Seraphine froze, grip loosening just enough for me to gasp for air. A tall man stormed in, dark with shock and anger. In one motion, he pulled her off me, shoving her aside.
“What the hell are you doing?” he bellowed.
Seraphine stumbled, pale. “She—she tried to attack me!”
“Don’t lie,” he said, sharp, commanding. “I saw exactly what you were doing.”
I blinked, trying to focus through the haze. The face was familiar—strong jaw, steady eyes, faint scar near his temple.
“Lucien?” I croaked.
The son of my mother’s best friend—and now Adrian’s rival.
The room was filled with shouting when I walked in. Adrian’s voice cut sharp through the air.
“How could you do this, Vivienne?” he roared. “You sent the police? To arrest Seraphine?”
I clenched my hands, fighting to stay calm. “She tried to kill me, Adrian! What was I supposed to do—thank her?”
Before he could respond, my father’s voice sliced through the chaos. “Enough!” Cold, firm, commanding. He stood by the window, arms crossed, disappointment etched into every line of his face. “Do you realize what you’ve done? This is a scandal, Vivienne. People are already talking. Seraphine is willing to apologize, and you—”