ough the grand corridors as h

texts he had received earlier from his stepmother. As he turned a corner, he c

been, man? You

made that clear

er, man, she's been searching for you all night, getting all w

drian reasserted, "I had a few

etter go find her. She's with Cecy's parents, a

h time that evening, nodded his

dancing. He glanced around briefly and saw Victoria, his stepmother, standi

ing it with a bright smile. "Ah, Adrian, there you are," she said warmly, patting his b

he couple in their early fifties before him, offering the

," the Laurent's replied with s

her tonight. Have you seen her since

scussion, decided to say the one thing they'd prefer to hear, which would

t's good

used themselves. Victoria also moved with Adrian to a quieter part of the hall. As they mov

sounding impatient. "You promised to do it tonight when every one of our

ve the arranged marriage idea between the two down his throat because of the political advantage it would have for her to be an in-

at her. "I'll do it when or if I'm ready. Not beca

ith annoyance. "One, it's

I deem fit," his resp

anger in her eyes was obvious, and she replied with irritation

al." Adrian cut in, his tone cold and final. "I have my own priorities if you lack them yourse

to walk away from her as

anger evident on her face. "You dare not walk a

deal with," he said aloud without

had with Victoria, he headed back to his room to clear his he

t shoved it open, only to freeze in his

with the small box he had kept in hi

ou think you're doing?" His voice was dangerously low and cold,

mouth to respond. She began to stutter, he

ards her and snatched the box from her hand with such force that she nearly f

ontinued to stammer as she began

ldn't believe he had just made out with a common thief. "You think you can

e, all

w something was off about you right

hed at himself for giving her an inch to talk to him in the first place. "

to defend herself as all her facade began to clear

ere her purse lay, half-open. Without warning, he

he ID card caught his eye, so he bent to pick it up, and his expression grew even

, their gazes meeting. "Not Lily Evans? But of course," he chuckled.

ried her best to construct one single sente

nger, his voice resonating in the

ediately corrected herself.

I didn't choose to do this, please," she confessed, her voice more like a whisper. "I was h

he tears rolled

lie to m

what to believe anymore. "I'm done with your lies. The police should be

without thinking, she blurted, "I'm

ning anger within him. "Sebastian Cross sent you?" he asked to c

me gently. "I'm telling

seeming to reduce in the slightest. "A thief and

rs continued to spill over. "I'm not keeping it for

hink sorry cuts it? You tried to steal from me.

ead, her heart bea

acing. "Didn't you say you were after my ruby pendant?" H

engagement ring, not the

idening in shock, knowing she had sold

er calmly yet coldly, snapping the box shut. "Y

hreat in his voice as his voice dropped to a whis

have you arrested, humiliated, and drag

anything, but don't ruin me,

ze lingering on hers. He could see the fear in her

eated slowly, and

h his breath against her ear. "Then here's what you'r

could either lead her to more trouble or set her

, his voice as cold as the grave. "Or I'l

ghtning, leaving her unable to

her mouth to speak, but the dead

ok two steps away from her, a s

ia? Our wedding proposal ton