Chapter 153

Julian Roscente lounged lazily on the leather sofa, his long fingers tapping the armrest. His gaze held a mocking glint as he studied Adrian Valentine's stormy expression across from him.

"I want to marry Evelyn." His tone was light, but the seriousness in his eyes betrayed him.

Adrian's head snapped up. His knuckles whitened around the crystal glass, the amber liquid trembling slightly.

Julian crossed his legs with deliberate nonchalance. "If you hadn't made your move first back then, I would've pursued her myself."

Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting half of Adrian's face in shadow.

"Are you saying I can't have a woman you've slept with?" Julian scoffed. "Since when did the great Adrian Valentine become so old-fashioned?"

Adrian rose slowly, his tailored suit pants accentuating his long legs. A dangerous aura radiated from him.

Margaret Valentine cut in sharply, her face livid. "Julian! Your father would break your legs if he heard this!"

Julian flicked his lighter open and closed, the flame dancing in his dark eyes. "Aunt Margaret, all of Vienna is laughing at the Valentines right now."

His mind flashed to Evelyn at the banquet—her cold, arresting gaze even more mesmerizing than a year ago.

"Attempted murder for Isabella's sake? How impressive, Adrian." Julian's voice dripped with sarcasm. "If Evelyn hadn't shown mercy, you'd be rotting in prison."

Adrian suddenly smirked, his eyes swirling with violence. "You think she'd ever look at a wastrel like you now?"

Julian stiffened. Over the past six months, the Roscente auction house had been sabotaged, nearly bankrupting his family. Forced to take over the business, he realized how foolish he'd been following Adrian's reckless lead.

"At least I wasn't stupid enough to kill for a stand-in." He straightened his suit jacket, noting Adrian's abrupt pallor.

Margaret shrieked, "Enough! That bitch Evelyn—"

"Aunt Margaret." Julian's voice turned icy. "Your daughter is still locked in a psychiatric hospital. Worry about your own family first."

As he turned to leave, the memory of Evelyn humiliated by their joint cruelty flashed through his mind. His chest tightened with sudden pain. That absurd bet—he still owed her an apology.