Chapter 9
The elite art gala was a spectacle of wealth and power–paintings worth millions, people worth even more, and egos that could barely fit in the grand hall. I moved through the crowd effortlessly, dressed in a black silk gown that clung to my curves like a whispered
secret.
I wasn’t here for the art.
I was here to watch a woman shatter.
And Leticia Monroe was already on the edge.
I spotted her before she saw me. She was standing near a sculpture, wearing a pale blue dress that was meant to exude elegance but did nothing to hide the tension in her body. Her eyes flickered around nervously, as if she could feel the stares–the whispers that followed her everywhere now.
“That’s her, right? The one from the scandal?”
“Benjamin Willoghby must be having second thoughts…”
“Did you see the footage of her snapping at those women? So classless.”
Delicious.
I made my way toward her. My heels clicking softly against the marble floor, my presence deliberate. The moment she looked up and saw me, her entire body stiffened.
I smiled. “Leticia.”
Her lips pressed into a thin line. “Valeria.”
Ah, the way she said my name–like venom on her tongue. If only she knew how much poison I truly carried.
I glanced at the sculpture beside us, a striking piece of shattered glass fused into something beautiful. “Fascinating, isn’t it?” I murmured. “How something can break so violently… and yet still be put back together?”
She inhaled sharply, her knuckles whitening against her clutch. “What do you want?”
I tilted my head. “Want? Oh, darling, I’m simply admiring the art. But… it does remind me of something.” I let my eyes drift over her slowly before meeting her gaze again. “A woman trying to piece herself back together after her past comes crashing down.”
Her breath hitched. “You think you’re clever.”
I let out a soft chuckle. “I don’t think, Leticia. I know.”
She took a step closer, her voice low but shaking. “You’re behind this, aren’t you? The rumors. The articles. The letters. You’re trying to ruin me!”
I feigned innocence, sipping my champagne. “Ruin you? My dear, you’re doing that all on your own.”
Her eyes blazed. “Stay out of my business.”
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I feigned innocence, sipping my champagne. “Ruin you? My dear, you’re doing that all on your own.”
Her eyes blazed. “Stay out of my
business.”
I leaned in just slightly, enough that only she could hear. “I am your business, Leticia,
Because no matter how hard you try, you’ll always be playing my game.”
That was the final crack.
Her breathing turned erratic. The carefully crafted poise she carried all evening snapped like brittle glass. And then-
“You conniving little bitch!” she hissed, voice loud enough to make heads turn.
I raised a brow, a smirk tugging at my lips. “Oh dear, was that meant to be a whisper?”
The murmur of the crowd grew louder as people started watching. Leticia’s chest heaved, her hands trembling. “I know what you’re doing!”
“Do you?” I mused. “Because from where I’m standing, you seem rather lost.”
Her hands clenched at her sides. “You’re trying to ruin my engagement! To turn Benjamin against me!”
Ah, there it is.
I sighed dramatically. “Leticia, darling, I don’t have to do anything. You’re unraveling all on your own.”
She moved as if she wanted to slap me, but before she could, a sharp voice cut through
the tension.
“Leticia.”
The room went silent.
Benjamin Willoghby stood a few feet away, his jaw tight while his expression unreadable. He looked at her, then at the people watching, then back at her.
His eyes flicked to me for the briefest moment–there was something there. Curiosity. Fascination. Something deeper. I held his gaze for a fraction longer than necessary before turning back to Leticia.
She saw it.
And that–more than anything else–pushed her over the edge.
“She’s doing this on purpose, Benjamin!” Leticia’s voice was shrill now, desperate. “She’s trying to humiliate me!”
Benjamin exhaled, rubbing a hand down his face. “Leticia, lower your voice.”
She ignored him, seething. “You don’t see it? She’s-”
“Enough!”
The single word froze her.
Benjamin’s voice wasn’t loud, but it carried the weight of a warning. His expression was one of frustration. maybe even embarrassment.
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Ine single word troze ner.
Benjamin’s voice wasn’t loud, but it carried the weight of a warning. His expression was one of frustration, maybe even embarrassment.
And Leticia realized, too late, what she had done.
She had lost control. In public. Again.
But just as I was about to walk away, she took a deep breath and plastered a brittle smile onto her face.
“Everyone here should know,” Leticia said, her voice sickly sweet, loud enough to gather attention, “that this woman–Valeria–is nothing more than a desperate, social–climbing nobody who thinks she can manipulate her way into high society.”
I arched a brow, unimpressed. “Is that so?”
She smirked. “Yes. I mean, tell me, Valeria–who exactly are you? Where did you come from? What’s your background? Or are you just another gold–digger hoping to attach herself to the wealthiest man in the room?”
Gasps rippled through the crowd. Eyes flickered between us, waiting for my reaction.
I could feel their hunger, their need for a spectacle.
But before I could even open my mouth, Benjamin’s voice cut through the air.
“That’s enough, Leticia.”
She turned to him, smug. “I’m just protecting you, Benjamin. Women like her-”
“Women like her,” Benjamin interrupted coldly, “are the reason my companies are still standing.”
Silence.
The weight of his words settled over the room like a storm.
Leticia’s face paled. “W–What?”
Benjamin’s eyes were sharp, calculating. “Valeria is our biggest investor.” His gaze never left hers, his voice edged with irritation. “You would know that if you actually paid attention instead of causing scenes like this.”
Her lips parted, but no words came out.
The crowd murmured in shock, some exchanging glances, others smirking at the humiliation unfolding before them.
I let the moment stretch, soaking in Leticia’s horror before flashing her a slow, knowing smile.
“It’s been a pleasure, Leticia.”
Then I turned to Benjamin, holding his gaze just long enough to make him wonder.
“Mr. Willoughby.”
And with that, I turned and walked away, the fabric of my gown whispering against the floor, my head held high like a queen leaving a battlefield she had already won.
Rehind me I eticia let out a strangled sound her fists clenching “Reniamin vou can’t he
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humiliation unfolding before them.
I let the moment stretch, soaking in Leticia’s horror before flashing her a slow, knowing smile.
“It’s been a pleasure, Leticia,”
Then I turned to Benjamin, holding his gaze just long enough to make him wonder.
“Mr. Willoughby.”
And with that, I turned and walked away, the fabric of my gown whispering against the floor, my head held high like a queen leaving a battlefield she had already won.
Behind me, Leticia let out a strangled sound, her fists clenching. “Benjamin, you can’t be serious! You’re actually defending-”
Benjamin grabbed her wrist before she could lunge after me. “That’s enough,” he said again, firmer this time. “You’ve embarrassed yourself enough for one night.”
She stiffened, eyes wide. “Embarrassed myself? I was trying to-”
“Trying to what?” His voice was laced with irritation. “Insult the one person keeping my company afloat?”
Leticia’s jaw clenched, her breath shaky. She wanted to snap, to lash out, but Benjamin’s grip on her wrist tightened.
I didn’t turn back, but I could imagine the scene perfectly. Leticia, humiliated and trembling. Benjamin, torn between frustration and fascination.
And me?
I walked away victorious, the sound of whispers trailing behind me like a standing ovation.
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BENJAMIN’S POV
