CHAPTER TWO

TWO DAYS LATER:

Elena's hands trembled as she fastened the clasp of her necklace. She stared at her reflection in the mirror. She looked pale and exhausted, as though she hadn't truly rested in days.

Her thighs still ached faintly, a fading bruise marked her waist where his grip had been too tight, and her skin remained hypersensitive from his touch. No matter how many showers she took, the memories clung to her.

Every time she closed her eyes, they returned without mercy. She hated the guilt weighing on her chest, and even more, she hated that forgetting wasn't as easy as she'd hoped.

Tonight made everything worse. She wasn't just seeing Adrian. She had to stand beside him, smile at his family, and pretend nothing had changed. Pretend she was still the faithful woman he'd asked to marry him.

Elena drew in a slow breath, forced a smile, and walked downstairs. The Dimitri estate glittered beneath crystal chandeliers, its marble floors reflecting soft golden light as waiters moved quietly through the gathering with trays of champagne.

Adrian waited at the bottom of the stairs, looking handsome and relaxed, wearing the easy smile she'd once fallen for. "You look perfect," he said warmly before leaning in to kiss her cheek.

Her smile held, but something inside her tightened. He hadn't kissed her lips. Maybe it meant nothing. Maybe he simply didn't notice the distance growing between them. Adrian had always believed what he wanted to believe.

He saw the version of life that made sense to him and rarely questioned what lay beneath it. He didn't notice the hesitation in her smile or the way her body stiffened whenever he came too close.

Offering his arm, he smiled again. "Come on. My father will be here any minute. You'll finally get to meet him now that he's back after five years."

His father. It unsettled her more than she cared to admit. She reminded herself that people crossed paths with strangers every day. The odds of seeing him again were almost impossible. Still, the uneasiness refused to leave.

Conversations gradually faded as attention shifted toward the entrance. A tall, broad-shouldered man stepped inside. His gaze swept calmly across the room, acknowledging each guest with a nod. Then his eyes locked on hers. Elena's knees nearly buckled.

Him. The shape of his jaw, the familiar curve of his mouth, and those unmistakable eyes erased every doubt. He was the man from two nights ago. The man she'd spent the last two days trying to forget. He's Adrian's father, Roth Dimitri?

The realization made her stomach knot. She hadn't seen him in person since she and Adrian started dating three years ago. His father was never around. He was a busy man. A fucking billionaire whose influence was felt by everyone but known personally by very few.

Her champagne glass slipped from her fingers and shattered against the marble floor. The sharp crack echoed through the room, drawing everyone's attention.

"Elena?" Adrian's voice sounded distant. He glanced at the broken glass before signaling one of the staff to clean it up, completely unaware the woman beside him looked as though she'd forgotten how to breathe.

Roth's expression didn't falter. His face gave nothing away, his eyes devoured her. A slow, knowing look that promised she still belonged to him, no matter the glittering ring on her finger.

"Elena," Adrian said cheerfully, leading her forward, "this is my father, Roth Dimitri."

Every instinct urged her to run before anyone noticed the panic on her face. But Roth extended his hand, leaving her no choice but to take it.

His palm engulfed hers, rough and warm, sending a jolt up her arm. "Pleasure," he said smoothly, though his voice carried the same rasp she remembered from that night.

Elena's lips parted, but no sound came. Adrian smiled, completely unaware of the tension between them. "Father, this is Elena. My future wife."

"Future wife, huh?" Roth's thumb brushed lightly over her knuckles, sending a shiver up her spine. His mouth curved slightly, a private smirk meant only for her before he looked at his son. "I know. You told me you would introduce her today."

To anyone else, the words meant nothing. To Elena, they changed everything. Her chest tightened as shame tangled with emotions she didn't want to acknowledge.

Every minute at the table tested her composure. Adrian talked about business expansions, investments, and charity galas while Roth sat across from her, silent and watchful. Every glance made her feel exposed. She couldn't ignore his presence no matter where she looked.

At one point, Roth reached for his glass, his fingers deliberately grazing the stem of hers. She jerked, nearly knocking over her wine. Adrian frowned. "You okay?"

Elena forced a laugh. "Just a little nervous. Big night."

The faint smile on Roth's face told her he understood exactly why she was nervous. After dinner, Adrian excused himself to speak with an old business partner while Elena slipped into the corridor, desperate for a moment away from the crowded room and the constant effort of pretending everything was normal.

Silence wrapped around the hallway as she rested one hand against the wall and closed her eyes. Guilt settled heavily over her chest. Before she could turn back, a shadow blocked her path.

Roth stepped into the dim hallway, towering over her, his body filling the space. "Going somewhere, little dirty fiancée?" His voice was low, edged with danger.

Her heart thundered. "Stay away from me."

Roth leaned closer, his warm breath brushing her ear. "After what happened between us, do you think I could?"

Elena swallowed, her throat suddenly dry. "It was a mistake. It can't happen again."

Roth chuckled softly. "Mistake? You begged for me. You weren't pretending. That wasn't a mistake. That was your truth."

Her cheeks burned. "If Adrian ever finds out—"

"He won't," Roth cut in, bracing one hand against the wall, trapping her in place. "Because you'll keep quiet. You'll smile and play the perfect fiancée. And all the while, you'll remember me."

Elena's breath stuttered as his words dragged every memory back to the surface. "Stop," she whispered.

"You don't want me to stop." His hand trailed down her arm, stopping just above her waist. "You want me to remind you who you really think about, even while you wear his ring."

She shivered. "This is wrong."

"Wrong," he murmured, his lips inches from hers, "is what makes it unforgettable."

Footsteps echoed down the corridor. Roth stepped back instantly, his expression returning to normal as though nothing had happened.

Adrian reappeared with a warm smile. "There you are. Father, are you stealing my fiancée already?"

The tension was unbearable. Elena forced a laugh, but her heart pounded so loudly she was certain they could both hear it.

Roth chuckled, though his tone remained smooth. "Just making conversation with her."

But Elena knew better. Conversation wasn't what passed between them. It was a forbidden fire neither of them could put out. And the worst part? She wasn't sure she wanted to.