Unable to remain seated, Raegan was about to leave when Benson and his friend returned. They had been caught up in conversation with some old acquaintances nearby, oblivious to the unfolding drama.
Approaching with two well-dressed young men, Benson introduced them to Raegan with enthusiasm. ““Raegan, meet the sons of my closest friends. They’re trustworthy fellows. Currently working overseas, they plan to return to Ardlens eventually. It’s good for you to network. After all, you’re all the future of our community.”
Observers with a keen sense of awareness would realize Benson’s intent to match Raegan with a potential suitor.
Benson, recently irked by Mitchel’s demeanor toward Raegan, held a certain esteem for Mitchel but placed Raegan, whom he viewed as a daughter, above all others. Thus, he felt compelled to bolster Raegan’s social standing and demonstrate her popularity.
Despite his age, Benson’s occasional youthful whimsy lent him an endearing charm. It was genuine and cute.
Caught in a quandary, Raegan refrained from embarrassing Benson, exchanging business cards with the two men courteously. She yearned to depart yet found herself anchored by Benson’s ongoing engagement with the two men.
Then, unexpectedly, the club’s emcee activated the microphone, announcing robustly, “Esteemed guests, it’s another warm Friday night. Let’s set aside our devices and embrace our neighbors with warmth and affection.”
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Rarely a visitor to such venues, Raegan was at a loss with the proceedings.
The next instant, the lights dimmed to darkness.
Amidst her confusion, Raegan found herself enveloped in the embrace of someone.
Being embraced in the darkness without knowing the identity of the other party, a sudden chill slithered through Raegan’s body, causing goosebumps to prickle along her spine. It was an alien and inexplicable dread that gnawed at her core.
“Let… Let me go…” Raegan’s face was pressed tightly against the man’s chest, her voice muffled and barely audible. She struggled against his grip, but it was unyielding, his strength overwhelming.
Amidst the darkness, the announcer’s resounding voice declared, “The pinnacle of love is revealed in an embrace. May this tender and soothing gesture alleviate all sorrows tonight.”
“Let me go…” Raegan struggled once more, yet her cries were swallowed by the man’s enveloping hold.
His chest was like a magnet, holding her captive, its pull threatening to consume her.
Raegan kicked frantically, but her legs met only empty space.
As the countdown clock reached its final second, the suffocating grip around Raegan suddenly dissipated.
The room was filled with a resounding “snap,” restoring light.
Raegan’s eyes swiftly shifted toward Mitchel’s seat, where an unexpected scene unfolded before her.
Amilia, rubbing her arm gently as she whimpered, had somehow ended up next to Mitchel. “You squeezed me so tightly…” she lamented.
Raegan’s complexion paled, a sudden rush of breathlessness overtaking her.
Klein Becker, the bespectacled boy seated beside Raegan, edged nearer to Raegan and said, “I sincerely apologize. Just then…”
Raegan’s voice sliced through the air sharply. “Hugging someone without their explicit consent is the height of disrespect!” Her tone’s intensity silenced the surrounding chatter abruptly.
Benson, his expression marked with concern, turned to Raegan. “Are you alright, Raegan? Is everything okay?”