Escaped My Ex, Got Snatched by His Rival - Chapter 474

Chapter 474: For the Best Friend
Soon hours turned into days and the night of Mister Baker’s birthday banquet arrived. Ari looked at the emerald green high-slit, an off-shoulder dress that Leila had sent to her.

With light jewels that resembled emeralds decorating the fabric on her right, and the other side being plain, Ari still found the dress a bit too overwhelming but as she couldn’t change it at the last moment, she could only sigh and curl her hair before applying the lightest possible makeup.

She didn’t want anyone paying attention to her party, but try as she might – Ari couldn’t make herself look any plainer.

Once she was dressed, she wore the matching heels that were sent together with the dress and headed out of the apartment.

“I will be back soon, Timmy,” Ari said to the whining dog as she rubbed his head before locking the door of her apartment. She then took the elevator and hailed a taxi to the Baker’s Mansion.

As she stepped out of the taxi, Ari paid for her ride before entering the mansion which was surrounded by statues, fountains and a rather large garden, which was quite similar to that of the Nelson manor. After all, the rich people liked to chase the novelty until it became common.

As she walked past the path, Ari sensed people looking at her and cursed inwardly. For some reason, she was feeling a bit more annoyed these days than usual. She couldn’t understand why her emotions were not as controlled as they were usually.

Ari, who was dressed in a plain shimmering emerald gown, attracted the attention of the men at once, for her beauty was enough to make up for the lack of accessories that she was wearing.

“Ariana!” Leila, who had been waiting for Ari to arrive, heaved a sigh of relief when she saw that her best friend had not abandoned her. She picked up her periwinkle blue gown and then stepped down the stairs before rushing towards Ari. “Oh thank goodness that you are here, I nearly thought that you were going to leave me alone in this ditch.”

Leila seemed annoyed by something and as Ari raised her head and looked at a certain man’s profile she was not surprised upon seeing Leila’s temper flaring.

“Are you alright?” she asked, ignoring Ryan who was lurking behind in the shadows and upon seeing her, he glared as if she had ruined his chances to make up with Leila and turned on his feet before climbing up the stairs of his mansion.

Leila shook her head gently, she bit her lip and said to Ari, “I am not alright, Ari. Mrs Baker had brought the matter of Ryan and I’s marriage twice – she even insisted to my mother that it was better to have me marry Ryan than a man whom they didn’t know.”

As she spoke, Leila sighed and snorted, “She was going on and on about how Ryan would be a much better match for me than any other man — like I don’t know the virtue of that man!” as she spoke she touched her abdomen as a glimmer of sadness flashed in her eyes.

Ari understood Leila’s predicament. She took her hand before saying to her, “It’s alright, you don’t…” Ari was still speaking when she felt someone bump into her, slightly surprised she turned and looked at the woman who had knocked into her.

“I am sorry,” said the woman haughtily while turning to look at the man beside her.

Ari gazed at the woman before looking at the man beside her and was surprised to find Mister Garner standing beside the woman. If she was not wrong then this man was Arabella’s husband, but what was he doing with another woman here?

“Is this how you apologise?” Leila said to the woman with a frown on her face. “If you are attending a classy event like this, at least keep a bit of your class intact!”

The woman’s face turned slightly red upon being scolded, she parted her lips to say something but she was dragged away by Mister Garner who seemed to be fleeing.

“That man…”

Leila turned and said to her, “He is Henry Garner. You should stay away from him, I heard that he keeps mistresses all over the city and spends most of his time in bed rather than working.” she lowered her voice and added, “I also heard that this man is involved with the underworld thugs, so it’s better to stay away from him.”

Ari nodded as the two women walked inside the mansion.

As Ari walked past the gates of the mansion, most of the men turned and started eyeing her with interest but most of them had no desire to see past her appearance and only cared about her beauty.

After sixteen minutes, the banquet hall started to get rowdier and rowdier as people invited by the Baker family started to arrive.

Leila stayed close to Ari most of the time but sometimes she would have to leave due to her parents who called for her and asked her to come and greet the guests. Ari picked up a glass of wine from the tray of the servers who were waving their path past the throng of people and was about to bring it to her lips when–

“Careful, that is quite a strong one.”

Ari paused and turned to look at Nicolai standing behind her, she blinked her eyes and questioned, “What are you doing here?” as she asked him, she looked around and made sure that no one was watching him.

“It is one of the rare occasions where I am allowed to step out of the –ah– closet. If I told you that I was attending then you would have certainly not attended this party,” replied Nicolai with a smirk on his face.

As he spoke he leaned forward.

“What are you doing?” Ari yelped. Don’t tell her that he was about to kiss her in front of everyone.