Chapter 14
The evening didn't just end; it collapsed.
Evan stood frozen in the lounge, the echo of her words still ringing against the marble, but Serenity was already in motion. She didn't wait for his apology, and she certainly didn't wait for him to escort her to the car. She moved with a purpose that ignored the throbbing pain in her feet, retrieving her shoes and handbag from the coat station with a clipped "thank you" to the host.
She didn't glance back once.
By the time Evan reached the foyer, he saw the taillights of a yellow cab pulling away from the curb, leaving him standing under the grand portico in the dust of her exit. The silence of the night air felt heavier than the gala ever had.
Serenity sat in the back of the taxi, her feet finally resting on the floor mats as she
