Chapter 15 The Agreement
Meanwhile, downstairs, completely unaware that she had just restored someone's peace of mind, Juliet excused herself from the party and headed toward the restroom.
She had been at the event for hours and hadn't had a single moment to herself since arriving.
After washing her hands and checking her appearance in the mirror, she smoothed down her dress and adjusted a loose strand of hair before finally stepping out into the hallway.
She had barely taken two steps.
Suddenly, a hand shot out from the side and wrapped firmly around her wrist.
Before she could react, she was pulled backward.
A startled gasp escaped her lips. The world spun for a second before her back collided against the wall with a soft thud. Cold marble pressed against her spine.
Juliet's breath caught as she found herself trapped between the wall and a tall body standing directly in front of her.
Her heart skipped.
Slowly, she lifted her head.
Vincent.
His tall frame towered over hers, effectively cutting off any route of escape.
One arm was braced against the wall beside her head while his dark eyes remained fixed on her face with an intensity that instantly irritated her.
A smug smile slowly spread across his lips.
"Have you completely lost your mind?" he asked.
Juliet frowned.
"What?"
A soft laugh escaped Vincent.
The sound alone made her want to roll her eyes.
"Are you seriously using these little tricks now to get my attention?" he asked. "Trying to make me come back to you?"
For a moment, Juliet simply stared at him.
Then she rolled her eyes so hard it almost physically hurt.
The arrogance of this man truly knew no limits.
"It is none of your business," she replied coldly. "And what exactly are you doing lurking outside the ladies' restroom? Do you have no shame?"
Her expression filled with disgust as she shoved against his arm and attempted to move around him.
Vincent immediately stepped into her path again.
His body blocked her escape entirely.
The smugness faded from his face.
"Juliet, stop acting like this."
An incredulous laugh escaped her. She folded her arms across her chest and looked up at him as though he had completely lost his mind.
"No, Vincent," she said sharply. "I think you're the one acting ridiculous."
Her voice became colder with every word.
"How many times do I have to tell you before it finally gets through that thick skull of yours?"
His expression darkened.
Juliet didn't care.
"We're over. I already ended things with you. I already told you that I want absolutely nothing to do with you anymore."
She tilted her head slightly, her eyes filled with open mockery.
"I'm sure you're smart enough to understand basic English."
Vincent's jaw tightened.
A muscle ticked near his cheek.
Juliet continued mercilessly.
"Why exactly are you still following me around?"
Taking a deliberate step closer, she stared directly into his eyes.
"Or what?" she asked. "Have you suddenly fallen in love with me or something?"
A sarcastic smile curled across her lips.
"Because from where I'm standing, you seem far more bothered about me moving on than I ever was about losing you."
Vincent froze.
For the first time since cornering her, he looked caught off guard.
Juliet noticed. And she enjoyed it.
Her gaze slowly traveled over him before she let out a quiet scoff.
"It's almost funny."
When her eyes met his again, they were completely indifferent.
"The second I stopped chasing after you, you suddenly can't leave me alone."
Vincent's face tightened almost immediately.
For the briefest moment, something raw and unguarded flashed across his features before he could stop it.
Confusion.
Unease.
Even a hint of panic.
His eyes flickered as he stared at Juliet, searching her face as though trying to determine whether she truly meant every word she was saying. The more she spoke about not wanting him anymore, the harder it became for him to maintain the calm confidence he usually carried.
A strange tension settled over his entire body.
His jaw clenched and unclenched repeatedly.
His fingers curled at his sides before relaxing again.
For the first time in a long while, Vincent looked genuinely unsettled.
It was as though something was slipping through his grasp, and no matter how hard he tried to hold on, he couldn't stop it.
But Vincent had always been a proud man.
Far too proud to allow anyone—especially Juliet—to see him shaken.
Within seconds, every trace of vulnerability vanished behind his usual arrogant mask. His shoulders straightened. His chin lifted.
A smug smile slowly spread across his face as he looked down at her with carefully manufactured indifference.
"You can dream all you want, Juliet."
His voice came out firm and dismissive, though there was a slight tightness underneath it that he couldn't completely hide.
"You're engaged to me. I simply expect you to fulfill the agreement we've already made."
Taking a deliberate step forward, he lowered his voice as though speaking to an unreasonable child.
"We're getting married soon. Do you really think it's appropriate for you to behave like this right before our wedding?"
His eyes narrowed.
"The more difficult you make things now, the more damage you're going to cause to our relationship in the future."
The smile disappeared from his face.
His expression hardened.
"It's important that you start acting properly now. Otherwise, the marriage we're about to have won't even last a fucking day."
Juliet simply stared at him.
One second passed.
Then two.
Then three.
The silence stretched so long that Vincent began frowning.
Suddenly, a short laugh escaped her lips. The sound echoed through the hallway.
Vincent's face darkened instantly.
Juliet looked at him as though she had just heard the most ridiculous thing imaginable.
"Who said I'm going to marry you?"
She tilted her head slightly, her gaze leisurely traveling from the top of his head to the tips of his expensive shoes.
The mockery in her eyes was impossible to miss.
"After everything you've done, do you honestly think you're worthy of marrying me?"
Another laugh slipped from her lips.
Vincent's jaw clenched so tightly that the muscle in his cheek visibly jumped.
Juliet shook her head and attempted to walk past him. She had no interest in wasting another second on this conversation.
Unfortunately, Vincent wasn't finished. The moment she stepped around him, his hand shot out. His fingers wrapped around her arm. Before she could react, he pulled her back toward him.
Juliet stumbled slightly from the unexpected force. Her eyes widened.
The next thing she knew, Vincent's hand was on her face.
His palm cupped her cheek. His thumb brushed lightly against her skin.
Juliet froze.
Vincent's gaze dropped to her lips.
The look in his eyes made her stomach turn.
Slowly, he leaned forward.
His face moved closer.
Closer.
It became painfully obvious what he intended to do.
He was trying to kiss her.
For half a second, Juliet was too stunned to react.
Then disgust surged through her.
Her expression hardened immediately. Without the slightest hesitation, she planted both hands firmly against his chest and shoved him away with all her strength.
The force caught Vincent completely off guard. He staggered backward several steps before finally regaining his balance. Shock flashed across his face. His eyes widened.
For a moment, he simply stared at her as though unable to comprehend what had happened.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?"
His voice rose with disbelief. He spread his arms in frustration.
"Isn't this what you've wanted all this time?"
The irritation in his expression deepened.
"We've been engaged for so long, and we've never even kissed."
He pointed toward himself as though presenting some grand gift.
"Now I'm finally willing to kiss you and make our relationship official, and you're rejecting me?"
His eyes narrowed.
"Are you seriously throwing away the opportunity I'm giving you?"
Juliet stared at him.
Then she slowly dragged a hand down her face.
"Oh my God."
The disgust in her voice couldn't have been more obvious.
She looked genuinely horrified.
"Can you please get a grip on yourself?"
Vincent's expression darkened.
"If I wanted to kiss you, Vincent, I would've kissed you years ago."
Her voice sharpened.
"The fact that I never kissed you should have been your very first clue that I wasn't interested."
The words hit him harder than she expected.
His expression stiffened instantly.
Juliet folded her arms across her chest and looked him up and down. The longer she stared, the more uncomfortable Vincent became. For some reason, he felt as though she were judging him.
Analyzing him.
Finding fault with him.
Then suddenly, a mischievous smile appeared on her lips.
"You know..."
She tapped her chin thoughtfully.
"Now that I think about it..."
Vincent immediately felt a bad feeling.
Juliet's smile widened.
"I'm actually starting to wonder if you're secretly gay."
Vincent nearly choked.
His eyes widened so dramatically that Juliet almost burst out laughing right then and there.
Before he could say a word, she continued.
"I mean, seriously. Look at me."
She gestured toward herself.
"I'm beautiful."
Another gesture.
"I'm attractive."
A second one.
"I'm practically perfect."
Her grin became brighter.
"And yet somehow, despite being engaged all this time, you've never once tried to kiss me."
She shook her head slowly.
"Honestly, that's more suspicious than anything else."
Vincent's face turned completely black with fury.
Juliet couldn't hold it in anymore.
Laughter burst from her lips.
The sound echoed through the hallway.
She laughed so hard that she nearly doubled over.
Meanwhile, Vincent stood frozen in place.
After finally calming herself down, Juliet stepped forward and lightly patted his chest. The gesture was completely mocking. Her smile softened into something almost sweet.
"Just sign the papers already."
Her tone became firm.
"We're over."
The amusement disappeared from her eyes.
She looked directly at him.
"And we're not getting back together."