His gaze snapped to Chloe, a storm brewing in his eyes. “Are you out of your mind? Why the hell would you shove her?” He raised his voice slightly, frustration evident in his tone.
Chloe stood her ground, arms crossed defiantly. “She tried to hit Dean first. I was just defending my fiancé.”
Roman’s eyes narrowed, his expression hardening. “If that justifies your actions, then I’d have to shove you too, and we could call it even. Then I could say I was defending my fiancée because you shoved her first.”
Chloe smirked, her confidence unwavering. “You don’t hit women, Roman. It’s not in you.”
I glanced back and forth between them, feeling the tension crackle in the air.
Dad interjected, placing a hand on Roman’s chest, attempting to diffuse the situation. “Please don’t take offense at what Chloe did. She’s just angry. It’s all a huge misunderstanding.”
I rolled my eyes, exasperated. Roman continued to glare daggers at a smug Chloe, his expression a mix of disbelief and irritation.
“It’s not a misunderstanding. Dean is lying. He knows I’m telling the truth.”
I turned back to Roman, desperation creeping into my voice. “Roman, you were there last night. Tell them what happened. Tell them who gave Dean the bruises.”
All eyes turned to Roman, anticipation hanging thick in the air.
He stood there, rigid as a statue, fists clenched at his sides, nostrils flaring as if he were trying to contain a storm within.
“Roman…” I whispered, nudging him gently, urging him to speak.
He blinked, his gaze meeting mine for a fleeting moment before he turned to face the room. His jaw tightened, and he exhaled slowly, as if trying to gather the courage to speak.
He cleared his throat, and I felt a smirk creeping onto my face, ready to witness the truth unfold. I shot Dean a death stare, envisioning the consequences of his lies.
Oh, you’re so cooked now, Dean.
I held my breath, anticipation coursing through me. Roman would finish what I had begun. He had witnessed it all-he had seen Dean corner me, touch me, degrade me. And he had made Dean bleed for it. Now, he would make him answer.
But what came out of his mouth was not the justice I had hoped for.
“Say and I had a great night last night. She gave a striking performance, and we had a good time. Please excuse us.”
My heart plummeted.
I blinked in disbelief, surely I had misheard him. But the betrayal in his silence was louder than any scream. The man who had held me, protected me, kissed me as if I were the most precious thing in the world… was now shielding my attacker.
And when I dared to look ahead? Dean was smirking, a victorious glint in his eyes.
“Put me down, Roman! This is ridiculous!” I protested, my body thrashing against his firm grip as he effortlessly carried me up the stairs. It felt as if I weighed no more than a feather in his arms, and I hated that realization.
Fortunately, the rest of my family had scattered, engrossed in discussions about the wedding rehearsal and the earlier chaos that had unfolded. They were blissfully unaware of the betrayal I felt from this son of a dragon, Roman, who had turned my world upside down without a moment’s hesitation.
The truth was, I had only myself to blame for trusting him. What a foolish mistake that had been.
He didn’t even flinch at my struggles. Instead, he ascended the stairs with unwavering determination, completely indifferent to the fact that I was draped over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
“Seriously, put me down, you jerk!” I shouted, my fists pounding against his back in frustration.
His silence was maddening. Not a grunt, not a hint of acknowledgment-he just kept moving, as if I were merely a misbehaving kitten he was reluctantly taking to bed.
“I swear, I’m going to kill you!” I threatened, my voice laced with fury.
A low chuckle escaped him, deep and infuriatingly calm. “You’re not really helping your case, love.”
“Jerk!”
“Correct. Keep going.” He replied, a hint of amusement dancing in his tone.
We finally reached the bedroom, and as soon as my feet touched the floor, the room swayed around me. I staggered, grasping the nightstand to steady myself, my vision swirling from the disorienting experience of being carried like that.
A hand rested gently on my shoulder, and I turned to see him looking at me with that casual concern that made my blood boil. “You okay, Sav?”
His tone was so nonchalant that it snapped something inside me. I spun around, fury coursing through my veins, and without thinking, I slapped him hard across the face, pouring every ounce of my anger into that single act.
The sound echoed in the room, sharp and shocking.
He didn’t even flinch. Not a single blink. He stood there, his jaw clenched tight, as if I had just struck a wall-a very angry wall.
“How could you do this to me?” I shouted, my foot coming down hard on his.
He stared at me, eyes wide with disbelief, as if I had committed the most heinous act imaginable. But that was all he did-just stared, his expression unreadable.
“Are you satisfied now?” he asked, his voice calm, almost eerily so.
“Why did you do that?” I pushed against his chest, desperate for some kind of reaction.
Still, nothing. He didn’t even take a step back.
I raised my hand again, but before I could strike, he caught my wrist mid-air, his grip firm yet not painful.
“If you try that again,” he warned, his voice sharp as a blade, “you’ll owe me damages.”
“Damn you, Roman!” I hissed, my voice trembling with rage. “Why would you betray me like that?! I’m your best friend! Why?!”
A bitter smile twisted his lips. “I didn’t betray you, Sav. I would never do that-not knowingly.” The tension in his jaw was palpable. “I was protecting you.”
That word-protecting-scratched at my insides like nails on a chalkboard.
I slammed my fist into his chest, once, twice. It wasn’t just about inflicting pain; it was about releasing the pent-up frustration that threatened to consume me whole.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.