Dante's POV
At The Party
My eyes had only shifted from Alina for a moment.
Just a flicker. A single breath.
Then—
CRASH.
The sound echoed through making everyone quite.
Heads turned. Gasps rippled through the party.
My gaze followed the noise, expecting some servant mishap.
Instead,
Alina stood frozen.
Her hand dripping blood.
And in front of her, blocking the broken shards scattered across the floor was none other than Vielle.
My blood ran hot.
Rage surged before reason had the chance to intervene.
I didn't stop to think.
I moved.
Crossed the distance. Knelt beside Alina. Inspected the cut running along her palm.
It wasn't deep. But it was bleeding.
It didn't matter. It was enough.
Enough to awaken that cruel twist of anger inside me.
How dare she?
Of course it had to be Vielle. It was always her. Exactly whenever i think she changed her mind, she does something reckless without any regret only pride.
And yet when I looked up to face her
I didn't see pride.
I didn't see arrogance.
Not the smug arrogant girl I had come to know and despise.
No.
What I saw in her eyes… was fear.
She looked terrified.
She never showed fear
Why?
Fear? Of me?
Of what I'd do?
Of the consequences?
"Apologize," I snapped.
I didn't raise my voice. I didn't need to. The silence around us made my words echo loud enough.
She opened her mouth.
Started with the usual.
More excuses.
More denial.
"I didn't-"
I cut her off.
My voice cold
"I've had enough of your lies."
I didn't believe a word.
Not when she always claimed innocence. Not when her actions spoke louder.
Not after all the chaos she caused again and again.
"You won't cause a scene at my party. You won't hurt my people. Not tonight."
The way she stared back at me- like the floor had been pulled out beneath her feet-
I ignored it.
Because I knew her.
Didn't I?
She was the same. Always the same. Even if not i will find out soon.
---
The party ended early.
I cancelled it without a second thought.
Alina needed care.
I lifted her gently into my arms and carried her through the stunned crowd. People whispered.
I didn't care.
My only focus was getting her away from that place.
The car ride was silent, save for the hum of the engine and her soft voice
"Are you fine?" My voice comes out cold because I am still pissed at what happened earlier. I don't even know why.
"Y-Yes… I'm fine. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to mess everything up. I ruined the party. You got mad at your fiancée because of me. I promise, I'll do better next time—"
"Shh."
I silenced her gently.
She didn't need to apologize.
Why was she the one saying sorry?
Vielle should be the one!
Why did it matter so much to me that she was hurt?
Why did her tears make me furious?
Not just at Vielle but at myself.
I didn't understand it. This girl effecting me so much without even me noticing it,
---
Back at the mansion, no one dared speak when I walked in with Alina in my arms. They knows what happens when someone cross their line in this Mansion.
Servants froze.
I ignored them all.
Took her straight to my room. Laid her gently on the bed.
Her wound wasn't bad, but it needed cleaning. Bandaging.
As I reached for the first-aid, my hands paused.
Her face.
Not Alina's BUT
Vielle's face.
Those wide, terrified eyes. The way she trembled.
It kept flashing in my mind.
Something about it-
Was off.
"I'm calling the doctor," I said softly. "She'll be here soon. Rest until then."
She nodded, curling up beneath the blanket. her hands around the blanket trembled.
I left the room, needing space. Needing clarity.
---
The shower didn't help.
Hot water beat against my skin like an attempt to wash off confusion. Frustration.
But it didn't work.
Later, sitting in my office, towel still around my neck, I tried to make sense of the night.
Had Vielle changed?
After that last incident, I thought… perhaps she would become quieter. Less reckless.
But today?
That dress.
That stare.
That broken reaction.
Everything about her was unpredictable.
No… no. She's still the same
Still attention-seeking.
Still playing a role in her never-ending games.
All that softness I saw it was just another performance.
Another way to get under my skin.
I leaned back in the chair, hands gripping the edge.
I wouldn't fall for it.
Then i called my man to investigate what happened at the party.
---
A knock at the door pulled me from my spiral.
"Come in."
The doctor. I let her in. She treated Alina's hand with care.
"Clean cut," she said. "It'll heal. She's stable. Probably shaken, but otherwise fine."
"Leave."
She bowed and left the room quietly.
I returned to check on Alina.
She was sleeping now.
Peaceful.
Safe.
And yet…
My eyes dropped to her face.
And suddenly—
My hand moved.
Without thinking.
Almost reaching to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.
But it stopped.
Froze.
Those eyes.
Not Alina's.
Vielle's.
That look. That raw terror.
I pulled my hand back sharply like it had been burned.
No.
what an I even thinking.
I turned, left the room, and told a maid to sit with Alina.
Then I walked to the guest room and shut the door behind me.
Darkness.
Silence
---
No One pov
Morning
Dante woke up with sharp headache
He never drank enough to earn one, so this wasn't from alcohol.
But dream, it was weird as if something, an internity trying to tell him something unspoken.
In his dream he saw a book the name was blurred out but when he tried to touch it he felt like he woke up inside it and the first person he saw was no one other than Viella,
He woke up
Vielle's face kept intruding into places it didn't belong, his dreams, his thoughts, and now, his morning peace.
He ran a hand through his tousled black hair and turned away from the tall window.
He should've gone to his private gym, worked the agitation out of his system, but instead… he found himself heading back towards his room where Alina is resting
He opened the door softly.
There, curled beneath layers of cream silk sheets, was Alina.
Sleeping innocently
His headache from before dissolved.
Just like that.
It was strange how seeing her like this stopped the static in his head. He feels peace
She looked almost unreal. Soft light caught the curve of her cheek, and her hair spilled over the pillow
He didn't realize his feet had moved.
His body shifted forward, as if drawn by something beyond logic.
Beyond control.
Before he could reach her, her eyes fluttered open.
Wide. Blinking.
"Mr Moretti?" she whispered. Jolted awake
"Didn't I told u to call me Dante only?" He sounded cold.
Before she could reply
Her foot slipped on the blanket and
"Alina-!"
He caught her mid-fall, one arm bracing her waist, the other steadying her shoulder.
Her body froze in his arms.
His breath stilled.
This whole situation feels like some overdramatic novel scene
He helped her back upright, his hands automatically checking her bandaged hand. A fresh bruise was forming.
Again, his anger stirred.
Again, his mind flashed to Vielle.
"You shouldn't be moving," he said sharply.
"I-I need to prepare for today's-"
"No." His voice cut through hers like a command. "You're not working today. Not lifting a hand."
"But-"
"I'll have the staff see to everything. You rest. Is that clear?"
She nodded, startled.
Just then, his phone buzzed.
He narrowed his eyes.
He expected a whining apology. Maybe some fake sob story from Vielle.
But the screen read Elara.
"Sir. Emergency meeting. We need you at HQ within the hour."
Of course.
He turned to Alina one last time.
"Stay in bed. Doctor comes at noon. I'll be back by evening."
---
The car ride was unusually quiet.
He should've been reviewing reports or checking emails, but instead-
His eyes kept flicking to his phone.
Nothing.
No dramatic essay from Vielle.
No begging voicemails.
No rambling messages blaming the wine, the lighting, or the stars.
"Drunk and passed out, probably. Like the brat she is," he muttered under his breath.
Still… something itched under his skin.
---
At the DN Tower, the meeting was brief but intense.
Two clients from Prague were trying to push ahead of schedule. One supplier failed to clean their weapon trail. Three guards had to be replaced.
He handled it all in thirty minutes.
When you're a monster in a city of wolves, you don't waste time.
He returned to his office, poured himself espresso, and stood at the massive window.
That's when Elara entered.
Tablet in hand.
"Morning, sir. Your face is trending again."
"Of course it is."
She placed the device down, showing several headlines:
"The Arrogant Melts Down – Vielle's Fall From Grace"
"Blood, Wine, What Happened at Lady Vielle's Gala?"
"Alina – Moretti's Soft Spot?"
"Is Mr Moretti finally breaking up with his infamous troublemaker finance?"
Dante didn't even blink.
"Should we release a correction statement?" Elara asked.
He sipped his drink.
"No."
"You don't want to defend your name?"
"My name defends itself."
Elara hesitated again.
"Another call came through. From the Vielle estate."
Dante's eyes sharpened.
"Put it through."
---
The voice that answered was old money
"Lord Moretti," Mr. Vielle greeted. "I hope you're doing well."
"Get to the point."
"Ah—yes, of course. I wanted to personally extend an invitation. Vielle would do it but she has been… emotional since the incident. So she sincerely want to apologize. She's terribly excited to see you tonight. So please don't refuse "
Excited? Ofc nothing new. And apology?Dante nearly laughed. That girl would rather marry a tree than apologize sincerely.
"She's been picking out a dress since morning, preparing herself to apologize " the man added, forced cheer oozing from his throat. "So I thought I'd call myself."
Dante didn't respond.
He was seconds from declining.
But then-
"Of course, to show our gratitude… I have a new deal I'd like to propose."
There it was.
The bait.
The desperation behind the pearls.
Dante's jaw tightened.
"I'm listening."
"Faster transport access through the South docks. Reduced tariff. And two encrypted rail channels."
It was… solid.
He tapped his glass once, silently calculating.
"And," the man added smoothly, "I can assure you-Lady Vielle will be on her best behavior. Especially around… Miss Alina."
Dante's eyes flicked to the skyline.
"If she does anything funn—"
"She won't," the man interrupted quickly. "If she does, I'll deal with her myself."
That made Dante pause.
He didn't respect the man—but he respected threats backed by desperation.
"Fine," he said coldly. "I'll come. With Alina."
"Splendid. We'll await you both."
---
He hung up.
Didn't speak for a while.
Then he reached for his intercom and pressed the line for his head maid.
"Prepare Alina for tonight. Elegant."
"Yes, sir."
Dante leaned back, staring at his phone again.
"This time," he muttered, "I won't tolerate anything Vielle"
TO BE CONTINUED