Chapter 107 - Her Acquaintance

The lynx was watching her beast, eyes full of trust and certainty that he would conquer all, and even the man who's very presence revolted her entire being. Dane stood next to Giovanni, both men staring each other down as if they would have pounced on one another if not for all eyes and ears on them.

Truthfully, the moment if Giovanni would do something to her dearest husband and beast, she was sure she'd forsake everything as well. Love made her silly just as much as it made her insane. Even more revolting than Giovanni was the elites which scattered around the room. She'd never imagined stepping foot somewhere where she'd come across the elites, Giovanni, or even possibly the senator, again.

The senator.

Prisana wondered if his heartless soul even dared to repent for almost killing his own flesh and blood. Even to this day, she gave up on looking for the man that never existed. In her memories she always twisted that man to make him out as a father he never even tried to be.

Before she realized it, Prisana's attention faded away from supporting her husband to facing both men once again.

And then, she felt the strangest sensation that prompted her to turn to someone's gaze who had been on her for god knows how long.

When she turned, Prisana laid eyes on familiar ash blond hair and ocean blue eyes.

Characteristics familiar to the man she once loved. She had to search her memories and instantly, flashed back to instances of where she had been introduced to him several times. Prisana had never truly spoken to him but she greeted him on a few occasions during elite parties and simply because she knew Giovanni her whole life.

Yet, for the first time in her life she was faced with this uneasy feeling that gnawed at her bones.

Reed Blair. That revolting man's father stood several feet away from her. He held the same age as the senator, appearing wise yet jaded to the politician views. They both held the other's gaze, trapped in this stand still until Reed made the first move to walk toward her. Prisana could only back up to the wall. She was surprised that this man was looking to her and even seeking her out.

Cautiousness replaced every fiber of her being as she looked to her beast who was occupied with the media. She took a deep breath as he reached her because at the end of the day they both had to face demons by their own means.

"...Mr. Blair, is there anythng I can help you with?

His blue eyes that almost sickened her because they resembled ones she had been used to being fooled from her whole life. Those eyes raked her up and down. But she couldn't turn away from gut feeling. It was as if he was savoring everything about Prisana. Trying desperately, to capture her through the way he silently just looked at her. She had to peer up into his eyes in curiousity.

"I-Is there something you need from me? You've been looking at me for quite some time."

Only now she began to feel strange. Thinking about it from before, she always felt like Giovanni's father Reed stared at her more than one should. It's just that before Giovanni or the senator, he always remained quiet like now. It was different as it was only the two of them standing face to face.

"...Prisana Visalyaputra, we've been introduced to each other many times. And yet, I believe this is the first time I've been able to talk to you one on one."

"If this is about Giovanni..." she trailed off as Reed shook his head.

"This isn't about my son. I just wanted to compliment you."

Prisana almost narrowed her eyes at him in disgust but relaxed her face as she heard his full words.

"Prisana, you look beautiful...Just like your mother."

Just like her mother.

She stepped forward, searching his eyes for answers. "Y-You knew my mother?"

He nodded, offering her a smile that seemed almost too sad. "...We were acquaintances. I met your mother in university....And as for the senator, we are somewhat fated rivals. I'm sure you know I'm on the council, trying to outrun him in the next term."

Prisana was already beginning to like the man, contrary to the fact that he was Giovanni's father. That was because the word 'rivals' was enough to spark a cautious alliance. Most of all, she had been tricked by the fact that he knew her mother. Everyone in her household had refused to speak of her mother. Even the senator.

And here this man was. None other than the enemy's father who was proposing that he knew her mother. Right, the enemy. How could she trust someone she barely knew? Reed had the most sincere and kind eyes that held Prisana with the most beautiful truths in his eyes.

Still, she immediately shook her head as to not fall for his charming words about mother, "It's a pleasure meeting you here Mr. Blair but I'm sorry, I don't trust your intentions and it's best that we don't associate. Forgive me for what happened to your son."

Prisana tried to walk away and join the crowd and media that suddenly gathered both Giovanni and Dane in a large massive crowd. But, Reed stepped in front of her with his eyes serious as can be.

"You had every right to do what you did," he looked away and sighed. "Let me apologize on the behalf of my son in regards to you and...your mother. I'm not sure where I went wrong or where I've failed to guide him as his father but if only I knew sooner, then things wouldn't have...things wouldn't turned out this way."

She didn't have the time to process Reed's foreboding words. Prisana simply stared at him, at a loss for words. The moment she opened her mouth to say something, the both of them were interrupted.

"...Attention," one of the announcers nearby began shouting to everyone. "There's something interesting going on with the two candidates right now. Tune in!"

The television screen cast to better give Prisana an idea of what exactly going on with her husband and that revolting man. Dane was the center of attention on live television. He was clearly giving Giovanni the death glare.

"Giovanni Blair. Now that we're in the same lens it seems like now is a good time as any to shed some truths....My wife Prisana Visalyaputra never made vows with Giovanni. She ran before they could tie her down."

Prisana's hands flew to her lips as he uttered the truth.

"L-Lies! Where is your proof?" Giovanni shouted.

Just as Prisana couldn't stand it anymore and was going to intervene, Reed's hand held her shoulder as he shook his head at her to not intervene. She took a deep breath. Of course, she had to believe in her beast. She waited.

"I have her marriage record right here."

"Hah. You could have fabricted the evidence. Where is your proof now?"

"I have someone who was present that night of the wedding that can testify about what happened...Harry, come forward."

Harry Plaskitt...Prisana remembered him as the man who slobbered while kissing her hands. That man walked forward from the shadows and spoke, "...That night, I as well as several other families can testify that we were silenced on the wedding day. Prisana Visalyaputra never made it to her vows."

And then what happened next once again proved why Prisana vowed to love this man until the end of time.

Dane looked into the media without a shred of hesitation,

"You can make her as the villain of this story but to me she is the biggest hero of all. She saved me from darkness and continues guidng me toward the good of this world that I didn't think I deserved. She had to lie in front of the public because of her circustances stripped all that she could become and broke her with few choices. To me Prisana is a wife and lynx who is courageous, smart, and selfless. Not the kind of woman that you claim to know....She is that kind of woman....The kind of woman that I love. If I hear you slandering my wife's good name again then mark my words Giovanni....Retribution will be given to you a hundreds times over."

Someone's clap interrupted and waged hell upon the entire election hall. Prisana's face warped to disgust. That person was none other than the senator himself who commanded people to pave way for him to face Dane front and center.

"Nice speech there but I'll have to rain down on your parade...Could you care to tell us why you have been lying to everyone this entire time?....Everyone! Listen closely. Elias Blackwell is a fake!...This man's true identity is....Dane Lennox."

Not even Reed could hold her back anymore. Prisana gathered her purse and trudged forward to face both men with her husband, beast, and the man now rightfully exposed as Dane.