Chapter 42

• Adrian stood in silence for a moment, his jaw tightening before he turned and signaled for an assistant to handle the chaos. The engagement party had been a disaster, an absolute embarrassment. Yet, despite the spectacle, Vivian’s distress was real.
• I could see it in her eyes—the humiliation, the hurt. And for better or worse, I had fought too hard to walk away now. No, this wasn’t about regret. Not yet. Not when I still wanted Cassandra to feel the weight of her decision.
• If she knew just how catastrophic this night had been, she’d probably smirk to herself, satisfied. That thought alone made my stomach twist.