Chapter 818

Bianca Langley's fingertips trembled slightly.

She stared at the yellowed photograph, her voice hoarse. "I thought he'd thrown this away long ago."

The edges of the photo were curled, yet someone had preserved it with meticulous care.

"Adrian and I never got a marriage license. Never had a wedding." She lifted her chin, stubborn light flashing in her eyes. "But in our hearts, we were already bound together."

Each word stabbed Vincent Croix like a knife.

The cracks in his carefully constructed facade widened. His voice rose sharply. "It's too soon for this! Take it back, and I'll pretend I never heard it."

Bianca let out a cold laugh.

"Who do you think you are?" Every syllable dripped venom. "I'd rather live with regret than leave things unfinished."

Just mentioning Adrian's name burned her chest like a branding iron. As for the murderer standing before her—she wanted to tear him apart with her bare hands.

Vincent's knuckles turned white.

Regret consumed him. He should have eliminated Adrian sooner. Had he been more ruthless, Bianca would never have had the chance to love another man.

"At least I'm still your ex-husband." Vincent ground the words through clenched teeth.

He knew Bianca responded to gentleness, not force. But maintaining this charade of devotion was exhausting him. "Surely that counts for more than being strangers?"

Evelyn Carter felt nauseated.

Thankfully, police sirens cut through the tension.

"I called them!" Evelyn stepped forward, pointing at Vincent. "He's been stalking and harassing my friend!"

Officers immediately moved to separate Vincent. "You'll need to come with us for questioning."

Vincent shot Evelyn a murderous glare before turning desperate eyes to Bianca. "You'd really go this far?"

Without looking back, Bianca told the police, "We're divorced. He's been harassing me nonstop."

Vincent's face darkened. He hadn't expected such absolute rejection.

An officer gestured toward the patrol car. Causing a scene wasn't an option—not with all these business professionals watching outside the hotel.

Bianca linked arms with Evelyn and walked toward the hotel entrance. She never glanced back.

Evelyn studied her friend's profile discreetly.

Back in their room, Bianca stumbled over the carpet. Evelyn caught her arm just in time.

Her slender heels had left faint swelling around her ankles. But compared to the agony in her heart, this physical discomfort meant nothing.

"Stop punishing yourself." Evelyn sighed. "I know you're struggling."

Bianca finally let her mask slip, revealing raw vulnerability. "I almost pushed him into traffic earlier. I hate that I could still speak to him calmly."

She should have remained her parents' treasured jewel. Without Vincent, she might have met Adrian on some sunlit afternoon at their alma mater.

What a beautiful life that could have been.

Uncharacteristically, Evelyn sat cross-legged on the carpet, silently keeping her company.

"Remember our first meeting?" Bianca asked abruptly.

Evelyn nodded. That radiant, sunshine-bright woman had left an indelible impression.

"Mind if I smoke?" Bianca's voice was barely audible.

Evelyn hesitated, then nodded again.

Bianca retrieved a slim case of women's cigarettes from her purse. A silver lighter clicked, flame dancing at her fingertips.

"I loved Vincent once." She exhaled a slow smoke ring. "That mountain trip...I was actually running from him."

Her voice drifted through the haze. "I refuse to lose. When I saw him at the hotel, part of me still fantasized he came to reconcile."

Evelyn gently squeezed her hand. "We've all worn masks. I've swallowed my pride more times than I can count."

Ash fluttered from Bianca's cigarette.

"It's over now." Evelyn said softly. "Cry if you need to. Scream if you want. This life is yours—don't let the past keep torturing you."

Bianca watched dusk settle beyond the window. With sudden force, she crushed the cigarette butt into the ashtray.