Rich Radiant and Over Him (Alicia and Vincent) novel Chapter 77

Vincent slumped onto the leather sofa, exhaustion etched across his face.

Tonight's gathering was organized by Franklin, who'd called in Vincent and a few other sons of Seaview City's elite families. The mood was supposed to be relaxed, a friendly get-together, but tension lingered in the air the moment Vincent arrived.

"Word is you and Tyrone are at each other's throats now?" The news of Vincent's fallout with Tyrone had spread like wildfire. Franklin figured if they all sat down together—friends who moved in the same circles—maybe he could smooth things over.

"Mr. Lawson, what's going on between you and Tyrone?" one of the guys asked, genuinely puzzled.

The Lawsons and the Lynches had always kept to their own lanes, never crossing swords. So why the sudden storm?

"Is it because of that girl? The college student you've been keeping?" another friend chimed in, half-joking, half-curious.

"You're really going to fall out with Tyrone over a fling? If he's interested, just let him have her. Everyone knows Tyrone's crazy—you really want to go up against him?"

Everyone in their crowd understood—if there was anyone you didn't want to offend, it was Tyrone Lynch. The man played for keeps, and he never pulled his punches.

"It's not like that…" Vincent rubbed his brow, his voice low and tired.

It was too late for denial, though.

"Not like that? Didn't you say—"

Franklin shot the guy a warning glare, silently telling him to back off.

"We were dating," Vincent admitted with a bitter smile.

After four years, he was finally willing to say it out loud—he and Alicia had been in a relationship all this time.

But now, it all felt too late.

"You're serious?" The guys stared at him, shocked.

Vincent—the one who never let anything get under his skin—actually cared?

"Tyrone just posted a marriage certificate online. Don't tell me he married the girl you've been seeing for four years?" Franklin asked, eyes wide with disbelief.

His family was pressuring him to fix it, to get Mira out as soon as possible.

But the thought of hurting Alicia tore at him.

On one side was Alicia. On the other, his own sister.

Vincent was trapped, unable to choose.

"If Alicia won't back down—and with Tyrone in her corner—getting Mira off the hook won't be easy," Franklin sighed. "Look, Tyrone's coming back to Seaview City in a few days. I'll set something up, get everyone together, talk it out. It's just about a woman—shouldn't let it ruin friendships."

Vincent was silent for a long moment before finally speaking. "Franklin…I think I'm losing it too. I don't want to marry Mina anymore."

Just outside the room, Mina's hand froze on the doorknob. She stood rooted to the spot, her whole body rigid, her breath trembling.

She'd just heard Vincent say he didn't want to marry her.