Bar.


    Finley scrolled through his phone, half-listening to the thumping bass and chatter around him.


    A new video notification popped up on his screen.


    He tapped it open: Elise diving into the pool, Magnus swooping in to y the hero, and Isadora left standing alone again.


    Predictably, the group chat was already buzzing with snarky jokes and eye-rolling emojis.


    When the video ended, Finley nced up at the man lounging beside him on the couch.


    Victor looked as rxed as ever, one arm draped over the backrest,nguid


    fingers holding a cigarette that was nearly spent. His gaze wandered idly over the wild scene unfolding on the stage-dancers,ughter, a mess of movement and lights.


    Finley hesitated, then smirked. "Hey, Prince Charming, want to see something interesting?"


    Victor shot him azy look. "If it''s just more gossip, I''ll pass."


    "It''s gossip, all right. But it''s about yourtest one-night stand."


    Victor''s eyebrow arched. "Isadora?"


    Without waiting for an answer, he stubbed out his cigarette in a smoky gray crystal ashtray, then reached over and snatched Finley''s phone.


    He watched the video in silence. By the time it ended, his expression had darkened.


    Victor tossed the phone onto the table with a careless flick of his wrist, stood up, grabbed his jacket, and strode out without a word.


    Finley stared after him, surprised at how quickly Victor bolted after just one nce at the video.


    "Hey, Prince! You''re leaving already? The party''s just getting started!" he called after him.


    Sure, Isadora was stunning, but she was also Magnus''s fiancée. Did high-and- mighty Victor really want to y the homewrecker?


    After chatting with Richard and the others, Isadora asked the driver to take her home to Brocade Heights.


    She stepped out at the entrance to her apartmentplex.


    A gentle summer breeze whispered past, sobering her a little as she headed toward the gate.


    Suddenly, bright headlights cut through the darkness, slicing across her slender figure.


    She raised an arm to shield her eyes and peered through her fingers. The silhouette of the sleek ck Ferrari was instantly familiar-andpletely out of ce parked in a quiet neighborhood like this.


    Before she could even process it, the car gave a sharp, arrogant beep, shattering the stillness of the night.


    Isadora blinked, finally recognizing Victor''s car.


    What was he doing here? Was he looking for her?


    She nced around-there was no one else in sight.


    After a moment''s hesitation, she started walking toward the car on delicate, uncertain steps.


    At the same time, Victor opened the door and got out.


    He leaned casually against the car, hands in his pockets, his eyes dark and unreadable as he watched her approach.


    Up close, he looked effortlessly expensive in a simple gray dress shirt-no tie, cor unbuttoned to reveal the striking lines of his pale corbone. His sleeves were rolled up, highlighting the smooth strength of his arms, veins faintly visible under the glow of the streetlights.


    The shadows only made his sharp features more striking.


    "Victor, what are you doing here?" Isadora asked softly.


    Victor didn''t answer right away. His gaze lingered on her delicate features: her eyes, her nose, her rose-red lips.


    After a moment, he reached into his pocket.


    A crystal bracelet slipped from his hand, catching the light—a shimmering green, glowing softly beneath the streemp.


    Her heart skipped. It was the bracelet Victor''s grandmother had given her when she joined the Vaughan family, a charm that was meant to keep her safe.


    So much had happenedtely, she hadn''t even noticed it was missing.


    "You left your bracelet in my car," Victor said, his tone unreadable.