"-So a toast to our future Mr and Mrs Southren, the next generation's couple made to perfection." His grandmother chimes as she holds up a wine glass, getting Domen to force a smile as his eyes slowly look around the crowd, only to have his eyes fall on Lavender who is also staring at him with a smile on her face.
A smile he knows isn't real as her eyes almost seem to be telling him she's happy they will not go through the torture.... Yet telling him something else.
His smile almost drops but Evette nags him to stop staring at Lavender as the grandmother turns to gaze at them both.
"Domen has always been a perfection from the perfect son I had raised. He is the embodiment of what a golden child truly is. No flaws and no embarrassment has come from my grandson." She announces as she turns back to face the crowd. "He is perfect beyond measure. His love dedicated to only one woman since his birth and he loves her endlessly. He knew he was born with a purpose, and knew who he would spend the rest of his successful life with. Not at any point has he spent the night with another woman. Even if he did, she would not be as precious as his beloved Evette. She's been the only woman he's sworn his life to. And I'm proud to introduce my Daughter-in-law to everyone. As the perfection she is."
Domen frowns as this and slowly drop his gaze back down to Lavender who is staring up at Cameron as he's whispering in her ear.
She isn't smiling anymore, not even the forced smile since the speech only reminds her of the harsh things Domen has said to her about what was going on between them.
She knew she'd never fit in the Southren life.
But she wanted to be with him. Which only pained her even worse.
"So as next week is their wedding, let's enjoy this moment with them, as our new married couple." The grandmother chimes and walks away, getting the crowd to clasp their hands in delight as she walks over to the side. "let's dance and get to know each other, the night is still young but I am not, so I won't be joining you."
"Yes! Finally my turn to get close enough to the handsome grandson!" The same woman from before, at the door grins out and snatches Domen from Evette, taking his hand and smiling up at him. "Let's dance, and I'll be sure to save the next dance for your son."
She chuckles and Domen only forces a smile as they dance elegantly on the dance floor with several others grabbing anyone close by and dancing.
It's not a way to get to know each other, his grandmother only wants to show him off.
The dance lessons he's had been practice on end as a child are what she's after when she wants to show off.
And it does infact surprise the woman he's dancing with.
"My, my, you are such the dancer Domen." She giggles as he spins her and let's her get taken away by someone else.
Sighing in relief he's been left alone, his relief is short lives when he's snatches again by another woman, younger this time.
He's never really met this one but knows she runs a beauty store somewhere, Evette's favorite company in fact.
Just like Evette her figure is petite and barely noticeable in the short midnight dress she is wearing with hair ties back into a low bun.
"I find it hard to believe you didn't mess with a woman once." She whispers as she smirks at him while raises his brow. "I highly doubt it."
"What makes you say?" He asks as he forces a smile while still making sure not to skip a dance as she seems to have switched to a much faster dance.
"No man is that perfect. Unless I'm wrong, just say it." She shrugs her shoulders and he chuckles as he presses his lips together.
"Why should a man tell his secrets?" He grins and she smiles in acknowledgement before leaving his hands and switching partners.
He holds onto the hands of none other than Lavender who was, in fact, just about to fall.
He steadies her and she mummers a 'thank you', unaware of who her new partner is as she shakes her head from the dizzy feeling in her eyes before glancing up at his eyes.
Just as the time she first saw him, the world around her suddenly grows silent as their eyes remain glued to each other.
None of them say anything for a moment as Domen is well aware Lavender doesn't know any elegant danced, so he slows down a bit to accommodate her to something she can easily fall into step with.
She peels her eyes from him as her heart thuds in her chest with her hands suddenly becoming more sensitive than they've always been, feeling the warmth from his hand pouring into hers.
She watches their feet, him taking extra careful steps not to step on her and she notices this.
He's teaching her somehow as he directs her by pulling on her hands where to turn.
It doesn't take too long until she's able to memorize the pattern and peel her gaze from their feet and up towards his eyes again.
He's staring down at her, infact he hadn't turned his gaze away since they started dancing.
It's time to switch, but Domen is reluctant to and continues on, ignoring the consequences that it brings.
Lavender glances over her shoulder when she notices everyone is switching and glanced back up at Domen, confused why he isn't spinning her around to allow her to switch.
"We have to switch." She whispers, to get his response as he slides his hand further down her back and brings them even closer, so close to the point their chests are touching.
The simple dance turning... Intimate.
"Domen-"
"What were you thinking when you heard her say all that?" Domen asks as he cuts her off when she was about to continue her complaint. "I tried to figure out what you were thinking... But it didn't look like it affected you."
Lavender frowns and shrugs her shoulders as the music around them fades into the background, along with everyone else.
"Who cares what I feel?" She asks as she forces a smile. "As long as you're happy... Right?"
Domen frowns as his hand grips onto hers, getting her to drop her gaze to his chest.
"... I'm not." He says in a much lower voice. "I don't think I can be happy without you. The more away you are the more I want you."
"That can't happen, anyway." Lavender shrugs her shoulders. "Let's switch, Domen... I can't be with you for this long-."
"- just a bit longer, Lav." Domen says as he clenches her waist even tighter.
She looks up at him and sighs out with a slight nod of her head.
"It's okay. Since it's the last time we'll be this close anyway." She smiles up at him and they dance for a bit, ignoring the countless times women try to switch with them, wanting to dance with Domen specifically.
As expected, his grandmother notices the two barely switching over three times up until the music slows down, making it more... Intimate.
A frown carved it's way on her lips as she watches Domen dance away with a woman she's never really seen or paid any thought to.
Clenching her jaw, she walks over to her son who had decided not to participate along with Heather who is looking at Domen with arms crossed to her chest, though not really trying to warn him against it.
Desmond had noticed it long before they switched, that Domen would eventually want to dance a little longer with her.
"What's your boy doing, Desmond?" His mother asks as he gets close enough to Desmond who clenched his jaw and sets his wine down.
He pretends to look over to see what Domen is doing, even though he already saw it.
He shrugs his shoulders and glances back at his mother.
"Dancing, like everyone else?" Desmond asks and the grandmother clicks her tongue as she points her sharp eyes towards them.
"Those two have danced for more than three times without switching. Break it off and find out who she is before everyone starts to ask questions!" She hisses and walks away in frustration as she goes back to where she was standing.
Pretending to smile at the guests along her way.
Heather glances towards Desmond who clenches his jaw and glances down to the floor.
"No point hiding it, you can see Domen really loves that woman." Heather shrugs her shoulders as she glances back at her son. "It's a shame we can't let them be together."
"I know." Desmond clenches his jaw and signals to the orchestra to stop their music and they instantly stop playing, getting everyone to clasp their hands at delight at the dance.