The silence in Café House was suffocating.
The people around them had already sensed the tension between the three and glanced sideways, trying to understand what was happening.
Dante broke the silence first, leaning across the table with that insolent smile.
"So it's you... the famous Alexander Valmont. The knight in shining armor." He chuckled softly. "Funny, because from what I know, your armor isn't quite so impeccable."
Alexander stood slowly, his posture elegant but his gaze hardened.
"You haven't changed at all, Dante. Always showing up where you're not wanted, always bringing chaos."
"Chaos?" Dante raised an eyebrow mockingly. "I prefer to call it sincerity. At least I don't hide who I really am."
Isabella looked from one to the other, her heart racing.
"You... have met?" she asked, confused.
Alexander replied without taking his eyes off Dante:
"Unfortunately, yes."
Dante let out a low laugh.
"Unfortunately," he says. Then his dark eyes turned to Isabella. "Did you know your perfect boss here has some very... juicy secrets?"
Isabella frowned in surprise.
"What?"
Alexander narrowed his eyes, taking a step forward.
"Be careful what you say."
Dante smiled provocatively.
"Oh, relax, Alexander. I'm not going to tell her about... that night yet." The mischievous tone made it clear there was more behind the words, something only the two of them understood.
Isabella's eyes widened.
"What night?" she asked, but Alexander didn't answer, keeping his gaze fixed on Dante.
The atmosphere exploded when Alexander took a sudden step forward, standing inches from Dante's face.
"If you open that dirty mouth to say anything... you'll regret it."
Dante didn't back down.
"Try it, then. I'm curious to see if the perfect prince really knows how to get his hands dirty."
Alexander raised his fist, ready to strike.
"Enough!" Isabella shouted, stepping between them, her hands open against their chests. "Are you crazy? Not here!"
The people in the café were already watching openly, some whispering.
Isabella was breathing heavily, trying to contain the two men who seemed ready to explode.
Alexander glanced at her, then took a step back, trying to control himself.
Dante, however, maintained his smile.
"Interesting... it seems you're worth fighting for, Isabella." His eyes met hers, intense. "And I don't give up easily."
Alexander clenched his jaw, but said nothing.
Tension hung in the air, heavy, impossible to ignore.
Isabella felt her legs tremble. The war between Alexander and Dante had just begun... and she was the battlefield.