Page 117 of The Devil's Chaos

He studied me for a moment, his blue eyes searched mine. “Are you sure that’s all it is? Did something happen with Evelyn?”

I hesitated, not sure how to put my feelings into words. “She said some things that caught me off guard. She seemed to think she knew me from somewhere, that I reminded her of someone.”

Kai frowned. “That’s strange. I’ve known Evelyn my whole life, and she’s never been cryptic about her words. She’s a straight-to-the-point woman. A lot like you, actually.”

I shrugged, trying to play it off as no big deal. “Maybe I just have one of those faces. It’s probably nothing.”

But even as I said the words, I knew they weren’t true. There was something more to Evelyn’s reaction, something that I couldn’t quite put a finger on. Even more so, there was something familiar about Evelyn to me.

49

FORTY-NINE

HAVEN

It was the night of Archer and Mila’s rehearsal dinner, and I was introduced to Laurent, the live-in stylist for their household. I had caught glimpses of him around the manor and at previous events, but we had yet to have a proper conversation. He was a slender man with light brown hair, dressed impeccably in a periwinkle blue suit. His eyes were lined with subtle brown eyeliner, and his cheeks had a touch of rosy blush that gave him a youthful appearance. When he spoke, his voice had a hint of a French accent.

“Haven, this is Laurent. He's incredibly talented and certainly the sweetest stylist I've ever known. He'll turn you into Cinderella for the evening,” Mila beamed as she led me to her closet vanity. “I'm going to check on Archer now, so let Laurent work his magic.”

With a squeeze of my shoulders, Mila whisked away in her glimmering white dress, leaving me alone with Laurent. I looked into the mirror and noticed that he was studying me intently. He seemed lost in thought.

“It's lovely to meet you, Laurent.” I cleared my throat to break the silence.

He snapped out of his thoughts and smiled warmly at me. “The pleasure is mine, Miss Benson.” He circled around me, his keen eyes took in every detail. “Mila has told me so much about you,” he said while his fingers lightly grazed the red fabric of my dress. “She speaks very highly of your character and your beauty. I can see why.”

I felt a blush creep into my cheeks at his words. “That’s very kind of her to say.”

“Kindness has nothing to do with it,” Laurent replied as he met my gaze in the mirror. “It’s simply the truth.” He paused while he tilted his head slightly. “Now, let’s see what we can do to enhance your natural radiance.”

With deft hands, he began to work, applying a light foundation and dusting my cheeks with a soft, rosy power. He chose a shimmering eyeshadow that made my eyes sparkle and a lipstick that perfectly complemented my skin tone.

The soft bristles of the brushes tickled my skin, and the scent of the powders and creams filled the air. As he worked, Laurent hummed a melodic tune, seemingly lost in his own world of artistry.

As he worked, we fell into a comfortable conversation and discussed the upcoming nuptials and the excitement surrounding it.

“Mila and Archer are so in love,” I remarked while I watched as Laurent finished curling my hair.

“Indeed they are,” he agreed while he stepped back to admire his handiwork. “Voilà! You, my dove, are a vision.”

I turned to look at myself in the mirror and gasped. The woman who stared back at me was stunning, her features enhanced by his skillful touch. My eyes were adorned with shimmering shades of gold and bronze, making them appear larger and more alluring. My cheeks were dusted with a softpeach blush which gave me a healthy, radiant glow. And my lips, painted in a deep, rich red, looked full and inviting.

When I moved, both my skin and dress sparkled in the light. I hardly recognized myself.

“Wow. Thank you, Laurent.” I breathed as I stood to face him.

He bowed his head graciously. “It is my pleasure, Miss Benson. You wear it well. Kai won’t be able to keep his hands off of you.” His eyes lingered on me for a moment before he turned to tidy up the vanity.

Mila burst into the room as if on cue, her eyes widened when she saw me. “Oh, Haven! You look absolutely stunning!” She rushed over to me and clasped my hands in hers. “Laurent, you’ve outdone yourself.”

Laurent chuckled softly, “I merely enhanced what was already there, my dear Mila. Much like I did with you.”

“I don't know how to thank you,” I whispered, my voice barely audible over my heartbeat.

Laurent chuckled, a low, melodic sound that resonated throughout my entire being. “Your smile is thanks enough, my dove.”

Mila turned to me, her eyes sparkled with excitement. “Are you ready? The guests are arriving, and Archer and Kai are waiting for us downstairs.”

I took a deep breath and nodded. “I’m ready.”

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