Chapter 454

Tiffany Sinclair's fingers unconsciously twisted the hem of her skirt.

She had known since childhood that she was destined to marry Julian Valdemar, the second son of the Valdemar family.

For this arranged marriage, she had memorized all of Julian's preferences. He loved navy blue, hated sweets, and always took his coffee with three sugar cubes.

Three months ago, she'd even taken a knife for Julian.

Yet now, Julian stood embracing another woman, declaring he would marry no one else.

"Will you marry me?"

Adrian Valdemar's voice made Tiffany's head snap up. Her fiancé's younger brother gazed at her with smiling peach-blossom eyes.

"I..." Tiffany's lips parted soundlessly.

Adrian chuckled, reaching to brush a windblown strand of hair from her face.

"No rush." His fingertips barely grazed her earlobe. "Take your time."

He turned to leave, then suddenly pivoted back.

"Actually..." Adrian rubbed his nose and pulled out his phone. "Let's exchange contacts first?"

As if bewitched, Tiffany handed over her phone.

Only when Adrian's silhouette disappeared down the corridor did she snap out of her daze.

She'd just exchanged numbers with her fiancé's brother?

Even more absurd—he'd just proposed to her!

Tiffany crouched down, pressing her burning cheeks into her palms.

Strangely, the suffocating resentment in her chest had eased considerably.

At least Adrian's eyes held no trace of that "must-marry" woman.

But he was Julian's brother...

Biting her lip, Tiffany rose—unaware that Adrian still watched from the second-floor window, staring at her flushed ears.

＊

The banquet hall finally quieted.

Alexander Valdemar saw off the last guest before approaching the corner sofa.

"Tired?"

Sophia Laurent looked up from scrolling through social media. Her afternoon nap left her eyes bright as stars.

"Not sleepy."

Alexander ruffled her hair. The familiar scent of winter pine made Sophia's heart skip.

"Let's retire."

Moonlight silvered the courtyard. Their shadows merged on the cobblestone path as crickets chirped in the grass.

Alexander's bedroom maintained minimalist elegance. The walk-in closet already held a section for Sophia.

Dresses with tags still attached hung in perfect rows—all in her exact size.