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JaneVera's Pov

“Why?” I asked, curiosity lacing my tone, trying to sound casual. After all, it shouldn’t be a big deal since it was his nephew’s engagement party, and as the uncle, he should be there too.

Ceasar blinked, incredulous. “You really want me to…?” His voice cut off, sharp with disbelief. “I’ve told everyone I won’t have anything to do with him. I don’t want that traitor’s face near me. And if I go there with you… it proves I’m a man who breaks his word.”

He exhaled, dragging a hand through his hair as he paced a step back. “Do you have any idea how ridiculous that sounds?” he said finally. “Every camera in that room will be on me. On us. I’m already a headline waiting to happen, and you want me to hand them the scandal gift-wrapped?”

I met his gaze and held it, refusing to flinch as he stared back, eyes narrowing. “It’s reckless, Vera. Public. Risky as hell,” he said, each word sharp, deliberate. “You’re asking me to walk into a room full of people who’d pay to watch me burn and smile while doing it.”

For a long beat the room narrowed to the two of us and the fragile deal between us. I thought of Neven’s warning, of how he’d laughed off the idea of Caesar showing up if invited. That only made my resolve harder. If I could convince him to show up at the engagement party, even if it was for a a minute, it would be enough to humiliate Neven in a way he couldn’t shake. The idea of Caesar, arriving with me on his arm and Neven seeing us together would sting him deeper than any insult I could fling.

I steadied my voice and stepped forward, closing some of the distance between us. “Tomorrow’s engagement is the perfect stage,” I said, quiet but fierce. “Everyone will be there. Neven, his family, the press and If you come with me, it won’t just embarrass him. It will humiliate him in front of everyone. That’s the kind of revenge that actually gets to him.”

Ceasar scoffed, a short, hard sound. “So you want public humiliation? Revenge as theater?” His tone was harsh and incredulous. “And you expect me to go with you? Walk into a room full of cameras and vultures?”

I didn’t let him finish. The words tumbled out of me urgently, “Yes, but I’m not asking you to humiliate yourself. I’m asking you to come and just be there with me. You won’t stoop to his level. You’ll own the room. You’ll make him look small without lowering yourself. You can make him squirm in a way I never could alone.”

He opened his mouth, clearly ready to object, but I pressed on, hands tightening at my sides. “And you get what you wanted, a seven days contract agreement with me, your terms, your control. I sign, and I’ll be yours for a week. After that, we both walk away clean. No theatrics, no aftermath. I give you what you asked for, you give me one day of revenge. That’s all.”

I let the offer hang between us, then, softer, nearly pleading, I added, “Please, Caesar. Just this once. Make him look up. Make him feel small in front of everyone. Do that for me, and I’ll sign. I swear I’ll burn the page clean afterward. Let me have this one thing.”

He regarded me for a long beat, weighing me. I felt the need to press on, to make it sound smaller than it was. “It’s not a big deal, Caesar… just Neven’s engagement party.”

He froze for a second, then took a slow step back, disbelief etching his features. “You can’t be serious Vera,” he said at last, voice flat but edged with warning. “It’s reckless taking you out in public, especially to something like that. Everyone will assume we’re together.” His tone dropped colder. “And I don’t take women out in public for a reason.” He paused, jaw flexing. “And I don’t want that traitor’s face near me. Not in my sight.”

I swallowed but didn’t back down. “If I sign,” I said quietly, “you must agree to come with me to the engagement or I won't sign it.”

He narrowed his eyes. “Why?”

“Because I was invited,” I blurted, too quickly but his expression told me he didn’t buy it.

“Lying is one thing I hate,” Ceasar said smoothly. “And that’s exactly what you’re doing.”

Cornered, I exhaled sharply. “Fine,” I admitted. “Neven told me to get you to come to prove I mean something to you.”

His brow lifted, “Prove?” he echoed, then let out a humorless chuckle. “So this is all about him.”

“It’s also the only way to make… whatever this is look real,” I said, forcing the words out.

He tilted his head, studying me like a problem to be solved. “Relationship?” he repeated, one brow raised. The smirk shifted into something harder, more knowing. “You told my nephew about us, didn’t you?”

My throat went dry.

Caesar stepped closer, his voice low and dangerous. “So last night… it was all because of him,” he said, pausing briefly as if trying to fix together a puzzle. Then, after a slow, deliberate beat, he added, “He sent you… to use me, didn’t he?”

“What? No! Listen, Caesar, I can explain…” I started, my voice rushing out, desperate and defensive.

Caesar cut me off before I could finish, his tone slicing through the air like a blade. “Explain what, kitten? That this was all part of your little plan with Neven?” His eyes darkened, burning with a restrained fury. “Neven knew I wouldn’t come and that’s why he sent you to me, isn’t it? To lure me in. To use me.” His voice dropped lower and colder, “I don’t let people use me, especially not for something as petty as revenge. And I sure as hell don’t waste my time on childish weddings meant for show. I have better things to do than entertain my niece’s little engagement spectacle.” His final words landed like a slap, sharp and stinging pain that seemed to pierce straight through my chest.