<h4>Chapter 184 - THE DANCE 3</h4>


    Love is just a word until


    someonees along


    and gives it meaning.


    —Paulo Coelho—


    ?????


    I couldn''t turn and look back to confirm my assumption but I just knew he was there. Surprisingly, the thought was making me nervous for an unknown reason.


    Butterflies fluttered my stomach, my hands went cold underneath the gloves, and my heart made a somersault inside my chest.


    I told myself to focus and enjoy the dance but I just couldn''t. I was too distracted that I missed a step but Calix came to my rescue and helped me recover my poise.


    Calix said nothing nor did he make a remark about myck of focus.. He was putting it mildly, assuming that the amount of guests swarming inside the room was what made me all fidgety.


    The music came to an end, indicating that his turn has ended.


    Calixid a kiss on my cheeks, "Happy birthday sister," he whispered. His lips stretched into a shy smile.


    "Thank you." I replied and shed him a smile.


    "Please enjoy the party." He told me.


    "You should enjoy it too," I reminded him, tenderly patting his head like a little boy. "Don''t just hide in the corner."


    Thest remark made him grin.


    "I will." He promised and stepped aside.


    Blithe stepped into the ce Calix vacated. "Can I have this dance, my lovely sister." He bent his knees, mimicking a graceful prince and elegantly held his hand to me.


    "Of course, I wouldn''t be able to say no." I responded, taking his hand. A giggle escaped from my lips as he led me to the center of the room while everyone''s eyes followed our movement.


    He ced his hand on my waist while my hands slid to his shoulders.


    "Ace would be so proud of you now. You looked ethereal—like a goddess descending straight from Mount Olympus." Blithe said in a voice thick with appreciation.


    A wave of sudden sadness hit through me. "Yes he would be." I replied, biting back the tears.


    "You miss him don''t you." My brother said, It was not a question but a statement.


    "Of course I do." I whispered weakly, "There''s not a day in my life that I didn''t think of him." I swallowed the lump in my throat and forced a smile into my lips. "I would give everything I have just to have him here tonight."


    Blithe hugged me tight, providing me the strength andfort I needed. I ced my head into his shoulders. His hand caressed my back in reassurance. "Don''t worry, you''re going to be with Ace soon." I was so absorbed with my thoughts that I didn''t realize his real meaning.


    I bit my lower lip and forced myself not to cry. I don''t want to burst into tears while a hundred guests watch me under the spotlight. Once I cry the pain, it would be inside the privacy of my room where no one could hear nor see my tears, except the silence.


    "Everything will fall perfectly into ce, Beatrix. Whatever you''d been asking for, it would be all yours soon." Blithe assured me. He wrapped me into his arms onest time, kissed me on the cheeks and whispered the words ''happy happy birthday'' before he let me go and retreated to join the crowd.


    I was left alone in the middle of the room. Confused.


    The orchestra stopped and the room was engulfed in a total silence.


    And then in the midst of my inner musings, the man that was mysteriously upying my thoughts emerged from the crowd. He walked with the elegance of a King and he seemed to own the crowd as he walked by.


    My breath hitched in my throat upon realizing he was striding into my direction. The sound of my heart drumming hard reached my ears. I was even surprised that the crowd hadn''t heard of it.


    When he was a step away from me, he stopped.


    The sweet musky scent of perfume permeated my nostrils, triggering the fluttering of butterflies in my stomach.


    Gosh, he smelled so much like Ace!


    The thought made my heart ache. His huge resemnce to him made me miss my husband even more.


    I bit back the tears and swallowed the lump in my throat. It was hard not to cry when everything about the man reminded me of Ace.


    He moved a step closer until the distance between us was only a ruler a part. He offered his hand to me.


    I peered into his face but the mask he worepletely hid his features, giving me no clue what he looked like underneath.


    My eyesnded into his hand. He had long, nice fingers and it reminded me so much of Ace. Even his towering height, his broad shoulders, and the way he carried himself with an air of dignity reminded me of Ace. But this man couldn''t possibly be my husband. Ace was still in the hospital. Unconscious. The thought broke my heart.


    Blinking back the tears attempting to fall down my cheeks, I reached for his hand as I set aside all my inhibitions. A single dance won''t hurt, I told myself.


    Almost immediately, the moment the warmth of his hand touched mine, my pulse jittered. A soft gasp escaped my lips. Even the feel of his hand against mine feels so perfectly familiar to me. It would be impossible to dance with him and not think of the man I love


    His hand tightened around my hand and for a fleeting moment I closed my eyes to savor the sensation our joined hands created.


    He raised his other hand into the air. As if on cue, a well-dressed woman climbed onto the stage, a microphone in her hand.


    Then the curtain beside the stage parted open, exposing arge screen.


    As the instrumental of my favorite song began to y in the background, my wedding pictures began to y on the screen one by one.


    The soft nostalgic tune of ''There You''ll Be'' filling the room, triggered nostalgic memories to sh.