Chapter 12
The day arrived.
Blake didn’t try to stop me from going out–in fact, he looked almost excited as he offered to come along “just for the drama.”
Adrian had gone all cut.
A full block of luxury cars, towers of customized gifts spilling out onto the sidewalk, and a media frenzy that practically blocked traffic.
He wanted the whole city to know how “devoted” he was to Lillian.
Even Lillian looked overwhelmed.
Though she was born into the Langley family, she was a secret child–an illegitimate daughter who lost her mother young and had spent her life tiptoeing through shadows.
Now, she was suddenly the bride–to–be of Adrian Whitmore–crowned and praised, no longer ignored.
Even her father, who’d always been distant, now smiled before the cameras.
“Lillian’s lucky,” he chuckled. “To be chosen by Adrian himself.”
Adrian responded with his usual gentlemanly grace: “No–I’m the lucky one. To be marrying her.”
But his mind wasn’t on Lillian. Throughout the ceremony, his eyes were searching for me – waiting for me to show up, waiting for me to “backtrack.”
But I just stood in a corner of the garden, chatting with his father about the interesting things that had happened in the business world lately, laughing and joking, without a single emotional fluctuation.
Eventually, Adrian approached, tension simmering beneath his smooth facade.
“You know it’s too late to regret it, right?” he said, voice edged like a dare.
“I’m marrying Lillian. Today. Nothing can stop it.”
I looked at him once, calm and cool.
“Adrian, I’ve said this before–I wish you both happiness. I’m just catching up with your father, that’s all.”
A flicker of awkward silence passed between us.
Then-
Blake appeared beside me.
He slipped an arm around my waist like he was born to do it, pulling me easily into his space.
That usual cocky grin lit his face.
“Mr. Whitmore, my wife and I are here to extend our congratulations. We’re doing great, thanks for asking.” Adrian’s eyes flashed with something unreadable, But he said nothing–just nodded stiffly and walked away.
The ceremony continued.
Lillian entered the venue in her custom–made gown, flanked by attendants, her expression dreamy.
Blake and I were seated in the VIP section with a perfect view.
But even through the vows, the kiss, the applause–Adrian never once stopped glancing over at me.
His face showed nothing.
8.1%
Chapter 12
But his eyes.
They were starving.
Then, right before the cake cutting, his father chuckled and suggested,
“I heard Lillian once played a Liszt piece at a gala and absolutely stunned the crowd. How about playing a little something now to liven up the atmosphere?”
Adrian’s eyes instantly softened.
He smiled at her with that old warmth: ‘Yes, that night–it was your music that caught my heart. Let them hear what I heard.”
Lillian froze.
Her face turned white as parchment.
She looked at me, panicked and silent.
Her parents rushed to cover, laughing awkwardly. “Oh no, our Lillian doesn’t play piano. She’s shy! Always has been–never liked performing.”
A hush fell.
Adrian’s smile faltered.
His voice dropped, syllables slicing through the air: “You don’t play piano? At all?”
Lillian swallowed. But said nothing.
The silence thickened–clinging, suffocating.
I slowly set down my glass and smiled faintly.
“Let’s not pressure her.”
I stood. My heels tapped softly across the floor.
“If you really want to hear that Liszt piece… I’ll play it.”
