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“He’s trying to rattle us, Tori. That’s all. He doesn’t have any real power here,” I reminded her.
She looked down, her hands twisting nervously in front of her.
“He has enough power to show up here and make me feel like…” She trailed off, shaking her head.
“Like what?” I asked gently, stepping closer.
“Like I’m still under his thumb,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
I reached for her hands, stilling their movement.
“You’re not,” I said firmly. “He doesn’t control you anymore. He’s just a coward trying to act like he’s bigger than he is.”
She looked up at me then, her eyes shining with unshed tears. “But what if he does something?—”
“He won’t,” I interrupted, my voice steady. “Not as long as I’m here.”
For a moment, she just stared at me, her vulnerability laid bare. And in that moment, I made a silent vow: I wouldn’t let Marcus win.
“We should leave,” I said softly. “You’ve had enough of this for one night.”
Tori hesitated but eventually nodded, allowing me to guide her toward the exit.
As we stepped out into the cool night air, I tightened my arm around her, determined to be what she needed.
Marcus had gone too far. He was soon going to learn that no one threatened the woman I loved and walked away unscathed.
TORI
Cole’s handon my back as we left the hotel was the only thing keeping me from falling apart.
The world around me felt distant and distorted, like I was moving underwater, every sound muffled, every light too sharp.
Seeing Marcus here of all places—Cole’s event, his world—was more than just rattling. It was terrifying.
It confirmed how unhinged he’d become, that he’d stalk me all the way to the city, manipulating his way into a space where he didn’t belong.
I hadn’t even realized I was trembling until we slid into the back of Cole’s sleek black car, and the merciful silence wrapped around me.
The constant buzz of noise from the ballroom, the weight of eyes, the subtle judgment in every glance—it all fell away the moment the door closed behind us.
Cole shifted closer, his hand moving in soothing circles on my back.
“Tori,” he said gently, his voice pulling me out of my daze. “Did something happen while I was talking to Marcus?”
Perspective. I needed perspective. I closed my eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath to ground myself.
“I went to the ladies’ room,” I started, my voice quieter than I intended. “I needed a moment to reorient myself after…everything. I bumped into Samantha there.”
Cole’s hand paused for just a fraction of a second before continuing its comforting motion.
“Samantha?” he asked, his tone calm, though I could hear the icy undertone beneath.
“She’s apparently Marcus’ date,” I said, the words tasting bitter in my mouth. “Her latest husband is some prominent investor—probably how Marcus managed to get an invite to your party.”
Cole’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t interrupt.
He was always so good at that—letting me speak, giving me the space to unravel my thoughts.