Chapter 9 A TOAST OF FATE

The grand hall at the mansion was swirling with laughter from guests and soft music in the background. This was indeed a grand engagement party. You could tell the guests were elite from their demeanor. I almost felt different, but the way Bryan flaunted me, I felt on top of the world.

I was dressed in a sleek, flowing, deep emerald-colored gown that complimented my curves. It reflected the lights as I walked, which drew admiring glances from everyone. Bryan introduced me to his esteemed business partners, family, and friends, and they all offered warm compliments about my beauty and charm. Their admiration made me feel comfortable in my skin; they were a constant reminder that I now belonged to a world I never dared dream of.

As much as the atmosphere was festive, I felt unease every time my gaze fell on Mira in the crowd. She was dressed in a stylishly revealing dress. She had an unreadable expression on her face the whole time. After the last conversation we had, I was skeptical if I should approach her or just enjoy the evening and let her be. I held back, unsure of what to expect. I just watched her stand in a corner all by herself.

Just before I could shake off the unease from my mind, she approached me. Her steps were calculated and she wore a wide smile that seemed like acceptance.

"Good evening, Tessy". She said, extending her hands towards me for a handshake.

I tried to search her expression for any trace of fury or resentment, but all there seemed to be was a hint of forgiveness and hope for a renewed friendship. She seemed ready to put everything behind her.

I hesitated for a while and then, shook her hand. "It was nice of you to honor our invitation".

She smiled softly, and before long, we were engrossed in laughter and conversation. We reminisced about embarrassing situations from our childhood, talked about secret jokes, and our days growing up at the stables. The tension between us began to fade away, replaced by a bond that seemed unbreakable. I enjoyed our moment of reconnection and for that moment, I was feeling complete and was sure we would share a promising future as sisters and best friends once again.

Bryan was busy attending to our guests and engaging his invitees in conversations and jokes. Soon, I noticed Mira Walk to the side of the bar, I didn't pay attention because I felt she needed some time away from the crowd, and I was engaged in a conversation with a business partner of Bryan.

Not quite long I saw her reappear from behind a curtained alcove close to the bar. She carried a tray with drinks and approached Bryan. I felt that since she had come around with me, she wanted to make her way right with Bryan too, so I shrugged it off.

I watched her hand him a glass of cocktail wine from the tray. He accepted it with a cheerful smile and they both raised their glasses to a toast. A few moments later they were wrapped up in a conversation and laughing heartily. My heart warmed up with joy as I watched them get along. I thought she had finally come around. We could finally be a family once more.

But as the night went deeper, I noticed a dark expression on Bryan's face. Not the type that depicted anger, but one that depicted fatigue. I approached him to ask what the matter was but he said he was fine. Just then we were approached by one of Bryan's potential business partners. I was left to do the talking because Bryan didn't seem well even though he denied it.

Bryan had been feeling dizzy ever since he took the cocktail presented to him by Mira; he had barely had any alcohol that night, and yet, he felt this strange. His muscles were heavy and a feeling of yearning overwhelmed him. His heart beat loudly against his chest; he lost control of his retraining and reasoning.

Little did he know that his drink had been laced with one of the sedatives used on the horses by our vet doctors and a certain kind of aphrodisiac Mira had gotten from a former high school acquaintance. I should have suspected she was up to something judging from her shady behaviors but I was too blinded with trust.

Bryan scanned the hall in search of me. He wanted to inform me he had to retire to his chambers, but I was busy with a group of guests at the far end of the hall. He tried to call out to me but he couldn't find his voice.

Just then, he found Mira standing a few steps away from him, she pretended to be oblivious to his situation. He approached her and asked her to help him inform me he was retiring to his chambers because he was not feeling well, and that I should endeavor to join him as soon as possible. His hunger and passion was already at its peak.

He declined when she offered to assist him upstairs, but she insisted, and as she put his arms around her waist, he felt a sense of connection like nothing he had ever felt before. Passion clawed at every nerve of his body and his senses were on fire.

They arrived at his chamber, and as the door slammed behind him, the only thing he could think of was quenching the thirst of desire burning him from within. As Mira clung to him, they both dropped to the bed and in an instant, they were engaged in a rough kiss.

Bryan couldn't make sense of what was happening to him, but at that moment, he knew whatever it was, it had brought him to his knees. They made fearsome love, and soon, Bryan was out. He was knocked out by the sedative. This moment changed everything.