Chapter 3 SHOPPING SPREE WITH THE HEIR

Sebastian selected clothes effortlessly without looking at the price, each piece more expensive than anything and everything I'd ever owned.

Every time he handed something to the salesperson, a pang of guilt stabbed at me. Was this necessary?

I was exhausted by the time we left the store, emotionally and physically.

The bags in my hands felt heavy, not just with designer goods but the weight of the amount of dress i was wearing right now.

The leather interior of Sebastian's car smelled faintly of expensive cologne and new car scent.

I stared out the window, dinner with his family?The thought sent shivers down my spine.

"Nervous?" Sebastian's voice, still devoid of warmth, broke the silence.

I flinched, surprised he had noticed. "A little," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.

"I have never met anyone's family like this before, especially a wealthy one."

"They can be... overbearing," he conceded, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. "But they will expect a certain image. Remember, you are playing a role."

"What happens at wealthy people's dinner?" I finally dared to ask.

Sebastian remained silent for a moment, his gaze fixed on the road ahead.

"Just a family gathering, maybe otherwise call it a meeting," he finally replied, his voice as neutral as ever. "Meet the parents, siblings, the usual suspects."

"Usual suspects?" I echoed.

"Aunts, uncles, cousins," he clarified, a hint of annoyance creeping into his voice.

"People who think their opinions matter."

Taking a deep breath, I straightened my posture, feeling the borrowed confidence of the designer label.

"Don't worry," I said, my voice surprisingly firm. "I will be the perfect fiancée."

"So, tell me about your family," I inquired, barely raising my voice above a whisper, I needed to know what I was dealing with

"What exactly would you like to know?"

"Anything," I replied, my voice gaining strength. "Their names, what they do, what kind of people they are..."

He paused, his expression unreadable.

"My father, Nathan, is a successful businessman," he started, "Ruthless, some would say. He runs the Steele Group.

I couldn't help but imagine a stern, imposing figure, mirroring the coldness she felt emanating from Sebastian himself.

"And your mother?" I asked hesitantly.

He sighed. "She is a very difficult and complicated woman, basically, And there's Olivia, my younger sister.

She's..." He paused, a flicker of warmth softening his features.

"She's spirited, independent, and fiercely loyal and you could say sweet"

The car finally pulled up to a mansion surrounded by well-kept lawns and towering trees.

My stomach clenched as we stepped out,

I looked at myself in the window mirror,the stranger staring back looked polished, poised, anything but the ordinary girl from the apartment above the corner store.

I looked around, across about thirty cars in the compound, and it made me wonder how insane wealthy people could be.

Taking another deep breath, I squared my shoulders and met Sebastian's gaze. "Ready to meet your family!" I exclaimed, trying to overcome my anxiety.

He remained expressionless, yet I sensed a slight shift in his posture.

Soon his face formed a frown as he looked around.Perhaps, just perhaps, even the heir to the Steele Group wasn't entirely immune to his family's wilderness.

Sebastian led me through the house, his hand had a firm grip on my elbow. He came to a stop in front of a woman with sharp eyes and a regal demeanor.

"Mother," he said, his voice neutral. "This is Alexa."

The woman's gaze swept over me, taking in my outfit and demeanor with a calculative eye. "Charmed," she said, her voice cool and distant.

"The guests are waiting," she said as we went further.

I offered a polite smile, unsure of how to proceed.

"There are quite a lot of cars outside, tonight" Sebastian enquired.

" Well, my husband decided to surprise you" she hissed, the bitterness was evident in her voice

I looked up at Sebastian who seem like he still had something to say but would rather keep it to himself

The moment we walked through the door, there were claps that broke out like a sudden thunderstorm. The sound echoed off the high ceilings of the grand room.

I had not anticipated this number of people, and judging by Sebastian's expression, he was not pleased with it either.

Sebastian clutched my elbow as we navigated the curious faces.

Whispers trailed behind us like toxic flowers. I felt like a rare and exotic bird on display or an art up for auction.

A sharp, distinct voice suddenly broke through the commotion.

"Honestly, Sebastian could have done so much better. She looks like she just walked off the street!"

A woman with a cruel smile and a dress that screamed "old money" stood in the center of a group of socialites.

"Probably just after his money," another woman chimed in.

The barb hit a raw nerve.I clenched my jaw, forcing a smile that felt brittle on my lips.

Sebastian's hand tightened on my elbow, his grip is my only grounding force.

"Too plain for the Steeles," another scoffed.

"She doesn't belong here," another muttered.

Tears pricked at my eyes. Humiliation burned in my throat, If only they were wrong.

Suddenly, Sebastian stopped, his gaze sweeping the room.

A dark cloud seemed to gather on his face as he met the eyes of the particularly socialite who had been leading the gossip.

He opened his mouth but before a word could escape his lips.

With an unexpectedly soft touch from me, he turned back to face me.

"Ignore them," he whispered, his voice cold but full of a protectiveness that made me shudder.

The hurtful words still echoed in my mind.

As Sebastian led me away, a leg shot out from behind me.

A gasp escaped my lips as I lost my balance, but before I could hit the ground, his strong arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me close.

I raised my head to meet Sebastian's icy stare, sending sparks through my body.

"Be careful there." Then he turned his head slightly,

His eyes had a form of recognition as it locked onto a woman my age but obviously not my status, she had a malicious spark in her eyes and a bold smirk on her face that i was not seeing clearly before she melted back into the crowd