Chapter 4

Tristan's hand froze.

I barked out a mocking laugh as I buttoned my shirt, watching as he silently adjusted his clothes before he left the room.

Music continued to play in the hall. Tristan held Madison's hands as they slowly spun around on the dance floor. The spotlight that shone on them made them look like a match made in heaven.

The guests showered them with praises.

"Madison is the most beautiful woman among the socialites. I didn't expect her to end up with Mr. Graham."

"If the Graham and Franklin families entered an alliance, they're going to dominate Aventura's business market."

"They look so good together. They really are a match made in heaven."

Just then, a man tapped my shoulder, asking, "Would you like to dance, miss? You're very pretty."

I was stunned. However, I wasn't able to get a word out before a scoff resounded from behind me.

Violet shoved me aside and said mockingly, "She's a nobody, Mr. Slater. She's just a gardener's daughter. She's usually trimming the bushes in the yard, but she snuck into the hall today."

Silence descended upon the hall as everyone looked at us.

I snuck a glance at Dad from across the crowd. My heart felt as if it was being stabbed when I noticed that the color had drained from his face.

I couldn't keep my anger under control any longer. I glared at Violet and spat, "So what if I'm a gardener's daughter? At least I have more manners than a certain someone who only knows how to belittle other people."

"You!" Violet exclaimed, her face turning a ruddy red before she hurled her wine glass at me.

Blood and wine mixed together and flowed down my head.

Chaos erupted in the hall. Tristan reflexively took a step forward, but Madison grabbed his arm lightly but firmly.

Her voice was gentle with an icy edge when she said, "Everyone's watching, Tristan."

Tristan froze in place when he realized that everyone had directed their gazes toward him. After all, not only was he the successor of the Graham family, but he was also the Franklins' future son-in-law.

Everyone was waiting for his reaction.

Tristan fell silent for a couple of seconds. He clenched his fists slightly as he stared at the blood on my face. "Please refrain from causing trouble during my engagement party, ladies," he finally said in his usual, calm voice.

When the bodyguards approached us, he raised his hand and pointed at me. "Take her away."

The guests began laughing in hushed voices.

"No need," I said as I looked up at Tristan. "I can leave by myself."

Just then, Mr. Slater suddenly asked with a smile, "Why is Mr. Graham only asking one of the ladies to leave when both of them were involved in the argument?"

Tristan's face darkened, clearly not expecting someone to question him in front of all the guests.

Madison smiled and said, "Violet is my friend. Tristan just didn't want to upset me."

She looked at me and continued, "Besides, she wasn't invited to the party. It only makes sense for her to leave."

The guests nodded in agreement.

Tristan regained his composure and repeated, "Take her away."

I didn't spare him another glance before I turned around and left the hall.

The lights in the yard were dim. Dad stood under one of them with reddened eyes.

When he spotted me, he pulled out a dress with trembling hands and said in a voice that was thick with tears, "I already handed in my resignation to Mr. Graham, Luna. Let's go."

…

The largest screen in the city was broadcasting a certain news story on repeat while Dad and I were on the way to the airport.

The successor of the Graham family, Tristan Graham, was officially engaged to the heiress of the Franklin family, Madison Franklin.

Tristan was wearing a tailored suit in the video. He looked like the perfect fiance as he held Madison's hand.

I quietly watched the news before I lowered my head, unlocked my phone, and blocked Tristan's number.

I refused to hide in the closet from this day forth. I didn't want to live in the shadows anymore. I was going to live my life while basking in the sunlight.