FAZER LOGINRhea's Pov Monte, who had been standing in the shadows, finally stepped forward. His face was a mask of cold fury, his hands clenched at his sides. "This is slander," he growled, his voice echoing through the hall. "You’re slandering us in front of the entire city. Do you have any idea what the legal repercussions are for this? You say we worked together? Provide the evidence, Rhea. Or be prepared to spend the rest of your life in a cell."I looked at Monte, then back at Sally. I felt a slow, dark smile spreading across my lips."Evidence?" I repeated softly. "You want evidence?"I looked toward the center of the hall, where a massive, state-of-the-art television screen had been set up to display a montage of Giovanni family history later in the evening. The guests followed my gaze, their breath hitched in their chests."I’m so glad you asked," I said. I raised my hand and clapped twice. The lights in the hall dimmed automatically, and the massive screen hummed to life. The high-defi
Rhea's Pov The gasps this time were deafening. Sally turned deathly pale, her mouth hanging open as she struggled to find air. Beatrice looked as if she might faint, her eyes darting around the room as her social standing evaporated in a single sentence."You speak of 'outsiders' and 'family values,'" Laziel continued, his voice dripping with disdain. "But you are nothing more than a vulgar opportunist wrapped in expensive clothing. Your presence here is an affront to the word 'family.' You are not a grandmother, not at all. You're a scourge to this earth, if we had less people like you, maybe the world would be a better place.” Beatrice opened her mouth to screech a retort, her face twisted in a mask of indignant rage, but Sally’s hand clamped down on her daughter’s arm like a vice. I watched Sally’s face closely. The muscles in her jaw were tight, and I could see the angry twitch of her lips, a frantic, rhythmic pulsing that betrayed fury that was boiling in her heart. She looked
Rhea's Pov The tension in the Grand Hall was like fire licking at the skin of people. The air felt thick and charged with the electricity that Sally threw at me with her eyes. I felt Neveah’s small fingers tighten around mine. I pulled her closer, my body was a shield between her and the venomous women standing before us.Beatrice Taylor looked like a woman possessed. The way I had dismissed her mother had been her last straw. She stepped forward. "You've got a lot of nerve," Beatrice spat, her voice vibrating angrily. She looked me up and down, her eyes lingering on my jewelry and my gown as if they were stolen goods. "A commoner like you shouldn't even have the guts to stand in front of us, let alone speak. Do you really think that wearing a designer dress and standing in this hall makes you one of us, Rhea? Look at yourself. You’re a nobody. If it wasn't for you clinging onto the Giovanni family like a starving parasite, would you really have any relevance at all? You’d be back in
Rhea's PovThe banquet was in full force, the Grand Hall of the Giovanni estate transformed into a sea of silk, diamonds, and forced laughter. Music drifted through the air, and the scent of expensive perfume was almost suffocating.Laziel was in his element, moving through the crowd with a practiced ease, greeting guests and maintaining the family’s image. I thought it would be hard for him to socialise but all my worries were not needed. I stood near the center of the hall, playing my part. I greeted guests with polite, measured smiles, but my eyes never stopped moving. I was on high alert. Neveah was right beside me, her small hand tucked into mine. I had instructed the guards to stay within five paces of us at all times, but even with the added security, I felt a prickle of unease at the back of my neck.As I nodded to a local politician, I noticed Marco standing off to the side, deep in conversation with Jeremy. They weren't even pretending to enjoy the party. Their gazes were f
Alaric's Pov She became bolder, her hand moving toward my belt, her lips grazing my jawline. The disrespect, the sheer audacity of her touch on a body that belonged only to Rhea, triggered something deep inside me."Leave," I growled, the word vibrating in my chest."Don't be like that," she whispered, her fingers fumbling with my buttons. "You know you want me, so stop pretending. Your wife won't say anything about it. After all, there are men who cheat and still stay with their wives, it's just a one night stand, it doesn't mean a thing. After today, I won't appear in front of you anymore. You and your wife will still live in harmony if she doesn't hear about this from anyone. So just…” My hand shot out, moving with a speed born of pure adrenaline. I caught her by the throat, my fingers digging into the soft skin of her neck. Her eyes widened, the predatory smirk vanishing instantly into a look of sheer terror as I forced her upward. I squeezed her neck, just enough to let her fee
Alaric's Pov “Mr. Alaric.”I didn’t look up immediately. I already knew that tone, overly warm, overly eager. When I finally lifted my gaze, two figures stood before me: a man in his late fifties with a wide, ingratiating smile, and beside him, a young woman dressed elegantly in a deep wine-colored gown. She was beautiful in a polished, deliberate way. The kind meant to impress.They both raised their glasses.“To Mr. Alaric,” the man said cheerfully. “A pleasure doing business with you.”I lifted my glass in response and took a measured drink. It was a form of courtesy and nothing more. Today was the business dinner I told Rhea about and after I leave this place, I'm flying back to Rhea. It's been almost four days since I last saw her and staying here any longer is going to make me lose my fucking mind. At least, there was some peace and quiet, then these ones came. The man chuckled and gestured toward the woman beside him. “Allow me to introduce my daughter, Celeste.”Her lips cur







