Be My Wife, Be Rich by Charlotte Aaron Novel

Chapter 17 

Fiona didn’t miss a beat. She whipped off her bulky black jacket and chucked it at Alexa, leaving her buried under it for a second. 

Alexa was not having it. She wrestled the coat off, keeping her cool and that fake smile plastered on. Inside, she was telling herself she’d get the last laugh–she’d look like the belle of the ball while Fiona bombed, and Sebastian wouldn’t lift a finger to help. Thinking this, she couldn’t help but smirk. But that smirk faded quickly when she got a load of Fiona owning that stage. 

Fiona slipped into a killer outfit, like something one’d see in school but way cooler. The skirt was short enough to show off her rocking legs, and the white tee she had on just tight enough to turn heads. But what really got folks talking was her skin–it was so fair and bright it looked like it was straight out of a magazine ad. 

She thought indignantly, ‘She lived in the countryside, why she has so beautiful skin and a well–developed figure?‘ Alexa, stuck holding Fiona’s coat, was fuming. She felt like a second–string player while Fiona dazzled like a total MVP Alexa peered up to the balcony, noticing all the dudes who had been eyeing her now full–on ogling Fiona like they’d never seen a girl before. Ticked off, Alexa shoved the coat back at Fiona. “Here, take this.” Playing second fiddle to Fiona? Not happening. 

But Fiona barely glanced at Alexa; she only had eyes for Sebastian in the VIP seat upstairs. Her sight was 20/20, but even she couldn’t make out his poker face from down here. She toyed with the idea of asking him to dance but got cut off by Alexa, Fiona, already feeling a migraine creeping up, whipped around, “Weren’t you after a show? Then hold this.” She flagged down a staff member, “Hit me with some Latin beats, would ya? 

To Alexa, Latin dancing was about as chic as square dancing. She figured there was no way Fiona, flying solo, could make Latin moves look good. It was not a one–person gig. Alexa was sure Fiona was gonna crash and burn. “So, you think you can handle Latin dancing?” she snarked. 

Fiona just flashed a wicked grin, “I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve.” 

Alexa smirked, “Can’t wait to see ‘em.” 

Fiona gathered her hair into a tight ponytail and owned the stage. Her gaze hit Sebastian, and her warm smile just for him. But she ditched the dance invite idea–if Sebastian shot her down, she’d be the year’s biggest joke. No thanks, she’d test the waters first. 

in the VIPs, practically bounced off his seat, “Man, she smiled right at me! She’s totally digging me!” Patting his face, sure of his own hotness, heed, “Chicks can’t resist this.” 

Sebastian raised an eyebrow. “You really think she’s into you?” 

Luther, catching onto Sebastian’s edgy vibe, gulped, “Um, Sebastian, you okay?” Why did he suddenly seem like a green–eyed monster, ready to throw down? Luther shot a confused look at Adrien. 

Adrien was holding back a laugh. “Man, just watch the show if you can’t find the right words.” 

As the rhythm filled the room, Fiona was a statue. Alexa watched this scene, a smug smile curling her lips, thinking. Tonight, just like Clare, Fiona is destined to become a laughingstock! She hadn’t been reveling in this thought for long when suddenly, the beat dropped. Then Fiona was fire–spins, kicks, and jumps in a dance meant for two, all by herself. 

Sebastian was mesmerized. There Fiona was, in that simple school getup, and still, she had everyone eating out of her hand, especially him. His cool veneer was melting away, and he was feeling things he hadn’t felt before. 

The crowd might not have known much about dance, but they knew what they liked. And they liked what they saw–a lot. When the track ended and Fiona struck her final pose, everyone’s heart skipped a beat. She traced her lips, blew a kiss straight to Sebastian. 

That got him–he was tugging at his shirt, trying to cool off from the heat wave she sent his way. She had everyone wrapped around her finger, especially 

Sebastian. 

The judges out front started the applause, totally wowed by Fiona and her moves. 

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Chapter 17 

Luther was all lit up like a kid with his first crush, “Man, she blew a kiss straight dt met I’m done for. She’s gotta be the onel” 

‘Shut up!” both Sebastian, seated next to Luther, and Sean, in the row in front of him, blurted out in unison. As their words hung in the air, they turned to lock eyes with each other, sparks flying 

Adrien, a little tipsy himself, shook his head with a grin and clapped Luther on the back like he was consoling him. 

Up in the VIP section, Macy and the crew were straight–up gobsmacked by Fiona’s performance. And Alexa, standing there on stage, looked like she had. just seen a ghost. ‘How on earth could Fiona dance like that? Mom hasn’t been giving Fiona any allowance; she should be too broke to afford dance lessons, right? Yet there she is, dancing like she is ready for the world stage! 

The judges dished out scores, and Mona beat Alexa’s. Fiona grabbed the mic from one of the helpers and, with a dazzling smile, threw some shade Alexa’s way. “Big shout–out to Alexa. No way a newbie like me could have shown my stuff without her setting up this stage. Thanks a ton, Alexa.” 

Stearn coming out of Alexa’s ears, she was so mad. She had intentionally scheduled her own act last for the sake of comparison, no doubt. But what she wanted everyone to see was how remarkable she, Alexa, was, and just how terrible Fiona was in contrast–not to become a mere foil to Fiona. She had pulled every trick in the book hoping to see Fiona humiliated, to be scorned by Sebastian, so that the Quinn family would call off the engagement without any cost. And now who was the laughingstock? Her, Alexa turned out to be the fool herself. She noticed that during Fiona’s dance, Nathan’s gaze hadn’t left her for a second. Alexa had set the trap, and Fiona had turned it right back on her. 

Then it was time for the votes. No surprises here–Fiona won by a landslide. Alexa, thrown for such a loop, couldn’t even host right anymore, tripping over her words left and right. With the ceremony wrapped up, the students and all the day’s performers headed off to the hotel for the after–party.