Chapter 143

The alcohol had blurred Penelope's judgment, making her completely misinterpret the sudden chill in the air.

She ducked her head like a startled deer, fingers nervously smoothing her dress before retreating toward the bed.

With a calculated tilt of her chin and honeyed words, she purred, "Adrian, surely a gentleman like you wouldn't make a lady take the first step?"

Across the room, Adrian's expression had turned to stone, all traces of earlier interest replaced by undisguised disgust.

"Out." The single syllable cut through the air like shards of ice.

His command carried more finality than before, leaving no room for negotiation.

Penelope's eyes widened as if struck by lightning, darting between his impassive face and his previously responsive posture that now radiated complete detachment.

The rosy flush of anticipation drained from her cheeks, leaving her pale as she worried her lower lip between her teeth.

The man who had shown fleeting interest now seemed utterly immune to her charms.

His silent rejection spoke louder than any words, the unspoken contempt cutting deeper than any verbal rebuke.

Tears welled in her eyes as humiliation burned through her veins.

He deliberately avoided her gaze, voice steady with dismissal. "Consider today's encounter forgotten. Your father won't hear of this from me."

In their tight-knit community, Penelope was the golden girl - brilliant, talented, and from a respected family, the object of countless admirers at school.

Never had she laid her heart so bare only to be met with such glacial indifference.

Her pulse pounded painfully as she gripped her skirt, summoning courage to voice her confusion. "Why are you treating me this way?"

Adrian paused, slamming his water bottle onto the table with deliberate force. "I'm married." His reply wasn't out of courtesy - he simply saw no reason to prolong their interaction.

Surprise flickered in Penelope's eyes before she scrambled for understanding. "Serena? Is Serena Whitmore your wife?"

Impatience tightened his features.

Adrian stood abruptly, strode to the door and yanked it open, his voice razor-sharp as he began counting. "You have until three. One... Two..."

Fearful of witnesses, Penelope bit her lip, pushed up from the chair and shuffled toward the exit.

At the threshold, curiosity overcame her once more. "Is Serena Whitmore really your wife?"

Just then, a soft thud echoed through the quiet courtyard.