Everyone only calmed down a little after realising that Audrey didn't vanish after hugging Joanna.
"Thank you for coming back alive and well," Audrey hugged Joanna tighter, refusing to let go.
"Does this mean she deliberately scared us even though she was alive all along?" Tiffany asked as she glared at the two friends having their little reunion on the stage.
"If she had the guts to do that to everyone despite that she is not dead, then she is a psychopath," Nora shuddered at the remembrance of the hell they have gone through ever since they encountered the ghost at the villa.
Because of this same ghost, their friendship suffered a major setback.
Their Girl Group would have stopped to exist had they not done their best to make Sophie and Doris resolve their misunderstanding.
"So what if she is alive and pulled such a major prank on us?" Doris scoffed.
Some minutes ago she wasn't able to say a word because of fear but after realising that Joanna was no ghost she had suddenly regained her confidence.
"I can't perceive a werewolf scent on her so that means her miraculously coming back to life is of no use. She will forever remain our sidekick. That is her fate," Doris said proudly.
Her speech earned applause from her friends.
"That's right. And just like in the past we are gonna show her where she rightfully belongs…,"
"Which is underneath our feet," Tiffany completed the words for Sophie.
Everyone was astounded when they saw the King stand up from his seat and approach the stage.
When he reached the stage he maintained a miserable look. Although he looked miserable, to Joanna, his expression looked funny.
She almost burst out laughing forgetting where they were currently at.
He went and embraced her to the further surprise of people who didn't expect such a thing from the King.
"It's so great to have you back," Kayden said, hugging her tightly.
"A light hug would have been enough so why are you taking advantage of the situation?" Joanna whispered enough for only him to hear.
"You are very good at acting…,"
"Aren't you an expert at that?" Kayden asked not still not letting go of her.
People staring at them could only see their moving lips but couldn't hear what they were saying.
Even vampires who have an incredible hearing ability for some unknown reason couldn't hear their discussion too.
It was as if someone had deliberately sealed their conversation making it impossible for them to hear.
"I almost stood up and awarded you with the world's best actress of the century," Kayden said.
He so much wanted to hug her for a long time but when he recalled that they were still at the party, he deemed it improper for him to do that.
So he slowly let go of her.
Although they were in the presence of so many people Audrey could not mask her hatred for the King.
She glared at him with her fists clasped to suppress her anger.
"As I said earlier, I am alive and well so there is no need to be afraid of me anymore," Joanna said smiling before she climbed down the stage with Kayden and Audrey both accompanying her.
The embarrassed Laura climbed off the stage with her head lowered.
"Join us at my table," Kayden said seriously, not sounding like his usual playful self that Joanna was used to.
This was the reality of their relationship. He was the King and while she was his subject.
No matter how close they are, he was way above her in status.
"Sorry but I will have to turn down your offer, Your Majesty," Joanna replied respectfully as she held Audrey's hand.
"But you…," Kayden stopped what he wanted to say when he saw that there were too many prying eyes.
"If you can't join my table then I will join you both on your table," Kayden suggested to the annoyance of Audrey whose glares turn deadlier on hearing Kayden's suggestions.
"Although I managed to survive, I have no plans of dying for the second time and I wish that His Majesty will not make things difficult for me," Joanna said.
She waited for Kayden to permit them to go since they couldn't walk out on him.
The moment he excused them Audrey led the way to her table.
"I want to greet someone first. You may go and sit first if…,"
"It's ok," Audrey said, not wanting Joanna to leave her side for even a second.
Joanna went to where her family was sitting.
The only one who was absent there was Anthony.
After greeting her father, Joanna shifted her attention to her stepmother who was on her feet.
There was fear in her eyes as she stared at Joanna.
Actually, it would have been very weird if she had remained normal after the hell Joanna's ghost put her and her daughter through for the past few days.
"Hello stepmother," Joanna greeted with a smile. She stretched her hand to touch Adhara but out of reflexes and fear she shrank backwards.
"You and Laura must have been terrified these past days right?" Joanna asked, pretending to care about their wellbeing.
"Actually, I tried telling you both that I wasn't dead but the two of you always go crazy on seeing me. I had no choice but to play along…," Joanna trailed.
She stared at Laura who couldn't even stare her in the eye.
She suddenly extends her hand and grabs Laura's hands lying on the table.
Laura freaked out. She reacted by shouting manically.
"You and stepmother are not gonna blame me for what happened right?" Joanna asked, resisting the desire to smile.
"Hmmm…," Laura mumbled while shaking her head. It was so obvious she wanted Joanna to leave there as fast as possible.
"If you say so then I am very relieved," Joanna said, letting go of Laura's hands.
"I will leave you all to enjoy your party. We will talk again when we get home…,"
"Home?" Adhara yelled, fear visible in her eyes. "What home are you talking about?"
...
A VERY IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
HAPPY NEW MONTH ??????!!!
First of all, I would like to apologise to regular readers for not updating chapters for the past three days.
Sorry, I couldn't meet up with the daily updates for you guys, it's just that I was trying to set up the privileged chapters that is why.
As you know it's a new month and as usual time for new goals.
GOALS FOR JULY 2022
GOAL 1: Reach 1,000 (1k) privileged chapter unlock to get five (5) extra chapters the following month.
To reach this particular goal you guys have to buy the privileged chapters and not just buy them but make sure to unlock the chapters daily.
Please support my work by buying the privileged chapters and unlocking the chapters daily because this is the only way the privileged chapter unlock will count.
Apart from the 5 chapters mass release, those who buy privileged chapters will stand a chance to win a coin code worth 100 coins the next month.
Isn't this amazing?
GOAL 2: Every 50 GOLDEN TICKETS we get this month guarantees you guys 3 extra chapters.
That is to say that if we receive 200 GOLDEN TICKETS this July 2022, you guys stand a chance of getting extra nine (9) chapters. The daily updates are not included.
Isn't this such a fantastic bargain?
GOAL 3: For every 100 power stones this book receives each week, three (3) extra chapters will be uploaded the next week as a reward for the goal.
This is to say that if we get 200 power stones this week, in the following week I will give six chapters mass release without the inclusion of the daily two chapters.
Please let's try hard to complete the goals. I strongly believe we can do this, don't you agree with me on this?
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