Chapter 16
I kissed him back just as fiercely, fingers digging into his shirt, pulling him closer. His hands roamed down, gripping my waist, my thighs, pressing me flush against him until there was no space left between us. I moaned against his lips, and that was all it took. He lost control.
Before I knew it, we were stumbling backward, colliding with the sofa. He fell on top of me, his weight deliciously heavy, his hands rough but sure as they explored every inch of my body. My dress was pulled up, his shirt ripped open, our mouths never parting for too long.
His lips moved down my neck, my collarbone, his breath hot against my skin. “You drive me fucking crazy,” he muttered, voice thick with desire.
I smirked, threading my fingers through his hair. “Good.”
Then his hands dipped lower, and I stopped thinking.
The first time was wild. A tangle of limbs, gasps, and desperate touches on the sofa. The second time was rough. Up against the wall, his hands gripping my thighs, my nails raking down his back. The third? Slower. Deep. Intoxicating.
By the time the night faded into dawn, I had lost count. Ten. Maybe more.
He was relentless. And I loved every second of it.
When the morning light bled through the curtains, I slipped out of bed, leaving Donovan sleeping naked beneath my sheets.
I watched him for a moment, admiring the way the early sunlight highlighted his sharp features, his tousled hair, the faint scratch marks down his chest. He looked good like this -unguarded.
A part of me wanted to stay. To crawl back into bed and let myself forget about everything except the way he made me feel. But I wasn’t that woman anymore. I had a war to finish. So, with one last lingering look, I grabbed a new set of clothes, slipped out of the room, and left him behind. Because as much as I liked him, revenge came first.
**
The gym smelled of sweat and determination. The rhythmic clang of weights and the low hum of a treadmill filled the air, but I barely paid attention to any of it.
Evander was in the center of the room, shirtless, beads of sweat rolling down his back as he finished another round of pull–ups. His muscles tensed and relaxed with each motion, his breathing controlled. He looked at me through the mirror the moment I stepped inside. “You look like you had a long night,” he mused, dropping down from the bar and reaching for a towel.
I smirked, grabbing a water bottle from the counter. “You have no idea.”
Evander chuckled, rubbing the towel over his face before tossing it aside. “Donovan?”
“Who else?”
He shook his head amused before grabbing his phone from the bench “Well as much as
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he finished another round of pull–ups. His muscles tensed and relaxed with each motion, his breathing controlled, He looked at me through the mirror the moment I stepped inside.
“You look like you had a long night,” he mused, dropping down from the bar and reaching
for a towel.
I smirked, grabbing a water bottle from the counter. “You have no idea.”
Evander chuckled, rubbing the towel over his face before tossing it aside. “Donovan?”
“Who else?”
He shook his head, amused, before grabbing his phone from the bench. “Well, as much as
I’d love to discuss your sex life, I have something more interesting to show you, sister.”
I walked over, curiosity piqued as he handed me the screen. It was a digital collage of news headlines, each one detailing another layer of Leticia’s downfall.
“Jones Family Corruption Scandal Uncovered.”
“Government Officials Linked to Jones Enterprises Under Investigation.”
“Benjamin Willoughby’s Fiancée Tied to Illicit Dealings.”
I let out a low whistle, scrolling through the mess. “You’ve been busy.”
Evander grinned. “It wasn’t hard. Her family is filthy. All I had to do was pull a few strings, leak a few files, and the media did the rest.
I laughed, handing his phone back. “She must be losing her mind.”
“She is. Which means she’s bound to do something stupid soon.”
“Good,” I mused. “Let her.”
***
THE CHARITY EVENT
The grand ballroom glittered under the golden chandeliers, the air thick with the scent of expensive perfume and old money. I was dressed in a sleek black gown, my hair styled to perfection, my smile carefully calculated.
I moved through the crowd effortlessly, shaking hands, exchanging pleasantries, making sure everyone in this room–Benjamin’s investors, allies, and connections–knew my name.
And Leticia? She wasn’t on the guest list. I had ensured that. So, of course, she showed up
anyway.
The moment she stormed into the ballroom, all eyes turned to her. She was a vision of rage, her red dress too tight, her makeup slightly smudged as if she had thrown herself together last minute.
“Valeria!” she hissed, storming toward me.
I took a slow sip of champagne, raising a perfectly arched brow. “Leticia,” I greeted coolly. “I don’t remember inviting you.”
“You conniving bitch!” she spat. “You think you can just erase me? Make me look like some paranoid lunatic?”
Inlaced a hand over my hoort foigning chook “Ioticia plosco” Leaid softly “I have no idon
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sure everyone in this room–Benjamin’s investors, allies, and connections–knew my name. And Leticia? She wasn’t on the guest list. I had ensured that. So, of course, she showed up anyway,
The moment she stormed into the ballroom, all eyes turned to her. She was a vision of rage, her red dress too tight, her makeup slightly smudged as if she had thrown herself together last minute.
“Valeria!” she hissed, storming toward me.
I took a slow sip of champagne, raising a perfectly arched brow. “Leticia,” I greeted coolly. “I don’t remember inviting you.”
“You conniving bitch!” she spat. “You think you can just erase me? Make me look like some paranoid lunatic?”
I placed a hand over my heart, feigning shock. “Leticia, please,” I said softly, “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“You liar!” she shrieked. “You’re behind all of this! The articles again, the rumors–you’re trying to turn Benjamin against me!”
A hush fell over the crowd. People were whispering, eyes darting between us, eager for the drama.
I let my lower lip tremble slightly. “I don’t understand,” I whispered, blinking rapidly as if on the verge of tears. “Why are you attacking me like this? I’ve only ever tried to be kind to you.”
“You-!” Leticia raised her hand as if to slap me, but before she could, Benjamin’s voice cut through the room.
“Leticia.”
She froze.
Benjamin stood near the bar, drink in hand, his face a mask of quiet disappointment. “That’s enough,”
Leticia turned to him, wild–eyed. “You don’t believe her, do you? Benjamin, she’s-”
“Embarrassing herself,” he finished coldly. “Look around you, Leticia.”
She did. The whispers had turned into outright judgment. Socialites exchanged knowing glances, businessmen murmured about her instability. She had just destroyed herself in front of the very people who mattered most to Benjamin.
“Please,” I sniffled, dabbing at the corner of my eye with a silk handkerchief. “I don’t want any trouble, Benjamin. I just wanted to host this event in peace.”
Benjamin exhaled sharply, as if exhausted. “Leticia, go home.”
Her face crumpled. “Benjamin-”
“Now.”
The finality in his tone crushed whatever hope she had left. With a broken sob, she turned on her heel and stormed out, her heels clicking angrily against the marble floor.
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I watched her go, hiding my smile behind my champagne glass. But that night, I was sipping a glass of wine in my office when a small package arrived.
A plain, nondescript box. No return address. I opened it without hesitation. Inside, nestled in black velvet, was a single silver bullet. My name was engraved along its surface.
I tilted my head, letting amusement curl through me. “Well,” I mused, picking it up between my fingers. “Looks like Leticia finally grew a spine.”
I twirled the bullet, letting the dim light catch against the engraving. Predictable. Weak. Desperate. Placing the bullet back in its box, I pulled out my phone and sent a single text. ‘You should have aimed for my heart, darling.’
Then I turned off my phone, leaned back in my chair, and took another slow sip of wine. Leticia had just declared war. And I was going to make her regret it.
