The explanation rose to my lips, but I stopped myself from saying it.
Telling him the truth would only make things worse.
With Adrian's ego, there was no way he'd believe this was my wedding. In his mind, it would instantly turn into something else, something twisted into a story where I was being forced.
And once he convinced himself of that?
He wouldn't just cause a scene, he would tear everything apart.
It wasn't worth the risk.
"I'm not here to make trouble," I said finally, my tone flat. "And I'm definitely not here for you."
I didn't linger on him, just met his eyes briefly before adding, "I have something important to do."
Adrian's expression darkened, irritation flashing across his face.
"Claire, don't push your luck," he said coldly. "There's a limit to how far you can ta
