Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 211 - Chapitre 220

CelesteThe room was filled with laughter and the excited voices of my friends. We were gathered in the private lounge of my family estate, and all eyes were on the beautiful, elegant dress that had just been delivered.“Oh my God, Celeste!” Ava squealed as she clasped her hands dramatically. “It’s stunning!”“It’s not just stunning, it’s a masterpiece,” Chloe added, almost breathless. “Is this really from Xavière Vonn? The famous designer who only dresses royalty and billionaires?”I nodded proudly. “Yes. Mom made the order months ago. She said the designer had to fly in the materials from Paris.”Cassie, my childhood friend, let out a low whistle. “Now that’s what I call serious dedication.”The dress hung elegantly on the gold rack nearby. It was a soft champagne hue, flowing with layers of silk and detailed hand embroidery. The neckline was off-shoulder, and tiny crystal-like beads sparkled subtly around the bodice. The waist was cinched to perfection. The bottom flared out softly

AmeliaI heard it — a soft, sharp gasp — from somewhere behind us.It was quick, almost like someone had accidentally let the sound slip out, but I caught it. Lorenzo caught it too. Our eyes met for a moment. His narrowed.“Who’s there?” His voice was calm but heavy with authority. Then he turned his head slightly toward his men. “Find whoever it is!”Two of his men moved without hesitation toward the sound.I frowned, feeling uneasy. I had been careful — so careful — about these meetings. I didn’t even take Cole’s car this time. I didn’t want anyone knowing where I was going or who I was meeting. If someone had followed me here…Lorenzo’s gaze lingered on me, his expression unreadable, before turning back toward the street. “Stay close.”I obeyed, though my thoughts were running wild. Recently, Lorenzo had been summoning me more often. Every time, it was somewhere different — a hotel, a private club, a random apartment. I was growing tired of it. But I knew I couldn’t say no. Not yet

ColeThe day of Ethan’s engagement party had finally arrived.I heard my father and Vanessa had gone all out for the event. I also knew that this event was a place for my father and Ethan's supporters to gather, so I was anticipating seeing some of them today at the party and also reminding them that, even with the support of the Rothem family, they did not stand a chance.But my thoughts froze the moment I saw her.Skylar was slowly descending the staircase, and for a second, I forgot about the party, about Ethan, about everything else. This was the first time — thanks to Amber’s influence — that I’d actually let Skylar choose her own dress instead of having my designers prepare something for her.And I had to admit… she’d done more than well. She looked breathtaking. The dress she chose brought out her elegance in a way I hadn’t quite expected, and yet it still held a quiet confidence that was all hers.For a brief moment, I was pulled back to the first time we’d gone to the family

EthanA hand clapped against my shoulder, and I turned to see an old friend grinning at me.“Ethan! Congratulations, my friend. You’ve done so well for yourself. And to have Cole Buckman himself at your engagement party… that’s really huge, man.”I gave him a tight smile and nodded politely. “Thank you for coming,” I murmured, and soon he moved on to greet someone else.But my head wasn’t in the room. Not really.My thoughts were still stuck on what I had just seen… or rather, what I had just heard.Who would have thought?Just a few minutes earlier, I had been standing near the balcony, eyeing Jason across the hall. I’d been meaning to speak to him about business, and had started moving toward him when I saw it.A brief glance.Jason’s eyes met Cole’s, and in that one silent exchange, something passed between them. They didn’t even need to speak. They just… left. Together.It was strange enough to make me pause. My instincts instantly kicked in — I felt there was something those two

ColeI stood there, frozen, staring at the hurt in Skylar’s eyes. That look… it hit me harder than any punch could.She didn’t have to say a word. For the first time in a long while, I didn’t know what to say or where to even begin.Jason and I had been right — someone had overheard us talking earlier. And out of all the people it could have been, it had to be him.Ethan. That shameless, troublemaking, annoying scumbag.“Skylar… I can explain,” I began.But she didn’t even give me a chance. She gave me that same piercing look she had thrown at Jason a moment ago, her eyes already filled with tears.She shook her head fiercely, as if shaking away every single word she'd heard, and clamped her hands over her ears.“I don’t want to hear it!” she burst out, her voice breaking. And then she turned, running out of the hall.“Skylar!” I called after her, already moving.Jason moved to follow too, but I stopped him. “I’ll handle Skylar. You stay here and… deal with the mess inside.”Jason hes