Bella's POV
"You think you can just switch brides like that? Don't be ridiculous!" Lucius snapped, his jaw locked tight, eyes blazing at me like he wanted to burn me alive.
The engagement was carved in stone—what gave me the right to declare it finished?
But my earlier words—"I stopped caring about him a long time ago"—seemed to hit him hardest, like a boulder crushing his chest, stealing his breath.
I wrenched my hand away with force. "Lord Thorne, show some respect."
Meeting the fierce accusation in his stare, realization struck me.
So he had no clue about the arranged bride swap. Then who pulled the first string?
When my eyes—cold and detached—found his again, Lucius recoiled.
I could see the confusion in his eyes, as if he was wondering how I could suddenly be done after I'd sworn I'd never let him go.
Footsteps rang out from the corridor's end.
