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The sharp sound of Adrian slamming the glass down silenced the room instantly. Everyone’s attention turned to him, his expression darker than ever. His eyes were fixed on the scene unfolding in front of him, where the blond woman, clearly out of control, had raised her hand in anger, as if ready to strike Eva. The tension in the room grew thicker, and for a moment, no one moved or spoke.
Eva, ever composed, didn’t flinch. She simply raised an eyebrow at the girl’s outburst, her calm demeanor almost mocking the chaos around her. Vivian, meanwhile, could feel her heart racing as the situation slipped further out of her grasp.
Adrian’s voice cut through the silence, icy and commanding. “Is this how we behave now? Throwing tantrums like children?” His gaze shifted from the blond woman to Vivian, the weight of his words lingering in the air. “This ends now.”
The blond woman froze, her arm still mid-air, as if realizing just how out of control she had become. She lowered her hand with an embarrassed huff, her face flushing with humiliation. The playful atmosphere that had once filled the room was now replaced by an almost oppressive silence.
Vivian, however, was seething internally. Adrian’s sharp reprimand had taken everyone’s attention off her, and for a brief moment, she felt a pang of jealousy. Her fingers clenched into fists as she tried to mask her frustration. Adrian had always been the one to command the room with his cold, intimidating presence, but now, she couldn’t help but wonder if there was something more between him and Eva that she wasn’t seeing.
Eva’s voice broke the silence, still calm but with a slight edge. “I’m sure Vivian’s friends are just passionate about their… opinions. No need for any more drama.” She turned to Vivian with a knowing look, her eyes gleaming with a quiet challenge.
Vivian swallowed hard. Was Eva baiting her again? The nerve of her!
Before Vivian could respond, Adrian stood up abruptly, his chair scraping loudly against the floor. “Let’s leave. Now.” His cold gaze flicked briefly toward Michael, who had been watching quietly until now, before he turned to leave the room.
Vivian’s heart sank. Adrian was walking away from her again, as if she were invisible. She wanted to call out to him, to stop him, but the words stuck in her throat. It felt like a repeat of every time they’d ever had a confrontation—he was always so distant, so cold. Her fingers twitched as she resisted the urge to follow him, to demand answers.
But she couldn’t.
Eva’s laughter rang out softly, almost mockingly, as she stood up to follow Adrian, her heels clicking sharply against the floor. “Excuse us,” she said sweetly, her voice dripping with feigned politeness. “It’s been a long evening.”
Vivian could feel her face burning with humiliation. The room seemed to close in around her as the guests awkwardly avoided eye contact, unsure whether to follow Adrian or to stay and watch the aftermath of the scene.
Michael, who had been quiet this entire time, finally stood up, his eyes flicking between the remaining group. “Maybe we should all take a breather. This night has… taken a turn.”
It wasn’t long before the others in the room began to filter out, some glancing at Vivian with sympathy, while others seemed to retreat in relief, eager to avoid any further drama. Vivian, standing at the center of the room, felt her legs weaken as the weight of the evening bore down on her.
She had wanted to be in control, to use Adrian’s connection to Eva to her advantage, but now, everything had spiraled out of her grasp. The tables had turned, and she was left standing alone, trying to piece together the shards of her carefully constructed plans.
And Eva… Eva, of all people, seemed to be the one who had emerged unscathed—no, even victorious. Her connection to Adrian was undeniable, and Vivian hated herself for allowing this to happen.
But Vivian wasn’t one to give up so easily. If she had to dig deeper, if she had to play her hand more carefully, she would. Adrian was still hers—she just had to find a way to remind him of that.
