Chapter 4 - The Unraveling of a Fiancée
The silence in the grand hall grew suffocating.
Sophia stood near the doorway, holding Emma close to her side. Sensing the absolute authority of the man in the center of the room, Emma gently squeezed her mother's hand, took two steps forward, and raised a tiny finger.
She pointed directly at Vivian’s sparkling golden clutch.
Damiano didn't hesitate. He crossed the marble floor in three long strides, stopping directly in front of his fiancée. Vivian looked up at him, her smile wavering, her throat working as she swallowed hard.
"Damiano, darling, what is the meaning of this scene?" Vivian asked softly, her voice dripping with artificial innocence. "Our guests are waiting."
Without uttering a single word, Damiano reached out and took the glittering clutch directly from her trembling hands. Vivian made a subtle attempt to pull back, but Damiano’s grip was absolute.
He flicked the gold clasp open and flipped the bag over.
A sleek black remote control tumbled out onto Damiano’s open palm. On its front face was the exact same blinking red indicator light as the device hidden beneath his desk.
Vivian’s face drained of all color, turning as white as paper. Her breath caught in her throat as she took an involuntary step backward, her dark eyes wide with terror.
Behind Sophia’s apron, little Emma quietly pulled back, hiding her face against her mother's side.
May you like
Damiano slowly lifted his blue-gray eyes from the detonator in his palm to the woman he was supposed to marry.
"Search her," Damiano said, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "And clear the estate."
