CHAPTER 10 — UNDER THE STARS

Alexander

“I’m not quitting,” she snapped, voice trembling with anger and something deeper. “That job means everything to me, Alexander. Everything.”

Chiara was fuming -her cheeks flushed, her arms folded tightly over her chest, her back straight, chin raised in that stubborn way of hers that both infuriated and fascinated me. The moonlight cast a copper sheen over the waves tumbling past her shoulders. She looked fragile — and yet, there was nothing fragile about her stance right now.

She had excused herself from the table as soon as my mom dropped the bombshell.There was no talking Margaux out of it.Couldn't say I blame her anyways.I excused myself shortly after and met her on the balcony spitting flames of anger.

Business was business and I saw mom's point in Chiara quitting her job.There was no way I'll let her work for that shoddy company while being hitched to me

I was in a very foul mood right now This evening wasn't going so well for me.What with mom springing Amelia in me and the absence of Jaxon whom Amelia had whispered into my ear would rather die than resign himself to the charade of sitting down with mom to dinner like a regular loving family.I already knew he wouldn't show up .

There was nothing regular about this family

- yet Amelia had found a way to make me smile this evening.

That's why I fell for her in the first place.Her witty ability to leave me bemused and amused at the same time.

I could only thank God Olivia,my step mom had decided not to show up. There's only so much as I could take in one evening

I pinched the bridge of my nose, exhaling. “Chiara—”

“No,” she cut in sharply, eyes flashing up at me. “If being hitched to you means giving up the one thing I’ve worked my entire life for, then maybe it's better we kiss this charade goodbye.”

I spun sharply . “Don’t be ridiculous,Chiara.”

She met my glare without flinching. “I’m not your puppet, Alexander. I don’t want your money, and I’m not going to pretend to be some Nepo baby's fiancée while your mother watches me like I’m waiting to slip my hand into her safe.”

I almost smiled — God, she had no idea what she looked like when she was angry: defiant, flushed, breathing hard, fire simmering under her skin.

I said nothing.

“I’m serious,” she fired again. “I won’t just sit around eating your money while your mother smirks and calls me a gold digger. I can’t.”

I dragged a hand through my hair, fighting the urge to shout. I didn’t blame her — she had every right to be furious — but Margaux’s demand had left us both cornered.

“I’m trying to protect you,” I said, stepping closer. “If you defy her now-.”

“I don’t care,” she cut in stubbornly.I blinked in astonishment “I won’t let anyone take away what I built.”

She dared cut me off in a statement.I closed my eyes on a prayer for patience.

I reminded myself that there was more flies caught with honey than vinegar

“Chiara…” I sighed, forcing my tone softer. “Look, if you quit, I’ll make sure you’re taken care of. I’ll put millions in your account. You’ll never have to worry about money again.”

Her head snapped toward me, eyes narrowing. “And what would that make me, then? The exact thing she already thinks I am.”

I clenched my jaw. “That’s not what I meant.”

But she wasn’t listening. Her useless cheap pride remained firm.

So I tried another approach. “Fine,” I said quietly. “Then let me take care of your parents. I’ll make sure they’re comfortable, safe — whatever they need.”

Her expression faltered for the first time.

I highfived myself mentally.

“My parents?” she whispered, uncertain.

“Yes,” I pressed gently. “Let me help them. This is just temporary. You can go back to your old job anytime as soon as we go our separate ways or come work for me for a while — we’ll make it look like a transfer. That way, the money I give you won’t look suspicious. It’ll all make sense to her.”

She was wavering now, chewing her lip, eyes darting toward the mansion where Margaux waited. “I don’t like this.”

“Neither do I,” I admitted. “But it’s the only way to keep you out of her crosshairs. You can get someone to fill your position in the company until this whole charade ends. Then, you’ll go back to your life exactly as it was.”

A long silence fell between us — onlu the twittering of twilight insect echoed around us

Finally, she exhaled, her hands fell to her sides limply “Fine,” she muttered. “But this doesn’t mean I’m happy about it.”

“I never said you had to be.”

She shot me a glare, but there was a hint of reluctant surrender in her eyes.

When we returned to the dining room, Margaux barely hid her satisfaction.

“So,” she said, dabbing at her lips with a napkin. “You’ll be resigning first thing tomorrow?”

Chiara nodded stiffly. “Yes, ma’am.”

“Good.” Margaux smiled thinly. “That’s settled, then.”

Dinner dragged on with meaningless small talk. Chiara stayed quiet through it all, and I couldn’t decide whether I admired her restraint or was repulsed by it.

Amelia stood up announcing her departure.Mom begged her to stay for the night ,she shot me a catlike smirk , I pretended not to notice

“Goodnight, Alex,” she said pointedly.

I staed at her mischievous smile and found my lips begin to twitch. I nodded and she was gone.

By the time the last dish was cleared, it was already past eleven. Driving Chiara back to her apartment was out of the question.

“You’ll stay here tonight,” I said.

“I’ll be fine taking a cab-”

“Chiara,"I cut in enunciating every word to emphasize the finality of my words.”You're staying here."

She glared but didn’t argue. Just crossed her arms and muttered something under her breath that sounded like ‘overbearing bastard.

I found myself strangely amused by her petty defiance when I should be bloody raging.

I led her upstairs, down the long marble hallway that echoed with the faint hum of the air conditioner. When we reached one of the guest rooms, she paused at the door.

“This is… beautiful,” she murmured breathlessly, stepping in.

The room was bathed in soft gold light, dominated by a four-poster bed draped in ivory silk and pink fluffy pillows.I walked at the sight .

“I can’t stay here,” she said quickly. “People will think—”

“Exactly,” I interrupted staring at her plumb lips and shrugged off my jacket “They’ll think what they’re supposed to think.”