4. She is mine

I chugged the entire glass of wine in one go, trying to gulp down the humiliation with it, but it still burnt my skin.

My hold on the glass tightened so much that I was afraid I might shatter it in my bare hand.

I knew it wasn't going to be easy to manipulate Dante. I couldn't just walk into the lion's den and make him do whatever I wanted, but I hated the way he had thrown me away..As if I meant nothing to him.

I swallowed down another drink.

Of course I don't mean anything to him. And the feeling is mutual!

I was trying to calm my nerves when a sudden hustle and bustle broke out among the paparazzi. All of them rushed toward the man who walked into the party as if he owned the world.

Dante Salvatore.

And this time, he wasn't alone. A tall blonde woman in a skintight emerald dress was clinging to his arm. She was Lara, the only daughter of an influential arms dealer.

But no matter who was wrapped around his arm, Dante’s dark, deadly eyes were locked directly on me.

"You look far too breathtaking to be standing all by yourself." A smooth, familiar voice broke through my thoughts from behind.

I turned my head to find Daniel Salvatore standing there. He was Dante's younger cousin and my batchmate from college.

Dante had never liked me talking to Daniel back then—not even as a friend.

My eyes shifted back to Dante, and I instantly caught the subtle shift in his expression.

Bingo.

Two can play this game, dear husband.

"Daniel," I purred, tilting my head and bringing a fake, brilliant smile to my lips. "What a pleasant surprise."

Daniel’s eyes flashed with genuine delight. Unlike Dante, who carried himself like a brooding storm, Daniel was all charisma. He always wore that playful smirk that could make almost any girl go weak at the knees.

He reached out for my hand and planted a soft kiss on the back of my knuckles.

"I feel honored that you remember me, Clara," he said, his tone surprisingly sincere.

I chuckled. "You are too hard to forget, Daniel."

"You too, Clara."

He held my hand a moment longer as he stared into my eyes. I cleared my throat gently to bring him back to reality.

"Oh, sorry." He pulled his hand back quickly and ran a hand through his hair, a nervous habit he had kept for years. "I heard about your father... I felt terrible when I found out who was behind it."

I looked down, fidgeting with my fingers. That had been the darkest period of my life, and I hated when anyone brought it up.

"It's okay, Clara," Daniel added softly. "Not everyone knows how to take care of precious things."

I looked up and offered him a tight smile. Suddenly, the tempo of the music shifted, and the look in his eyes changed with it. "May I have this dance, Clara?"

In college, Daniel had tried multiple times to get close to me, but because of Dante, I had never allowed it. Right now, though, it was the ultimate weapon.

Opportunity didn't just knock; it threw the door wide open. Without hesitation, I slipped my hand into his.

"Sure."

Daniel grinned from ear to ear, looking like he had just won a prized competition. He led me out onto the polished marble dance floor, right into the center of the room and straight into Dante's line of sight.

At first, we kept a respectable distance between us. But as the music deepened into a slow, rhythmic beat, Daniel pulled me closer.

One of his hands rested firmly on the bare skin of my lower back, while his other hand locked tightly with mine.

In any other situation, I would have taken a step back. Instead, I leaned into him. I could feel an intense, burning gaze tracking every move on my bare skin, and I knew exactly who it belonged to.

Let him watch. It's worth the view.

I chuckled internally, swaying my hips to the beat and letting Daniel take the lead.

I flinched slightly when Daniel pulled me even closer, resting his forehead against mine.

"You've grown into such a beautiful woman, Clara," he murmured.

I could feel his warm breath fanning across my face. He was clearly a little drunk, his guard completely down.

"I never got the chance to tell you, but..."

Before he could finish his sentence, I was violently torn away from him.

A sharp gasp of surprise escaped my lips as iron fingers clamped around my wrist.

Dante stood beside us, glaring at Daniel with pure, unadulterated hatred. He held my wrist so tight I thought he might snap it in two. His grip was even harsher than his hands on my throat had been earlier, transferring all his rage directly into my skin. I bit my lip, refusing to make a sound as the music abruptly cut out and the entire ballroom fell dead silent.

Every single guest and paparazzi lens turned straight toward us.

A small, painful hiss escaped my teeth as he twisted my wrist slightly.

"Easy, brother," Daniel spoke up, concern filling his eyes. "You're hurting her."

"You are no one to tell me what to do," Dante spat.

Daniel's expression shifted from concerned to furious in a fraction of a second. "And you are no one to..."

"I am her husband!" Dante roared over him.

My eyes widened, my head snapped towards him at a speed faster than lightening. Flashes erupted instantly as the paparazzi began capturing every second for tomorrow morning's headlines.

I had wanted him to claim me publicly so he would have no choice but to keep me close, but I had never expected him to snap this quickly or this violently.

Daniel stared at us in complete disbelief. "Clara... what is he...?"

Dante shoved me behind his massive frame, completely blocking me from view.

"She is mine!" Dante's voice echoed through the entire hall, loud enough to shake the floorboards. "My wife!"

The room went dead silent. Even the flashing cameras froze for a fraction of a second.

And before I know I was pulled out of the hall with Dante holding my wrist.