The grand hall for engagement was looking ethereal. Crystal chandeliers hung like glittering stars from the ceiling, casting a warm golden glow across the expansive hall. Walls were draped with soft ivory fabrics, and gold-trimmed floral arrangements—white roses, orchids, and pale pink lilies—stood in towering vases at every corner.
An elegant carpet of deep maroon ran down the center of the hall, lined with golden lanterns that flickered gently, leading to an ornately decorated stage that awaited the arrival of the lady of the night. Soft classical music floated through the air, setting the tone for what was meant to be a picture-perfect evening.
Cassian stood squarely in the middle of the crowd, a self-satisfied glint in his eye as he drank in the attention. He wore a sharply tailored black tuxedo with a satin peak lapel, a blood-red pocket square tucked neatly into his jacket. His shoes were polished to an aggressive gleam, and his tie matched the scarlet theme, giving him an aura of forced grandeur. He adjusted the cuffs of his shirt with deliberate flair, his stance wide and assertive as if he already owned everything the room had to offer.
His gaze wandered, sharp and expectant, until it landed near the stairs. Laila stood there, perfectly poised in an off-shoulder lavender gown, laughing softly with a circle of friends she had handpicked to flaunt her growing status. Her smile was all teeth and no warmth, her laughter more calculated than genuine. She touched her hair, posed a little too precisely, and tossed Cassian a knowing look. He smirked in return.
Both of them could feel their hearts beating faster, not out of romance, but anticipation. After tonight, their plan would finally be set into motion—Avery Vale would unknowingly seal her fate, and with it, the keys to the Vale empire would fall right into Cassian's hands.
"Hi, handsome!" came a sultry voice behind him.
Before he could turn, a slender hand slid into the crook of his arm. The woman leaned in, aiming a kiss toward his cheek, but Cassian flinched away, his eyes darting across the room to ensure no one was watching.
"Miya, what are you doing here?" he asked, his voice low and clipped, pushing her away with a forced casualness that masked his rising irritation.
She pouted mockingly. "Oh? What happened to 'my darling Miya'? That was your favorite line, wasn't it? Or have you upgraded now? Found yourself an even fatter wallet to chase?"
Cassian's jaw tightened. "I'm a changed man, Miya. And whatever happened between us—"
"Was a misunderstanding?" she finished, arching a brow and letting out a short, sarcastic laugh before sipping her red wine. Her eyes sparkled with mischief, knowing exactly how to get under his skin.
"Don't worry, Cassian," she said smoothly. "I'm a married woman now. I didn't come here for you. Just tagging along with some girls to enjoy the free booze and drama. You go ahead and keep playing the golden boy. I'm not interested in ruining your big day."
With that, she sauntered off toward a tall, broad-shouldered man in a slate gray suit and a dark green tie who stood near the bar. He welcomed her with an amused smile and wrapped an arm around her waist with casual intimacy.
Cassian exhaled sharply and ran a hand through his hair before returning to his group of friends. Their envious glances followed his every move, their smiles stiff with forced admiration. One of them nudged him.
"Man, your life's like a damn movie. That girl Miya, and now you're marrying into the Vale family? You've got it all."
Cassian smirked again, his pride swelling. But the moment was short-lived.
A ripple of whispers spread across the hall like a sudden gust of wind. Heads turned. Voices hushed. Excitement stirred.
Cassian stiffened, his gaze automatically shifting toward the entrance. Surely Avery hadn't arrived early?
He checked his watch. Still fifteen minutes to go.
His confusion deepened. If Avery hadn't arrived, then what was causing such a stir?
Following the direction of his friends' captivated gazes, Cassian turned toward the center of the hall.
And froze.
Standing there, engaged in conversation with Declan Vale himself, was a tall man dressed in a jet-black three-piece suit. His presence was magnetic, unignorable. The way he stood, calm and composed, made it seem like he owned the room without saying a word.
It took Cassian only a second to recognize him.
Silas Blackwood.
The name alone was enough to make Cassian's blood boil. That arrogant, cold-blooded man who had always looked at him like he was nothing more than dirt under his shoes. The same Silas who vanished abroad years ago, rumored to have taken over a failing conglomerate and turned it into a financial juggernaut. The same Silas who had history with Avery.
Cassian's fists clenched at his sides.
Throughout college, Silas had always overshadowed him—cooler, sharper, naturally commanding. While Cassian had scrambled for attention, Silas had merely existed and stolen the spotlight. Avery had never paid Cassian any mind even though he would practically follow her like a dog—until the day she'd accepted his proposal. That day, Cassian had felt invincible, like he'd won against fate itself. He knew Silas's secretary liked Avery, and that made it even sweeter when Avery chose him over Silas. It had been the highest point of his life.
Now, seeing Silas again—with that same cool composure, unbothered demeanor—it reignited old wounds. Cassian straightened his shoulders and stared at him, waiting for their eyes to meet so he could gloat. Just once. Just one moment of triumph.
But Silas didn't look at him. He didn't even glance his way. Instead, he disappeared into the crowd as if Cassian was no more relevant than a waiter.
Cassian took a step forward, burning to confront him—but was stopped by a collective gasp that rippled through the hall like a wave of awe.
And then he saw her.
Avery stood at the top of the staircase, framed by a soft spotlight that made her shimmer like a mirage. She wore a fitted off-shoulder gown in a rich shade of wine red, the fabric cascading down her frame like silk poured from a goblet. Intricate beadwork traced floral patterns over the bodice, and a sheer capelet glistened behind her like a whisper of royalty. Her hair was styled in an elegant updo, a few loose curls framing her sharp cheekbones, and her ears sparkled with diamonds passed down from the Vale lineage. She looked every bit the heiress—untouchable, poised, and powerful.
Cassian's breath caught in his throat, his mind momentarily clouded with a vision of a perfect life together.
But it didn't last.
She descended the stairs with grace, her expression unreadable. As she walked, she offered a warm smile to her father, who stood beaming below—with a strange, almost mischievous glint in his eyes. She frowned briefly, confused, but quickly masked it and glanced toward Elias, her brother, who was smiling at her with evident pride.
Cassian moved forward, extending his hand like a perfect gentleman.
Avery didn't take it.
She walked right past him, her gown brushing his shoes, and came to a graceful halt near the stage.
Cassian blinked, frozen for a moment before scrambling to catch up. "Baby, let's go on stage together," he said, trying to save face with a forced smile.
Avery turned slowly, her lips curling in a cold grin. "Oh, right! I almost forgot I had to deal with you first. Silly me." She said and then turned towards the crowd .
Cassian chuckled nervously. "Baby, why are you behaving like this? It's our engagement."
Avery didn't answer him. She faced the crowd instead. "Ladies and gentlemen," she said, her voice smooth and commanding, "thank you all for being here tonight. I truly appreciate your presence."
The room erupted in polite applause.
"But before we continue with the evening," she said, pausing just long enough to build suspense, "I'd like to share a little story—about me and Cassian."
Cassian's shoulders relaxed. Maybe this was her idea of being playful.
"I met Cassian in college. Or more accurately—he followed me around like a desperate little dog until I finally gave in and said yes."
The laughter that followed was sharp and unkind.
Cassian's smile froze. He looked around, saw his friends chuckling behind their hands.
"Baby, what are you saying?" he whispered, panic rising.
"I'm not done yet, Cassian West," Avery snapped, raising a finger in front of his face. His mouth clamped shut instantly.
"So… where was I?" Avery's voice rang out clear and confident. The guests, dressed in their finest attire, turned their attention to her, curiosity piqued.
Before she could continue, a soft, sweet voice chimed in from her left, dripping with amusement and a hint of mischief.
"Cassian being a dog," Miya said with a teasing smile, eyes sparkling as she looked directly at Cassian.
Cassian's head snapped toward the voice, confusion and slight irritation flickering across his face. His gaze landed on Miya, who was standing gracefully with the earlier man, calm and poised, as if she had been waiting for this exact moment for years.
Avery smiled warmly at Miya, the smile carrying an unspoken gratitude. "Thank you!" she said gently, before turning back to the crowd with renewed confidence. "Yes, he followed me like a dog in college, and for a while, I foolishly accepted it. But now, with all of you here as witnesses, I want to make one thing very clear: my standards are far from low enough to get engaged to a gold-digging dog.