"I seriously don't know why I ever thought being friends with him was a good idea."
The more she thought about it, the more annoyed she became.
Her expression darkened.
"He didn't deserve my friendship at all."
Muttering under her breath, Juliet continued down the stone pathway winding through the garden.
Soft golden lights hung from the trees overhead, casting a warm glow across the manicured hedges and colorful flowers surrounding the venue. The gentle sound of water splashing from nearby fountains filled the air, creating a peaceful atmosphere that slowly eased some of her irritation.
Then suddenly, a thought crossed her mind.
Almost instantly, her mood improved. A small smile tugged at the corners of her lips. If Vincent had ruined her mood, then there was an easy solution.
She simply needed something much more pleasant to look at.
She reached into her purse and pulled out her phone. The moment Cassian's name appeared on the screen, her smile widened.
Her finger immediately pressed the call button. The phone barely rang once.
"Juliet."
Cassian answered almost immediately.
His deep voice flowed through the speaker, low and rich, carrying that familiar roughness that somehow always softened whenever he spoke to her.
For reasons she couldn't quite explain, the moment she heard his voice, a wave of relief washed through her chest. The lingering irritation Vincent had left behind seemed to disappear almost instantly.
A smile appeared on her lips before she even realized it.
"Hello."
The smile in her voice was impossible to hide.
On the other end of the line, Cassian's expression softened slightly.
Then his brows drew together.
"What's wrong?"
The question came immediately. His voice sharpened ever so slightly.
Juliet blinked in surprise.
"Nothing's wrong."
A soft laugh escaped her as she glanced around the garden.
"Why would you think something's wrong?"
Cassian remained silent.
He knew her far too well.
Even over the phone, he could hear the subtle difference in her voice.
Juliet laughed again before changing the subject.
