Vincent immediately pushed the thought away. But no matter how much he denied it, his eyes continued scanning the ballroom.
On the other side of the ballroom, Juliet stood beside Amara with a champagne glass resting lightly between her fingers. The golden liquid inside reflected the glow of the crystal chandeliers overhead, swirling gently whenever she shifted her weight from one foot to the other.
Her posture was relaxed and elegant, her expression calm as her gaze drifted across the crowded ballroom.
Dressed in a midnight-blue gown that hugged her slender figure before cascading gracefully to the floor, Juliet looked effortlessly elegant. The off-the-shoulder design bared her delicate collarbones, while the rich fabric beautifully complemented her long blonde waves, making her look almost ethereal beneath the warm chandelier lights.
Beside her, Amara was in an emerald-green satin gown. The sleek silhouette accentuated her curves, and the daring thigh-high slit added a touch of boldness. Diamond earrings glittered against her dark hair every time she moved.
The atmosphere around them was lively and sophisticated. Conversations flowed from every direction as businessmen discussed partnerships and investments while socialites exchanged pleasantries and laughter. Soft music drifted through the air, blending with the constant murmur of voices and the occasional clink of crystal glasses.
Standing beside her, Amara followed Juliet's line of sight.
The moment she spotted Vincent across the room, her expression immediately darkened.
Rolling her eyes, she lifted her champagne glass and took a long sip.
"Look at that asshole."
Juliet turned her head slightly and glanced at her.
Amara shook her head in disbelief.
"He seriously has no shame."
Her gaze remained fixed on Vincent.
"He shows up to a party with your cousin practically hanging off his arm, and on top of that, he's standing there surrounded by women while he's supposedly engaged to you."
Displeasure flashed across her face.
"He doesn't respect you at all."
Juliet simply smiled faintly before lifting her glass and taking a small sip of champagne.
The calmness of her reaction only made Amara more frustrated.
At that moment, Vincent's eyes swept across the ballroom.
After searching the crowd for what felt like an eternity, his gaze finally landed on Juliet.
For a brief second, their eyes met across the room.
The distance between them seemed to disappear.
Vincent's eyes narrowed slightly.
Something flickered across his face.
Relief.
It was gone so quickly that even he didn't realize it had appeared.
Then, almost immediately, his expression cooled.
His chin lifted slightly.
Instead of walking over, he deliberately looked away.
