Serena’s POV
I watched Kane and Tiffany make their grand entrance, dressed in matching midnight blue outfits that screamed "power couple." If Kane wasn’t stuck in that wheelchair, they might have actually looked perfect together. But reality’s a bitch, isn’t it?
"Quite the dramatic entrance," I whispered to Ryan, unable to hold back a small laugh.
Ryan squeezed my hand gently, his thumb tracing small circles against my skin. "Let’s go sit over there for a bit. I want a front-row seat to whatever disaster is about to unfold."
I nodded, but before we could move, Kane had already wheeled himself toward Lucian with Tiffany clicking along beside him in her stilettos. The tension in the air thickened instantly, like someone had cranked up the thermostat in an already stuffy room.
Kane shot Lucian a smile so cold it could’ve frozen champagne. "What a lively party tonight. Where’s Mr. White hiding? Or did he send you to do his dirty work as usual?"
Lucian didn’t even flinch. He took a leisurely sip of his drink before responding, "Oh, he’s here. He just doesn’t want to see you." He delivered this with such casual cruelty that I almost winced.
Kane’s eyes darkened dangerously, his knuckles whitening as he gripped the arms of his wheelchair. "Lucian, are you really determined to make an enemy of me? Because I promise you’ll regret it."
"Don’t act innocent," Lucian scoffed, his voice dropping to a dangerous purr. "You know exactly what you did. Did you really think burying the truth would keep it buried forever?"
Lucian turned his attention to Tiffany, his voice dripping with mockery. "It’s just a shame for Miss Vergara, having to marry a cripple. Tell me, is it the family fortune or just desperation that has you clinging to damaged goods?"
Tiffany flinched visibly before composing herself. Her perfectly manicured nails dug into her palm as she forced a smile.
"Mr. West, show some respect," she hissed through clenched teeth. "Kane is the future son-in-law of the Vergara family. Do you really want to make an enemy of us too? Or have you forgotten who controls half your supply chain in Europe?"
"How adorable, defending your master," Lucian smirked, his eyes glinting with malice. "Enjoy the party while you can. I doubt you’ll be invited to many more once everyone realizes you’ve backed the wrong horse—or should I say, the wrong wheelchair?"
With that parting shot, Lucian walked away, leaving them standing—well, one of them standing—in awkward silence. I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling. Lucian was brutal, but Kane had it coming.
Though their conversation had been hushed, everyone around them had caught the vibe. Combined with the recent rumors circulating through New York’s elite circles, it wasn’t hard to guess that Kane and Lucian had become enemies. And in this world, no one wanted to be on the losing side.
For the rest of the evening, not a single guest approached Kane and Tiffany. They sat alone, two beautifully dressed pariahs in a room full of social butterflies. I almost felt sorry for them. Almost.
"Did Kane really not anticipate this?" I asked, genuinely curious. "Why would he even show up tonight? Did he honestly think people would just ignore everything he’s done?"
Ryan’s mouth curled into a satisfied smile as he handed me a fresh glass of champagne. "Some people need to experience humiliation firsthand before they understand their position. Those two are exactly that type—too arrogant to believe they could ever fall from grace."
I glanced over at Tiffany again. Despite her predicament, she was still impeccably dressed and gorgeous. But she was completely alone—no other Vergara family members had bothered to attend with her. That spoke volumes.
"Ryan, why would the Vergara family agree to this match in the first place? It makes no sense. Kane’s position is obviously unstable."
"Tiffany is their only daughter, but she has no real power within the family," Ryan explained, swirling his champagne lazily. "She’s spent years overseas, working under her brother’s supervision, trying to prove herself. Mr. Vergara is probably using her as a bet—gambling one daughter for a potential alliance with Blackwood. If the gamble fails, they lose nothing of value."
I felt a chill run down my spine. The casual cruelty of it all struck me hard. To think of someone’s daughter being used as nothing more than a chess piece...
"Tiffany doesn’t seem stupid. Couldn’t she fight back against this arrangement?" I watched her across the room, wondering what was really going on behind those perfectly made-up eyes.
Ryan chuckled softly, his breath warm against my ear. "It’s not that she can’t fight back. She’s gambling too, in her own way. She thinks Kane might be her ticket to power—both in the Vergara family and beyond. She’s playing a dangerous game."
I took a deep breath, watching the miserable couple across the room. "The whole Vergara family seems to be a bunch of gamblers."
"Unfortunately for them," Ryan said with quiet confidence, his fingers tracing a line down my bare arm, "their bets are about to lose spectacularly. Kane has no idea what’s coming for him."
His tone was so matter-of-fact that I didn’t doubt him for a second. Ryan never made threats; he made promises. If the Vergara family wanted to blame someone, they should blame their own poor judgment for backing Kane of all people.