The interior was even more luxurious and grand than the exterior. The decorations was elegant and sophisticated, with emerald green and golden coloured luxurious drapes hung stylishly. The flower arrangements were stunning and pictures of the couple occupied the hall.
The golden chandelier gleamed on the marble floors. The ambience of the party was further increased by the live band playing soothing jazz music.
Everyone was dressed formally, men wearing luxury suit and women dressed in floor sweeping designer gowns, matched with elegant jewelries and designer accessories. Their hair were styled in elegant hairstyles and they wore sophisticated make-up.
The staffs were dressed elegantly, their services performed impeccably well, leaving no guest unattended. They seemed to glide on the floor with ease, each balancing a tray of exquisite cuisines or an array of cocktails and champagne on their hand.
A buffet table occupied a large part of the hall and Amara had personalized customized cocktails and desserts.
The event planning company had done impeccably well, fine-tuning the party and paying attention to every detail.
They were engulfed by an array of colorful laces and expensive suits, each person passing congratulatory messages to the couple — whether they are sincere or not, only they knew.
Avery forced a smile as he replied to the congratulatory messages, all the while aware of the veiled words and the scrutinizing gazes— as though they were measuring his worth and trying to see through them.
"Avery, you look amazing." Isabella smiled. She was dressed gorgeously, in a body hugging golden gown that accentuated her curves perfectly. Her golden hair was styled in a gorgeous braid which was adorned with a hundred hair accessories. As usual, Callan was shadowing her, he was dressed in an exquisite green suit, but the cold look on his face made it seemed as though he was forced to come here.
"Thank you Isabella, you look stunning too." Avery smiled. Amara and Vicente had been swept away by a group of business associates, Avery caught Vicente's worried glance when Callan approached them but he mouthed at him not to worry.
"Congratulations dear." Isabella smiled— if the fact that Avery no longer called her his mother affected her, she didn't show it— she dropped her gaze to Sloane. "Congratulations Mr Delaney." Though Sloane was marrying Avery, the Ford's had never seen him in person and Isabella had to keep the address strictly formal.
Callan didn't spare Avery a glance, as though he couldn't be worth his time. "Mr Delaney, I was thinking that with the co-operation of Lumineer Tech—"
"Mr Ford." Sloane caught him off coldly. "This is an engagement party, not a place to discuss business, if you want to talk about a co-operation then follow the right channels." Callan's face turned ugly at Sloane's alienation, he had assumed that he could lift the family riding on the fame of the Delaney family.
A few hushed whispers are exchanged within the crowd of observers; they had noticed how Avery didn't address Isabella as a mother, how Callan blatantly ignored Avery and the coldness and formality between the Ford couple and Sloane— it seemed Avery was cutting ties with the Ford.
"Congratulations Avery and Sloane." An overdressed woman said. "You are really winning it in life Avery, first Amara Delaney's son-in-law and now Vicente's heir." Callan's face turned a cold mask at the woman's words, of course the news of his dethronement was spreading and small fries now thought they could step on his family.
"Thank you for sharing in my family's joy." Isabella smiled at the woman. "I hope with how zealously you share in other people's happiness, you too will be gifted with your's soon, I heard your Omega daughter is still unmarried at 35." It was the woman's turn to look green.
A few young girls and boys stared at Avery's ring with envy wishing they were the one in his place; who cared if the man was crippled and ugly when there was money to spend. Avery certainly knew what he had been doing when he changed his tactics from Dylan to Sloane.
"Please excuse us, we have to go and meet others." Sloane said, he was getting fed up by the veiled insults. This was an engagement party yet everyone was treating it as a place to make connections and stomp on each other.
They managed to find a seat after exchanging a few more congratulatory greetings with people they ran into.
By the time they made their way to a plush sit, Avery's cheeks had begin to hurt from the amount of smiles he had faked and the amount of people he had talked to.
"Well that was tiring." Avery laughed as he took a sip of juice hoping to ease his parched throat.
"There will even be more of them at the wedding." Sloane watched the way Avery's freckles caught in the light glimmering like stars in a constellation. "I told my grandmother that there was no need to make it this grand, but she insisted." Avery smiled.
"It's alright." Avery was sure he had heard a few people whisper show-off's under their breath, he didn't blame them he too had been taken aback by the amount of money that had been budgeted for the event.
A few more people still approached them, wishing them congratulations and launching into talks about business, some people even left their business cards and a few young ladies had not been subtle with the way they fluttered there lashes and pushed out their cleavages at Sloane, much to Avery's discomfort.
"Attention everyone." Amara clinked her glass loudly to get the attention of the guests. "Sorry to interrupt your good time, but I would like to say a thing or two." She smiled.
"First of all, I want to thank you all dear friends and family for your time and support, I also want to specially thank my good friends Mrs Smith, Mr Brown and Miss Liliana who have taken time out of their busy schedule to attend this party, their major contribution to the success of this party is deeply appreciated." Amara smiled warmly, lifting her glass slightly to toast the people she mentioned.
"We are thrilled to be celebrating our grandchildren's engagement with you all today. We are grateful for all your love and support and we are excited that you are here to witness this new chapter in their lives." Amara said. "Sloane and Avery might not have started out like the traditional couple, but I am certain that the bond between them will grow stronger and I am proud of both of them for how far they have come despite the struggles they have faced." She smiled.
"I know what the future holds for them is bright and beautiful and I hope you all will see this future with them." Amara smiled. "So let's raise a glass to their success, their happiness and their many years together! Cheers!" The guests erupted in applause as they clinked their glasses together.
"The wedding is scheduled for April 14th and I hope you all are there to encourage and support our newest couple." Amara laughed. "Now let's welcome the famed, Louisiana Wilson on stage."
The youngsters broke out in a buzz, Louisiana was a famed singer and they were stunned she was performing.
"That woman, still so good with speeches." A low chuckle broke Avery's immersion from the singer's beautiful voice and he turned around.
Standing close to the table was a stunningly handsome man, with long black hair, piercing blue eyes and sharply cut elegant features. Unlike most guests who added a touch of emerald or gold to their dressing to match the party's colour theme, he was dressed in a gorgeous black suit.
"King." Sloane acknowledged his cousin coldly.
"Always so cold to me." King laughed. "I am sorry I am late for the party."
"You weren't invited." Sloane arched a brow.
"Yet here I am." King laughed. "So, are you going to introduce us or should I introduce myself to the stunning groom." He shot Avery a flirty smile that had Avery recoiling.
"King meet Avery Ford my fiance, Avery meet Kingsley Black my cousin." Sloane said dryly.
"You're stunning I must say." King placed a gentle kiss on the back of Avery's hand to his suprise. "You're sure you don't want to ditch this guy and elope with me?" Sloane scoffed and rolled his eyes.
"No, thanks." Avery snatched his hand out of King's grip.
"Cousin?" Avery arched a brow in question. "You never mentioned anything about having a cousin." He shot Slaone a look.
"I can imagine, people tend to keep me a secret." King sighed. "How about you dance with me and I explain all about our complicated family tree to you?" He smiled and Avery noticed the way his slightly pointed teeth glinted.
"Alright." Avery was eager to learn some of the mysteries that surrounded Sloane, even if it was from his weird cousin.
Sloane watched King and Avery glide on the dancefloor before he caught Amara's questioning gaze from the other end of the room. He could read the question in her eyes, what is Kingsley Black doing here?
"Congratulations Mr Delaney." A familiar voice pulled his gaze from Amara.
"Thank you Mr Russell." Sloane shot an unimpressed look at Dylan and his purse Ian.
"Uhh... where's Avery?" Ian asked timidly. Sloane pointed in the direction where Avery and King were dancing on the dancefloor.
"Ian, how about you go sit somewhere while I discuss business with Mr Delaney, I don't want you to get bored." The way Dylan spoke to Ian sickened Sloane, as though he was talking to some exotic pet.
Ian pursed his lips tightly, he didn't like the way Dylan was dismissing him like he was some Omega who didn't have a right to know the important happenings, but he nodded because he was uncomfortable around Sloane.
Ian always had a natural charm around him that made people like him instantly, yet Sloane's gaze when he looked at him was dark and empty like he was looking at some trash lying on the road— disgusting and inconvenient.
"Come to me when you're done." Ian forced a tight smile at Sloane and left.
Dylan watched Ian leave, making sure he was out of earshot before he turned to glare at Sloane.
"What games are you up to Sloane?" Sloane rolled his eyes and chuckled mockingly.
"No more Mr Delaney?" Dylan frowned in irritation.
"Whatever plans you have, leave Avery out of it." Sloane scoffed at Dylan's words.
"Ian must be very pleased when he finds out how much you care about his step- brother." Sloane smirked, Dylan refused to take the bait.
"I know what you're doing, you're trying to manipulate Avery, hoping you can use the past friendship between us to get to me." Sloane slammed his glass on the table, he had had enough of Dylan's nonsense.
"I see you're just as paranoid as our father, always thinking that everything is about you and the world is out to get you in that twisted little mind of yours." Sloane glared at Dylan. "I and Avery are getting married with our consents like two grown adults, why I want to marry Avery is none of your business." Sloane spat harshly.
"Don't you dare hurt Avery." Dylan glowered at him.
"So you care about him know? How laughable." Sloane smirked. "Stay the fuck out of my way Dylan and remain daddy's little good son, if you test me you won't like me brother."