"Damien Elford. He sullied our name."
There was a beat of silence.
Victor's gaze remained steady, unreadable.
"Hmm?" His tone was mild, almost uninterested.
But Celia knew her father.
He was waiting for an explanation.
She forced herself to steady her breathing, to push past the sheer rage still boiling inside her.
Briefly, coldly, she explained.
How Damien had humiliated her. How he had spit at her feet, mocked her in front of the entire school. How he had been the one to announce the broken engagement first, stripping her of the chance to control the narrative.
How he had called her worthless.
By the time she finished, her father was silent.
His sharp eyes studied her, as if analyzing every word, every hidden layer beneath her fury.
Then—he nodded.
"So," he murmured, voice thoughtful. "Damien Elford is no longer an option."
Celia stiffened slightly.
Hearing it out loud, from him, made it real.
