Chapter 39: The Second Matchmaker Gala – A Grand Setup
The ballroom was dazzling—a sea of elegance that could have been plucked from the pages of a fairy tale. Glittering chandeliers cast a warm glow over the guests, who mingled around tables adorned with cascading floral arrangements and flickering candles. A string quartet played softly in the background, the melodies weaving through the air like an invisible thread of calm.
At least, that’s how it looked. Ava, however, knew better.
She stood near the entrance, scanning the room for signs of imminent disaster. Her grandmother’s galas always had a way of veering off-course, usually in spectacularly chaotic fashion. Tonight would be no different.
"Looks pretty," Ryan said, appearing at her side with two glasses of champagne. "Too pretty. Like it’s trying to lull us into a false sense of security."
Ava took a glass, her lips twitching. "That’s because it is. Mei planned this, remember?"
Ryan sipped his drink, his gaze drifting toward the dessert table, where Mei was directing a waiter to position a stack of golden envelopes. She looked completely at ease, the picture of serenity, which only made Ava more suspicious.
"What’s in the envelopes?" Ava asked, sidling up to Mei.
"Icebreaker clues," Mei replied innocently, stepping back to inspect her work. "They’re part of the compatibility scavenger hunt."
Ava narrowed her eyes. "And what exactly do these ’clues’ entail?"
Mei smiled, the kind of smile that meant trouble. "Just a little matchmaking magic."
Ryan wandered over, his eyebrows raised as he eavesdropped. "Translation: chaos is about to break loose."