The mansion pulsed with music.Bass thumped through the marble floors, lights flickered against crystal chandeliers, and laughter spilled from every corner.
Liora tugged at her jacket, instantly regretting letting Maya convince her to come.
"Just one night," her friend had insisted. "You can't let Adrian Knight scare you out of living your life."
Easy for Maya to say. She wasn't the one who'd humiliated the host of this party a week ago — or turned his carefully built plan upside down.
Still, Liora squared her shoulders. She wouldn't let him see that she cared.
She moved through the crowd, ignoring the way whispers followed her. Being her — the girl who'd outsmarted Adrian — had its perks. It also made her a target for curiosity.
Then she saw him.
Across the room.
Black shirt, sleeves rolled, a drink in his hand. Talking to someone, but his eyes—They weren't on the person beside him.They were on her.
Her pulse stumbled.
She turned away first, pretending to focus on Ethan, who was laughing near the snack table. He noticed her and smiled, motioning for her to come over.
"Didn't think you'd show," Ethan said, handing her a soda.
Liora smiled faintly. "Didn't plan to."
Before he could reply, she felt it — that sharp shift in the air. The weight of a stare.
Adrian had moved.Now he was closer.
He leaned casually against the doorway, watching her and Ethan like he had every right to.
Ethan frowned. "You okay?"
"Yeah," she lied. "Totally fine."
She wasn't. Not when Adrian's gaze slid down and back up again, slow and deliberate. Not when he looked at her like that — as if he could still command her, even without saying a word.
Liora straightened. "Come on," she said quickly, grabbing Ethan's arm. "Let's go outside for some air."
They stepped into the garden — cooler, quieter, with soft lights glowing along the path. For a few blessed minutes, she could breathe again.
Until a voice came from behind them.
"Didn't think you liked my parties."
Adrian.
Liora froze, then turned slowly. He stood at the edge of the patio, hands in his pockets, eyes locked on her.
Ethan's jaw tightened. "Maybe you should give her some space."
Adrian's tone was calm — too calm. "Relax, I'm not here to fight." His gaze flicked to Liora. "Just to talk."
"About what?" she asked, keeping her voice steady.
"About that little stunt you pulled at the firm." His mouth curved, half amusement, half challenge. "Turning my plan against me? Clever. Didn't know you had it in you."
Liora's chin lifted. "You underestimated me."
"Maybe I did," he said softly. "Won't happen again."
Something in the way he said it made her heart stutter.
Ethan stepped between them. "Come on, Liora. He's not worth it."
Adrian's eyes darkened. "You think she needs you to protect her?"
"Better me than someone who keeps trying to hurt her," Ethan shot back.
Adrian took a step closer. Then another. The air seemed to shrink around them.
Liora moved before either could speak again. "Stop it. Both of you."
Her voice was sharp enough to cut through the tension. Ethan hesitated, then backed away slightly. Adrian didn't.
He stayed close — too close. His scent, his warmth, his presence — it all pressed against her senses like static before a storm.
"You shouldn't have come here," he murmured, just for her to hear.
"Then maybe you shouldn't have invited me."
That caught him off guard. For a heartbeat, his mask cracked — and she saw something raw beneath it. Regret, maybe. Or something even more dangerous.
Then he smiled. "Careful, Liora. You're starting to sound like you enjoy the game."
"Maybe I'm just better at it than you think."
She stepped past him, brushing his shoulder as she walked away — deliberate, calm, victorious.
Adrian didn't move. He just watched her disappear into the crowd again, his jaw tight, heart pounding harder than he wanted to admit.
For the first time, he wasn't sure who was winning anymore.