Chapter 224: Pool party XIV

Chapter 224: Chapter 224: Pool party XIV

Anthony noticed the change in address.

It was a small thing.

But he noticed it.

Once, she had called him Anthony without hesitation. Now she was addressing him formally, as one would a former fiancé.

Given their current relationship, perhaps that was only proper.

Still, something about it felt unfamiliar.

Neither of them seemed quite sure what to say next.

They had once been engaged.

Now they were standing together at a university pool party, surrounded by students, as former fiancé and fiancée.

The situation was strange enough without everything else that had happened that afternoon.

Anthony eventually broke the silence.

"I saw you won the first round."

Vivienne looked at him.

Then, almost imperceptibly, her gaze shifted toward Evelyn.

"We won the first round."

She said it lightly.

But there was just enough emphasis on we to make the correction deliberate.

Damian glanced at her.

A smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"That we did."

Vivienne turned toward him.

Her eyes brightened with amusement.

"And that’s because I had a good partner."

Something changed in Damian’s expression.

Only slightly.

But enough.

He looked at her for a heartbeat longer.

"Did you?"

Vivienne nodded solemnly.

"Very good."

Damian laughed.

"I’ll take that as a compliment."

"You should."

She smiled.

"You carried me all the way through."

Anthony watched them.

The ease between them was impossible to miss.

Then Evelyn stepped forward.

"Hello, Lady Beaumont."

Vivienne turned toward her.

For a moment, their eyes met.

Evelyn was still wearing her light robe over her swimsuit, her chestnut hair falling loosely over her shoulders. She looked perfectly composed despite the afternoon’s heat.

"Lady Sinclair."

The exchange was polite.

Nothing more.

But there was history beneath it.

Vivienne remembered the balcony.

The dance.

The way Evelyn had been standing with Anthony when she arrived.

And that small smile Evelyn had given her earlier.

At the time, Vivienne had taken it as smug.

Perhaps it had been.

Perhaps it hadn’t.

It didn’t matter now.

Her gaze moved briefly from Evelyn to Anthony.

Then back to Damian.

The embarrassment she’d felt moments earlier was gone.

She didn’t need to explain herself.

She didn’t need to feel guilty.

The engagement was over.

She was free.

And Damian was simply someone she enjoyed being around.

That was all.

Vivienne smiled.

This time, it came easily.

She turned toward Damian, and something playful returned to her eyes.

Damian noticed immediately.

He had no idea what had changed.

But judging by the expression on her face—

He suspected he was about to find out.

Before either of them could say anything else, the host’s voice suddenly echoed across the conservatory.

"Everyone, take a break!"

A cheer went through the crowd.

"We’ve had three games back-to-back, so we’re giving our participants some time to dry off, grab some food, and recover!"

The students cheered again.

"The next game will begin after the intermission!"

Music rose through the conservatory once more.

The crowd gradually loosened.

Students scattered toward the buffet tables, lounge areas, and shaded seating around the pool.

Some collapsed into the nearest chairs, laughing as they replayed the highlights of their matches.

Others headed toward the buffet, still arguing over who had played unfairly.

A few remained near the pool, accepting towels and drinks from the attendants.

Vivienne glanced around.

Claire and Amelia were already looking toward one of the tables.

She thought about joining them.

Then Claire caught her eye.

There was the faintest flicker of amusement in her expression.

Her gaze moved toward Damian.

Then toward Anthony.

Then back to Vivienne.

Vivienne narrowed her eyes.

No.

Absolutely not.

Amelia suddenly became very interested in something at the buffet.

Vivienne nearly laughed.

Cowards.

Sensible cowards.

She couldn’t blame them.

Vivienne looked at Damian.

He was still damp from the pool, his dark hair slightly disheveled and a towel hanging loosely around his neck.

She suddenly realized how tired she was.

Not exhausted.

Just ready to sit down.

"I’m a little tired."

Damian’s attention immediately returned to her.

"Are you all right?"

"I’m fine."

She smiled.

"Just ready to sit down for a bit."

Her gaze moved toward the shaded seating area.

Several small square tables had been arranged beneath the greenery, each surrounded by four chairs. Tall palms and flowering plants framed the pool beyond them, giving the conservatory the feel of a secluded tropical resort.

Vivienne pointed toward one of the empty tables.

"Let’s sit over there."

Damian followed her gaze.

"All right."

They had barely taken a step when Vivienne glanced back.

Anthony and Evelyn were still standing nearby.

They had only just finished speaking with them before the host had interrupted.

There was no reason to simply walk away without saying anything.

She could say goodbye.

That would be perfectly normal.

But then her gaze settled on the empty table.

Four chairs.

Her eyes moved back to Anthony.

A tiny spark of mischief appeared.

Why not invite them?

After all, they were already there.

It would be perfectly polite.

Perfectly ordinary.

And if Anthony happened to spend the next little while sitting across from her while she enjoyed herself with Damian—

Well.

That wasn’t her fault.

Vivienne’s lips curved.

She turned toward them.

"We’re going to sit over there for a while."

Anthony looked at her.

Vivienne gestured toward the table.

"Would you and Lady Sinclair like to join us?"

For the briefest moment, Anthony seemed caught off guard.

Evelyn looked at him.

Around them, students were already dispersing, but enough people remained nearby that refusing such a casual invitation would feel unnecessarily awkward.

Anthony gave a small nod.

"Certainly."

Vivienne smiled.

"Good."

She turned back toward Damian.

"Come on."

Damian followed her.

Behind them, Anthony and Evelyn fell into step as well.

Vivienne’s smile lingered.

She wasn’t entirely sure why the idea amused her so much.

Perhaps because, only a few minutes ago, she had been embarrassed at the thought of Anthony seeing her with Damian.

Now—

She almost wanted him to.

--

Tbc