“How can it be her?” Rosalind whispered, her brows furrowing in disbelief.She couldn’t believe that the person she had once seen as a rival was none other than Ms. Vesper. In that instant, she realized the first impression she had wanted to make was already lost. They had already formed their opinions of each other.Her head snapped toward Sean, who met her gaze with an expressionless face. The indifference only fueled her irritation.Not only had he failed to tell her that his new lover was Ms. Vesper, but he had also allowed her to speak so carelessly in front of her. Now, she was certain Sean was still bitter about the divorce and was letting her walk straight into humiliation as payback.Sean only shrugged slightly and turned his head away, fully aware of what Rosalind was thinking. He had no intention of letting her pin the blame on him for something beyond his control. After all, she had chosen to say what she did, and he had no part in it.Seeing that Sean had dismissed her, R

Murmurs erupted the moment Rosalind spoke. At first, everyone thought she would simply stand there in silence and let Ms. Vesper leave. But against all expectations, Rosalind managed to speak up.Abrill paused, tilting her head slightly as she regarded Rosalind. Her sharp, inquisitive gaze lingered on the determined set of Rosalind’s jaw and the fire in her eyes.A flicker of curiosity crossed Abrill’s face. She wondered just how far she could push this young woman.“You didn’t know, did you?” Abrill asked, her tone calm but tinged with teasing curiosity.Rosalind’s throat tightened. She hesitated, then shook her head. “No… I didn’t.”Abrill’s lips curved into a faint smile. “Then why don’t you take a guess?” she suggested, her voice smooth, challenging.Rosalind’s eyes narrowed slightly as she fought to keep her composure.“This is a professional setting,” she said carefully. “I wouldn’t want to make guesses here. It wouldn’t be appropriate.”“Professional?” Abrill’s voice hardened, h

Nate shook his head frantically, his mouth opening to deny it, but before he could force a word out, Jullian jumped in, eager to protect himself by using Nate as a shield.“That’s right! He was the one who convinced his father to use the Stroud connection for this deal,” Jullian said quickly, his voice loud enough for half the room to hear.“If it weren’t for Nate, we wouldn’t even have secured the partnership in the first place. He’s the one who got us here,” Lillian immediately added.The words echoed through the hall, sealing Nate’s fate.Nate froze, his blood running cold. ‘These idiots…!’ he screamed inwardly. His hands curled into fists at his sides, and his stomach dropped like a stone. Every instinct told him to deny it, to run, to disappear. But it was too late. The siblings had already tied his name to the very deal hanging in the balance.Abrill tilted her head slightly, her lips curving upward, not in amusement this time, but in something far sharper, colder. Her eyes glit

Rosalind watched Abrill head straight for Sean, a heavy frown crossing her face. Her mind replayed Abrill’s words from earlier—words that had stung far more than she’d admitted.“You have horrible taste in men. You’re so used to Nate, you’ll regret it later.”Rosalind clenched her fists at her sides. No. She wasn’t going to regret it. Not now, not ever.When Abrill drew closer, Rosalind stepped forward, her voice firm. In her heart, she didn’t believe she had terrible taste in men. Sean had everything a woman could want except financial stability. And even though Nate was more secure than him, he wasn’t half as handsome or fit as Sean.“Ms. Vesper, you were wrong about me. I’m not going to regret my choices. But I think it would be best if you let Sean go. I have no idea how he managed to get your attention, and it isn’t right.”Abrill’s steps slowed. She turned her head, her sharp gaze locking onto Rosalind. Her lips curved, not in amusement, but in something far more cutting.“The

The evening air was cooler outside, a sharp contrast to the heavy atmosphere inside. The last glow of the setting sun stretched across the sky, painting it in shades of orange and pink.Sean stood tall, his face unreadable. Beside him, Abrill remained close, her presence steady, sharp, and deliberate. Together, they turned to face Rosalind, who lingered a few steps away, her unease plain in the way her eyes darted between the two of them.Rosalind opened her mouth, then faltered, her gaze flicking to Abrill before settling back on Sean. She had asked to speak to Sean, not Abrill, so she had no idea why Abrill was still standing there, waiting as if she were going to be part of the discussion. “I… I wanted to speak with you,” she said carefully, her voice calm. “In private.”Sean’s gaze remained fixed on her. He had no idea why she wanted to speak to him, but whatever it was, he cared little and only wanted her to get it over with. Before he could respond, however, Abrill pulled her