Chapter 5 THE WOMAN I WAS NOT

MILDRED'S POV

I broke free from Marcella's grasp as we got to the living room.

Marcella's gaze momentarily widened at me and her cherry-red painted lips crimped in disapproval, suggesting she was taken aback by my actions toward her.

But I would rather appear rude to one of Hayden's friends than be caught dead on the spot. I couldn't risk my family recognizing me.

My gaze darted around the entire living room in a futile attempt to glean the perfect spot to deck until I could figure out a getaway plan.

Time seemed to freeze as I vacillated between scurrying up the stairs or slipping behind the gigantic flower vase a few spaces away. The latter seemed to be the safest option.

I bolted straight away from the brooding family that bore nothing but pain and stealthily stood behind the gigantic flower vase.

It was the only place I could remain unnoticed. Sauntering up the stairs was only going to steer my family's attention my way. And that wasn't healthy.

But why were they here? Did they notice me during the ceremony and come for a confirmation?

I shook my head. That wasn't the case because even I couldn't recognize myself in those beautiful dresses, sleek makeup, and jewelry. The cushion-cut diamond necklace on my neck was a game-changer.

Yet I panicked. My hair and eyes were a real giveaway away and how long was it going to take before the stylists arrived?

The stylist was yet to give my look the final touches. With my hair color changed and my hazel eyes gone, I was as good as the infamous Ximena.

"M'lady?"

A raspy voice called and I stiffened by the vase in the guise of admiring the mountain Laurels.

When I noticed it was Vanessa behind me, I heaved in relief as I turned to face her.

"I'm glad you do appreciate the laurels." A warm grin tugged her lips.

"What?" I gazed blankly at her face and instantly it registered that she was speaking of the flowers my face dropped and a smile forced its way on my face, "Lovely!"

I used the opportunity to peer back at my family. I was relieved when their eyes never wandered in our direction.

I looked beyond to see what was taking their attention. A few nobles of the kingdom had arrived with their assistants heaving in a few gifts for Hayden.

"People are loving you, M'lady." Vanessa winked at me and whispered.

"They are?"

I asked casually as my attention was now settled on Marcella who was grinning from ear to ear before the nobles of the kingdom.

"I think you should go over and welcome them in," Vanessa suggested and I shook my head.

"How long does it take before Hayden begins his day?" I asked considering how late it was becoming and Hayden wasn't down yet.

The visitors were growing by the minute.

"As early as six thirty a.m. the Alpha is usually down for breakfast!"

I glanced at my wristwatch and it was almost a few minutes to nine a.m

Why was he taking so long to come down?

Now there was another side to being spotted here alone. Apart from my family, it was going to be unbalancing to be spotted here all by myself without my husband. We were supposed to be in love, we were supposed to spend this morning together, smiling into each other's faces.

I needed to get up the stairs without being spotted. I didn't know how but I just needed to. Too bad invisibility wasn't my humanoid ability. I had none by the way.

As the occupants of the living room chatted boisterously as they were delighted to meet each other, I tapped on Vanessa's arm and her head curled up at me.

"I can't be without Hayden especially today, you shield me as I go up the stairs!" I whispered.

Vanessa's height was favorable for the task and the second she nodded and we were about to move, Molly sauntered my way with a broad smile on her face.

"May the goddess bless you my Luna!" She bowed in courtesy.

I stiffened as all the air was knocked out of my lungs and replaced with dread as my eyes softly peered at her in an attempt to conceal my eyes with my thick lashes.

"I am honored to meet you in person, I've heard so much about you!"

She did? No, she did not. If I didn't know Molly quite well I would have believed her but Molly was a sugar-tongue I chose to look beyond the flattery.

Her eyes fell on the flower in the vase and she gasped dramatically with her manicured hands to her chest and her eyes popping out.

"Laurels? They are my favorite flowers. I love, love mountain laurels. You must love them too, right?"

No, she didn't love Laurels, we hated them.

"Yes, the Luna loves them." Vanessa took the initiative to answer her question.

"This is amazing!" She beamed in delight. "It's a great honor to meet you. This fills my heart with great joy."

It was my cue to speak. I had been keeping silent in a manner that made me appear rude.

I smiled at her.

"What is your name?" I asked using a fake accent. It sounded more nasal than I intended, making Vanessa furrow her brows my way.

"Molly." The eagerness was plain in her eyes. "That's the name that comes with my face." She chuckled and instantly added, "My step-sister says that a lot, and speaking of my step-sister, I know she would be beyond flattered to be told that she looks so much like our dazzling Luna."

My eyes snapped at her and my gaze narrowed. I could see Marcella now closer to us but her smiling face and attention on the man before her.

Molly looked nervous at my reaction to her words thinking they were offensive and quickly amended her words.

"But our Queen is more spectacular. And if I'm being honest, she's the copy and you're the original."

"You're welcome. Lovely to meet you." I smiled briskly and moved away with Vanessa sticking as close as possible.

Molly's anxious smiles were etched in my mind. How fervently her eyes wanted to please me and how eager she was to get on my good side brought a sense of vendetta to me.

I was going to carry out my revenge on them. I glanced at Navaeh, and she was smiling at the white-haired nobleman who was saying something to her. It was a matter of time, I was going to get my sweet revenge on them for how badly they had treated me.

My eyes drifted from Navaeh to the assistants behind the Butler, bringing in more gifts and bouquets of roses. This made me wonder what kind of woman Ximena was.

Did the people actually love her for real or was this a nice gesture for their Alpha? Was Hayden a kind ruler and the only way people ever could repay his kindness was to send Felicitations in gifts and kindness.

Before I could make it out of the living room, I could see Marcella approach Molly. Molly's face was now lit up in glee as Marcella's smile settled in.

I knew Marcella was interested in finding out more about me and she could've heard Molly mention my resemblance to her stepsister.

Of course, there were resemblances. I wouldn't be here if there were no resemblance. I was tempted to eavesdrop on whatever they were going to talk about but my schedule for the day did not permit me to.

The more I stuck around in the living room, the greater the chances of Navaeh spotting me. If I could escape Molly it was going to be double the effort to escape Navaeh. She definitely was going to see beyond what Molly saw.

"Let me know when the stylist gets here," I informed Vanessa and she nodded.

Before I could successfully exit the living room, all my fears of being spotted sparked into reality.

"My Luna?"

A masculine voice called behind us. I stiffened. Vanessa whirled around first and then, I slowly turned around to meet the bearer of the voice.

I was both relieved and intrigued to find a handsome man behind me with his hands stretched out for a shake. Instead, I turned over to stand facing him and my back against the living room.

"Hi!" I smiled, taking his hand and shaking it briskly.

"It's a pleasure to finally meet you! I'm Dylan and that is my father Geoffrey."

He cocked his chin towards the living room. I followed his chin to the man before Navaeh and my heart constricted.

"How about a little introduction?" He asked with a wide grin on his face.

My eyes darted to Molly and Marcella smiling into each other's faces acting like they had known each other forever.

Did they?

There were no snowflakes in hell's chance that Molly was well acquainted with the beautiful blond before her. Marcella possessed power and class, something Molly strived for.

My head snapped from them when the man before me started towards the living room. I brainstormed on what to say and quickly, I found my tongue.

"Actually, that wouldn't be necessary. I, I..." I stuttered looking for the perfect excuse to use.

"The Luna has something sensitive to take care of!" Vanessa boldly came to my rescue.

I liked my maid instantly. She had my back and it was all I wanted. Ally.

"Excuse me?"

The man seemed to frown at Vanessa, a maid addressing him.

"I have something that needs my urgent attention, I'll be with everyone in a while!" I smiled at him and my smile seemed to wash away the fury from his eyes.

"I can't wait to have you in our midst, our very spectacular Luna!" He bowed in a manner that I felt was unnecessary.

"Please excuse us!"

He nodded, watching me as he dampened his lower lip with the tip of his tongue.

Before we left, I glanced at Marcella and Molly and I could see they had a third party. The daughter of one of the nobles stood with them in a beautiful dress.

A few servers walked into the living room with glasses in trays holding them up to serve the guests.

I watched Molly enviously. It was always easy for Molly to blend in and make friends. It was always easy for my haters to link up.

Marcella didn't like me for whatever reason. I knew Ximena was the reason.

Vanessa nudged me surreptitiously and I came back to the world before me and to the man staring with his forehead creased at me.

I smiled and headed towards Vanessa before anyone else spotted us.

I could see Molly moving between the two ladies with her phone against her ear.

I headed up the stairs in a quiet, quick, and unnoticed manner.

"Your stylist is waiting!" Andrea barked as I got into the hallway.

"Excuse me?" I raised my brow and puckered my lips in a way that conveyed my annoyance at her tone.

The arrogance and bitterness dropped from the maid and fear twinkled in the edges of her eyes. Her squared shoulders slouched and her head hung.

"Pardon M'lady!" Andrea whispered solemnly.

I was ready to let this time slide. But I was now in a position where I couldn't tolerate people saying things and acting rudely to me. I was now a Luna and I deserved to be addressed as one. Even if it was just for a hundred freaking days.

"Be more discreet with your words and tone next time!" I mumbled hiding the displeasure from my tone.

She nodded and stepped aside as I made my way through to meet with the stylist, to officially and entirely become Ximena. The woman I was not.

It was a position I never would have accepted but Hayden was a force to reckon with and the more I heeded his instructions and kept his secrets the greater my chances of staying afloat.

I touched my dark tresses and was ready to give them a complete change. Whatever was going to make me go unnoticed and unrecognizable by my family just to protect Hayden's secret until the so-called Ximena came and released me from this hellhole, it was worth doing.