Braelyn’s POV
"I am just a bit clumsy today." Fucking liar. She might have been subtle in her actions but I was the last to believe her.
Raphael was still dancing gracefully on the floor. An evil whisper crossed my head. I ’accidentally’ tripped myself. In the sa way, Alia has been accidentally ssing with .
I also had a little accident. My heels stepped on Raphael’s feet after I lost my bearings from accidentally tripping.
He hissed out in pain and his calm exterior cracked at the mont. Raphael was an excellent dancer and would normally not have an accident but it was unavoidable. His hold slipped and I accidentally lost my bearing. In the process of preventing my fall
My hand grabbed the nearest thing to , Alia’s hair. She shrieked as the sudden pain struck her skull still processing the fall. Raphael was able to gain control once more and prevented my fall.
He was as reliable as I had predicted. While pulling back my feet ’I accidentally’ stepped on Alia’s long dress and a rip imdiately tore through the dress
I gasped imdiately at the accident I had caused. My hold tightened around Raphael, our pace slowed down, but we didn’t stop dancing. "I am sorry. I didn’t expect that to happen." I imdiately apologise
Gasps erupted, the tear was a slit reaching up to her thighs. Alia froze, her body trembled slightly as she looked at Raphael expecting him to seek justice for her.
"It’s an accident, the sa as the several accidents you almost caused. I am sure you can handle it." I chid before glancing at Raphael whose jaw clenched a bit too hard.
Alia was smart, but it looked like a pure accident; there was nothing she could do. In the end, she only gave a polite smile and then excused herself from her partner.
"Pardon my clumsy skills." She said before walking off the dance floor with her head still held up. Eluding grace with every step. I scoffed before drawing my eyes to my dance partner who still had a poker face with a knowing gaze
He could not call out because he knew she started it. I arched my brow at him holding his gaze
He didn’t even acknowledge her as she left, but I, on the other hand, did. Alia wasn’t the only one who could sche with a straight face.
"You shouldn’t upset her," I whispered lightly, a taunt laced with false sweetness. "Her love for you is boiling. The poor thing might lt." I clicked my tongue then glanced in her direction again.
She was imdiately surrounded by her fan club who led her away from the hall. Angela made sure to shoot a glare at my side, which I returned with a polite smile, which infuriated her. She huffed then left
"You should at least console your lover." I chid before drawing my eyes to him.
Raphael barely glanced at Alia before letting out a soft snort. "We’re married. It’s expected that we dance at least once for appearances." His attention returned solely to as if Alia wasn’t humiliated after trying to set herself on fire for him.
"She was being clumsy, and she had a backup dress; she would be fine." He said, freeing his hold on my back. I didn’t push further and could only hope this dance would end soon so that I could be freed of him.
The music eased to a close, but instead of releasing my hand, Raphael lifted it to his lips and pressed a slow kiss to the wedding band we wore for the sake of the public. He held a soft smile on his lips. "Thank you for honouring our agreent." He chid
I did my best to still keep that serene smile. But my brows twitched. He was the one who snatched into the dance.
My breath hitched as his lips brushed my skin. It was not from the softness, but from the sheer audacity. I’d expected him to drop my hand the second the dance ended. "The dance is over, you can stop pretending now." I didn’t bother to sugarcoat my words.
He smiled, then leaned forward, his lips brushing my ears. "Are you sure you know who is pretending around you? A lot of people live with masks on. " He whispered, puzzling , before he pulled back, placing a peck on my eyes.
To my dismay, in the end, he didn’t let go of . Instead, he offered another excuse, tone maddeningly calm. "We’re hosting this event as a family. Gregor’s fundraiser is next. It is expected that we attend together."
My smile didn’t budge, but tension coiled tight beneath it.
As he led off the floor, I hissed under my breath, "You shouldn’t abandon your date. She’s been glowering holes through my skull all night."
He spared a sideways look, unimpressed. "I accompanied her for the project launch. It’s over. You and I have responsibilities. Don’t forget you’re my wife."
There it was, that cold reminder pulling chains I thought I’d snapped long ago.
Guests began to drift toward the auction hall, chatter rising as champagne glasses clinked. I kept my expression pleasant even though I was secretly glaring at Raphael the entire walk.
Just as we reached the entrance, a hand wrapped around my wrist, yanking backwards, but Raphael’s hold faltered. My eyes imdiately fell on him, I could feel Raphael’s grip tighten as he stared at Lucien who held a calm expression devoid of smiles or smirks
His touch wasn’t harsh, just firm enough to indicate he didn’t have any intention of letting go. Their gaze locked with a silent tension brewing between them.
"It’s about ti you returned my dance partner you stole from ." Lucien calmly said. Raphael’s lips curled into a smile.
"It was a simple dance with my wife." He shrugged, still holding on. Lucien’s voice lowered but still carried that calm, eerie tone.
"You shouldn’t force her to stay with you. The dance is over and you have your date. Stealing others’ dates is pretty rude." he taunted a smirk finally curling up his lips
Raphael let out a dry, humourless scoff. "Stealing dates." He mused, acting like he heard a freaking joke. " Soone shouldn’t forget that he is just a lover." He stated that before his eyes turned cold.
" Know your fucking place."
Heat crackled instantly between them, the air thick enough to choke on. For a mont, I genuinely believed they were going to throw punches right there in front of the donors and the caras.
Lucien stepped closer, shoulders rigid, eyes burning with sothing unhinged and dangerous.
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