Chapter 3

With Cristian's approval, everyone grew even more frenzied. Someone rushed over, shoved me to the ground, and forced my head down toward Cristian's lap.

My dress slipped off my shoulders as they pushed me forward, exposing my cleavage and bare skin to Cristian, who was looking down at me.

"Let her go."

Desire flickered in his eyes. He shoved Tatiana aside, and everyone froze.

Cristian leaned down and grabbed my chin. He whispered close to my ear, his voice strained and hoarse, "I know you don't have a damn husband, Aria. Come back to me. Otherwise you'll always be nothing but a cheap bitch in heat."

I stared into his eyes, gritting out each word with venom, "In your dreams!"

The desire in his eyes instantly turned to rage.

"Continue!" His furious shout echoed through the room.

They pinned me down even harder. Someone poured an entire bottle of liquor over my head, drenching my body. I screamed and struggled to get up, but Tatiana stomped down on me. Her heel ground into my face, nearly crushing it.

"Crazy bitch, still trying to fight back? You better lick my shoes clean right now. Otherwise, you're not leaving this room today."

"You're the crazy one! I'm the Donna of the Rossi family. My husband Vincenzo is Don Rossi, and you're making me lick your shoes?"

I thought they'd stop their nonsense once they heard my identity. Instead, they exchanged glances and burst into even wilder laughter.

"You really won't give up, will you? You didn't even finish school, you show up at a bar dressed like a hooker, and you dare claim to be the Rossi family's Donna? Aren't you afraid the Don will come after you?"

"You're the Don's wife? Yeah, and I'm the Queen! Today we're going to teach you a lesson, you lying, shameless slut!"

Malice flashed in Michela's eyes. She grabbed an empty bottle from the table and hurled it at me.

The bottle shattered on impact. Pain and dizziness washed over me. Blood streamed down from the gash on my forehead.

"Enough!"

Something like reluctance flickered in Cristian's eyes. He called them off sharply and snapped at Michela, "Who told you to do that?"

Everyone went still. Michela flinched back under his rebuke, while Tatiana glared at me with pure hatred.

The next second, Cristian pulled me up from the floor. He pressed a handkerchief against my wound almost gently.

"See, Aria? I'm the only one who's ever been able to stop them and protect you—both then and now. You must be terrified if you're making up something so ridiculous. If someone was really protecting you, why would you need to lie about being married to Don Rossi?

"Just give in. These people all have power and connections. They'll only listen to me. Toying with a cheap whore like you would be nothing to them."

Rage burned through me. I bit my lip hard, fighting through the dizziness. "How… how dare you…"

He smiled and pulled me in front of him, pointing to a hidden door in the corner of the room. He whispered in my ear, "See that little room? You're much more beautiful than before, and you're especially sexy today. To these animals, you look like a delicious dessert.

"Trust me, the second I give them permission, these guys will drag you in there and tear you apart. Only I can save you."

I looked up. The male classmates surrounding me leered with predatory smiles. Their eyes roamed over my exposed skin like hungry beasts ready to devour me whole.

Fear seized me. I shrank back instinctively and bumped into Cristian's arms.

Triumph gleamed in his eyes. Seeing this, Tatiana's face twisted with jealousy. She kicked me hard in the stomach.

"Damn it! You filthy whore! You're trying to seduce my man right in front of me!"