Chapter 10

• After seeing off Nathaniel, I returned to my suite, taking a moment to collect my thoughts. Half an hour later, the inevitable happened—Adrian arrived, and he wasn’t alone. With his hand wrapped around Vivian’s, they stepped into the study as if they belonged there.
• I was at my desk, going over the latest financial reports for the company’s monthly expenses. The scent of lavender from a burning candle filled the space, its calming fragrance in sharp contrast to the storm brewing inside me.
• I looked up, my gaze landing on their intertwined fingers. My chest tightened, but I kept my face impassive. No more illusions. No more false hope. It was better this way—direct, honest, and with no pretense.