Dante's POV –
Back at the mansion, Dante stepped out of the sleek black car, silent as ever. The guards nodded, the staff straightened up.
He didn't go to his office this time.
Instead, he walked straight to his room.
He couldn't show up to the Vielle estate in his usual "I might kill someone" outfit. Politics required polish.
He opened his custom wardrobe, full of handmade suits stitched
For Tonight, he picked black.
Sharp satin black with a wine-red pocket square. No tie, collar slightly open. Clean watch. Black gloves.
A devil in a suit.
He adjusted his cuffs, ran a hand through his dark hair, then descended the staircase.
Waiting by the marble entrance.
Then-
He heard the sound of heels.
Click.
Click.
Click.
He looked up.
And for a moment… the air shifted.
There she was.
Alina.
She didnt wore her usual shabby maid cloths, instead-
She wore a simple gown. Her gown was a soft gold, flowing with lace details. Hair curled gently down one side, earrings. Her eyes sparkled in the low light, framed with subtle liner, lips dusted with rose.
For a second, he forgot how to breathe.
What the hell?
He blinked.
No. Focus.
"Dante," she called softly.
He stiffened.
Right. He was staring.
Too long.
"Ahem," he cleared his throat, adjusting his jaw. "You look.....okay for today"
She looked down shyly. "Thank you."
"Tonight," he added with cold sharpness, "You better stay close to me and act elegant not like a maid " even though he knew she won't cause any trouble but he knew vielle gonna do something reckless again
She blinked.
Her lips parted like she was about to say something, but he didn't give her time.
They had to go.
---
The Vielle mansion was obnoxious.
He hated it.
Too many statues. Too much gold. Too many secrets buried beneath rugs. but foe some reason the moment he stepped inside he could feel the atmosphere has changed. Many things has changed.
As expected, her entire family was outside waiting.
Cameras flashed in the distance - of course the press had been "invited accidentally."
He stepped out of the car, expression unreadable, Alina beside him like a porcelain doll.
He braced himself. Ready to face that annoying noisy face again.
The cloying, expensive perfume Vielle always wore. Her loud loud shrieking voice
He expected her to come running with a fake dramatic gasp, throw her arms around him and ruin his jacket with her glitter.
But instead-
"Lord Moretti!" It was her father who stepped forward. "Welcome, welcome! What a pleasure it is to have you both."
Dante blinked once. "Mm."
He looked around.
Where was she?
He didn't like this unpredictability.
Her father noticed his gaze,
"Ah-Vielle is probably still getting ready," her father said, chuckling nervously. "You know how she is. Can't look anything less than perfect for her fiancé, hm?"
Of course.
He knew this game.
He offered a practiced smile, the kind he used when shaking hands with people he planned to ruin later.
They were escorted in.
Alina kept a polite, nervous silence beside him.
.....
They entered the hallway
But then-
He froze.
There. In the hallway.
Vielle.
She was not in a gown.
Not in heels.
Not even in makeup once again
She was in-
A silky, tight nightgown that hugged her curves. He could feel how tiny her whole body actually is. As if one strong force and her waist would break.
Her legs bare. Her shoulders glowing.
Her hair was in a messy bun, strands falling out. But her face…
Oh god.
A bright red face mask.
Like blood smeared in a perfect shape across her cheeks.
She looked like a white bunny eating strawberries and got her whole face red.
He stared.
She stared back, eyes wide, horror blooming on her face.
His breath hitched again. But it was different than what he felt after seeing Alina.
This wasn't the Vielle he knew.
Just bare skin, red mask, messy hair, and a look like she'd rather melt into the floor than exist.
Something twisted in his chest.
He had seen her with less cloths like once she tried to catch his attention with her body. at events, in scandalous gowns-but this was different.
This was her with no guard up.
No fancy clothes
Just… her.
And it threw him off.
A tiny voice beside him whispered awkwardly, "Um… should we pretend we didn't see that?"
Alina.
Right.
He snapped his head back forward.
What the hell was he thinking?
He was Dante Moretti.
King of underground power.
And she think he gonna fall for such things.
Looking back at Alina,
He gave a tight nod. "We didn't see anything."
Behind them, they heard the sharp scolding voice of Vielle's mother- followed by the dramatic click of heels running up the stairs.
She was gone.
Alina giggled beside him softly, trying to cover it with a cough.
---
Inside the dining room, the staff began arranging the place settings.
Dante sat with a lazy grace, legs crossed, arms resting
He stared back at Alina who was now in kitchen trying to help the maids. As kind as always.
Then he noticed Vielle coming down...
She walked in late.
I expected her to burst through the double doors with her usual dramatic perfume cloud and heels
But she didn't.
She just walked in quietly and looked somehow distracted
Wearing a black gown that hugged her frame.
No glitter. No bright lipstick. No overdone hair.
Just sharp cheekbones, lined eyes.
She looked… composed.
She approached the table, expression unreadable.
I was already seated with Alina beside me. The staff had barely blinked before Vielle was trying to take the seat on my side- of course.
Just like always.
Always needing to be close. Always making sure Alina knew who "belonged" beside me.
Before she could sit, Alina adjusted slightly, reaching for that chair.
My voice came out colder than I intended:
"Don't you know it's rude to sit in someone else's seat?"
Silence.
The tension snapped in the air
Everyone froze.
Even Vielle.
Usually, she'd giggle. Flirt. Maybe pout and play the innocent victim. Eventually just sit down
But this time, she didn't even blink.
She just turned and walked to the corner.
Dragged another chair across the polished floor with that loud screeeeech.
Sat across from me.
No drama. No crying.
Just sat.
Staring.
My jaw clenched.
She didn't even react to the embarrassment. Didn't call for the maids or start one of her tantrums. She simply adjusted her dress and crossed her legs like it was her plan all along.
I narrowed my eyes.
"Thank you for inviting us to dinner...lady Viella." I said smoothly. "After the fuss you caused, I wasn't sure I'd be welcome" I said that to see her reaction.
Probably no one noticed but I saw her eye twitched.
She even had the nerve to mock me back later.
That… wasn't like her.
Before, she would've taken the hit, smiled, maybe flirted harder to compensate.
But now?
She looked bored. Distant. Like I was the annoying one.
Is this some new game?
A new strategy to get under my skin and get my attention somehow?
Something didn't add up.
---
Dinner began.
Her father, fake as a three-dollar cigar, offered apologies like candy.
"She's still young and-"
I scoffed
"I didn't knew twenty-three was still considered young"
Then came her fake sweet voice "Ah, yes, lord Dante aren't you known at the young successful billionaire? I didn't knew twenty-eight was that young either, But I don't judge. I adore my dear Fiance"
I can literally feel the mock that was dripping from her mouth while trying to hide it.
Does she think she's in charge to say anything after her acts. But for some reason I found her courage quite interesting.
Alina tried to ease the tension, bless her naive heart. She still believed people like this could be reasoned with.
They couldn't.
They feed on niceness. On softness. On girls like her.
When it came time for Vielle to speak, I leaned back in my chair and watched her.
Watched her eyes flicker.
Not bratty.
But angry.
And afraid.
It was subtle, but I saw it.
She was clenching the tablecloth beneath her hand, like she was holding herself down.
When they pressured her to apologize, she didn't play victim.
When her sister pointed out at Alina's bandages, instead of getting jealous she acted as if she knew nothing.
I kept staring at her with my cold gaze trying to figure out what she plotting.
She didn't beg for forgiveness either.
Acting as if she has done nothing wrong.
"You really haven't changed, have you?"
"No, I just upgraded"
And with that
She just stood up.
"Excuse me. I need the lady's room."
Cowardly? Probably.
But I knew better.
---
I followed.
Of course I did.
Not because I cared.
But because something was off and I don't let things slide when they're off.
I saw her heading toward the balcony instead of the restroom.
I watched from the shadows for a second- her standing there in the moonlight, muttering under her breath.
She looked exhausted.
She kept whispering something I couldn't make out. Only heard "I'll throw myself off"
I stepped forward. Slowly.
"Since when did you start throwing yourself instead of people?" I asked.
She flinched. Turned.
Eyes wide.
For the first time in years, she looked genuinely startled to see me.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, breathless.
"That's my line."
I moved closer. My steps were slow, deliberate.
I could smell something soft on her. Not the suffocating perfume she usually wore.
This one was… clean. Warm.
Like linen and faint vanilla.
Comforting, almost.
It didn't suit her.
And somehow- it suited her too much.
"What are you planning?" I said quietly. "Hurting my people. You invited me to dinner. You disrespect my people again. You think I wouldn't notice?"
I backed her against the railing, arms on both sides.
She tried to protest
Usually by now, she'd try to flirt her way out of this.
But now?
"You're testing my patience, Vielle. If this is your way of getting my attention, congratulations. You have it. But not in a good way"
She tried to deny again with some stupid excuses this time.
I leaned close.
"Then stop provoking me"
Before she Could continue with her nonsense
I turned and walked off the balcony without another word
before leaving i warned her about the perfume because whatever it is, its bothering me. And I didnt lie when i said she caught my attention.
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TO BE CONTINUED