Chapter 4

Aiden held Kingsley’s wrist effortlessly, his expression hidden beneath the mask.

The entire balcony fell silent.

Ella stared at him in shock.

The callboy!.What is he doing here?, everything was going through Ella's thought.

The tension in the air became suffocating.

“What the hell?” Kingsley barked, trying unsuccessfully to free himself.

Aiden’s voice came out cold and dangerous.

“How dare you try to lay your hands on a woman?”

Kingsley glared at him. “This is between me and my wife.”

“And that gives you the right to hit her?”

The guests began whispering louder now.

Phones slowly appeared.

People loved scandals.

Especially rich people scandals.

“Let go of me,” Kingsley snarled.

Aiden tilted his head slightly. “Don’t you have regard for women?”

The question humiliated Kingsley even further because everyone was watching now.

Ella noticed something strange then.

Aiden wasn’t nervous.

Not even slightly.

In fact… he looked completely comfortable standing among the elite guests at the Roberts ball.

Too comfortable.

A dangerous thought entered her mind.

Who exactly is this man?

“Kingsley,” Kourtney whispered urgently, “people are staring.”

But Kingsley’s pride was already shattered.

“I can clearly see Ella is cheating on me,” he announced loudly, making sure everyone heard him. “She brought her boyfriend to the Robert ball.”

Gasps spread across the balcony.

Ella felt heat rush to her face.

“You’re unbelievable,” she muttered.

Kourtney folded her arms smugly. “Ella, you really brought your boyfriend here to fight for you? Is that what’s going on?”

Ella opened her mouth to deny it.

But Aiden spoke first.

“I’m not threatening you,” he said calmly to Kingsley. “I just want to teach you to respect a woman. Because what kind of man still raises his hand against a woman in this century?”

His voice remained steady.

Controlled.

But beneath it was something darker.

Something dangerous.

Kingsley finally pulled his wrist free, though everyone could see it only happened because Aiden allowed it.

“You have no idea who you’re dealing with,” Kingsley warned.

Aiden chuckled softly.

The sound sent chills down Ella’s spine.

“That makes two of us.”

The statement confused everyone.

But before Kingsley could respond, an older businessman suddenly approached the balcony entrance. The moment his eyes landed on Aiden, his entire expression changed.

Shock.

Then recognition.

“Mr…”

Aiden shot him a single glance.

The man immediately stopped talking.

Ella noticed it instantly.

So did Kingsley.

The businessman quickly cleared his throat awkwardly and walked away.

Ella’s heart began pounding harder.

What was that?

Why did that man look terrified?

Aiden adjusted the cuff of his black suit casually before turning toward Ella.

“You should go inside before this becomes an even bigger scene.”

Ella stared at him speechlessly.

Nothing about this man made sense anymore.

Not his confidence.

Not the way powerful people reacted around him.

Not the expensive watch hidden beneath his sleeve.

And definitely not the way Kingsley suddenly looked uncertain standing in front of him.

Who are you?

The question echoed loudly inside her mind.

But Ella knew asking now would only make things worse.

The entire ballroom was already watching them.

Whispers spread through every corner like poison.

“Kingsley’s wife brought another man.”

“Did you see the way he stopped him?”

“Who is that masked man?”

Ella suddenly felt exhausted.

She was tired of scandals.

Tired of pretending.

Tired of fighting battles alone.

Without another word, she turned away from them all.

“Ella” Kingsley called after her.

But she didn’t stop walking.

She walked through the ballroom with her head high despite the stares burning into her skin. Every step felt heavier than the last.

Behind her, the tension continued.

Kingsley glared furiously at Aiden while Kourtney tried desperately to calm him down.

“You embarrassed me tonight,” Kingsley hissed.

Aiden straightened his suit lazily. “No. You embarrassed yourself.”

Kingsley clenched his fists.

“You think hiding behind a mask makes you untouchable?”

Aiden stepped closer slowly.

For the first time that night, Kingsley instinctively stepped back.

And Aiden noticed.

A faint smile touched his lips beneath the mask.

“Take my advice,” Aiden said quietly. “Never raise your hand at Ella again.”

The warning sounded simple.

But something about it felt terrifyingly real.

Then Aiden walked away, disappearing into the crowd before Kingsley could stop him.

Leaving behind confusion.

Humiliation.

And one question that refused to leave Kingsley’s mind.

Who exactly was the man Ella brought into his world?