Chapter 4

Dante turned toward me, casually letting his gaze linger on my face for a couple of seconds. "Who are you? And what gave you the nerve to mess with someone I care about?"

I blinked, almost amused. Our engagement party was happening today, and he didn't even recognize me. Apparently, he really had no interest in marrying me at all.

"Dante, she probably thinks she can use that pretty face of hers to seduce you." Juliet stepped between us, looking up at him with an aggrieved expression as she spoke in a soft, petulant voice.

"You're already getting engaged, but there are still so many women throwing themselves at you. I wonder what your future wife thinks about that. And I wonder… if she'll even tolerate me being around…"

Dante chuckled and gently stroked her hair. "Don't worry, Juliet. Even after I marry that woman, you'll still be the only one I care about.

"When the time comes, I'll have you move in with us. Then we can be together every day. Besides, once she's married to me, she'll be my wife. Of course she'll have to do as I say. She'll have no choice but to accept you."

Juliet's face immediately lit up.

The guests exchanged glances and began whispering among themselves.

"Dante really does spoil Juliet… I feel sorry for his future wife."

"That's how marriages between powerful families work, isn't it? Both sides get what they want. I'm sure Ms. Moretti knows what she's getting into."

"Still, with those two acting like this, she's probably going to be miserable every single day…"

I heard every word, and my anger rose with each one.

According to my father, Dante had always been the perfect gentleman whenever they met. He was polite, refined, and impeccably mannered. I never imagined he could be this shameless in private.

There was no way I was marrying a man like him.

With that thought, I took a deep breath and immediately pulled out my phone to text my father.

"What do you think you're doing?" The moment Juliet noticed, she suddenly rushed toward me. "Trying to call someone to come save you? After what you did to me today, no one is going to save you!

"And you still think you can seduce Dante? Someone, teach her a lesson! Ruin that pretty face of hers, and let's see how she seduces anyone then!"

My eyes widened.

I could have handled the bodyguards from earlier. But these men were different. They were professionals Dante had brought with him, and there was no way I could take them all on.

"Don't come any closer!" I backed away, panic beginning to set in. "Do you even know who I am? Dante Rizzo, I'm warning you, tell them to back off! I'm…"

"I don't care who you are. You went after Juliet, so you deserve whatever happens to you." Dante gave me a dismissive glance and, without another thought, jerked his chin toward the men.

The next second, they closed in around me. Fists came swinging toward me from every direction.

I instinctively squeezed my eyes shut.

"Stop!" Just as they were about to hit me, a furious roar rang through the ballroom.

Everyone froze. My eyes flew open, and I turned toward the voice.

My father was striding toward us, his face livid and his entire demeanor radiating fury. He glared at Dante. "You bastard! What do you think you're doing to my daughter?"