During the gala, Arianna Stone stood up, mentioning to Maxwell King that she needed to head to the restroom.

Maxwell rose instinctively. "Let’s go. I’ll walk you."

Arianna paused, startled, then couldn't help but laugh as she pressed him back down into his seat. "There’s no need. I’ll be right back."

Maxwell still looked uneasy. "Do you remember the way?"

"I do. Don't worry!"

Maxwell watched her lithe figure drift out of the ballroom, then his gaze shifted, reflexively tracking the man a few yards away.

Cameron Hughes had his eyes locked on Arianna. He was tracking her exit with the intensity of a predator. As soon as Arianna vanished through the doors, Cameron abandoned his plate and hurried after her. He had things he needed to say to her. This time, he wouldn't hesitate. He was determined to win Arianna back—to make her his wife.

Maxwell watched the man rush out, the warmth in his eyes vanishing instantly. The temperature around him seemed to plummet, his gaze turning razor-sharp and cold. He stood up and took a different route toward the restroom.

***

The sound of running water filled the air.

Arianna stood with her eyes lowered, washing her hands with indifferent grace. The water slipped over her pale, elegant hands and swirled into the basin. In the mirror, her reflection stared back—skin flawless, long lashes cast in soft shadow. Her eyes, bright and clear, held a depth that was both innocent and hauntingly magnetic.

A frantic clatter of heels cut through the quiet.

Arianna glanced up and locked eyes with Alexis Morgan, who had just burst into the room. In the reflection, Alexis glared at her with bared teeth. Arianna returned the stare with calm composure, not even pausing to turn off the faucet.

Alexis was dressed in a red velvet slip dress with a square neckline—a look that was intended to be dainty and demure. The moment she opened her mouth, however, the illusion shattered.

"Arianna, I have something to say to you."

Arianna stayed silent for a few seconds. *The way you’re standing, you don’t look like you’re here for a chat. You look like you’re here for a street fight.*

"Go ahead," Arianna said.

Alexis skipped the pleasantries. "I want you to get a grip on reality. Even if you married Maxwell, your background is still trash. You’re still not on our level. Don’t think that just because—"

"It doesn’t matter." Arianna cut her off cold.

"What?"

Arianna turned, meeting her eyes head-on. Her voice was steady. "I said it doesn’t matter. I don’t live my life based on my pedigree. There isn't a single thing in this world that requires me to drag my family status around to survive. My life doesn’t need it, and my career certainly doesn’t."

This was a version of Arianna that Alexis had never seen. An aura of confidence radiated from her, effortless and absolute. She stood there, perfectly poised, silently mocking Alexis for her obsession with status.

Alexis sneered, narrowing her eyes. "You’d better watch your step and keep your head down. Don't go dreaming of things that aren't yours, or else—"

"Or else what?" Arianna asked.

Why did she look… expectant? Alexis pushed the thought away, attributing it to a trick of the light.

"Or else," Alexis threatened, "I won't hesitate to tell Maxwell about your past."

Arianna had been expecting something a bit more intimidating. She let out a soft, weary laugh and pulled her phone from her clutch. "You can tell him right now. Need me to make the call for you?"

Her tone was utterly sincere, and yet, it was the sharpest insult imaginable.

Alexis went quiet.

Seeing that she had nothing left to say, Arianna tucked her phone away and offered a gentle, pitying smile. "I know exactly what you’re trying to say. Don't worry about it. Cameron is all yours. I’ve been done with him for a long time."

Alexis looked smug, a flicker of triumph crossing her face. "If you can recognize your place, that’s for the best. To be honest, I hate to be the one to tell you, but Cameron has admitted he was only playing with you. People like us—who are actually well-matched—are the ones who end up together."

Arianna didn't even blink. She kept that same faint, shallow smile. "Well-matched? Then why aren't you together? Is it because you don't want to be?"

Whatever button she’d pressed, it sent Alexis into a rage. "Arianna! What the hell is that supposed to mean?!"

Arianna’s expression turned icy, devoid of any warmth. "It means nothing. Whatever happens between you and Cameron is your business—keep my name out of it. We are finished."

She stepped closer, her voice dropping to a cool, razor-edged whisper. "Secondly, I have a husband. From every possible angle, in my eyes, Maxwell King is a thousand times better than everyone else, including Cameron. Comparing him to Cameron is the biggest insult he could possibly receive."

"Lastly, I love my husband. None of the drama you’re worried about is going to happen. You can put your mind at ease."

With that, Arianna turned to leave without a second glance. As she reached the door, she threw one final warning over her shoulder. "If you ever dare to come at me like this again, don't expect me to be polite."

Alexis stood frozen, stunned by her own ears. She scoffed, her lip curling in disdain. "You? And what exactly are you going to do about it?"

Arianna didn't look back; she just kept walking. "You’re so fond of bringing up status, aren't you? Why don't you try me and find out?"

As Arianna exited the restroom and turned right, the fire door down the hall swung open. A familiar figure stepped into view.