(08
The gala’s grand ballroom sparkled like a jewel box, crystal chandeliers casting fractured light across marble floors. My fingers tightened around Leo’s arm as we descended the sweeping staircase. Every eye in the room turned to us – the prodigal wife returning on the arm of a rival businessman. I could feel the whispers starting already.
“Breathe,” Leo murmured, his lips barely moving. “You’re doing beautifully.”
The midnight blue silk of my gown whispered against the marble with each step. Three days of preparation had transformed me from a frightened runaway into this creature of calculated grace. Sofia had drilled me relentlessly how to walk, how to smile, how to make every gesture seem natural while staying alert for danger.
I scanned the crowd through lowered lashes, my heart hammering against my ribs. The faces blurred together politicians, business moguls, crime lords dressed in designer suits. Each one a potential threat or ally in this deadly game.
“Left side,” Leo’s voice came through the earpiece disguised as a pearl stud. “Thompson and his wife. Greet them first.”
I steered us toward the couple, remembering Sofia’s lessons. Lead with your right shoulder. Keep your spine straight. Let your smile reach your eyes but not too much.
“Victoria!” Sarah Thompson’s voice carried across the marble. “We’ve missed you at the garden club.”
I kissed her cheek, the scent of her expensive perfume filling my nose. “Paris was lovely, but I couldn’t stay away forever.”
The lie rolled off my tongue smooth as honey. Inside my chest, my heart screamed at the betrayal of making small talk while my father’s murderer walked free in this very room.
Leo’s hand pressed against my lower back, steadying me. The warmth of his touch anchored me to the present, reminding me why we were here. Survive. Observe. Find the evidence.
“Victoria.” Nathaniel’s voice cut through the murmur of conversation. He appeared before us, resplendent in a perfectly tailored tuxedo. His smile was razor–sharp. “I’ve missed you, darling.”
My heart hammered against my ribs, but I kept my expression serene as he bent to kiss cheek. His cologne – the same one I’d bought him for Christmas – made my stomach turn.
“Nathaniel.” I managed a cool smile. “You’ve outdone yourself with the party.”
“Leonardo.” Nathaniel’s eyes hardened as he looked at Leo. “I didn’t expect to see you here. Especially not with my wife.”
Leo’s hand settled at the small of my back, warm and steady. “Victoria needed an escort. I was happy to oblige.”
The tension crackled between them like lightning before a storm. I could see the muscle
Marry My Ex Husband’s Rival
working in Nathaniel’s jaw, the barely contained rage beneath his polished exterior. But he couldn’t make a scene not here, not with half the city’s elite watching.
“Dance with me,” Nathaniel commanded, extending his hand. It wasn’t a request.
I glanced at Leo, who gave an almost imperceptible nod. We’d prepared for this. I took Nathaniel’s hand, letting him lead me onto the dance floor. His grip was too tight, hist movements too controlled as he pulled me close.
“You’re playing a dangerous game,” he whispered against my ear. “Do you really think Rossi can protect you?”
I matched his steps perfectly, the way Sofia had taught me. “Do you really think you can keep killing people without consequences?”
His fingers dug into my waist. “Your father made his choice. Just like you’re making yours right now.”
“The difference is,” I breathed, “I’m choosing to destroy you.”
He has lied to me for so long and now, today it is my turn to take back everything I have ever given to him!
