Chapter 15 The moment she said " boyfriend , " it was like a bolt of lightning crashed into Declan's skull . His ears buzzed , his chest went hollow . " You … you have a boyfriend ? " he asked , stunned . Marissa blinked , confused by how violently he reacted , but nodded without hesitation . She didn't see the need to hide it . Her boyfriend wasn't some secret shame - quite the opposite . After a pause , as if remembering something important , she looked up again and added , " Actually , we're here to plan our wedding . After that , we probably won't be coming back . But if you'd like to attend , you're more than welcome . " Before the words had even finished leaving her lips , a voice called out from a distance , growing closer by the second . " Marissa ! You've been in the restroom forever . I was about to send in a search party . " She turned toward the sound , already smiling . And sure enough , Adrian Carter appeared . Halfway through his teasing , Adrian finally noticed the man standing beside her . His brows lifted slightly in recognition . " Oh - who's this ? " Marissa didn't hesitate . " This is Declan Hawthorne , CEO of Hawthorne Group - the family that sponsored my education . The one I told you about . " Then she turned to Declan . " This is Adrian Carter . My fiancé . " That one sentence hit Declan twice as hard . He never thought he'd hear Marissa introduce him as nothing more than "the people who helped pay her tuition " -a stranger , a faded footnote . And Adrian … Adrian was the final nail in the coffin . Before Adrian showed up , Declan could still cling to the hope that this " boyfriend " she mentioned was just a bluff , a jab meant to hurt him . But now , seeing them together - her body unconsciously leaning toward Adrian , her tone softer , more familiar when she spoke to him - there was no denying it . Even if they weren't engaged , even if they were only close friends , the intimacy was unmistakable . " Mr. Hawthorne , " Adrian said smoothly , offering his hand . His smile was polite , but his eyes held Chapter 15 Blushwood Health EBC - 46 Tincture | 10 : 1 Blushwood Berry Extract | 50 ml | Lab -… Shop our versatile Tincture 08. This lab - tested , 10 : 1 Blushwood Berry extract with EBC - 46 is designed for both sublingual and topical use . Fast global shipping . bh 63.64 % For Chronic Discomfort Blushwood Health 0 no warmth . " Pleasure to meet you . I've heard you a lot . " He'd heard all about Marissa's past - how she came from the small town , where her parents had tried to force her into marriage before she was even out of school . And how the Hawthornes had stepped in just in time , pulling her out of that life and helping her pursue an education . What he hadn't realized , though , was that those Hawthornes were the Hawthorne family . That the wealthy patrons she once mentioned - the ones who had funded her tuition - were the same people she'd lived with for years . That the heir she'd quietly cared for through his darkest days was none other than Declan Hawthorne himself . The man who had once meant everything to her … and had discarded her like she was nothing . But looking at Declan now , with that stunned expression and the grief he tried to hide behind pride , Adrian connected the dots easily . After a beat of silence , he smiled again and said , " I should thank you , actually . If you hadn't let her go , I'd never have had the chance . " And he meant it . Because if Declan - or anyone in that house - had shown Marissa the respect she deserved , she might still be there , holding onto hope , waiting for scraps of affection . She might never have left . Even just a single sentence back then- " I'll marry you someday " -might've changed everything . But Declan had said nothing . And now , it was far too late . The tension between the two men thickened , like the air might snap . Marissa glanced between them and decided she'd had enough of this testosterone standoff . She gave Declan a polite nod , then slipped her arm around Adrian's and walked off without another word . Once they'd put some distance between themselves and Declan , she gave Adrian a curious side - eye . " You're acting weird , " she said . " Weird ? " he repeated innocently . " I think you're imagining things. " The wheels of their suitcase clattered along the sidewalk , and after a moment of thought , Marissa let out a soft laugh . " Wait … were you jealous ? " Chapter 15 Blushwood Health EBC - 46 Tincture | 10 : 1 Blushwood Berry Extract | 50 ml | Lab -… Shop our versatile Tincture 08. This lab - tested , 10 : 1 Blushwood Berry extract with EBC - 46 is designed for both sublingual and topical use . Fast global shipping . bh 63.64 % For Chronic Discomfort Blushwood Health That struck a nerve . Adrian scoffed . " You're seriously asking me that ? " " You saw what he and his family did to you , " he said , his tone sharper now . " You really don't hold any resentment toward them ? Not even a little ? "