Page 30 of TAINTED by TWINS

IN ANOTHER'S POINT OF VIEW

The ballroom of Hotel Vincezza is large, polished, and glowing under the low golden lights.

Gold cloth is draped from the high ceiling in wide, even swags.

Round tables line the room's perimeter, covered in white linens with gold trim, each centerpiece a thick bunch of red and pale pink roses in square glass vases.

The scent of them mixes faintly with champagne and perfume.

The floor is open in the middle, most people are still standing in groups, talking, drinking.

The dress code is formal, rose-themed: clean suits, sharp heels, neat gowns.

A few women wear rose-shaped pins or gold jewelry shaped like thorns.

The air is warm from the number of people in the room, mostly Lian Miller's colleagues and students.

Along one wall is a long buffet table, silver trays under heat lamps: grilled lamb skewers, oysters on ice, miniature pastries, bowls of olives and cheeses. Everything is expensive.

"I had a party similar to this one for my quince..." the youngsters discuss upon themselves, "I can't believe Mr Miller has a party this grand..."

"No way he can pay for this..."

"Did he sell all this belongings?" They giggle, until a man with a black velvet suit and a silver crown of thorns stopped before them while drinking wine.

"Excuse me ladies, but y'all are stinkin' up the place," he grumbles before pushing between them to grab food from the table. He gives a star struck girl a stank eye, "Vanilla and musk, really? You smell like you didn't wear deodorant."

"Ugh, Jade... if it weren't for his face—" her friend nudged her zoned out friend, "Don't stare at him, he called you stinky!"

She is, Jade thought as he stayed by the food section. He checked his watch, Talking about Lian that way...

Velomina Deveroux was in a gorgeous floor-length dark purple satin gown that could only scream royalty, her long gloves decorated with pearls the same as her neck and wrists.

She tore herself away from speaking with her friends and walked towards the closest familiarity she could find.

.. Jade Deveroux, with his black velvet suit and tie missing eating egg tarts.

"Where is your brother? Ugh, you couldn't even bother to wear your suit properly... get yourself together for once, Jade." She grabbed Jade's glass of champagne and drank all of it in a rush.

Jade looked at his own mother with disdain—cringe, one might say. "You're the one here fidgeting, and I'm the one that should get it together? You look like a walking pustule breakout with all those pearls—"

"Have they arrived?" She glared at him, "Did the birthday celebrant arrive?"

"I haven't seen him yet..." Jade reached for the waiter who brought them two glasses of champagne, only for Velomina to snatch away both to drink for herself. Her son sneered, "And you say I have issues..."

"You've only had therapy, Jade. I've been to a whole asylum."

With half his cheeks full of tart, Jade wiped his hands on his pants. "You need to go back to the loony place if you think you look good in those shoes."

"If I were a young man with so much time on my hands to be doing illegal stuff, I would keep my mouth shut and my eyes peeled for the much more tolerable and respectful twin brother."

Jade just rolled his eyes until they landed on the entrance where they remained there for quite some time.

Lian Miller arrived in his black suit with golden embellishments and a deep red draping , his hair dyed a darker brown which contrasted against his pale skin.

His lips a beautiful mauve, his eyes bright and shined with minimal make up.

He was smiling awkwardly, uncomfortable with so much attention and eyes on him.

Good thing he is anchored by a short woman holding his hand, none other than his mother, Lei Ann Miller.

"They're here," Jade whispers, enough for Velomina to hear and pause at the sight of them entering. Lian recognized his fellow teachers and went to introduce them to his mother, with the old teachers already being familiar with her.

"Mr Miller, wow! She is your mother? No wonder..."

"Ms. Miller, I missed you! I didn't know Mr. Miller was your son, you look like siblings!"

"Beautiful Ms Miller... didn't you say you were never married? Any plans to change that, I will be lining up—"

"Jade!" His mother grabbed his arm, "Dance with me."

"What?! I don't want to be mistaken as a mortician carrying a corpse around!" Lady Velomina had to pinch his torso as if he was 5 again.

"Dance with me, or I'll have Nightingale raided for the drugs you keep in there!" She threatened, so Jade grumbled immensely as he took his mother to the dance floor.

They waltz slowly like the other guests, meanwhile Velomina could only turn her head to look if they're getting closer to Lian and his mother. Every time they turn on the floor, Velomina's head always go searching for that short woman in white.

"You're always staring at them," Jade grumbles, eyes a bit resentful as his mother keeps her eyes on Lian. "You can just talk to them."

"Not yet." Velomina is obviously a little shaken and nervous, but now she looked at her son, "I have to leave Lian to socialize as he should. I can't help but look... he is beautiful on his special day."

Jade's eyes lingered where Lian stood laughing, mingling with his guests. His breath getting taken away as he sighed, "Yes... yes, he is the most beautiful..."

Velomina snapped her eyes toward her son, before slapping that gaze off his face. "That inappropriate look, stop that! Do not tell me you fancy Lian Miller?"

"So what if I do?" Jade snaps back with a roll of his eyes.

"Jade Deveroux, I forbid it! You are not allowed to date him," She exclaims as Jade spins her on her heel.

He held Velomina close just to whisper, "Mother, just because he's a male and he's not as rich as us, doesn't mean he's not worthy. I don't think gender and financial status should matter when it comes to love."

"To hell with gender and financial status!" She hit Jade on the arm, "You are not allowed to date Lian Miller. I will protect him from the likes of you!"

"Wait, what?!"

"Lady Deveroux?" Both of them didn't notice Lian already a few feet near them, and both parties paused with tension. Jade's eyes land on Lian, with nothing tearing it away from him.

All Velomina Deveroux could see was the perfectly made up face looking back at her with terror and shock. Lei Ann's hands are shaking, feet about to step back if not for her son holding her waist.

Lei Ann is scared... horrified, she wants to run, but isn't sure what to do when they are surrounded by people.

It's not a dream anymore. Lei Ann is here. I'm here with her.

Lei Ann was thinking, She's here! Run! I'm gonna die!

Velomina noticed her fear, so she whispers to Jade, "Just this once... I allow you to dance with Lian Miller. But no funny business, stay in public."

Jade smirks at Lian, who can't help but feel slightly concerned for his mother as Velomina Deveroux approached them with her son. Lian took the Lady's hand to kiss it as his mother avoided her stare.

"Happy birthday, my boy. Is it your 24th year?" Velomina then looks at Lei Ann with a smile. "24 beautiful years... well, my lovely son would like to dance with yours."

"S-son?" Lei Ann didn't know the handsome man Jade was her son. She welcomed Velomina's son in her house—how could she not recognize the eyes, nose, and cheekbones they share? She was frozen, her hands refusing to let go of Lian even when Jade asked permission to dance with him.

"You'll be okay, mom... have fun," Lian kisses her on the temple as he walks away with Jade. Lei Ann's breath hitched as her son slipped from her fingers, reaching out for him. Don't leave me, Lian—! I can't—!

But Velomina catches her hands, holding it between them. "It's nice to finally see you."

"..." Lei Ann's lips tremble as she looked at anywhere but Velomina.

"Do you fear me..." my love? "... Miss Lei Ann?"

"..." Tears appeared in her eyes and she about to break down in the middle of the ballroom, so Velomina held her waist and pulled her close, allowing her to hide her tears against her red dress. She was tense, scared, barely breathing.

"Shhh... no need to fear. No need to cry. It's not a dream anymore... I won't be cruel," Velomina whispers as a lullaby to comfort the terrified Lei Ann.

It's not a dream... yet she isn't cruel... ? Lei Ann looks up at her with tearful, trembling eyes. "Mistress... how did you know I was alive?"

"Does it matter?" Velomina couldn't look at her, because she is also trying to get it together.

"Don't you hate me? Don't you—you should, I—after everything—" Lei Ann sobs with tears down her face, so Velomina tapped them dry with her gloves.

"Shhh, shhh Lei-Lei... I used to pray to the wilted roses for your life, for you to come back. It was a seedless prayer, I had thought you were gonna forever. But then you're here now... what more could I ask for?"

"You... forgive me? For everything I did...? I... I don't think I deserve it, mistress..." Lei Ann sobbed as they danced in a slow waltz.

"Shhh..." Velomina further presses her head against her chest, "It is I, that should ask for your forgiveness, Lei Ann. I was too blinded by love—no, obsession. Too selfish to see how I've been treating you, too mad—that I lost you. I killed you... and our child."

Lei Ann looks up at her, "... Mina? Do you really not hate me?"

"I cannot hate you, no matter how much I tried. One look at your son, one look at you and everything from the past was wiped from my heart. Only you remain. The you that I fell in love with."

They stopped dancing in the middle of the floor, just so Velomina can look down at her. With a sad smile, she held Lei Ann's face, touching her as if it was the first time in 24 years.

"I'm willing to start all over again," Velomina whispered, with a smile, "You can ruin my dress if you want."

The other woman can't help but give a giggle, finally a bit relieved that her life isn't at risk in the hands of the most dangerous woman in the world. She can finally look up at her, trying to push away the guilt.

Lei Ann looked at her hair, "It's white... Mina, your hair...?"

Velomina can't help but laugh. "Yes... everything is silver, my dear. Time has caught up to me. While you didn't age a day."

"That's a lie," Lei Ann chuckled, shyly avoiding her eyes, because despite her skin remaining smooth and glass-like, she has wrinkles around her eyes, hair getting thinner by the year, and has gained a little bit of weight.

"Well, forgive me for still seeing you the way I did the first day I met you." Velomina rested her forehead against Lei Ann's, a massive bow which was taboo for someone of her status. "That silly little girl who steals treats..."

"I did not steal them Mina, they were given!" That made Lei Ann laugh, pushing away the sadness in her heart. Hearing that little laugh gave Velomina hope that they'll go back to what they once were. No more sneaking into her house, no more pretending it's a dream.

"Oh, where's my Lian?" She asks, looking around.

"I didn't know that handsome man was your son. He was in our house," Lei Ann says. "He was very sweet to my Lian."

Velomina's eyes twitched. "Oh, was he? Well, I'll make sure he will never intrude in your house ever again. And after tonight, he might not be even alive."

"Hehe Mina, you're so funny..." Lei Ann kept looking around for Lian, or at least looking uneasy. What if Khalid was here?

"Uncomfortable?" Velomina smiles, "Come with me, then. I'll take their eyes off you..." Stop looking at her! I bought this dress for my eyes only!

Desperate to get away from these group of people, Lei Ann let herself be dragged out of the ballroom by Velomina and into an elevator. Both of them laughing at the escapade, as if they were young all over again.

"Where are we going, Mina?" Lei Ann questions, I hope there will be alcohol.

"Oh, there will be, I need some..." Velomina pressed the floor for the penthouse because Lei Ann just said that out loud. They both awkwardly laugh as Velomina pulled her out of the elevator, but Lei Ann kept tripping. "Give me your heels, silly girl..."

Lei took off her shoes so she can keep up with Velomina and her long legs, being swept off her feet.

It was as if Velomina's hair was dark again, and Lei Ann never touched a drop of alcohol.

The young women raced through the hallways and almost tripped in their dresses, laughing along until they got to the door.

Lei Ann held onto her arm as if she's afraid to fall, while Velomina already fell hard.

"Come in," Lady Deveroux pulled her inside a dark penthouse where she searched for the light.

The lights flickered, then bloomed—soft and glowing like wine in candlelight.

Velomina turned on the fairy lights without a word, and Lei Ann's breath hitched.

In the center of the room, raised on a velvet-draped platform, the rose bush stood like a breathing thing—alive with thousands of dark red petals cradled in thorns, each stem coiled with tiny lights that pulsed gently, like a heartbeat.

The whole thing looked like it had been grown out of myth.

"Wowwww! Pretty flowwwwers!" Lei exclaimed while bouncing on her bare feet.

While Lei's eyes were on the roses, Velomina only looked at the most beautiful rose in the room. "I didn't pluck them, I brought them here with roots intact to ensure they'll thrive as they wait for you. Do you like them?"

"Wow... no way! I love them!" Lei Ann squealed as she runs around the 4ft rose bush to inspect every little bud.

"All of these are from my garden," Velomina slowly follows her, "Our garden. where nothing grows unless it's as red as the one you once loved."

While Lei Ann runs around touching the roses, Velomina approached her with a glass of wine and a cupcake. "Lei Ann..."

"Oh!" She turned around, delighted to see the treats.

She genuinely smiled at Velomina—a shy, fluster-filled smile, before reaching out only for the cupcake.

She took a bite out of the chocolate-filled red velvet cake with strawberry frosting, before offering it to Velomina. "Mmm, it's so good! Want some?"

Velomina bit the cake directly from her hand, before Lei Ann finished eating. She doesn't even know how much that cupcake costs, but she doesn't need to know.

"Are you more comfortable here?" Does that mean she doesn't fear me anymore?

"Uhm... I think so..." Lei Ann says. "We're grown, now. The past can't change... but it won't change my... feelings? ... for you."

Velomina's eyes lit up. "Why do you feel unsure? Do you still have feelings for me, or not?"

Lei Ann was shyly avoiding her gaze. "All these years I've been drowning in my own tears, wanting to go back to you, but I thought you'd just hate me for what I did. I'm not sure if I have the right to have feelings..."

Velomina held her hand, held her close. "I'd never hate you.

Not for one moment, I did. Yes, I thought of getting revenge through your son, but—god, if only you know how much of a hold you have on me, Lei Ann.

I am the most powerful woman in the world, but when it comes to you, I'm powerless in a way that I don't mind being. "

Lei Ann looks up at her, Velomina's perfectly done face and perfectly dark red lipstick.

"So... you still love me?" Lei Ann asks with her doe eyes looking up at a lovesick Velomina.

"Would I kiss you if I don't?"

Lei Ann was wearing nude lipstick, but she doesn't mind a bolder color.