Chapter 105: Chapter 105
Amelia's POV
After a welcoming speech, Audrey declared that the party would start with some games. We all cheered excitedly. It had been decades since I last had the opportunity to play. My life had become a mess and these simple things felt more special than anything else in the world.
We started with musical chairs and after a round of fun, we played a game where we had to dance to the music freely and had to stop when the music stopped. I loved dancing, so Anna, Cassandra, and I had fun dancing for everyone. For the first time in years, I shed all my inhibitions and danced freely.
Although I could feel myself being watched, I couldn't help the exuberance bubbling inside me. Anna and I emerged as joint winners of the game. At the end of it, everyone clapped as well as the security guard who stood at the entrance of the garden watching through his sun shades. Strange!
I couldn't make out whether he was looking at me or not but the hair at the nape of my neck always stood up, making me get the eerie feeling of being watched. I looked around several times but didn't find anyone. Maybe just my nerves playing up, I thought.
No one opted for the swimming pool game, as we didn't want our makeup ruined for the party. Thankfully I didn't have to make up any excuse for not carrying a red bikini! Who's idea was it anyway?
A fun-filled scavenger hunt game was set up next and we rushed to look for the goodies. As I brushed past the door which connected the garden to the banquet hall, I felt a whiff of familiar citrus and woody smell. Tristan? I looked around but there was no one other than the poker-faced security guard standing like a pillar beside the door. I had no idea where he was looking with his dark glasses on. Ignoring him, I continued but the feeling of being watched was still as strong as could be.
The game continued and Audrey and Claire won it. We were exhausted by now and didn't want to play anymore so we went inside to give Anna her gifts. Anna was excited and dashed to take up her seat inside the banquet hall but she collided with one of the security guards from inside who had come over to watch the event. Anna looked dazed and turned to walk back towards us to say something but mom ushered her on. We attacked the delicious food laid out for us.
Amidst cocktail snacks and drinks, Anna sat on a beautiful chair decorated specially for her and we all flocked around her, giving gifts. Claire, Cassandra, and I helped her arrange them nearby so that we could open them later.
"Congrats Anna, this is for you," said Claire with a wink, giving her a box nicely packed in lilac-colored paper and plum ribbon.
"Thanks, what is it?" Anna asked, smiling, as she opened the box and seeing the contents, blushed crimson.
Claire took it out for all to see, it was a transparent lacy baby doll dress, which would leave nothing to the imagination. Oohs and aahs resonated and everyone started teasing Anna who put her hands over her ears and blushed and blushed.
Cassandra gave her a box of condoms, "Enjoy a month's supply, more to come. We don't want you pregnant every year. Do we?" she said giggling.
"Shut up, wait till it's your time," Anna threatened, smiling with pink cheeks.
Audrey gave her two tickets to Hawaii and an all-paid stay for two at one of the best resorts in Hawaii. It was a 10-day honeymoon package. "God bless you, my child. I'm so glad that you are my daughter-in-law. You are more my daughter than anything else. My Stefan is so happy now with you in his life. He even started calling me 'mom'. Thank you, honey," she said with glistening eyes. We were all touched by Audrey's words. Although I was new in the family and almost a stranger here, I could feel how much this meant for Audrey. Despite being Stefan and Claire's stepmom, she had never differentiated between them and her own children.
"No mom, thank you for everything and mostly for just being my mom," Anna said with tears in her eyes hugging her while Audrey kissed her forehead.
"I'm a proud mom, dear," said Audrey. Gran sat in her wheelchair unable to walk further as she was already exhausted and gave Anna a beautiful pair of sapphire and diamond-encrusted earrings. "You made my dream come true. You looked after me, forgetting about yourself, dear. I'm so thankful to have you as my grandchild," She said with love shining in her eyes.
Anna kissed her cheek, "Thank you, gran, you did more for me, I would have been lost without you," she said, her heart swelling with love. We all went emotional after that scene and I wiped my eyes. Anna was indeed so lucky. No one had loved me the way they all loved Anna. I wished in my heart that someone would love me the same way Stefan loved her! Suddenly I had the distinct feeling of being watched again. What was going on?
I gave her a beautiful designer gown, exquisitely designed for her. It was a sleeveless rose gold gown with sparkling sequins on gauzy mesh. "It's exquisitely beautiful, Amy. Thank you so much," she said admiring the dress. Cassandra grinned and leaned toward me.
"I want one for my wedding too," she winked. I smiled at her indulgently.
"Sure, announce your wedding first," I told her. Claire overheard us and started teasing her with Julian. I too joined in a bit. Cassandra was red as a tomato at the end of it all.
Everyone gave something or the other. Anna's friend Kayla gave her Victoria's Secret gift cards. I called two of the security guards to keep all the gifts in Anna's limousine.