He Chose Her Joke, I Chose His Ruin Chapter 06

He Chose Her Joke, I Chose His Ruin Chapter 06

The guests’ faces changed instantly.

Some stuffed their phones into their pockets.

Security stepped forward. “Kindly cooperate with our ongoing investigation.”

The man in the gray suit panicked. “Elena, it’s a misunderstanding! We were just watching-no harm

intended!”

I looked at him. “You said you wanted a souvenir photo.”

His face went paper-white. “I was drunk.”

“Save that explanation for the police.”

Celeste Shaw finally recovered her wits and screeched, “You dare call the cops? Elena, do you even know

who my father is?”

I met her gaze. “You’d better ask your father if he knows what his daughter did tonight.”

Adrian Vale’s voice cut through, low and sharp. “Elena, calling the police is going too far.”

I turned to him. “Adrian, you still don’t get it.”

“Whether this matter crosses a line is no longer your decision to make.”

When the police arrived, Celeste was still crying-acting like she was the victim.

“It was just a joke! I didn’t know she’d react like that. We were only horsing around; no one expected her to

break down so easily.”

The officer asked if I’d consider mediation.

I looked at the glass cuts on my arm. At my soaked gown.

“No.”

Celeste jerked her head up. “Elena, are you trying to ruin me?”

I asked her calmly, “When you locked me in there, did you stop to think I might die?”

She choked on her words.

Adrian slipped his coat over Celeste’s shoulders, irritation carved into his features. “Elena, Celeste isn’t in

good health. Dragging her to a police station overnight will be too much for her.”

I almost laughed. “Too frail for custody yet bold enough to commit criminal acts?”

Adrian’s expression darkened. “That’s not what I meant.”

“Then what did you mean?”

He was silent for a beat, then softened his tone.

“Celeste was out of line tonight. I’ll have her apologize. Tomorrow’s engagement will proceed as planned, and I’ll make a public gesture to compensate you.”

Celeste stared at him, stunned. “Adrian!”

He ignored her, eyes fixed on me.

He thought this was a concession.

In his mind, I cared about the title, the Vale name, the spotlight of tomorrow’s media coverage.

As long as he went through with the engagement, I’d back down.

He didn’t realize-

I didn’t want it anymore.

I brushed wet hair behind my ear. “There won’t be an engagement tomorrow.”

Adrian’s pupils contracted. “What did you say?”

“I said, cancel the engagement. Adrian Vale, we’re done.”

The words landed. Real panic flickered across his face, not because he couldn’t bear to lose me, but because

he realized I wasn’t throwing a tantrum.

“Elena, be reasonable. All invitations have already been dispatched. The media will be here tomorrow.

Canceling now-how do you expect the Vale family to save face?”

I looked at him. “That’s the Vale family’s problem.”

Celeste’s eyes lit up, thinking she’d won.

But my next words wiped the smile off her face.

“Ava, notify PR.”

“Hand over all surveillance footage from tonight to the police.”

“At eight tomorrow morning, Starlight Capital will release a statement terminating all pending investments in Vale Group.”

“Nine a.m.-hold an online briefing disclosing Vale Group’s project risks.”

“Ten a.m.-file lawsuits against Celeste Shaw and every participant.”