NovelNext Chapter 6
Chapter 6
The auditorium lights dimmed abruptly.
When the spotlight hit me, the silence was so profound you could hear a pin drop.
I absently twisted the wedding band on my ring finger, watching coldly as Sophia Reynolds descended from the stage with practiced grace.
She dropped to one knee before me, lifting that ostentatious diamond ring.
A collective gasp rippled through the crowd.
"Will you marry me?"
I gave a derisive laugh, raising my left hand to display my wedding ring.
"Have some dignity, Ms. Reynolds."
Her pupils contracted sharply before flashing with unsettling intensity.
"Vincent, you're still upset about Justin Chambers, aren't you? Even though you plagiarized his design back then, I compensated him with resources. Between us now—"
"Enough!" I stood abruptly, looking down at her with icy disdain.
"Ten years, Sophia, and you're still the same presumptuous woman."
As I turned to leave, she clung to me like stubborn gum.
When I paused, she thrust that blinding diamond forward again.
"First," I raised three fingers, "Thorn Rose was my original design. Second, I have a wife and daughter. Third, my wife gets jealous."
Sophia staggered back half-step, voice trembling.
"You promised you'd only marry me—"
"And you?" My laugh held no warmth.
"Dare you swear you never had feelings for Justin Chambers?"
The way her eyes darted made my stomach churn.
Just as I moved to leave, she suddenly embraced me from behind, warm breath ghosting my neck.
"Let's stop this foolishness, shall we?"
Crack!
The sharp slap echoed beyond the auditorium.
Spectators gasped, someone murmuring, "Wasn't Vincent Wilson supposed to be the desperate one? Looks like Ms. Reynolds is the clingy party here."
Sophia cradled her reddening cheek, eyes brimming.
As I turned away, a bright voice called, "Daddy!"
Olivia fluttered into my arms like a tiny butterfly.
I kissed her rosy cheek, then saw my wife stepping out of the car.
"Darling," Victoria extended her hand, "let's go home."