182 Chapter 182–Orchestrated Exchange
182 Chapter 182 – Orchestrated Exchange
The woman in his arms noticed his distraction immediately. “Mr. Valerie? Is everything alright?”
Niall’s smile appeared effortless despite her inner turmoil. “Why not?”
“No need to apologize.”
Niall remained in the dark about his background and connections.
While they conversed, neither noticed Veronica and Cullen’s positions shifting closer
to each other on the crowded floor.
This marked Niall’s first encounter with Edric tonight.
Cullen noticed her distress immediately. His voice dropped to a soothing tone.
“There’s no need for nervousness.”
The entire exchange urred with lightning speed, leaving Veronica no time to process what was happening before she found herself firmly secured in Cullen’s strong embrace.
Yet something about Veronica and Edric togethermanded attention.
The partner swap had been purely impulsive on his part.
The name seemed to fit her perfectly, though Edric kept that observation to himself.
The young woman who suddenly found herself in Cullen’s arms hadn’t anticipated Niall’s easy agreement to the swap.
Edric looked toward her questioningly. “Ms. Murray, would you prefer to…”
They moved with an effortless grace that drew the eye. Maverick’s expression darkened, his jaw tightening as he observed them.
Now, however, he struggled with the awkwardness of the situation.
Partner swapping during formal dances wasmonce at events like these.
If Edric failed to react quickly, the woman would certainly stumble.
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182 Chapter 182–Orchestrated Exchange
Dancing with his friend’s girlfriend created an ufortable dynamic. Holding her hand felt strange enough, and he couldn’t decide where to position his other hand appropriately.
She harbored no concerns about losing Cullen over a simple dance.
Veronica’s head turned instinctively, bringing her face to face with Cullen’s intense
stare.
A frown creased Niall’s features as she studied Veronica and Edric’s interaction. Veronica’s cheeks held a rosy flush, and Edric seemed unusually attentive toward her.
From their positions around the dance floor, Maverick, Nate, Marco, Niall, and Cullen watched the interaction unfold with varying degrees of interest.
“Exactly.”
Then Cullen’s voice cut through the music near her ear. “Edric, interested in another change?”
As Cullen’s strong hand captured hers while his other arm settled around her waist, she found herself staring up at his devastatingly handsome features. Her heart hammered against her ribs so violently she forgot how to move her feet.
Initially, Niall feltpletelyfortable with the partner exchange.
But watching Veronica in another man’s arms stirred something ufortable in his
chest,
Cullen’s gaze found hers across the dance floor. “Are you amenable to a change?”
While Maverick had made his rounds greeting everyone, Edric had arrived separately.
Heat flooded her cheeks when she realized her frozen state. Her eyes darted to Cullen’s face, embarrassment making her breath catch.
Before Edric couldplete his sentence, Cullen moved with decisive action, smoothly transferring his current partner toward Edric.
Marco forced himself to look away from the pair. “My apologies.”
Nate broke the tension with his characteristic grin. “How about we mix things up,
Cullen?”
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182 Chapter 182–Orchestrated Exchange
182 Chapter 182 Orchestrated Exchange
The woman in his arms noticed his distraction immediately. “Mr. Valerie? Is everything alright?”
Niall’s smile appeared effortless despite her inner turmoil. “Why not?”
“No need to apologize.”
Niall remained in the dark about his background and connections.
While they conversed, neither noticed Veronica and Cullen’s positions shifting closer to each other on the crowded floor.
This marked Niall’s first encounter with Edric tonight.
Cullen noticed her distress immediately. His voice dropped to a soothing tone. “There’s no need for nervousness.”
The entire exchange urred with lightning speed, leaving Veronica no time to process what was happening before she found herself firmly secured in Cullen’s strong
embrace.
Yet something about Veronica and Edric togethermanded attention.
The partner swap had been purely impulsive on his part.
The name seemed to fit her perfectly, though Edric kept that observation to himself.
The young woman who suddenly found herself in Cullen’s arms hadn’t anticipated Niall’s easy agreement to the swap.
Edric looked toward her questioningly. “Ms. Murray, would you prefer to…
They moved with an effortless grace that drew the eye. Maverick’s expression darkened, his jaw tightening as he observed them.
Now, however, he struggled with the awkwardness of the situation.
Partner swapping during formal dances wasmonce at events like these.
If Edric failed to react quickly, the woman would certainly stumble.
12:55
182 Chapter 182 – Orchestrated Exchange
Dancing with his friend’s girlfriend created an ufortable dynamic. Holding her hand felt strange enough, and he couldn’t decide where to position his other hand appropriately.
She harbored no concerns about losing Cullen over a simple dance.
Veronica’s head turned instinctively, bringing her face to face with Cullen’s intense
stare.
A frown creased Niall’s features as she studied Veronica and Edric’s interaction. Veronica’s cheeks held a rosy flush, and Edric seemed unusually attentive toward her.
From their positions around the dance floor, Maverick, Nate, Marco, Niall, and Cullen watched the interaction unfold with varying degrees of interest.
“Exactly.”
Then Cullen’s voice cut through the music near her ear. “Edric, interested in another change?”
As Cullen’s strong hand captured hers while his other arm settled around her waist, she found herself staring up at his devastatingly handsome features. Her heart hammered against her ribs so violently she forgot how to move her feet.
Initially, Niall feltpletelyfortable with the partner exchange.
But watching Veronica in another man’s arms stirred something ufortable in his
chest,
Cullen’s gaze found hers across the dance floor. “Are you amenable to a change?”
While Maverick had made his rounds greeting everyone, Edric had arrived separately.
Heat flooded her cheeks when she realized her frozen state. Her eyes darted to Cullen’s face, embarrassment making her breath catch.
Before Edric couldplete his sentence, Cullen moved with decisive action, smoothly transferring his current partner toward Edric.
Marco forced himself to look away from the pair. “My apologies.”
Nate broke the tension with his characteristic grin. “How about we mix things up,
Cullen?”
12:55
182 Chapter 182–Orchestrated Exchange
Nate had never harbored romantic feelings for Niall, given her rtionship with his close friend.
Logically, Marco understood that changing partners meant nothing. He wouldn’t think twice about dancing with Cullen or any of the other men present.
The exchange happened smoothly, with Cullen gracefully transitioning to Nate’s previous partner.
Nate rxed visibly and chuckled. “You make a valid point.”
Observing Cullen reach for Veronica while ensuring his previous partner’s safety, Edric had no alternative but to release Veronica and catch the approaching woman, his
hands settling securely around her waist.
Niall sensed his difort and addressed it directly. “It’s simply a dance. Cullen understands that perfectly.”
The suggestion jolted Niall from her observations.
Marco went rigid beside his own partner.
Veronica remainedpletely oblivious to their proximity.
His gentle reassurance worked like magic. She whispered an apology and gradually found her rhythm with his steps.
However, judging by the respectful way both Maverick and Kolton interacted with him, she deduced his influence matched Maverick’s considerable status.
“Veronica?” Edric’s voice carried a hint of curiosity as he rolled the name across his tongue. “Like the heavens?”
But watching the woman gaze at Cullen with obvious infatuation, her expression dreamy and flustered, triggered an unexpected spike of irritation in Niall’s chest.