The television screen in Lucien Ashford's office showed Adrian Hawthorne standing behind a polished podium while reporters filled the room in front of him. The broadcast came from one of the largest financial news networks in the country. Every major outlet had picked up the feed.
Seraphina Vale stood near Lucien's desk with her arms folded while she watched the man who had once promised to marry her calmly dismantle her reputation in front of the entire world.
Adrian looked composed, even sympathetic.
His voice carried the tone of a man explaining a difficult truth.
"I understand that yesterday's events shocked many people," Adrian said to the reporters. "Seraphina Vale has experienced severe emotional stress during the past year, and I believe that her actions at the wedding were the result of that strain."
Several journalists exchanged looks while they wrote notes.
