As expected, the thugs came for me five days later, but I was more than prepared.
I had always known Victor kept a watchful eye on me. Anticipating Raphael’s next move, I reached out to him before returning to Paris, requesting protection.
He agreed instantly, delighted that I was finally allowing him to spoil me again.
When the thugs arrived, they never even got the chance to lay a hand on me. Instead, they were swiftly subdued, their fear making them easy to break.
Under pressure, they confessed everything—their orders, Raphael’s involvement, every disgusting detail.
And just like that, the trap was set. The hunters had become the hunted. That time, it was my turn to play the game.
Two days later, as I arrived at the banquet with Raphael, instead of a warm welcome, I was met with sneers and condescending glances.
"Why did our rival's daughter come to such an important event?" Raphael's mother scoffed, looking me up and down with barely concealed disdain.
Raphael’s grip on my hand tightened. "Mom, I told you to be nice to my girlfriend."
She simply snorted, turning away as if I were nothing more than an unpleasant stain on the evening.
His father remained silent, but the cold, measuring look he gave me was enough to tell me what he thought. I was unwelcome.
But I did not care, since I disliked them too.
Before Raphael could say anything else, the mood shifted.
Colette arrived with her parents, and suddenly, the ice in Raphael’s mother’s eyes melted into warmth.
Her lips stretched into an eager smile, and without hesitation, she pulled Raphael’s hand away from mine.
"My daughter-in-law has arrived," she cooed, leading him toward Colette. "Let’s go greet her properly."
"Mom, wait…."
I did not let him finish. I refused to stand there like a fool, clinging onto someone whose own family was parading another woman in front of him.
"I'm going to get some lemonade," I said flatly, slipping my hand from his grasp before walking away.
Raphael hesitated, looking torn, but in the end, he let go and followed his parents toward Colette.
I inhaled sharply, keeping my head high. I despised being underestimated, being dismissed so easily.
If they thought I was weak, they were wrong. I would show them that I was perfectly fine without Raphael by my side.
From a distance, I observed the scene unfolding. Raphael’s parents strategically positioned him and Colette together, ensuring that no one missed the picture-perfect image of them side by side.
Colette, always one to seize an opportunity, played her part flawlessly. Her fingers trailed teasingly along Raphael’s sleeve, her eyes shimmering with a coy glint.
"Raphael, praise me, our parents are watching," Colette whispered, leaning in ever so slightly.
Raphael exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck before reluctantly giving in to the act. His arm snaked around Colette’s waist, pulling her closer. "You're so beautiful tonight, sweetheart."
Colette’s lips curled in satisfaction. She did not even bother hiding her triumph as she deliberately glanced in my direction, her eyes gleaming with silent mockery.
Then, as if to drive the dagger deeper, she moved in closer, her body pressing against his as she rubbed against him in an almost indecent manner.
Raphael stiffened slightly, clearly uncomfortable, but before he could step back, Colette went on tiptoe and kissed his cheek.
"Thank you, honey," she purred, her voice dripping with sweetness.
Whispers rippled through the room.
Guests murmured about how radiant they looked together, how perfectly matched they seemed.
Raphael’s parents beamed with pride, their eyes gleaming with satisfaction at how smoothly their plan was falling into place.
But no one except me seemed to notice Raphael’s scold as he leaned into Colette’s ear. “You’ve crossed the line, Colette.”
So, I just chuckled in satisfaction.
To any outsider, it would have seemed like an intimate exchange, a clandestine confession between lovers. But I saw it for what it was—a warning veiled in pretense.
Colette’s confident smirk wavered for just a moment, her mask of seduction slipping, but she recovered quickly. Her father-in-law’s voice cut through the moment, calling for her attention.
“Sorry to interrupt your little moment, lovebirds,” he said, his voice dripping with amusement. “But tonight is Raphael’s introduction to the business world. You’ll have to restrain yourselves.”
Colette’s expression shifted instantly, the practiced charm returning.
“No problem at all,” she purred. “I was just about to greet some of my friends anyway.”
Then, her gaze landed on Raphael. “Find me when you’re done, honey.”
Raphael did not reply. He merely followed his father, leaving Colette to turn her eyes toward me with a sharp, knowing glint. A storm was brewing behind her gaze.
I tried to slip away, already anticipating what was coming, but she strolled toward me, a glass of wine in hand, acting as if I were invisible.
Before I could react, she was suddenly in front of me, feigning surprise. And in the next moment—chaos erupted.
Colette stumbled back dramatically, the glass slipping from her hand and the glass shards hit her leg. Red wine splattered across my white dress, an ugly stain spreading like a wound.
And then she cried out.
“Blood!” Her voice rang across the room, loud enough to turn every head toward us.
I barely had time to process what had happened before Raphael appeared, his face clouded with concern.
“What happened?” he demanded.
Before I could speak, Colette’s voice trembled as she clung to his arm.
“It’s my fault,” she sniffled, the perfect picture of innocence. “I accidentally bumped into Nadine. Ah… my foot, it hurts so much.”
Gasps and murmurs rippled through the crowd. Eyes turned to Raphael, waiting for him to act, to be the gentleman they all expected him to be. And he did not disappoint them.
Without hesitation, Raphael bent down and scooped Colette into his arms.
The crowd sighed in approval, as if they were watching a romantic drama unfold before their very eyes.
He barely spared me a glance, but when he passed, he whispered, “Wait for me here. I’ll be back soon.”
Then he was gone, disappearing through the doors with Colette in his arms.
I stood there, frozen, as laughter and chatter resumed around me, as if I were nothing but an insignificant extra in their grand affair.
They might have thought I was foolish for agreeing to come, but the real fools were them—they had no idea what my true intentions were.
I exhaled slowly, steadying myself. Without hesitation, I turned away from the glittering ballroom and stepped onto the balcony.
**
As Raphael drove her to the hospital, Colette glanced at him and murmured, “Sorry for bothering you. Nadine must be jealous seeing this.”
“It’s fine. Leaving you there would’ve been worse,” Raphael replied coolly. “I can explain it to Nadine later. Besides, it’s just acting, remember?” His voice carried a warning edge.
Suddenly, Colette clutched Raphael’s upper thigh, wincing. “Argh… it hurts so much.”
Raphael instinctively reached for her hand, trying to pry it away. “We’re almost there. Just hold on.”
“Raphael… pull over,” Colette gasped, covering her mouth. “I drank earlier, and with you speeding, I feel like throwing up.”
Sighing, Raphael finally pulled over. The road was deserted, quiet beneath the dim glow of streetlights.
But the moment the car stopped, Colette did not step out. Instead, she climbed onto Raphael’s lap.
“Colette, what the hell are you doing?” he growled, his hands gripping the wheel.
She smirked, leaning in. “What do you think I’m doing?” Her voice dripped with provocation.
She had felt the way his body reacted, and knew he would not be able to resist much longer. A slow grind of her hips was all it took for him to stiffen beneath her.
“Stop…” Raphael’s protest was silenced by Colette’s kiss, deep and deliberate. Before he could regain control, she guided his hand to her chest, pressing against him.
Breaking the kiss, she whispered against his ear, “Raphael, I want you. Just for tonight. And I promise—after this, I’ll tell our parents to cancel our engagement.”
Then, with a teasing bite to his ear, she left a faint hickey on his neck.
Raphael exhaled sharply, his restraint hanging by a thread. The promise she dangled before him, the way she fit against him—it was all too much.
Smirking, he met her gaze. “You better keep your promise, Colette.”
And just like that, the night spiraled into an unstoppable, heated frenzy inside the car.
