Chapter 130
Chapter 130:
When they heard Alice’s words, people nearby leaned in close, their voices buzzing with gossip.
“She can’t even manage a simple dance in front of everyone p>
“Has anyone seen her before? She’s not familiar at all p>
“Looks like Mr. Powell really isn’t as picky as he used to be p>
Every pair of eyes seemed to judge her, and Sophie’s shoulders tensed beneath the weight of their scorn.
р𝖣Fѕ 𝘰𝘯 𝗀𝗮𝗅ո𝗼vеl𝘀.𝖼𝗼𝘮
Across the room, she caught sight of Frederick watching her with an unreadable look.
Despair crept in.
Sophie’s hands went cold, and the color drained from her face. Nothing she could do would convince Frederick now. If she could not even manage a simple dance, why would he ever trust her to create jewelry worthy of his approval?
Was everything she had worked for about to slip away, undone by a single moment of public embarrassment?
Dread pressed down on Sophie, leaving her utterly mortified. Anxiety tangled with shame, rooting her in place until she could barely breathe, much less run.
Then a comforting hand enveloped her frozen fingers.
Adrian emerged by her side, disregarding the sea of onlookers. He moved with a quiet confidence, every gesture as refined as if he belonged to another era.
His posture was poised, one hand gracefully tucked behind his back, the other reaching out to her. Locking eyes with her, he offered a reassuring smile, his voice ringing out. “May I steal you away for this dance? Let’s give everyone something to remember p>
She stayed rooted to the spot, her lips barely moving as she whispered, “I don’t know the steps p>
Without missing a beat, Adrian drew her closer, wrapping her hand in his, his touch both gentle and certain as he led her into the dance.
He leaned in, his words like a promise against her ear. “Just follow my lead. You’ll be fine. Now put your hand on my shoulder. That’s it. Left foot forward… Nice and easy p>
With nerves jangling, Sophie tried to step in time, only for her heel to catch on his shoe.
Her cheeks flushed in embarrassment, and she stammered, “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to step on you p>
Not a hint of irritation crossed Adrian’s face. He held her steady, offering a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry about it, and don’t let anyone else get in your head. You’re here to enjoy yourself p>
“Alright, now try stepping forward with your right foot,” he continued, his voice gentle, smoothing away her doubts. Adrian’s confident movements became her anchor, steadying her as he guided her through each motion, patiently teaching her to move with him.
Little by little, Sophie’s panic melted away. She matched his pace, finally letting herself move with the music.
“Let’s try something fun,” Adrian said, giving her a quick twirl that sent her dress swirling around her ankles.
A surprised laugh escaped Sophie as the fabric flared, making her feel as if she were gliding.
With a gentle tug, Adrian spun her back, catching her easily against his chest. The room seemed to fall away, leaving only the warmth of his embrace.
In just a few turns, every trace of Sophie’s earlier panic vanished. She moved with newfound assurance, grinning as she finally let herself enjoy the music.
Adrian caught her eye, his lips curling into a proud smile. “See? I told you—you’ve got this p>
Her laughter bubbled up, and she gave him a nod, trusting him completely.
“Ready for a spin?” Adrian murmured, lifting their hands so she could twirl beneath his arm with unexpected grace.
As the final notes drifted through the ballroom, Adrian’s arm wrapped securely around her waist, steadying her as she leaned into him for their finishing pose.
Their dance ended in perfect harmony.
“That was amazing p>
“I’ve never seen anything like it p>
The room erupted in applause, admiration swirling through the air.
Sophie found herself nestled against Adrian, her breath coming in quick, quiet bursts. When she looked up, his eyes met hers, and she saw her own wonder reflected there.
A wild heartbeat thundered in her chest, and she could not tell if it was from the dizzying dance or from the closeness of his gaze.
For a split second, all her old worries—every secret, every fear that he would walk away if he knew the truth about Alice—melted away. She understood then how deeply she had misjudged him, and the strength of his feelings.
A fierce new courage took root inside her, steady and bright.
She felt certain of one thing: whenever she faltered, Adrian would be there to steady her, just like tonight. His love surrounded her, and for the first time, she wondered if she could let herself be fearless.
Right then, Sophie reached a decision. She was done hiding. She would tell him the whole truth—not only about trading places in the marriage, but about what she wanted most: to stand at his side openly, with nothing left to hide. She wanted to be with him, not as anyone else, but simply as herself.