Chapter 177

• I reclined on my plush chaise longue, my thoughts swirling with frustration and bitterness. The world outside my elegant penthouse seemed distant and irrelevant in that moment. All I could think about was Cassandra the woman who had somehow captured Rafael's attention.
• Beside me, my trusted assistant, Gillian, hovered with a calm, comforting presence. She gently dabbed at my eyes with a handkerchief, offering words of reassurance.
• “There’s no need to get so upset, Ms. Sinclair,” Gillian said softly. “Rafael is his own man. This is probably just a passing infatuation. I hear Lady Sinclair is incredibly beautiful people say she’s the most stunning woman in the city.”