Chapter 31 Meeting The Parents
No sooner had the words left his mouth than a sudden ripple swept through the ballroom.
Conversations gradually died down.
One by one, people turned toward the entrance.
Even the soft music playing in the background seemed to fade beneath the growing whispers.
Vincent frowned slightly. Following everyone's line of sight, he casually turned toward the entrance.
The moment he saw who had just walked in, every trace of arrogance disappeared from his face.
Juliet had arrived.
And she wasn't alone.
She entered the auction hall on Cassian Han's arm.
No—not on his arm.
Cassian's arm was wrapped securely around her waist, holding her close against his side.
Vincent's face instantly fell.
Juliet looked breathtaking.
She wore a shimmering crimson gown that looked as though it had been spun from liquid rubies.
The elegant off-the-shoulder design exposed her delicate collarbones and creamy shoulders, while the fitted bodice hugged her slender figure perfectly before flowing gracefully down her body.
Thousands of tiny crystals had been embroidered into the fabric, causing the gown to sparkle beneath the chandelier lights every time she moved.
A daring slit ran up one side of the dress, occasionally revealing a glimpse of her long legs as she walked.
Her long blonde hair had been left loose, falling down her back in soft, voluminous waves that framed her delicate face beautifully. Under the golden lights of the ballroom, her hair almost seemed to glow.
She looked ethereal.
Like a dream.
Like a woman who had stepped straight out of a painting.
And beside her stood Cassian Han.
Cassian was dressed in a perfectly tailored charcoal-grey three-piece suit that radiated understated old-money elegance.
The fabric was clearly custom-made, cut to perfection across his broad shoulders and powerful frame.
Beneath the suit was a crisp white dress shirt paired with a silk silver tie, secured with a simple platinum tie clip.
A luxury watch rested on his wrist, while polished black Oxford shoes completed the ensemble.
Nothing about him was flashy.
Yet everything about him screamed wealth, status, and power.
His black hair was neatly styled, and the faint stubble lining his jaw only made his already striking features more masculine. His sharp features, coupled with his cold, commanding aura, made him stand out effortlessly even in a room filled with powerful men.
But what truly shocked everyone wasn't their appearance.
It was the way Cassian looked at Juliet.
As they walked through the entrance, Cassian's head was slightly lowered toward her, the corner of his mouth curved upward in a rare, genuine smile. Juliet was saying something, her eyes bright with amusement, and for once, the notoriously cold billionaire looked completely relaxed.
He actually looked happy.
Juliet laughed softly at something, and the sound seemed to draw Cassian's attention entirely toward her.
Without warning, he stopped walking.
His hand slid from her waist to the back of her neck, his fingers threading gently into her soft blonde waves. Then, in front of the entire ballroom, he leaned down and captured her lips in a brief but intimate kiss.
A soft gasp escaped Juliet.
Her cheeks immediately flushed a lovely shade of pink.
Embarrassed by the attention suddenly focused on them, she shyly lowered her gaze and lightly pushed against his chest.
Cassian only chuckled.
The deep sound was low and warm, carrying none of his usual coldness. He simply tightened his arm around her waist once more and guided her farther into the ballroom as though nothing unusual had happened.
The entire hall erupted.
"Oh my God... did Cassian Han just kiss a woman in public?"
"Isn't that Juliet?"
"That's the first woman he's ever brought to an event."
"I've attended Han Industries auctions for years. I've never seen him with a date."
"They look incredible together."
"Juliet is absolutely stunning tonight."
"Honestly, she looks so much happier now."
"You're right. She never looked this carefree when she was with Vincent."
"She practically glows beside Cassian."
"No wonder she left him."
Each whisper landed like a slap across Vincent's face.
The hand holding his champagne glass tightened.
Then tightened even more.
By the time the couple disappeared further into the crowd, the veins in the back of Vincent's hand had become visible.
"What the hell is this?" he demanded harshly, his eyes never leaving them.
Griffin frowned.
"I don't know."
Vincent let out a humorless laugh and dragged a hand roughly through his hair.
"I knew something was wrong," he said through clenched teeth. "First she's staying at his house, and now this?"
The image of Juliet sitting comfortably in Cassian's living room flashed through his mind again.
Rage surged through him so violently that he nearly crushed the crystal glass in his hand.
Nolan quickly stepped closer.
"Relax," he said quietly. "Maybe this isn't what it looks like."
Vincent turned sharply toward him.
"Really?" he snapped. "You saw him kiss her."
Nolan lifted both hands placatingly.
"I'm just saying... think about it. Juliet has been obsessed with you for years. Maybe she's only doing this to make you jealous."
Griffin nodded immediately.
"Exactly. Since when has Juliet ever shown this much affection in public?" he said, glancing toward the couple. "This feels deliberate."
"She's definitely putting on a show," Griffin continued confidently. "Otherwise why choose tonight, of all nights, to suddenly act so intimate with Cassian in front of everyone?"
Alexa had remained unusually quiet throughout the entire exchange.
Her eyes stayed fixed on Juliet.
On Cassian's hand resting securely against Juliet's waist.
On the tenderness in his expression whenever he looked at her.
A strange feeling twisted inside her chest.
‘How did this happen?’
Cassian Han.
One of the wealthiest, most powerful bachelors in the country.
How had Juliet managed to get close to a man like him?
Had she somehow seduced him?
The thought made Alexa's stomach tighten unpleasantly.
Because if Juliet truly had won over Cassian Han...
Then didn't that mean Juliet had traded up?
And if that was true...
Was she the one who had ended up with the lesser man?
The thought struck her like a slap.
For a split second, jealousy flashed across her carefully made-up face before she quickly concealed it behind a gentle smile. She tightened her hold on Vincent's arm, pressing herself closer against his side.
"Griffin's right," she said softly, lifting her head to study Vincent's dark expression. "Juliet's just trying to provoke you. Otherwise, why would she suddenly start openly showing affection to another man in public?"
Her fingers lightly smoothed the sleeve of his suit. "She's doing this because she wants a reaction from you. She wants you to chase after her."
Vincent didn't answer immediately.
He stood rigidly beside her, his gaze fixed across the lavish auction hall as though he couldn't tear his eyes away from Juliet and Cassian no matter how hard he tried.
The crystal chandeliers cast a warm golden glow over the ballroom, guests mingling elegantly around them, but Vincent seemed completely unaware of his surroundings.
All he could see was Juliet.
Juliet standing beside another man.
Juliet smiling at another man.
Juliet looking happier than she ever had with him.
A muscle ticked sharply in Vincent's jaw.
"I'll never forgive her for this," he said at last, his voice so cold that even Alexa felt a chill run down her spine.
At that exact moment, Juliet casually glanced around the ballroom. Her eyes drifted over the crowd before eventually landing on him.
Vincent's heart lurched.
Without thinking, he suddenly wrapped an arm around Alexa's waist and pulled her flush against him. Alexa gasped softly, nearly losing her balance in her heels, but before she could speak, Vincent lowered his head and kissed her.
The kiss was hard, sudden, and completely devoid of tenderness.
A few nearby guests immediately turned to look, whispers beginning to spread through the crowd.
Alexa quickly understood what he was doing.
Vincent wasn't kissing her.
He was performing.
Even while his lips were pressed against hers, his eyes remained open, staring unblinkingly past her shoulder toward Juliet.
He was waiting.
Waiting for Juliet to get angry. To storm over, to cry, to argue, to demand an explanation.
After all, wasn't that what she had always done whenever she saw him with another woman?
But this time, nothing happened.
Juliet simply looked at them for a brief moment.
There was no jealousy in her eyes. No heartbreak. No anger.
Nothing.
Her expression remained perfectly calm, almost indifferent, as though she were looking at complete strangers instead of the man she had wanted to marry desperately.
Then she turned away.
Just like that.
She turned back to Cassian, a soft smile appearing on her face as she resumed their conversation, her entire attention settling naturally on the man beside her.
It was as though Vincent had ceased to exist.
Vincent abruptly pulled away from Alexa.
His entire body had gone stiff.
For several long seconds, he simply stood there staring at Juliet's back, his chest rising and falling unevenly. A strange, unfamiliar tightness spread through him, making it difficult to breathe.
"She's crossing the line," he said suddenly, raking a hand through his hair in obvious frustration.
His usually impeccable hairstyle became slightly disheveled, but he didn't seem to notice.
"Look at her. Standing so close to another man, kissing him on the fucking mouth, smiling at him like that... "
His eyes darkened.
"It's disgusting."
Griffin and Nolan exchanged startled looks.
Vincent rarely used words like that.
But Vincent seemed completely unaware of their reactions.
His gaze never left Juliet.
"Seeing her with another man makes me sick," he muttered harshly.
The moment the words left his mouth, Vincent froze.