Dante’s POV
I shouldn’t have kissed her or touched her. I know it wasn’t part of the plan, at least not yet, but I couldn’t help myself.
I knew it the second my lips touched hers. I knew it when she kissed back. I knew it when I walked away and left her standing there in that dark room.
But what was I supposed to do?
She was standing there with him with soone else that didn’t deserve to be by her side... she was mine, and even though things aren’t the way they’re supposed to be, the fact still remains that Ariana never stopped being mine, never has, and never will be.
That’s what got . That’s what broke sothing inside my chest. She can stand next to him and let him touch her. She can smile at him and talk to him and be near him, but the fact remains that she’s mine.
It makes angry.
It makes want to grab her and never let go.
I watched them for ten minutes or maybe longer. I watched the way she leaned toward him when he spoke. I watched the way he put himself between her and everyone else. I watched the way she didn’t push him away.
Right from the day they got to my company and signed a partner, I hated that she was with soone else, who isn’t .
Sothing inside snapped, and I couldn’t help but pull her into the room and remind her who she belongs to.
Maybe I can’t breathe without her.
Maybe I’ve been dead for months, and that kiss was the first ti my heart actually beat.
I shouldn’t have done it.
But I’m not sorry.
I can’t be sorry.
Not when I can still taste her on my tongue.
She kissed back.
She kissed back, and that ans sothing. That has to an sothing.
"Dante?"
I open my eyes.
lissa is standing in front of .
I hate her.
But she doesn’t know that.
"Dante baby, I’ve been looking for you everywhere." She steps closer. Her hand touches my chest. Her fingers walk up to my neck. "Where did you go? I was worried."
"I just needed so air."
She tilts her head; her eyes are soft, sweet, and fake. "You look stressed. The party is too much, huh? All these people. All this noise."
"Yeah. Sothing like that."
Her hand slides up. Her fingers trace my jaw. Her thumb runs over my bottom lip.
I want to push her away.
I want to grab her wrist and twist it until she screams.
But I can’t.
Not yet.
So I force a smile. It feels wrong on my face.
Heavy.
Fake.
But she doesn’t notice.
She never notices.
"I miss you," she says.
Her other hand slides down my arm. Her fingers wrap around mine. She pulls my hand to her waist and presses her body against mine.
"I miss you so much, Dante. I feel like I never see you anymore."
"Work is work."
"I know. I know. But..." She looks up at . Her eyes are wet. Tears. Fake tears. "I want you. I need you. I’ve been so lonely, baby. So alone."
My stomach turns.
I think about Ariana.
I think about how lissa ruined everything.
How she lied.
How she poisoned Ariana against .
How she made sure we would never be together.
And now she stands here telling she misses .
She wants .
She needs .
I want to laugh in her face.
I want to tell her I know everything.
But I don’t.
Not yet.
So I wheeled back, taking her hands off my body. I hold them in mine. I look at her face, and I lie.
"I don’t feel so good."
Her face falls. "What? What’s wrong?"
"I don’t know, just tired from the party. It’s been a long night." I let go of her hands. I rub my face. "I think I just need to sleep."
She stares at for a long second.
Then she groans.
"Dante, co on. Every ti. Every single ti I try to get close to you, you push away. What is wrong with you? Do you even want anymore?"
"lissa—"
"No. No, don’t tell . I’m your wife. I’m supposed to be the one you co ho to. The one you want, the one you need, but lately I feel like I’m nothing to you. Like I’m just so woman who lives in your house."
I keep my face still.
I keep my voice calm.
"That’s not true, I’m just tired. Can we please not do this right now?"
She opens her mouth.
Closes it.
Opens it again.
Then she forces a smile.
I see it happen. I see her swallow the anger. I see her put the mask back on.
"Okay," she says. Her voice is sweet again and fake again. "Okay, baby. Go rest. I’ll co check on you in the morning."
"Yeah. Okay."
She leans up and kisses my cheek. Her lips feel like venom.
"Goodnight, Dante."
"Goodnight."
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