anyone to see it. “They can’t wait to see us on stage.”Text content © NôvelDrama.Org.

I jammed my lips together and shrugged my shoulders in response.

“Then let’s give them what they want,” she took my hand. But then left it immediately when she saw my fingers. “Where is your ring?”

Confused, I stared at her with my brows drawn in together. Couldn’t she see the ring on the fourth finger of my right hand? Or were the fairy lights messing with her vision?

“Here,” I raised my right hand in her face and spread my fingers apart so she could see it clearly. “Can’t you see this?”

“No,” she whispered vehemently. “Not this one. The pure platinum ring with a radiant-cut diamond at its heart I bought for us yesterday.”

I blinked more than usual, looking like the most confused husband in the entire cosmos, as her eyes bore into me with a gaze that felt like an indelible imprint.

Thank goodness the majority of the crowd had stopped watching and continued with mingling and chinking of their wine-filled glasses.

“I don’t know what ring you’re talking about,” I tried to defend my confused self. “This is the only ring I have had since our wedding—”

“Ohh fuck!” She breathed out, cutting me short of my words as her hand placed against her forehead. “I was so busy organizing the entire party, that I forgot to give yours to you.”

“But…but what’s wrong with this one?”

“It’s old, Sebastian,” she groaned, huffing out a worrying breath. “We can’t exchange our vows on stage wearing the same ring we’ve had on since three years back.”

I stared at her, wide-eyed. Incredulous. The ring on my finger seemed as fresh and gleaming as ever. I couldn’t detect any flaw in it. It was crafted in such a way that could make it live longer than Methuselah.

“Look,” she raised her hand and made her fingers dance in the air to reveal the ring she was wearing. The one she was talking about. It was beautiful. Extremely expensive with the radiant-cut diamond at the centre gleaming in the lights. “We can’t be seen wearing different rings. Go. Go get yours. I’ll cook up an excuse for you. It’s in a small black box in the last drawer by the left of my vanity table.”

“Catherine,” I called out, throwing her a look that suggested that this whole ring thing was unnecessary. “You don’t have to worry, okay? It’s just a ring. No one will know we’re wearing different rings…no one will even care.”

“No…” her fingers tightened around my arm, her gaze growing tender as she persisted. “Just go and get it, please.”

Reluctantly, I headed back into the castle and rushed upstairs to our room. Making my way to the drawer of her vanity table and pulling it open, I reached in. As I fumbled through the contents, something caught my attention as my fingers brushed against it. It was considerably bigger than the other contents. It wasn’t having the same hard delicate feel as the pieces of jewellery there. And neither was it having a soft fluffy feel like the pads and tampons in there. Curious, I took it out.

It was a plastic bottle product with tiny writings on it. Scrutinizing further, I was shocked beyond my imagination to see “Birth control tablets” boldly inscribed on the front.