Chapter 5

Third-person POV:

Outside the Metropolitan Museum of Art, at the charity gala.

"Mr. Vane, over here."

"Ms. Shaw, can we get a shot of those curves from behind?"

At the center of the red carpet, Julian posed with his arm around Mia's waist for cameras from every major news outlet.

Tonight, Mia was without a doubt the center of attention.

She was wearing the wedding gown of the century, the one the whole world knew was supposed to be Chloe Winslow's.

Now it had been shortened to above the knee and given a plunging V-neck, turning it into a tacky party dress.

And on Mia's bare chest hung the necklace Chloe's late mother had left her.

Just a few hours earlier, Vane's official Instagram account had posted:

"Perfect curves. Thank you, my muse."

It was a public execution, plain and simple.

"Mr. Vane!" One gossip reporter fired off a brutal question. "Yesterday Ms. Winslow attacked you, and today you're here with Ms. Shaw. Are you rubbing it in her face?"

Julian was enjoying himself immensely. Still, he instinctively touched the bruise on his forehead, then put on a look of wounded concern.

"I'm heartbroken about what's happened to the Winslow family. Last night, I even offered to use my own money to help Chloe."

He let out a deliberate sigh. "But unfortunately, she was too proud. She demanded I put up my entire brand as collateral, and when I said no, she lost control and attacked me."

With one lie, he'd twisted the truth and made himself the victim.

"As for this dress..." Julian gazed lovingly at Mia. "Only Mia can truly bring my art to life."

Mia immediately sank into Julian's arms like she was too delicate to stand on her own.

She rubbed her chest against Julian's arm on purpose and gave the cameras her most pitiful look.

"Please don't blame Chloe, everyone. She's been spoiled her whole life, so of course she can't handle how far she's fallen."

Then she lowered her voice and asked Julian, sounding worried, "Do you think Chloe's hiding in some apartment with a leaky roof right now, watching our livestream and crying so hard she can't breathe?"

The mics picked up every single word.

High society was full of people eager to kick someone when they were down.

The socialites who'd only made it into that world by sucking up to Chloe all started laughing right on cue.

"Chloe always acted like she owned the world just because she came from old money. Look at her now."

"I've been sick of her holier-than-thou act for a long time. I'd love to see how pathetic she looks now that she's broke."

"Right? She couldn't even hang on to her fiancé or her best friend. If I were her, I'd die of shame."

Every insult from the crowd eased the insecurity Julian had hidden for five years. He'd never felt so satisfied.

He raised a hand for quiet.

Then he took out a diamond ring.

"I have some good news I'd like to share with everyone." Julian slid the ring onto Mia's ring finger.

"Mia isn't just my one and only muse. As of today, she's also officially my fiancée."

Julian beamed, smug and triumphant. "As for Chloe, God bless her. I hope she can at least afford to eat..."

Before Julian could finish, gasps broke out at the far end of the red carpet.

Every camera swung the other way.

At the start of the red carpet, a private car pulled to a stop. It belonged to the head of Onyx Capital.

A bodyguard opened the door. A long-legged man stepped out, as handsome as a Greek statue, with a cold expression and an aristocratic air.

Everyone held their breath. It was Killian.

He turned around and reached a hand back into the car.

A hand in a black velvet glove slowly emerged and settled gracefully in his palm.