Liam Winston steadied himself against the wall as he rose to his feet.
His gaze locked onto the pendant dangling from Sophia Sullivan's wrist.
The delicate ornament shimmered faintly in the moonlight.
"Ryan Lawrence bought that?" His voice came out hoarse.
Sophia idly twisted her wrist.
The pendant swayed gently with the movement.
A faint smirk played at the corners of her lips.
Liam failed to notice the mockery in her eyes.
He'd waited outside the hall for three full hours.
The alcohol haze had gradually faded.
Yet Chloe Evans never appeared.
Now Sophia stood before him alone.
An inexplicable irritation surged through him.
"You're right," he suddenly said.
Sophia arched an eyebrow.
"Since we're divorced," Liam's mouth twisted slightly, "I shouldn't interfere."
He'd intended to confront her.
But after today's events,
it all seemed pointless now.
He was the one needing favors.
Sophia's tense fingers relaxed slightly.
Rare to hear her ex-husband speak reasonably.
She studied him with detached amusement.
"Did Young Master Winston wait just for me?"
Liam's Adam's apple bobbed.
He suppressed the turmoil inside.
"Yes."
Those words—"we're even"—still echoed in his mind.
They'd made him spit blood earlier.
His chest still ached dully.
Three years of marriage.
All those ambiguous moments between them.
He could never understand.
But now Sophia's eyes held only ice.
And undisguised contempt.
How could someone change so completely?
Or had he hurt her too deeply?
Liam clenched his fists.
"Mother's headaches have returned," he said quietly. "We've run out of Calming Capsules."
His eyes met Sophia's.
"Can you get me into The Decagon?"
His tone was milder than usual.
Half-truth.
Mrs. Winston's condition was severe.
But mostly, he wanted to be near Sophia again.
He carefully avoided mentioning Ethan Sullivan.
Sticking to business only.
"Name your price," he added. "Mother can't wait."
Raindrops slid off the eaves.
Liam's shoulders were already soaked.
He stood three paces away.
Maintaining careful distance.
No one would guess they'd once been married.
Sophia laughed softly.
"Liam Winston," her voice dripped sarcasm, "you think money buys Decagon access?"
Her words cut like knives.
"Besides," she toyed with the pendant, "you can barely help yourself now."
Liam's pupils constricted.
"Mr. Winston Sr.'s Blood Jade is with me," Sophia lifted her gaze. "Those illegitimate heirs are circling like vultures."
She'd touched a Winston family taboo.
Normally he'd have exploded in rage.
But the alcohol still lingered.
He only gave a hoarse chuckle.
"I didn't try hard enough."
Sophia tilted her head.
"Not hard enough," she enunciated clearly, "just utterly incompetent."
The air froze between them.