Chapter 6

Whispers spread through the room like a tidal wave.

Julian’s smile completely froze. Seeing me holding Damian’s arm so closely, his pupils dilated, and he almost shattered the champagne glass in his hand.

"Mr. Thorne, what an... unexpected surprise," Julian forced himself to walk over, his eyes locked onto my hand on Damian’s arm, his gaze dripping with venom. "And Vivian, what are you doing with Mr. Thorne? Didn't I tell you to reflect on your behavior in the lounge?"

Reflect?

He really thought he was my master, capable of judging me whenever he pleased.

Damian stopped, looking down at Julian as if he were an insect.

He didn't even look at Julian’s outstretched hand. Instead, he snapped his fingers at his assistant.

"Turn the lights up."

Damian ordered calmly, "Can't you see my fiancée’s dress is dirty? Mr. Kingsley’s eyesight seems poor. He probably can't see the masterpiece on her gown."

Fiancée?

The moment those words left his mouth, the crowd erupted.

Everyone gasped, looking back and forth between Julian and Damian, their eyes filled with scandalous excitement.

Who didn't know Vivian Vance was Julian Kingsley's fiancée?

And now, the head of the Thorne empire was publicly claiming her as his? This was a direct, public theft of a woman, and a massive slap to the Kingsley family's face!

Julian’s face turned the color of raw liver.

As a man and the heir of the Kingsley family, the sheer humiliation of being "cuckolded" in public made him lose all control.

"Damian Thorne! What is the meaning of this?!" Julian roared. "Vivian is my fiancée! The whole city knows it! Are you trying to start a war with the Kingsleys?"

"You said it yourself—'the whole city knows.' Too bad some people don't know how to appreciate what they have."

Damian casually adjusted his cuffs, his tone lazy but sharp as a knife:

"Mr. Kingsley, I heard tonight was the final night of your eight-year bet with Vivian? Since you gave her finale gown to someone else and dragged her hard work through the mud, can I assume you’ve officially forfeited?"

"Since you forfeited, she is a free agent."

Damian suddenly wrapped a possessive arm around my waist, pulling me tightly against him. Facing the entire room of guests, his voice turned ice-cold:

"Since Mr. Kingsley is blind enough to mistake a diamond for a piece of glass, I’ll gladly take this diamond and set it on my crown."

"Starting today, Vivian Vance is officially the Chief Director of Thorne’s Lumina."

"Furthermore," he looked down at me, his eyes carrying a deep, unreadable warmth, "she is also my future wife. Anyone who crosses her crosses Damian Thorne."

After a dead silence, the room exploded into a frenzy.

Camera flashes went wild, and the sound of shutters filled the air.

This was the biggest scandal of the year!

Julian Kingsley, for the sake of a childhood sweetheart, lost his top-tier designer and fiancée, only to have his biggest rival steal her away right in front of him!

This was absolute destruction!

Julian was shaking with rage, pointing a trembling finger at me. "Vivian! You’re unbelievable! To get back at me, you actually slept your way to Damian Thorne? Have you no shame?"

"Have you forgotten who took you in from the foster system? It was the Kingsleys! You are an ungrateful snake!"

The mention of foster care pierced my heart.

That was my weak spot, the moral chains the Kingsleys had used to bind me for years.

But before I could speak, a fragile voice cut in.

"Vivian..."

Chloe had pushed her way to the front, her eyes swimming with tears. "Don't do this... I know you’re mad at me for ruining your dress, but you don't have to use Mr. Thorne to hurt Julian... A woman’s reputation is so important. Running around with Mr. Thorne like this... how will you ever face society?"

What a masterclass in manipulation.

Every single word painted me as a loose woman who had sold her body to Damian just to spite Julian.

Looking at her fake face, I suddenly realized how blind I had been to ever cry over these people.

"Chloe Sinclair."

I spoke coldly, my voice not loud but sharp enough for everyone to hear. "That dress wasn't ruined by accident. I poured the wine myself."

"Because you don't deserve to wear it."