Chapter 4
Elara's POV
The mansion felt suffocating that morning, filled with people who had no right to be there yet acted like they owned every corner of it. Their voices blended into a low noise, but I could still hear enough to understand what they were saying, and every word made my chest tighten a little more. I stood beside Sebastian in the main hall, my body stiff, my hands clasped together, trying to look calm when I felt anything but.
They had already gone upstairs.
To our room. To make sure I was untouched
The thought alone made my stomach twist in humiliation. It felt disgusting, like something private had been dragged out in front of everyone for their approval. I could feel their eyes on me even now, judging, measuring, waiting.
"You should give him an heir soon," someone said loudly, not even trying to lower their voice.
"Yeah, don't waste time," another added with a smirk.
"Make yourself useful at least," a third voice joined in.
A hollow feeling settled in my chest. I felt alone, completely alone, like I didn't belong here, like I had been thrown into a place where no one would ever stand for me.
"Well, well."
I looked up slowly.
Vivienne stood in front of me, her smile sharp and mocking.
"You did better than I expected," she said, her eyes scanning me in a way that made my skin crawl. "I thought you would disappoint us."
My fingers curled slightly.
"I assume you can barely walk," she added, leaning closer, her voice dropping just enough so Sebastian won't hear
Heat rushed to my face, but it wasn't embarrassment alone. It was anger. Disgust. The urge to say something back. But I stayed silent, because I knew this wasn't a place where I could afford to speak freely.
"I told you," another voice cut in.
I didn't even need to turn to know who it was.
She walked toward me like she belonged here, like she had every right to stand in front of me.
"I bet it fucking hurts," she said, her lips curling into a mocking smile. "He's never been known to be gentle in bed"
That hit differently.
Not just the words.
The meaning behind them.
A cold thought slipped into my mind before I could stop it. Maybe there was something still going on between them. Maybe that was why he didn't touch me. Maybe I wasn't even worth that.
The thought made my chest feel heavy in a way I didn't understand.
She scoffed when I didn't respond and walked away like I wasn't worth another second of her time.
I felt stupid standing there.
Confused.
Angry.
I reached for a glass of champagne just to do something, anything to stop my thoughts from spiraling. But my fingers were still shaky.
And then—
It slipped.
The drink spilled straight onto a man's shoes.
"What the fuck?"
His voice came out sharp, loud enough to draw attention.
"I'm sorry," I said immediately, my voice low but steady.
"Sorry?" he snapped, his face twisting with irritation. "Are you blind or just stupid?"
I swallowed hard.
"Watch yourself," he continued, stepping closer, his voice dropping but somehow becoming even more insulting. "Just because you spread your legs and got married into this family doesn't mean you're one of us, you bitch."
The word hit hard.
"You and your fucking family," he went on, his tone filled with disgust. "Always a problem. Always a mess. Should've wiped your bloodline out when we had the chance."
My vision blurred slightly, the sting in my eyes impossible to ignore now. I hated that I felt like crying. I hated that no one said anything. No one stepped in. No one cared.
I was alone.
And then—
Everything changed.
Sebastian moved.
Fast enough that I barely saw it.
One second he was beside me.
The next, he had the man by the collar, dragging him forward with a force that made him stumble. There was no warning, no argument, no build-up.
Just pure violence.
A knife flashed in his hand, and before anyone could react, he forced the man's mouth open.
"Say that again," Sebastian said, his voice low, controlled, and far more terrifying than shouting.
The man froze.
The blade moved.
Quickly and precisely
A wet, choking sound came out of the man as blood filled his mouth instantly. He dropped to his knees, his hands flying up in panic, but it was useless.
Sebastian had cut his tongue.
I couldn't breathe.
The entire hall fell into a deadly silence, the kind that only fear could create.
Sebastian looked down at him like he was nothing.
"Next time you call my wife a bitch," he said coldly, his voice carrying across the room, "make sure you can still fucking speak after."
The man trembled on the floor, blood dripping through his fingers, his body shaking.
"She is not your enemy anymore," Sebastian continued, lifting his gaze slowly to the others. "She is mine."
Mine.
It felt like a claim.
"And if any of you forget that," he added, his tone turning even colder, "I won't stop at your tongue."
No one spoke.
No one dared.
Because they all knew—
He meant every word.
.....
The gathering ended after that.
Of course it did.
No one wanted to stay after seeing something like that.
But I couldn't move.
My body still felt frozen, my mind replaying the scene over and over again. The blood. The way he didn't hesitate. The way he defended me like it was nothing.
"He's a fucking problem when he's angry."
The voice beside me pulled me out of my thoughts.
I turned and saw a man standing there, watching me with a calm expression.
"I'm Oliver," he said. "His only friend. And the only person he trusts enough to do business with."
I blinked slightly.
"He doesn't work with anyone," Oliver continued, glancing briefly at Sebastian. "Doesn't believe in partnerships. I'm the only exception."
That told me enough.
They weren't just business partners. They are more like friends and he seems to know him deeply
"He'll take care of you," Oliver added, his tone softer now.
I hesitated before speaking.
"He has a girlfriend," I said quietly.
Oliver let out a small, almost amused breath.
"No," he said simply. "They used to fuck. That's it."
My chest tightened slightly.
"It meant nothing," he added. "And it's over."
I didn't know why that mattered.
Because as I looked at Sebastian again, standing there like nothing had happened, like cutting a man's tongue was just another part of his day.