Slowly, she turned around.
Alexa had stepped in front of them, blocking their path. She clasped her hands nervously in front of her, her expression hesitant, though there was a strange determination in her eyes.
Juliet's brows immediately drew together.
"What now?" she asked flatly.
Alexa instinctively glanced back at Vincent. Seeing the devastated expression on his face seemed to strengthen her resolve. She turned back to Juliet and forced a small, gentle smile.
"I just think you're being too harsh on him," she said softly. "You and Vincent have known each other your entire lives. He's your childhood friend."
Juliet folded her arms across her chest.
"So?"
Alexa hesitated, visibly choosing her words.
"I just think..." Her gaze drifted toward Cassian before quickly returning to Juliet. "Maybe you should be gentler with him."
Juliet's expression remained blank.
"And?"
Alexa took a deep breath.
"Mr. Han comes from a very prestigious family," she began carefully. "People from backgrounds like his care a lot about status and reputation."
The temperature in the room seemed to drop instantly.
Cassian's expression turned glacial.
Standing beside Juliet, he slowly lifted his eyes to Alexa. There was no emotion on his face, which somehow made him even more terrifying.
Alexa either didn't notice or deliberately ignored it.
"Relationships like this are exciting in the beginning," she continued softly, sounding almost sympathetic. "But eventually, someone like him won't want an orphan with no family."
Juliet's eyes narrowed.
A few guests nearby visibly stiffened.
Yet Alexa pressed on, emboldened by Juliet's silence.
"Especially not one who's jealous, manipulative, and has a history of stealing."
Silence.
Complete silence.
Even the air seemed to freeze.
Juliet simply stared at her.
Then she blinked slowly.
Lifting a hand, she rubbed her forehead as though she had just developed a headache.
"Oh my God."
