Everything was a deal until divorce novel Chapter 135

No. Doriant didnt éves look at her. This tone was feel as he turned and albeit off

glas

Lacey stood frozen lingers clemhed tight. She had to whim over.

It she became his wife, she’d on every room in Avaien No one would dare treat her like the didn’t belong. Especially not Alice. That woman had humiliated her of too many times

1 mean, really! Still chasing after Mr. Vale?

Alice’s voice sliced through the air, flat and sharp. Her beauty was elegant in that high–bred, untouchable kind of way, but her words? Brutal.

“Lacey, save the act. This is Zevia, and it’s Mr. Sinclair’s Birthday dinner. If you embarrass the Wren family tonight, there’ll be hell to pay.”

Lacey bit down hard, eyes reddening. “Why do you care who I talk to?”

Alice gave her a look like she was dirt on her shoe. “Spare me the fake tears. Dorian isn’t the kind of man who even notices women like you. You think someone like him would so much as glance at a scheming. petty social climber?”

With that, Alice turned and walked off, heels clicking against the marble, glass of wine in hand. Lacey trembled. Rage burned in her chest. Alice had never accepted her, never would.

But tonight wasn’t about Alice.

Vivienne was coming. She’d told her Dorian might have feelings for Arden. That made things simple. Lacey had a job to do.

She followed Dorian upstairs, heels clicking softly behind him. At the top of the stairs, Dorian finally spotted her.

Arden stood by the dessert table in a red off–shoulder dress. Her long hair flowed down her back like silk, her skin glowing against the crimson fabric. The dress hugged her waist, the hem brushing her knees. Her heels were strappy, black, elegant. The red polish on her toes matched her lipstick.

She was holding a small plate, carefully lifting a piece of vanilla cake topped with strawberries. As she took a bite, her lips curled in quiet delight. A dot of cream caught on her lip, and she instinctively reached for it with her tongue, missing slightly, making the smudge worse.

Dorian’s gaze darkened. How could she make eating cake look like that?

She glowed under the lights, effortlessly radiant, unapologetically feminine. He started toward her–only to watch Martin get there first.

Dorian’s eyes narrowed. That bastard was smiling too wide, dressed in his usual “trying–too–hard” formal wear, wine glass in hand.

“Miss Wynn,” Martin said smoothly, “may I have the first dance tonight?”

“Actually, no,” Dorian answered for her, stepping in and planting himself firmly between them. “She’s already taken.”

Martin raised an eyebrow, then raised his glass. “Dorian. Long time. I didn’t realize you two were… close.”

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MON, AND V

Dorian didic book. She’s my dae vanigler You tell me

This he wasn’t playful It was a warning.

Marin’s smile didn’t falter. She looked alone, so I thou

“She wasn’t

Anden, still holding her fork, blinked up at Dorian She barely processed what just happened. Dorian glanced down. Aren’t you going to say hi?”

She cleared her throat, unsure. “Mr. Vale,”

Martin chuckled. “Mr. Vale? That’s a little formal, isn’t it? Sounds like they barely know each other.

Dorian didn’t even glance at him. His eyes stayed on Arden. A strand of her hair had fallen across her collarbone, delicate against the curve of her skin.

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