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?”

was looking for an ambassador for his company and had thought Arielle’s outwardly appearance fit

that she was from the countryside and had not

he deemed her unsuitable, or even undesirable, as

little heed toward Shandie’s comments and only

drew a frown from

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

made it out to

snatched the cup back from Arielle, adamant in the view that it was Arielle who did not

bumpkin like her

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

who did not understand his product at all, should not be up

not everyone is a coffee lover. In that case, I’ll be taking my leave.

at Shandie before turning

his younger daughter to be far more capable than his

might be upset, Cindy purposefully chided, “Really, Shannie. Why did you have to let

indignant. “It

could you tell the sponsor in his face

head bowed, Arielle lowered her gaze apologetically. “I’m sorry,

forget it!” Henrick looked away in annoyance before he regarded Shandie. “It’s almost time, so you should go prepare yourself backstage. Dad and Mom would be waiting out there for

Shandie smiled pleasantly and waved to Cindy before she took

or intent, Arielle found herself left far behind by a Henrick who looked like he was trying to

that was her dad. A good father who would happily

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

commenced shortly after they were

day was more than usual, primarily because of the presence

nail to secure a slot at the event just for the

one of the founders of Crown Coffee Academy; followed by a renowned barista in the industry; and then Rain Evans, who

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

ignited went far to illustrate that more

mounted video cameras were promptly directed toward the door leading backstage. At the end of the ceremony, the technicians would edit the footage and post

of the ceremony each year would receive extra attention largely because

the front of the stage to greet the audience, he

Is that… Arielle?

her for awhile before pulling away. He then

in the seats. “Hello everyone, I’m Vinson

from the audience grew ever more