Persuading Him

"Maybe you should," came her unexpected reply. Dante glanced up at her, a frown creasing his brow.

"You want me to take a fiancee too?" he asked, his countenance hardening into a stern mask of shock. She averted her gaze, unable to meet his eyes.

"That's the only way out," she explained, gazing blankly at the wall behind him. Dante clenched his jaw. His appetite vanishing in an instant.

"Who says that?" he shouted, making her flinch. Wide eyes, she gaped at him as he seethed with barely restrained fury. This was the first time he had let his anger slip before her. But what could he do? The whole world was already conspiring to wrench them apart and now she was also advocating them. How could she be so cool suggesting that when he couldn't even imagine a moment without her? The ache of that possibility twisted in his gut, igniting an anger he couldn't contain.

She swallowed, not having expected such an explosive reaction from him.

"People will forget about the scandal if you presen