Chapter 113: Tortures

After a while, everyone grows bored and leaves Janetta alone to her sewing. As she sews and resews, she fumes. She knows that Avery is deliberately tormenting her, but she has no choice but to give in because Avery now has power over her. After several hours, she gives up. Though her skill has improved, she can't make the dress look new again.

She looks up from her sewing and sees Avery coming down the hall, stretching lazily as if she's just woken from a nap. Janetta stabs the needle forcefully through the thin fabric, accidentally pricking her finger. A few drops of crimson blood ooze from her fingertips.

"Avery, what the hell do you want?" Janetta snaps.

Avery leans on the handrail and looks down at her sister's bleeding finger.

"The ring," she answers.

Realization dawns on Janetta: Avery is tormenting her because she wants the ring. The more Avery tortures her, the more she reveals just how desperately she wants the ring.

"What if I don't give you?" Janetta asks.

"Then keep sewing until I'm satisfied with the results," Avery replies.

"That won't be a problem!" Janetta says with mock indifference.

Janetta's fingers are swollen and covered in needle pricks. After sewing for a whole afternoon, her fingers are so numb that she almost can't feel them. She's regarding her fingers and pondering what to do about Avery's request when Anthony enters. He has just returned from the construction site where he was overseeing the workers Evan hired for the extension. Janetta tosses the dress onto the floor.

"Daddy, look at my hands," she whines.

Her fingers are red and puffy. Anthony frowns and two wrinkles deeply crease his forehead.

"What happened?" he asks with concern.

"I accidentally tore a hole in Avery's dress, and she asked me to repair it," Janetta explains, "I've done a terrific job but she's nitpicking and insisting I redo it."

Anthony takes a look at the dress—though Janetta's handiwork isn't perfect, it's not terrible either. Reluctantly, he decides to side with Avery. Now that Evan seems to genuinely care about her, Anthony doesn't want to risk alienating her or his powerful son-in-law.

"If Avery says there's a problem, there must be," he says, "Keep working at it."

"Dad!" Janetta protests.

She assumed that Anthony would take her side as he always does, and she's outraged that he's suddenly favoring Avery. Anthony ignores her complaints and walks to his study. Vanessa enters as soon as her father has left, carrying a silver tray of fresh fruit. She passes Avery without even glancing at her and forks a strawberry for Janetta.

"What's wrong with dad?" Vanessa asks, "It sounded like he took Avery's side just now, but I can't imagine him standing up for her."

Janetta stabs the needle into the dress, imagining she's sticking it into Avery.

"Don't worry," she whispers to Vanessa, "She won't have that smug look on her face for long."

"What are you gonna do?" Vanessa asks casually.

Though she feigned disinterest, she's desperately curious to know about her sister's plans. Though her expression is boring, she's closely watching her sister to see if she'll reveal anything interesting or useful.

"She's obsessed with my ring," Janetta says, "It's all she wants, but I won't let her have it."

Vanessa knows she's talking about the green diamond ring, and she's instantly curious.

"Why not?" Vanessa asks, "I'd give it to her if I were you."

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"Why?"

"Well, you can trade her for the dress," Vanessa says, "It's from Evan, and I can only dream about what I'd do if I had the opportunity to wear it."

Though Vanessa speaks vaguely, her tone is suggestive. Janetta is perceptive, and Vanessa's words begin to set a plan churning in her mind. After a few moments of deliberation, Janetta knows what she wants to do. She suddenly stands up and rushes over to Avery.

"The dress is torn beyond repair, and I know you don't even want to wear it," Janetta says, "How about you give it to me. Since I was the one who ruined it, it seems only fair that I should have to wear it. In exchange, I'll give you the ring after our family party."

Avery thinks carefully. She's suspicious of Janetta's offer—she knows her sister must have some sort of plan, but she can't figure out what it is. She eventually accepts the offer, reasoning that Evan can always buy her another dress but she has to give the ring back to Charles.

For a few days, Avery almost forgets about the trade. Evan doesn't return to Howel's villa and Avery lives in relative peace without him. When the day of the party arrives, the entire family is in a state of joy and disarray, but the villa looks more majestic and spectacular with Evan's new add-on.

The Peters have invited relatives, business partners, celebrities, and some of the country's most influential families. Many of the guests have only agreed to come for the chance to be seen socializing with Evan Howel.

Janetta dresses in her large dressing room, posing in the mirror as she arranges the dress. She looks through her extensive shoe collection, but she can't find anything that matches the exquisite dress. She sneezes and walks down the hall to borrow a pair of shoes from Avery. 

Avery and Gabrielle are sharing a dressing room and a team of stylists is doing their hair and makeup. The dressing room is large enough to accommodate everyone, and it features a collection of rare porcelain dolls dressed in exquisite replicas of gowns and dresses worn by the Peters women throughout the years.

Janetta loves dolls and she can't help but admire them all. She knows that seamstresses have probably already been ordered to make replicas of some of Avery's dresses and the thought fills her with a fit of raging jealousy.

"That horrible Avery," she thinks, "She gets everything without putting in any effort at all. Why is life so unfair?"

She's so entranced by the dolls, she doesn't notice that Avery, Gabrielle, and the stylists have all left the room. When Evan opens the door, he sees a woman in a white gown gazing at the dolls. The light is soft and sweet, and the woman looks like a feminine goddess. He smiles to himself, knowing that he helped to design a dress for her. She looks even more beautiful in it than he imagined.

He ensured that the dress was carefully wrapped with a handwritten note. The white dress is meant to be symbolic of his love. If she puts it on, she's agreeing to stay with him and to love him. His heart pounds with joy in his chest; she's decided to love him. 

Janetta is so distracted, she doesn't notice that someone has entered the room until she feels a man's hot breath on her neck. Before she has time to turn around, two strong arms wrap around her from behind. A man's sharp jaw presses against her shoulder as he leans down to kiss the exposed skin.

"You look astonishing," he murmurs against her skin.

The warm breath tickles Janetta's earlobes, and she feels a ripple of joy spreading from her heart. She recognizes Evan's voice and can't believe that he has just complimented her beauty.

"Avery, do you like what I've done for you?" Evan whispers, his voice thick with desire, "Are you willing to love me?"

Evan's words drag Janetta from heaven and send her straight to hell.

"He thinks I'm Avery," she thinks miserably, "He's not in love with me."

Evan's business didn't go well because he didn't find Charles. He had to call the search off to get back for the party, and he's been in a foul mood for days. As he traveled back to the villa he began to worry about Avery's response to his gift, and he indulged in a few drinks to help quell his anxiety. Seeing her in the dress instantly calms him, and soothes his heart. He inhales deeply and then frowns.

"Are you wearing perfume?" he asks, "I like the way you smell without it."

He gently turns her around to face him, and Janetta hurries to lower her head to avoid eye contact. She's never been so close to him before. Even though he had mistaken her for Avery, his touch makes her feel like she's floating on a cloud of happiness. Without thinking, she moves closer and buries her head in his arms.

Evan freezes. It's rare for him to see her so shy and affectionate, and he feels desire surging to his loin. Eager kisses fall on her earlobes and hair. Janetta closes her eyes with excitement.

"Is the moment coming?" She wonders, "Will I finally belong to Evan now? God knows I've been waiting for this day for so long."

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