Draxon gently held my hand. “If you’re unhappy, crying might help you feel better.”
I turned away, blushing, but my movement froze. Zevian and the girl had parted ways and now he was staring directly at me, his gaze fixed intently on Draxon holding my hand.
Zevian’s expression was one of barely contained fury.
I mentally apologized to Draxon, then turned my hand to clasp his and flashed a provocative smile toward Zevian.
The first to react was Winston Landers, the man seated next to Zevian.
The Landers Family had long depended on the Maxwell Family, so Winston was always the first to jump in, whether to flatter or stir up trouble.
“Vespera Darkwood? What are you doing here?” Winston shouted.
I shrugged, maintaining my composure as I took a sip of wine, my hand still clasped around Draxon's.
Winston’s face turned a shade of red, his anger barely contained. “Let go! Have you no shame? Do you even know what you’re doing?”
"What about Zevian?" I retorted, "I'm just here for a drink and to have some fun with a handsome young guy. What's it got to do with Zevian? Is he my dad or something?"
Winston’s face went pale as he quickly turned to Zevian, who was indeed glaring with barely contained fury. Seeing Zevian’s rage brought me an unexpected sense of relief.
I, Vespera Darkwood, wasn’t one to back down easily. If Zevian had managed to unsettle me, I certainly wouldn’t have wasted my energy protecting his pride in front of his friends.
I tilted my chin provocatively toward Zevian and said, “Right, Zevian?”
Zevian said, "Vespera, even if you're jealous, there should be a limit."
I couldn’t help but inwardly scoff. How far had I fallen that he still saw this as nothing more than jealousy and a tantrum?
A wave of exhaustion washed over me. The admiration I once felt had faded, replaced by a deep-seated disgust with every gesture he made.
I shot him with a cold glance at him and retorted, "If you’re going to fabricate stories, at least make them believable. Zevian, stay out of my life!”
“Fine,” Zevian snapped in a fit of rage. He stood up, locking eyes with me. “You said your piece. Don’t regret it.”
He turned and walked off, with the rest of his group trailing behind him. Only Winston remained, staring at me angrily.
“Are you out of your mind?” Winston demanded. “Zevian’s furious now. What’s going to come of this for you? You should apologize before things get worse!”