I was happy at this moment. The curtain had opened to reveal only the faces of the authors in the top five from the Webpad. After me, a few other authors were also in line who entered and stood on the stage with their respective editors before heading backstage.
Now, I only had to wait for a while before the host could announce other things and shift the current of the program toward dancing and singing competition before they could give me the award for being the best author in Webpad.
Smile never left my lips as I continued to stare at Vampire standing before my eyes. He was presently leaning on the wall as if he had nothing to do. He acted like he had all the free time in the world as he stood there with me.
At that moment, I noticed he was like a different person. Maybe it was because of the dress he was wearing or his hair, but the Vampire standing there now looked nothing like the one I knew.
He appeared to be more mature and attractive than before. I had to shake my head to get the thought out of my head.
My mind reminded me that I had to focus on the event that was about to take place. Soon, one of the authors who was also going to be given a prize came and stood beside me. She had straight blonde hair, similar to Vampire’s hair. She smiled and crossed her legs while leaning against the wall. “I’m Alex. Nice meeting the topmost author of the year!”
I smiled and nodded.
“I’m Elise. Nice meeting you too.”
I stopped talking when I saw a man who seemed to be a member of the event crew coming toward us. He had a piece of paper in his hand. He was heading to where we were standing.
“Ms. Robbie, Ms. Warren, here are your dialogue sheets. When you go on the stage and don’t know what to say, use this. The director doesn’t want you to fumble, especially you, Ms. Robbie.”
I nodded and took hold of the paper in the man’s hand. Then I glanced at the blonde girl standing beside me and at Vampire, who was also looking at the paper in my hand. Before I could say anything, his hand reached out to take that paper and said, “Let me see first.”
Suddenly, the girl beside me whistled. “You are lucky, Elise.”
I tilted my head. Why did it seem like this girl was teasing me by saying those words? I glanced at her in confusion.
Alex chuckled upon seeing my naive expression and leaned toward my ear before whispering, “This man seems head over heels for you. Go for it, Elise!”
I blushed rapidly and lowered my head to hide my expressions using my hair. I knew Vampire had feelings for me, but to hear those words directly sent a jolt of pleasure through my heart. I pursed my lips and tried to calm my heartbeat that jumped on and on.
When that girl saw my expression, her smirk widened. “Ah, I can see why he fell for you. The feelings are mutual.”
I didn’t say anything, but I felt my cheeks burn. Alex was right. It seemed like the man standing beside me was really in love with me.
“What’s his name?” Alex asked.
“Vampire.”
I whispered his name. I didn’t want him to hear me saying his name, but he did. He looked at me with a smile and told me, “I can hear you.”
I blushed. “I’m sorry.”
He shook his head and was about to say something when a low voice grabbed my attention in an instant.
“Elise….”
I knew who this voice belonged to. I knew this person so well that I didn’t even have to think twice.
It was Lewis.
In an instant, the warmth in my heart receded and was replaced by a breeze of winter that could make anyone shiver. Why did he have to come today?! Why now?!
I was living happily in my dream thinking there really was something going on between me and Vampire. But my husband had to enter this place before reminding me that everything that I was imagining had been nothing but just a dream.
The moment Lewis entered the backstage, my happy bubble burst open to show me the bitter truth that me and Vampire could only be strangers and nothing more.
I felt as if air had been locked in my throat, making me unable to breathe. “Why did you come?” I said in a tone that told everyone that I was displeased after seeing this man’s face.
Lewis lowered his head and held a bag tightly in his hands. He glanced at me again before reluctantly saying, “I brought this. You forgot your shoes at home.”
I stared at him for a long time before gritting my teeth. There was a reason why I didn’t take those shoes with me! If I had kept it on, I would have been reminded of Lewis every single second, and I wouldn’t have lived my dream even if it was just for once!
Just why? Why wouldn’t Lewis just leave me alone? Why did he have to remind me of the fact that I was in love with another man despite being married to my husband? Why did Lewis have to remind me that I could never obtain my love no matter how much I struggled?
The anger and frustration in my heart kept rising as I thought about this. Instantly, I took hold of the bag carrying shoes in my hand and threw it on the ground, glaring at Lewis. “Go back!”
“But….”
“I said, go back!” I continued to glare at the man, not daring to glance at Vampire’s face. “I bought new shoes already! I don’t need those.”
I didn’t look at Lewis as I said those words. Instead, I turned away and tried to calm my raging heart.
I heard footsteps walking toward me. I knew it was Lewis walking away. I didn’t turn to look at him because I was afraid that I would be unable to control the anger in my heart if I happened to see his face again.
I felt a hand on my shoulder and flinched. I turned around to see Vampire smiling at me. “I have to prepare for the stage. ‘Xcuse me.”
I continued to stare at his back with a trace of disappointment in my eyes. I knew that what I wanted was only temporary, but I still couldn’t bring myself to let go of it. I didn’t want to leave Vampire and fall back to my cold old days where I would stay at home with a husband who would only ignore me. Whenever I would think about that, I would feel a bitter taste in my mouth.
Just what was the point in staying in this relationship with that man when he didn’t even love me? I knew that Lewis was just obsessed with me at present because I was in love with someone else. Where did his love go when I was begging my husband for his attention?
Why hadn’t he looked at me back then? If he had, none of this would have happened. I wouldn’t have been attracted to someone else. But now when Lewis felt fear for the first time, he came back crawling to me claiming that I was his wife!
I saw my husband picking up the shoes on the ground and walked out with his head lowered. When he left, I realized that everyone’s eyes were focused on us. I averted my eyes and tried to calm my heart.
Why the heck did I have to make a scene in front of so many people? I was going to get an award today! What was I even doing?
I pursed my lips and kept staring at the ground in irritation. Just then, someone tapped on my shoulder.
I looked up and saw Alex looking at my husband’s back with a surprised expression on her face. “Was that your brother?”
I didn’t say anything. It was better for everyone to think that he was my brother rather than husband. I closed my eyes and pretended to be deaf. But the next words that Alex said surprised me so much that my jaw dropped.
“Those shoes…. They cost 20000 dollars!”