Inside the banquet hall, Brenna stood quietly, yet her thoughts kept drifting back to the masked man from this morning. Something about him left her slightly uneasy.
A sudden stir broke out near the entrance. "Mr. Todd actually came!" someone whispered urgently.
The lively chatter died down in an instant. Guests stepped aside, clearing a path without being told.
Curiosity tugged at Brenna, and she lifted her gaze toward the door.
Vincent walked in at an unhurried pace, dressed in a fitted black shirt that outlined his build. His sleeves were casually rolled up, exposing toned forearms that made the look seem effortless rather than staged.
The rumors had painted him as grotesque and unpresentable. The man standing there was anything but. His features were sharp and defined, with deep eyes, a straight nose, and a clean, sculpted jaw.
"Is that really Mr. Todd? He's so dashing," someone murmured in disbelief.
"I've never seen him this close before. He looks like a movie star!"
"Good looks aside, they say he's got a terrible temper..."
"Keep it down. He's ruthless. If you cross him, he won't go easy on you."
An uneasy chill spread through the crowd.
Brenna found herself staring longer than she intended. Those eyes of his felt strangely familiar.
When their gazes met across the hall, something shifted.
For the briefest second, Brenna sensed recognition flicker in his expression. His posture tightened ever so slightly, and surprise crossed his face before he masked it. Was he reacting to her appearance? The heavy burn makeup had fooled plenty of people.
Meanwhile, Vincent felt his pulse spike. He leaned slightly toward Felix and whispered, "It's her."
Vincent's eyes stayed on Brenna without wavering. The longer he looked, the clearer it became that the woman from this morning was not a hallucination.
After the car incident years ago, color had vanished from Vincent's world. Doctors called it trauma-induced damage, and no treatment had restored it. Over time, he had learned to live with endless shades of gray. Yet ever since she appeared, something had shifted.
Felix blinked in disbelief. "You're certain?"
"Yes," Vincent answered quietly. "I see colors around her. A lot."
A fracture seemed to form deep inside him, as if something long sealed away was finally breaking open. Brilliant hues gathered around Brenna like light drawn to a single point. The wine in her glass glowed amber. The dark fabric of her dress caught light in subtle layers. Everything else remained muted and lifeless, but she stood vivid and impossible to overlook.
Felix's tone lost its teasing edge. "Stay here. I'll have someone investigate immediately."
Numerous top specialists had failed to cure Vincent for years. If he really saw colors again, this was a miracle.
A crease formed between Felix's brows as a thought struck him. "So, do you still plan to go through with the engagement?"
Vincent did not take his eyes off Brenna, his tone unwavering. "Of course. I am definitely going to marry her!"
Felix stared at Vincent, stunned. Even if this woman somehow restored Vincent's color vision, marriage was an entirely different matter. What was driving him to decide so quickly?
Before the exchange could continue, Sarah approached with a polite smile. "Mr. Todd, my husband and son weren't expecting you this early. They'll be here soon."
Without hesitation, she nudged Brenna forward. "Why don't you take a proper look at her first? You two knew each other as children. She was meant to be your bride back then, but circumstances separated you. Now that she's returned, it's only natural for the engagement to continue."
She spoke lightly, as if the switch in daughters were a minor detail that required no attention.
Standing nearby, Noreen felt her cheeks heat up. She hadn't imagined Vincent would look this dashing. Regret began to creep into her heart. If she had known he was this cute, she would never have handed him over to that ugly woman Brenna.
