e once-perfect refreshment station now a chaotic wreck. Guests clustered in

His attention drifted, distracted, until a surge of noise outside drew him from his reverie. With an air of idle amusement, h

just another desperate bid for attention and felt no urge to get involved. Instead, he stret

resent. Their tangled household-one biological daughter

ught cheating on the very day of her engagement. The Dawson family was furious. To prevent their carefully arranged ma

ess soaked with champagne, a glaring stain blooming across the delicate neckline. Dozens of gue

Evelina on the ground through the floor-to-ceiling windo

harp as he peered through the window. When he recognized Evelina, a storm of emotion

r, "Did she get shoved by that woman next to her

reless words yanked Andreas straight back to

nces, her hands flying as she tried again and

she forced herself upright and stared at Tessa. "Di

, wriggling to break free, h

ghtening on Tessa's wrist, the last shred of politeness sh

ity, untouched by age or absence. The Wright family remained the pinnacle of

aut. Their empire spanned everything from gleaming high-rises and tech startups to private ho

a grand party like this one. Underneath her polished façade, she nursed a deep

ly's affection, manipulating every advantage she could. She'd gone so far

everything she possessed. That was why she seized every opportunity to sabotag

rd Evelina. Still, she understood Albin better than anyone-he was calculating and ruthless,

mily was a risk the Qui

thday banquet, desperate to keep up appearances in front of the city's

as she realized just how pre

equences of causing a scene, all

was mute. No matter what happened, Evelina couldn't call he

I know you're not fond of me, but let's not create trouble at a pl

ying the part of a caring sister. But Evelin

yes glinting as she leveled a silent warning at

overwhelming sweetness in the air turned her stomach; she pressed a trembling hand to her lips, fight

rds were loud enough for everyone t

clenched. She longed to deny it, to set the record straight, but a fres

a's public disgrace-the annulled engagement, the scandal of infidelity-was

branding irons, heavy with contemp

hispers, the unrelenting judgment, and yet each venomous glance left her feeling more exposed, more po

thunderous look shadowed his face as he beckoned the butler with a flick of his w

he chaos-his eyes narrowed, cold and mercile

n his eyes. He sprang to his feet. "Andreas, since when did you sta

ling for a clearer view of

into his pockets and strode away, his expression grim, hea

"Never thought I'd see Andreas go soft over a woman!" he ex

ravado wilted as a group of black-suited bodyguard

y missed a Sunday at church, never ce

d about Andreas-the Wright family's only son-c

Andreas was a study in restraint, never getting involved in such frivolities

neither acknowledged nor refuted it. No one dared broach the sub

Andreas' sudden protectiveness was deeply out o

be pregnant. Could it be that she had something

ty sent a rush of