Celia refused to accept this.
Her entire body burned with indignation, her nails pressing so hard into her palms that they threatened to break skin. How dare this woman stand before her, acting as though she held the moral high ground? How dare she speak as though Celia had been the one clinging to Damien, as though she had been desperate for this engagement?
No, that wasn't how this worked. That wasn't what had happened.
"You expect me to believe that?" Celia's voice was sharp, her words slicing through the tension like a blade. "You expect me to believe that this was Damien's decision?"
Vivienne simply smiled. A slow, elegant curve of her lips, as if Celia's anger amused her.
Celia hated it.
"You did this," Celia accused, her tone colder now. "This was your doing, wasn't it? You've always hated me. You've always resented this engagement. I wouldn't be surprised if you spent years trying to manipulate Damien into doing exactly this."
