The suggestion sounded thoughtful, and Sean had no reason to refuse—he was no longer married, just recently divorced.If he were still married, he would have turned the offer down immediately. It wouldn’t have been fair to Rosalind.Victor gave a single nod before replying, “Yes.”Abrill blinked, clearly caught off guard. “Wait—boyfriend?”She hadn’t expected her brother to make such a suggestion, and certainly not to ask Sean of all people. Frankly, she thought Sean had already done more than enough for them.“You’d blend in more easily that way,” Victor explained, turning back to Sean. “I trust you. You already saved her once. If someone tries anything again, at least she’ll have someone capable at her side.”Sean remained quiet.He looked at Abrill, who now had a curious spark in her eyes. The earlier teasing was gone. She seemed genuinely intrigued—and slightly amused.“I don’t know…” Sean said slowly. “This crosses a few lines.”Victor stepped closer. “I’m not asking you to flirt

Although Rosalind had tried to speak calmly, her voice came out like a command. It was clear now—she was trying to intimidate Sean.A frown crossed Abrill’s face.But Sean wasn’t even remotely fazed.“What do we have to talk about?” he asked flatly, his expression unreadable.Rosalind blinked, momentarily thrown off by his bluntness. She hesitated, then lifted her chin. “I think it’s important. Privately.”Sean let out a low, humorless laugh. “Privately? I’m not interested in private conversations with my ex-wife. Not anymore.”Her arms tightened across her chest. “Sean, it’s about us.”“There is no ‘us,’ Ms. Springfield,” Sean said sharply. “You made sure of that when you threw me away like garbage. Remember? Being seen with me would stain your perfect life. So why do you suddenly want to speak in private now, after all that?”Abrill’s brows arched, but she stayed quiet, watching intently.Rosalind’s composure cracked. Her eyes flashed as she stepped closer.“Oh, so now I’m the villa

Rosalind was stunned. Seeing them together—and hearing Abrill casually suggest that Sean take advantage of her body—she grew suspicious. How long had they known each other for Abrill to say such a thing?Abrill’s smile widened, eyes twinkling with wicked delight. “But he refused.”Sighs echoed through the room. Chloe coughed awkwardly. Nate stared at her, rendered speechless.Abrill leaned into Sean, her voice a teasing purr. “Said he respected me too much. Can you imagine? A man saying no to this?” She gestured down at herself, laughing softly.Sean looked down at her, amused despite himself. A subtle smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.“I knew then,” Abrill continued, turning back to Nate with a victorious look, “that he wasn’t after my body or my money. Just me.” She paused, eyes glittering. “And that, Mr. Rowe, is something you clearly can’t understand.”Nate stood frozen, mouth half-open, flushed to the ears. Rosalind’s expression was unreadable, but her grip on her clutch h

Just as they stepped into Ravenshade, Chloe immediately launched into a rant. She was fuming—more than anyone else in the group. Her anger felt personal, as if Abrill had spoken directly to her, even though not a word had been exchanged between them.“How dare she speak to Ms. Springfield like that?!” Chloe snapped, her voice sharp with indignation. “How dare she? Of all the guys to defend and cling to, she picks Sean?”“Yes,” Nate agreed with a sour grunt. “She’s gorgeous—hot—and she chooses to throw herself at a man like him? With those looks, she could marry into wealth. A top-tier family would snatch her up in a heartbeat. But she goes and chooses that?”Rosalind’s frown deepened. She wasn’t fond of gossip—unless it served a purpose. “Enough,” she said firmly. “Chloe, we don’t even know who’s running things tonight. There are several Strouds, and Victor might be in charge, but check anyway—just to be sure.”Chloe blinked at the sudden shift in topic but nodded. “Okay. Leave it to

The gala was in full swing. Warm lights bathed the grand hall, casting a soft glow over the polished marble floors. On stage, a singer in a sparkling gown stood beneath the spotlight, her voice smooth and rich as it echoed through the room. The music blended seamlessly with the clinking of glasses and the gentle murmur of conversation.Guests sat around round tables draped in white linen, gold cutlery gleaming beside fine porcelain plates. Laughter floated in the air as familiar faces exchanged greetings. A waiter passed by with a tray of hors d'oeuvres—bite-sized creations that looked almost too elegant to eat.At a table near the back, Sean picked up a glass and poured himself some juice—every other option was alcoholic. Taking a sip, he scanned the room, still searching for anyone suspicious.He had already examined the waitstaff twice—every movement, every face committed to memory. But something still felt off.Standing up, he stretched casually, his eyes drifting toward the stairc