Ava’s POV
Just when I was at my absolute worst, he showed up.
The doors of the banquet hall swung open, pushed from the outside by two guards in black.
A tall, lean figure stepped in against the light, every movement slow as if accompanied by its own solo.
In that second, the whole room went dead silent.
It was like someone hit the mute button.
I could practically hear people sucking in sharp breaths, and every single gaze snapped toward the man walking in, like iron filings pulled to a magnet.
Adrian Thorne.
He wore nothing but a simple black suit, no fancy accessories, no flashy anything.
Yet that natural, top-tier Alpha aura of his spread out the moment he crossed the threshold, an invisible net tightening around the entire hall.
His looks were almost unreal, too sharp, too perfect.
Deep-cut features, cool angles, and those signature blue eyes, cold and distant like some far-north glacier, but with a pull you couldn’t escape even if you wanted to.
The second he appeared, every other source of attention just…
dimmed.
Even someone as striking as Damon Ashford looked like background noise next to him.
I noticed Bella, who had been acting like she owned the place just a minute ago, instinctively step back two paces, pale as paper.
Vivian immediately tugged her dress straight, plastered on her best “I’m totally elegant” smile, and rushed forward like she’d been waiting for this cue.
“Oh, Mr. Thorne, hello! You’re finally here! Did you come especially for your fiancee, Bella? Oh my god, that is just so romantic!” Her tone was so fake it made my skin crawl.
Adrian didn’t even spare her a glance.
He didn’t confirm.
He didn’t deny.
He simply walked past her, long stride steady and unhurried, straight toward our side of the room.
Everyone collectively held their breath.
My heart was pounding so fast it hurt.
I was terrified.
Terrified he’d expose me right here, in front of everyone.
My plan wasn’t complete, not even close.
I wasn’t ready to be dragged into the spotlight yet.
He got closer, step by slow step, until finally, under everyone’s stunned stare, he stopped.
Right in front of me.
Not Bella.
Me.
I lifted my head, feeling like a total mess, and met his icy blue gaze.
But instead of the anger or interrogation I had braced myself for…
there was something else.
Something like a quiet, amused smile flickering beneath the surface, something I couldn’t read at all.
I panicked and shot him a desperate look, silently begging him: Don’t say anything.
Please!
He lifted a brow, that tiny motion practically taunting me, like he was saying: And what if I feel like saying it?
I was seconds away from losing it.
Just when I thought he was really going to blow everything wide open, he suddenly did something no one in that room could’ve predicted.
He slipped a white silk handkerchief from his suit pocket, then, right in front of everyone, he leaned down slightly and gently wiped the splattered red wine from my cheek and neck.
His fingertips, cool even through the thin fabric, brushed over my skin, sending a wave of goosebumps racing all over me.
The whole room went dead silent.
Everyone just stared, shocked speechless, jaws practically hitting the floor.
“My date,” he finally said.
“Who gave you the courage to treat her like this?”
People froze.
So did I.
All I could think was: It’s over.
My whole plan is about to go down in flames.
He’s Adrian Thorne, the king of the West Coast.
No one can stop him if he decides to expose me.
I was mentally preparing for the worst when Adrian suddenly straightened up and snapped at the Oswald butler not far away, “Take this young lady downstairs and get her a clean dress.”
Then he turned back to the crowd, his gaze sweeping over everyone as he added, “Ms. Crawford is the most important guest at tonight’s event. She and I have a crucial collaboration to discuss.”
Only then did I finally let out the breath I’d been holding.
The Adrian Thorne from all those rumors, the ruthless, domineering man who always got what he wanted, had actually picked up on my silent plea…
and helped me hide my identity.
I was stunned.
Looking at the sharp lines of his profile, a rush of gratitude rose in my chest, warm and confusing.
“Apologize to her.” Adrian’s icy stare locked onto Vivian and Bella.
Vivian trembled so hard she nearly stumbled over her own feet as she rushed toward me, stammering, “I. I’m sorry, Ms. Crawford! I didn’t mean it! I really didn’t mean it!”
Bella’s face had gone ghost-white.
Her lips shook as she stepped forward, just about to speak.
Adrian gave a short, icy laugh, the kind that made the air feel a few degrees colder.
He looked straight at Bella, his tone slow and almost lazy, but every word of it carried razor-sharp sarcasm.
“You… the heir of the Crawford Pack? And my supposed fiancee?”
Bella froze, completely speechless, her head dropping so fast it was like she wanted to disappear into the floor.
Seeing her shrink like that, Adrian gave another low, humorless chuckle.
He didn’t bother exposing her clumsy lie in front of everyone; he didn’t even waste an extra breath on her.
He just tossed out a quiet, almost bored, “How amusing.”
Then he turned to me, his gaze locking onto mine as he issued a simple command.
“Come.”
Without waiting for a response, he pivoted and strode toward the backstage lounge, the whole room falling dead silent as people made way for him with barely concealed fear.