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Dante’s jaw tensed. That softness in his eyes, the vulnerability, vanished in an instant. His gaze turned cold, sharp. “Anya, don’t behave like this,” he said through clenched teeth. “Is this because of the marriage thing? Fine. Let’s go right now. You and I—let’s get married today. Right now. Come with me.”
His hand reached for hers again, almost desperate.
But she stepped back firmly, jerking her arm away as though his touch burned. “You think this is about a proposal? About timing? You think just because you’re ready now, I should forget everything you did?"
He stiffened. “Anya—”
“I willnotmarry you,” she said again, slower this time, each word a dagger.
And without another glance, she turned on her heel and stormed out, her heels clicking hard against the floor as if every step was slamming the door on him.
Chapter 23 I. HATE. YOU.
“Anya, there’s a woman outside. She’s screaming, asking to see you!” a panicked employee at the Carters’ office burst into her office, eyes wide with alarm.
Anya frowned, immediately rising from her desk. Without a word, she followed the woman down the elevator, and then to the ground floor.
Before she even reached the main entrance hall, a shrill voice sliced through the air like a blade.
“Get that bitch here! Didn’t you hear me? If you don’t bring Anya out right now, I’ll blast this entire place down and set it on fire!”
The employees stood frozen in shock as Zara thrashed and yelled, knocking over a small table in the waiting area like a madwoman. Her hair was disheveled, eyes bloodshot, voice cracking from screaming at anyone who looked her way—like she owned the building and everyone in it.
The moment her eyes landed on Anya walking in, she went silent for half a second, then her rage exploded again.
“There she is! You!” Zara’s voice wavered between a sob and a snarl as she stormed toward Anya, fury burning in every step. “You ruined my fiancé’s family! They’ve got nothing now—nothing! They’re begging people just for a roof over their heads. What the hell did you do?!”
Anya didn’t flinch. She met Zara’s fire with ice.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she said flatly.
“Oh really?” Zara’s laugh was sharp and bitter. “Don’t play dumb! You had his company crushed like it was some kind of game. Then you came after my family too! Do you even know what my mom is going through right now? She’s miserable and broke!”
Anya’s patience wore thinner with each word. “What’s that got to do with me? Your own bad choices catching up with you?”
“You think you’re so clean, huh?” Zara snapped, voice rising. “Ever since the day we met you at the restaurant—when you showed off that stupid palace like you were royalty—everything went downhill! You’re the reason this is all happening! My family raised you like their own daughter. We gave you everything! And this is how you repay us?!”
She stepped closer, eyes wild. “Pay it back. Every damn cent!”
Her voice pierced the hall.
“Twenty million dollars! You hear me? Twenty million! Pay back every cent we spent on you!”
Everyone around them stared in stunned silence.
Anya blinked, genuinely stunned. “Twenty million? Are you serious right now?”
Zara’s eyes flared with manic rage. “Yes! You ruined us! Don’t you dare act innocent—pay up!”
Anya’s jaw tightened. “You want me to support your whole family for life? Really? Whatever you gave me, you already tookback when you threw me out like garbage. I left that house with nothing but the clothes on my back. What more do you want from me?”
“I don’t care where you get it from,” Zara snapped, voice climbing again. “Sell yourself if you have to! My parents picked up some street rat and raised her like one of their own, and now you act like a queen?! You’re disgusting!”
“She’ll pay it.”
A calm but cold voice rang out.
Everyone turned. Luca descended the staircase slowly, his suit pristine, his face carved in steel. His presence instantly shifted the room’s energy.