A Beauty With Multiple Masks

Chapter 20

Inside Arielle’s room.

Arielle felt neither unhappy nor unsettled in any way as she surveyed the modestly decorated interior of the hotel room.

Never mind that she had temporarily fallen out of favor with Henrick, her very presence had already thrown this family into disarray, and amidst the ensuing chaos, she reckoned that she would surely find the truth which she sought!

The ceremony would begin in half-an-hour.

Before leaving the room behind, Arielle went before the mirror to straighten out her disheveled hair.

The girl staring back at her in the reflection looked unbelievably fetching, coltish and acquiescent, but only she herself knew this to be a mere facade.

A wolf masquerading in sheep skin bit faster, more incisively and viciously, and left no chances for its enemies.

The venue for the ceremony was extravagantly luxurious, with the aroma of coffee from the sampling stations of the various sponsoring roasters saturating the air inside.

Shandie picked up a cuppa the moment she entered and took a whiff from it before tilting her head toward Henrick. “This is pretty good, smells full-bodied. And judging from its form, I reckon that it should be from… Corleon.”

The sponsor at the side approached appreciatively when he incidentally overheard her. “You’ve a good eye, Miss. Our beans are indeed sourced from Corleon.”

The man’s effusive praise for Shandie made Henrick’s heart swell with joy as he looked proudly at her.

While Shandie was basking in her moment of glory, she lifted her head to see that sponsor looking absolutely mesmerized by Arielle.

Shandie had no doubt that the man would start drooling were he to carry on ogling, and that irked her to no end.

Although Shandie was a little over twenty just as Arielle was, the former still came across as a young lass who had yet to shake off her own girlishness.

In a few more years, there would be no telling whether Shandie herself would even be fit enough to be a complementary leaf to the ravishing rose that Arielle could become.

The very thought of that had Shandie gnashing her teeth and wishing for Arielle to disappear.

She thought that a country girl like Arielle should not show up and mess up her life like this!

Shandie took two steps to her left to block off the man’s line of sight, and harbored deviousness in her eyes when she picked up a cup of coffee in the same motion.

She shoved the beverage into Arielle’s hands and said, “Have a taste of their coffee too, Arielle. I thought it’s rather decent.”

Before Arielle could respond, Shandie pressed a hand to her own mouth as if she had hit upon a realization. “I forgot that you’ve always stayed in the countryside… so you must not have taken coffee before, haven’t you?”

vanished from the sponsor’s eyes behind her. He was looking for an ambassador for

him that she was from the countryside and had not even drank

deemed her unsuitable, or even undesirable, as a brand ambassador since such an appointment would likely be received

little heed toward Shandie’s comments and only wished to taste it

sampling drew a

fragrant as the coffee smelled, it was too acrid to the taste buds and apart from the bitterness, there was little complexity

made it out

back from Arielle, adamant in the view

like her know

to the sponsor apologetically. “I’m sorry, mister. It’s not that your coffee isn’t good, but my sister

did not understand his product at all, should not be

“That’s okay, since not everyone is a coffee lover. In that case, I’ll

nodded at Shandie before turning

was thoughtful as he watched the man depart, believing his younger daughter

“Really, Shannie. Why did you have to

quite indignant. “It just slipped

how could you tell the sponsor in his face that his coffee was bitter? You‘ve really embarrassed me back

bowed, Arielle lowered her gaze apologetically.

you should go prepare yourself backstage. Dad and Mom would

Cindy before she took

a Henrick who looked like he was trying to keep his distance from something

that was her dad. A good father who would happily

in wistfulness, albeit for a second, but she kept her own emotions in check and continued walking pliantly behind

commenced shortly after they were

number of visitors on the day was more than usual, primarily because of the presence of Vinson Nightshire as one

a slot at the event just for the opportunity to get close

introduction by the host; starting with one of the founders of Crown Coffee Academy; followed by

not least, the host welcomed in the final guest. “Please

ignited went far to illustrate that more than half of the crowd were here

promptly directed toward the door leading backstage. At the end of the ceremony, the technicians would edit the

receive extra attention largely

front of the stage to greet the

Is that… Arielle?

her for awhile before pulling away. He then extended

in the seats. “Hello

applause from the audience grew ever more