It was clear that Victor Vance was mocking Chloe Bishop with every syllable. His words were a pointed jab at her lack of "gentleness"—insinuating that her sharp tongue was exactly why she couldn't hold Xavier’s favor. The subtext was loud and clear: Change your attitude, or find yourself a discarded woman.
Chloe truly couldn't fathom what Lyra saw in this man. Harassing a woman in public was hardly the behavior of a gentleman. She had never been fond of Victor, but after tonight, the grudge was officially cemented.
Instead of exploding, she met his mockery with a fluid, effortless smile. "Mr. Vance, those words don't exactly sound like they’re coming from a modern man. Everyone has different tastes; how can you generalize? As for the three glasses—I’ve done my part. You do as you please.
