All Chapters of Desired by the Dangerous Men: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

I kept my mask in place, doing everything I could to maintain a smile as I greeted the guests. I wore the expression like a second skin—polished, practiced, and passable. But every time Robert touched me, every time he put his hand on me like I was a trophy, every time he leaned in too close or pressed his thumb into the curve of my hip as if to remind me that I belonged to him, I had to fight the overwhelming urge to vomit all over his perfectly tailored suit and run out the door.His arm was draped securely around my back, thumb rhythmically brushing my side like it was a casual gesture of affection, but it felt calculated—possessive. He laughed easily, smoothly working the room as we slowly navigated the chaos of our rehearsal dinner. There were so many people. Some I knew, some I didn’t. All of them talking, clinking glasses, praising us, toasting to a future I no longer wanted.It had been days since the truth hit me like a freight train—the day I realized he didn’t love me. Not

“You look beautiful, Lil,” Ana smiled at me, her hands sliding gently up and down my arms. Her smile was tentative, a bit too practiced, like she wasn’t sure if the compliment would land or if I would dissolve into pieces right there in front of her.I looked at myself in the mirror, stared at the reflection of what the professional team had turned me into, and I couldn’t recognize myself. It was as though I was watching a stranger—a mannequin, a painted doll wearing a borrowed identity. My hair was pinned up in an intricate updo, small flowers and glittering stones strategically placed to catch the light. Every inch of it sparkled as if trying to distract from the emptiness behind my eyes. A delicate bun sat at the nape of my neck, secured with a vintage clip that held my veil in place. The veil itself was long and flowing, with a lace pattern so detailed it almost told a story of its own. It cascaded to the floor, adding another layer to my already heavy train, and made me feel like

I stepped out of the car, Gabriele already standing there, holding the door open with the kind of efficiency that only came from years of silent understanding. Without missing a beat or saying a word, I carried Lilliana over the stone steps that led into my house—the place I had always called home. The moment was surreal, heavy with everything it wasn’t supposed to be.When I had imagined this moment in the dark corners of my mind, it hadn’t been like this. It hadn’t involved her wearing a wedding dress meant for someone else. It hadn’t been with her heart breaking silently in my arms. It hadn’t been soaked in sadness, pain, and betrayal. No, I had pictured her glowing—her face split open in that radiant smile of hers, arms looped tightly around my neck, laughter echoing through the cold halls of the manor, filling it with warmth and light. Not like this. Not while she was crying so quietly it felt like the world might split in two from the weight of it.I climbed the wide staircase, s

Saying yes to her request had been the easiest decision of my life. Promising Lillian that she would be the only woman for me was easier than breathing, easier than blinking, easier than existing without her. It felt like a vow I had already made in my heart years ago—long before the words ever left my lips. The truth was, I had never been romantically involved with anyone else in any meaningful way. The only reason I wasn’t a virgin myself was because I had once convinced myself that I would never get to have her. I thought she would always be just out of reach, a fantasy I’d carry with me forever, a dream that would never materialize into something real. I believed I would never get to touch her, never get to taste her, never get to see her standing right in front of me—naked, stunning, unguarded, and mine.Lillian whimpered softly against my mouth, her delicate hands sliding up my chest, her touch igniting my skin like a spark on dry kindling. Her lips moved against mine with carefu

I drained yet another glass, the sharp burn of the vodka sliding down my throat. It scorched a path through my chest, but the fire was welcome—almost comforting. It grounded me, gave me something tangible to focus on amidst the storm raging inside. The burn dulled the edges of the dread coiling in my gut, made the impending doom feel a little less heavy, a little more manageable. Strange how pain could be soothing when it was familiar.My eyes flicked up to the ornate clock hanging on the wall, the ticking hand a cruel reminder of what was happening. At any moment now, Lillian would be walking down the aisle, radiant and fragile, ready to bind herself to another man. Ready to seal her fate. With every passing second, she moved further away from me, tethering herself to a future I couldn’t be a part of. A life where I was just a shadow in the background, a closed door never to be opened again.I had tried—God, I had tried. I’d done the best I could with the cards I had been dealt, with