A SECOND HEART BEAT.

Everyone's eyes landed on the little boy wearing a black suede suit.

Ella was also dressed in a black extravagant gown. Spaghetti straps black beading bodice with a voluminous tiered full skirt, crafted in layers of soft black tulle with small frills detailing and a dreamy long train.

Her brown hair was let down and curled at the edges.

Her make-up was a bit heavy with black lipstick.

Mila walked alongside her, they reached Acher and Trent.

Nadiyah stepped away and her brother Courtois followed.

"Good evening Father, how was your day Father?" He plastered a smile on his face.

Archer was too shocked to talk, he flinched when Mila spoke to him.

Trent nudged him.

He finally came back to his senses.

"Good evening to you too, my son."

Archer replied.

"Good evening Uncle Trent, How do you do?" The smile remained on his face.

"How are you doing my dear nephew?"

Trent smiled back as he asked.

"I am doing wonderful, thanks for asking uncle." He bowed his head before dragging Ella along with him.

Ella was shocked the boy was refusing to let go of her hand.

Trent's face darkened as he glared at Acher.

"Why are you glaring at me?" Archer, who has not fully recovered from what happened early, asked.

"Your son is courting death." His voice held a dreadful threat in it.

Faithia looked at Ella's dress with a frown, She was wearing a dark blue tulle gown, with a cape that hung from the shoulders down to the ground, with a deep cleavage and crystal black gothic beads on the chest and her shoulders.

Mila came close to his grandfather who stood rooted with Elder Qing. This was the first time Mila has shown himself ever since his mother's death.

"Happy birthday Grandfather, I wish you a long life filled with happiness, wealth, and health."

The King was too shocked to even respond. This was the first time that Mila spoke with him in four years.

He hugged the boy as Tears gathered in his eyes.

He looked at Ella and from his eyes, she could see that he was thanking her.

"Happy birthday your majesty." she curtsied.

"Thank you, my child." He said as he used his free hand to pat her on the head.

The young ladies that wanted Trent for themselves were not happy with this, if the king accepts Ella, they would never get a chance at Trent.

Augustus released Mila from his warm embrace.

Mila went on ahead with Ella to greet his grandmother.

"Good evening Grandma, you look so young and beautiful, it makes me wonder if you are my Grandmother or my older sister."

Mila honey-coated his words and Isolde's face brightened.

"You flatter me too much." She raised her head to look at Ella. And Ella curtsied.

"Good evening." Ella greeted.

And Isolde flashed her a fake smile.

Mila moved and stood in front of Joel.

"Good evening, My loving and selfless uncle, I heard about the unfortunate event that took place. I hope you are healthy now."

Mila asked with an innocent smile.

Joel's eyes landed on Trent and when their eyes met. He quickly looked away. Trent was amused by this.

"I am doing great. Thank you for asking."

He smiled back at his nephew. He looked at Ella and quickly looked down when he felt someone's icy gaze.

The boy moved next to Faithia.

"Good evening My beautiful Aunty, your beauty seems to increase every time I see you."

Faithia giggled as she placed her right hand to cover her mouth.

"You're not wrong my dear."

He went in Ariadna's direction.

She was wearing a gown with a pink high-neck bodice top with a huge soft tulle skirt. Her hair was let down and curled with a beautiful dark pink flower crown.

"Good evening, Aunty Ariadna, to compare your beauty to the stars and moon would be an insult to you even the goddess of beauty would not stand a chance next to you."

He kissed the back of her hand.

Ella was surprised to see the white-haired lady, she was also shocked at how Mila could say such words from his mouth.

"Good evening Ella." Ariadna greeted her with a smile.

"Good evening Princess Ariadna."

"Let the party begin!" A man in a fancy green suit said.

The King and the queen were the first to dance.

Faithia kept glaring at Ariadna, all the men's attention was on her little sister. Her white hair glistened under the large expensive chandelier making her stand out.

She looked at Robert whose attention was on her sister, all the guests were now allowed to join the dance floor.

Cyrus looked sad as he watched Ella dancing and smiling happily as she danced with Trent.

"You should go and dance with Ariadna, the girl is so beautiful. Can't you see other men trying to dance with her?"

His mother nagged him.

Faithia danced with her fiance, she looked up to see his face but all his attention was on Ariadna, this angered Faithia and she abruptly snatched her hand from his.

Robert looked at her with a frown.

"Is there a problem?" Robert asked.

"Yes, I need to use the powder room."

She walked away without hearing his reply.

Cyrus was finally able to get to dance with Ariadna, there was nothing but silence between them.

He kept glancing at Trent and Ella who were laughing about something Trent said.

Mila came and touch Trent.

"I want to dance with Ella."

Mila said with a stoic face.

"Why would I let you dance with my woman?" Trent said to him. Ella just looks between them.

"How is she your woman, I don't see any ring on her finger." Mila retorted.

Ella burst into loud laughter. Getting other people's attention including the king and queen.

Fiona clenched her hands and she watched from the sideline, she refused to dance with Joel so he just stood quietly beside her.

"She and I are in a relationship, which makes her my woman." Trent calmly said to Mila and he pulled Ella closer to him.

Mila creased his brows.

"She is an unmarried woman, which means she is free to dance with any man here," Mila stated.

"She's in a relationship with me if she dances with any other man apart from me because it is wrong of her to do so when she just obligated herself to us."

He kissed her hand and smirked at Mila.

Mila squinted his eyes. He turned to look straight into Ella's eyes.

"Ella, will you dance with me, please?"

He gave her puppy eyes and Ella's heart grew heavy.

He was using the trick she taught and it was working like magic.

"There is no way Ella is going to fall for that." Trent confidently said.

"Trent, I am sorry." she wiggled from his grasp.

"But I can not say no to Mila, please understand."

Trent was beyond shock.

Where did he learn that trick from? Trent thought to himself.

Mila flashed him a victory smile and he took Ella further into the dance floor, people made away from them.

A lady saw this as an opportunity and went over to Trent.

"Good evening, your highness."

She curtsied, bending down enough for Trent's eyes to land on her huge round breast that was barely in the gown she wore.

"Lady Gloria, How have you been?"

He gave her his hand and she placed her palm on it.

"Fine, My prince." As she stood up she let his hand that held hers touch her breast.

And she smiled seductively at him.

The other ladies who wanted to use this opportunity to dance with him gritted their teeth.

Including Cyra who was dancing with Acher but his mind was not on her but on Lydia who was dressed in a blood-red gown and was dancing with the Duke of Mathi.

Faithia walked down the quiet corridor once she reached the powder, she tried to open the door but she heard the stuffing laughter of some ladies.

"Ariadna is truly a beauty. She does not need to wear heavy makeup or go to the beautician's house every day like Faithia."

Faithia's face turned gloomy.

"I am sure that Robert is regretting being her fiance."

"Did you see the way he was looking at Ariadna?" Another female voice was added.

Faithia turned around and left the place. Using her crystal bracelet she summoned her palace maid who apparated next to her.

"Your Highness."

The lady bowed her head.

"I need you to remove the necklace from Ariadna's neck, but I need you to make it look like an accident."

"As you wish your highness."

The lady dematerialized. Faithia smiled evilly.

"Let me see how you will be able to show your face in public." She went into the large hall.

The music ended and Ariadna decided to go rest but she bumped into someone. The little commotion caught people's attention as the tray filled with empty glass cups shattered on the tiled floor.

"I am sorry." The lady quickly apologized.

"It is okay." She smiled and continued to walk ahead. She wanted to hold the red jade necklace around her neck. But it was gone.

She turned to look at the entire crowd who were looking back at her, her heartbeat accelerated and her palms became sweaty.

"Can you hear it?"

Sound from the crowd asked.

"A second heartbeat."