Chapter 71 - Seventy One
Suzy rejoined the festivities, a crystal glass of wine in hand. The ballroom was a whirlwind of activity, the music filling the air with a seductive rhythm. Yet, Suzy found herself lost in thought.
She watched Ryan from a distance, his figure a solitary beacon amidst the sea of guests. He moved through the crowd with an air of detachment, his face a mask of polite indifference. But Suzy could see the storm brewing beneath the surface, the tension in his clenched jaw, the hardness in his eyes. It was as if he were a fortress under siege, his guard up, his heart unreachable.
Where was the man who had held her in his arms, his eyes filled with a warmth that had sent shivers down her spine? The man who had made her feel safe, protected. Now, he was a stranger, a distant figure shrouded in an aura of aloofness.
She wondered what had happened in that study. Who was he talking to?
Suzy, lost in her thoughts, absentmindedly took a sip of her wine. The moment the liquid touched her tongue, a grimace contorted her face. The wine, once a soothing companion, now tasted bitter.
She spluttered, the wine spilling down her chin. "Arrgh!" she exclaimed, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. "This is one of those soul-crushing wines!"
Just as she was about to call for a replacement, a voice cut through the din. "Miss Cassandra?"
Suzy turned to find the source of the voice. A woman, dressed in a stunning red gown, stood a few feet away, a smirk playing on her lips.
"Hello," Suzy replied, her voice laced with a hint of wariness.
"Hello," the woman replied, her voice smooth as velvet. "I’m afraid I’m a bit late in greeting you, Cassandra. You were always behind Ryan and you’ve been quite elusive."
Suzy felt a shiver run down her spine. Who was this woman, why didn’t she call her by the title like everyone else does? More importantly, why did she use Ryan’s first name instead of his title?