Vincent's face darkened.
His lips pressed into a thin line, but no answer came.
The silence was answer enough.
Juliet immediately nodded in understanding.
"I see."
A satisfied smile appeared on her face.
"Then you haven't signed them yet. That's alright. I'll take care of it myself."
Without giving him a chance to respond, she turned around and walked away.
Her long dress swayed elegantly behind her as she disappeared into the crowd, not once looking back.
Vincent stood rooted to the spot.
The hand holding his wine glass tightened so violently that the veins on the back of his hand bulged beneath his skin. The crystal groaned under the pressure, looking as though it might shatter at any second.
Beside him, Amara's eyes widened.
Alarmed, she quickly reached over and pulled the glass from his hand before he accidentally crushed it.
Even then, Vincent barely noticed.
His gaze remained locked on Juliet's retreating figure.
Across the ballroom, he watched her effortlessly join a group of men. Within moments, laughter surrounded her as she chatted comfortably with them, her smile bright and carefree.
The sight made his blood boil.
His jaw clenched so hard that a sharp ache spread through his face.
"What the hell is she doing?" he muttered through gritted teeth.
His dark gaze swept over the men standing around her.
They were leaning toward her, smiling at her, clearly enjoying her company.
A dangerous look flashed through his eyes.
"She was always lecturing me about being around other women." The muscles in his neck tightened visibly. "And now she's standing there surrounded by men."
The hypocrisy he perceived ignited something fierce and irrational inside him.
A possessive fury rose in his chest.
How dare she?
His hands slowly curled into fists at his sides as he continued staring at her.
No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't look away.
It was as though every smile she gave those men, every laugh that left her lips, and every second she spent in their company was personally provoking him.
And the worst part was that he couldn't understand why.
