Chapter 16
I blinked, but caught on quickly. He was pretending. Playing the role. And I played along.
“Nothing.” I said, leaning my head against his chest. “Mr. Livingston was just praising my medical background.”
Maximilian smiled down at me, and for the first time since meeting him, it felt genuine. My stupid heart skipped. His hand came up to gently caress my face, almost too natural.
“Let’s go inside,” he said softly. “Abuela’s looking for you. And I miss having you around with me.
Austin’s voice snapped, full of disbelief. “The hell! Dahlia is the fiancée you told me about, Max?”
I jerked my head back at both of them. “Wait. You two know each other?”
Max smirked like he enjoyed Austin’s rage. “Yes. Our families are allies in the underworld. You have a problem with that, Austin?” His accent curled around his words, rich, dangerous.
Before Austin could reply, Yvette came storming in, latching onto his arm. “Babe, let’s go inside Why are you even out here wasting your time?”
Austin’s jaw clenched, eyes still locked on me. But Yvette tugged, and eventually, he let himsel be dragged away.
Maximilian didn’t let go of my waist. He leaned down, voice low. “You handled that well.”
looked up at him, my pulse still uneven. “Thanks for stepping in.”
He gave me that smile again. A real one. And I knew Austin had seen it.
And that? That was enough for now.
Maximilian walked me back toward the banquet hall, his hand still brushing lightly against my irm. He looked at me, eyes soft. “Are you okay?”
nodded, brushing it off. “I’m fine. Really.”
de lingered for a second longer, his gaze sharp, like he wanted to make sure I wasn’t lying. Ther le excused himself, saying, “I have some things to handle. Stay close to Abuela, alright?”
took a deep breath, feeling the tension slowly leave my shoulders, and stepped back into the plittering crowd of the ballroom.
Across the room, I caught Yvette’s sharp eyes on me. I could see her fake smile faltering each ime Austin’s gaze unconsciously followed me. I didn’t bother hiding the smirk forming on my wwn lips. The game was just beginning.
Minutes later, she was at my side, holding a glass of red wine. “Oops!” she said too sweetly as the tilted the glass, spilling it over the front of my dress. The wine soaked the designer fabric, and she let out a high-pitched gasp.
Guess money can buy a degree, but not class. Once a gold digger, always a gold digger,” she said loud enough for everyone to hear, the venom clear
looked down at the stain calmly, then lifted my head, meeting her eyes with a serene, almost amused smile. “You know, Yvette, if someone truly respects themselves, no amount of spilled wine can change that. But I appreciate your concern for my appearance.”
Yvette’s face twisted. “What did you just say?” she hissed, louder this time, like she wanted
Loved You Once I’ll Destroy You Twice
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everyone to hear.
“I said,” I repeated, voice soft but cutting, “you might want to check the floor next time you try to ruin someone’s dress in public. It’s quite dangerous for your reputation.”
The hall went quiet for a moment. Her fake smile faltered and she opened her mouth to retort, but then Austin stepped forward.
“Enough,” he said, voice low but carrying, and every eye turned to him. “Dahlia is not what you think. Don’t you dare insult her again.”
Yvette froze, “Austin!” she shrieked, her fake elegance cracking. “You can’t just embarrass me ir front of everyone!”
“I can,” Austin said, sharp and deadly, his eyes darkening as they landed on her. “And I just did She deserves respect, Yvette. Something you wouldn’t understand.”
I felt my chest tighten slightly, caught off guard by his words. Part of me wanted to look away but I kept my gaze on him, steady.
Yvette’s voice went higher, almost shrill. “You don’t even care about me! You’re making a scene!” “Because you made one first,” Austin snapped, “And I will not stand by while you humiliate her.” Then Mrs. Livingston glided forward, looking like she owned the room. She put a gentle arm around Yvette, smoothing her hair. “Yvette, darling, enough… Accidents happen. Let’s not make a scene. Everyone, enjoy the party. Yvette is just tired, that is all.”
Yvette wiped at her eyes, acting like she was about to cry. “Yes, Grandma,” her voice become fragile, faltering, but the guests could see through it. “It’s just because I’m pregnant. I get moody
didn’t mean to spill anything.”
held my tongue, keeping my smile polite, nodding slightly at Mrs. Livingston. I didn’t need to argue. The guests were already murmuring, impressed by my calm.
Austin didn’t move. His eyes stayed locked on me, unwavering. I felt the weight of them on me, he intensity. He wasn’t smiling. He didn’t look happy. But he was mine to claim, if I wanted.
And for the first time in years, I realized I didn’t need to fear him, or Yvette, or the Livingstons.
Not here. Not anymore.
YVETTE’S POV
slammed the door shut the moment I got back to my suite, heels clicking against the marble floor as I kicked them off and hurled my clutch onto the couch. The sound wasn’t enough. I grabbed a vase from the table and sent it crashing against the wall, glass exploding across the carpet. My chest was tight, my hands shaking with fury.
Austin. Defending that woman. In front of everyone.
paced, dragging my nails over the silk of my dress, then stopped in front of the giant mirror. My reflection stared back at me, red lipstick still perfect, curls flawless, diamonds glittering at my ears. I looked every inch the woman who should have it all. But my eyes-my eyes burned with
rage.
“Pathetic little girl,” I muttered, glaring at Dahlia’s shadow in my mind. “She should have known her place. Poor girls like her don’t belong here. She doesn’t deserve to even breathe the same air
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as me, yet she stands there acting calm, acting like she’s untouchable. And Austin… he defended her. He defended her against me. His wife. The mother of his child.”
My throat tightened, but I tilted my chin higher, forcing a laugh at my reflection. “If only I knew. already had people waiting here in Monaco to deal with her. I should have let them finish the job.”
A knock broke through my storm of thoughts.
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