I Became the Billionaire's Fake Lover to Get My Revenge
Chapter 54: Had He Ever Seen Her Before?

Chapter 54: Had He Ever Seen Her Before?

"Ugh..." Anna winced, her fingers pressing gently against the corners of her eyes. She blinked rapidly, fighting the surge of tears threatening to spill over.

The process of getting ready for the charity ball had felt endless, and as the hired stylist finished applying her makeup, her discomfort only deepened.

Violet, who had been patiently waiting for Anna to finish, finally spoke up. "Is something wrong, Miss Dumas? You’ve been twitching and wincing for nearly an hour. Are you feeling unwell?"

Anna sighed, leaning over the dresser as she adjusted the final details of her attire.

"It’s my eyes," she muttered, her voice low with frustration. "I got some dust in them earlier this morning while I was out walking in the garden, and now I can’t stand these colored lenses. They sting, and my eyes keep watering."

Violet’s expression softened with concern. "Would you like me to get something from the pharmacy? Maybe a fresh pair of lenses or a rinsing solution?"

Anna shook her head, gently pressing her fingertips to the corners of her eyes again. "No, it’s fine. I’ll manage."

Violet hesitated for a moment before offering a sympathetic look. "Are you sure? Well, at least the change in the event’s theme to a masquerade ball is a blessing in disguise. You can hide the redness and puffiness behind the mask."

Anna smirked, though the humor didn’t quite reach her eyes. "That’s a bit of a backhanded comment, but... I guess you’re right."

Violet averted her gaze awkwardly, but Anna simply sighed again. "It’s alright. Let’s just go. The driver must be waiting."

Violet nodded as she assisted Anna into the car. "Mr. Garrel took his own car," she noted. "He said it would be better not to arrive together to avoid unnecessary gossip."

"Oh." Anna’s response was quiet, though she couldn’t quite mask the faint sting of disappointment. She understood the reasoning behind Gabriel’s decision, yet a pang of unease lingered nonetheless.

After their last interaction in her room, it seemed that Gabriel had been slowly distancing himself, or at least that’s how it felt to her. The growing space between them was hard to ignore.

It was upsetting, but most likely necessary. After all, he didn’t have to endure the same boredom she did.

Violet then handed Anna her mask, a delicate butterfly-shaped creation in soft pink lace, adorned with glittering beads and tiny pearls. The mask was as beautiful as it was intricate, the perfect complement to Anna’s dress, and it blended seamlessly with her jewelry set.

"What about Mr. Stark?" Violet asked carefully, her voice casual but laced with a hint of curiosity as she secured the mask in place.

"He’ll meet you there," Violet replied reassuringly. "Mr. Reid informed me that they’ll be arriving a little earlier."

Anna felt a strange knot twist in her stomach. She couldn’t quite put her finger on why both pieces of news left her unsettled.

She understood Gabriel’s desire to keep his distance, but William—William was the one who had insisted their relationship appear genuine. So why had he decided to arrive at the ball first?

Her thoughts swirled in a mixture of confusion and frustration, and she became so absorbed in the negative aspects of her situation that she failed to notice when their car finally pulled up to the grand entrance.

Only when one of the attendants opened the door and motioned for her to step out did she snap back to reality.

Anna didn’t even notice how she’d managed to enter the event venue, or how breathtakingly beautiful the surroundings were.

The grand chandeliers above sparkled like stars, casting a soft glow over the elegantly dressed guests. The music swirled through the air, adding a melodic touch to the opulence around her. She was lost in her thoughts, barely registering the world around her.

It wasn’t until a warm hand brushed gently against hers, and a glass of wine was placed delicately between her fingers, that Anna snapped back to reality. She turned, her gaze immediately landing on the person who had interrupted her reverie.

"Will!" she exclaimed, her voice a little too loud for the setting.

"This mask is useless if you can recognize me right away," William smirked, his voice low and teasing as he expertly guided Anna’s arm around his, pulling her deeper into the crowd.

Anna’s heart skipped a beat as she blushed, realizing what she had said. "I recognized you so quickly simply because it’s me," she stammered, her cheeks flaming as she awkwardly tried to recover. "I didn’t mean it like that, sorry."

William’s chuckle was warm, and he quickly changed the subject to ease her discomfort. "I just put a drink in your hand—there’s no way you’re already drunk."

Though his comment was lighthearted, Anna couldn’t help but feel a slight sting from his teasing. She chose to brush it off, deciding not to let it bother her.

"I don’t need alcohol when I’m with you," she said with a playful grin, leaning her head on his shoulder. "And your effect on me is far more dangerous."

William raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by her boldness. A strange smile tugged at the corners of his lips, a mix of amusement and something deeper. "I didn’t expect you to be so flirty today," he remarked. "That’s a... pleasant surprise."

Anna shrugged casually, her playful smile widening. "Well," she said, her voice light and carefree, "you haven’t been around for quite a while. Perhaps I’m unintentionally trying to make up for the loss of practice."

"Aha," William halted in his steps, turning to face Anna with a mischievous grin. He stood directly in front of her, his eyes gleaming. "Is this your way of telling me that you missed me?"

Anna blushed deeply, silently grateful that the mask hid her flushed cheeks. The truth was, she had missed him more than she cared to admit.

Over the past few weeks, their exchanges had been few and far between, and it had left her feeling oddly hollow. They shared a roof, yet barely shared a moment.

It almost felt as if... he had been avoiding her ever since that night they spent together back in France.

William’s voice cut through her thoughts again. "Everyone is looking at us."

"That’s because you’re here with a woman they’ve never seen before," Anna replied, raising an eyebrow with a hint of sarcasm. "I wonder where Gabriel is... His curly hair should be easy to spot."

"Do you want to dance?" William asked, his voice tinged with a hint of irritation. Anna couldn’t help but catch the strange, almost imperceptible edge of jealousy in his tone. "This is a ballroom dance night, after all."

Anna flinched slightly, her fingers twitching as they instinctively reached for her eyes. The burning sensation from her lenses still wouldn’t subside. Despite the mask concealing most of her face, and her hands now occupied by William’s, she didn’t want to let the discomfort show. She certainly didn’t want to end up in tears because of something so trivial.

"Would you give me a minute?" She made sure to move carefully, wanting to hide her discomfort. "I’ll just use the restroom real quick."

"Suit yourself," he replied. "I’ll be at our table then."

"Thank you!"

Anna nearly rushed out of the room, clutching her small purse tightly against her chest. I packed an extra set of lenses just in case before I left.I’ll remove my makeup and try rinsing my eyes again. Maybe that will help.

As she hurried toward the bathroom, the tips of her hair brushed lightly against a man’s shoulder. He paused, as if enchanted by the fleeting touch, and turned around, his gaze lingering on her. A quiet thought crossed his mind—Had he ever seen that woman before?

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