Caswell's dark eyes narrowed. The muscle in his jaw feathered as he stared at the woman in the black mask and oversized sunglasses.
Athena felt the blood drain from her face. The air in her lungs turned to ice. She instinctively reached up to adjust her sunglasses, trying to shrink into the floor.
Hayden noticed Caswell's shift in attention. She followed his gaze, her eyes narrowing with calculated malice.
Before Athena could take a step toward the door, Annabel ripped her arm out of Athena's grip.
"Annabel, no!" Athena gasped, grabbing at empty air.
Annabel stomped across the marble floor. Her high heels clicked like rapid gunfire. She planted herself directly in front of Caswell, blocking his path.
"Caswell Maldonado, do you have no shame?" Annabel's voice was a sharp shriek that shattered the elegant atmosphere of the store.
The sales associates gasped. They stopped moving, their eyes darting nervously between the billionaire and the furious woman. The temperature in the room plummeted.
Caswell's face darkened instantly. He looked down at Annabel, his presence suffocating and heavy.
Hayden gasped dramatically. She shrank back, hiding behind Caswell's broad shoulder, her hands gripping his suit jacket tightly.
"Excuse me. Watch your tone," Caswell said. His voice was absolute zero. He completely ignored Athena, who was slowly walking up behind her friend.
Annabel pointed a shaking finger right at Hayden's face. "Respect? You bring your mistress out in public to swipe your wife's money, and you demand respect?"
Hayden's eyes filled with instant tears. Her lower lip quivered. "I am not a mistress," she whimpered. "Caswell and I are in love."
Athena stopped a few feet away. The words "in love" hit her like a physical punch to the gut. Her stomach cramped. She dug her fingernails into her palms until the skin broke.
Caswell shifted his body, shielding Hayden entirely from Annabel's wrath. His cold eyes finally moved to Athena.
"Control your friend, Athena," Caswell ordered. He said her name with a mixture of warning and deep disgust.
Athena flinched. The sound of her name on his lips felt like a slap. She stared at the man she had loved for eight years through the dark tint of her sunglasses.
Annabel shook with rage. She lunged forward, her hand raised to slap Caswell directly across his arrogant face.
Caswell shot his arm out. He shoved Annabel back by the shoulder, his grip rough and unforgiving.
Annabel stumbled backward, her heels skidding on the marble. She almost went down.
"You dare touch me? You protect this homewrecker but you shove your wife's best friend?" Annabel screamed, trying to charge at him again.
Athena cried out. She rushed forward and grabbed Annabel's waist, bracing her friend against her own body to keep her from falling.
Athena lifted her chin. She stared straight into Caswell's eyes. "Do not touch her." Her voice was hoarse, but it did not shake.
Caswell looked at the dark lenses hiding her eyes. A strange, irritating itch flared in his chest, but he shoved it down. His jaw hardened. "If you signed the papers, then get out. Stop making a scene and embarrassing yourself."
The words were a public execution. The whispers of the sales staff buzzed in Athena's ears. Her humiliation was complete.
Hayden peeked out from behind Caswell's arm. A smug, victorious smile played on her lips. She mouthed the word "Pathetic" directly at Athena.
The last thread of Athena's sanity snapped. She took a deep breath, forcing the violent urge to scream back down her throat.
She looked at Hayden with dead eyes, then shifted her gaze back to Caswell. Her voice was terrifyingly calm. "Don't worry. I don't want a single cent of your dirty money."
Athena grabbed Annabel's arm. She turned her back on them and marched toward the glass doors.
Caswell watched her walk away. His heart skipped a single, erratic beat. A sudden, uncontrollable sense of loss flashed through his chest, gone as quickly as it came.
Hayden tugged gently on his sleeve. "Caswell? Are you okay?" she cooed softly.
Caswell tore his eyes away from the door. He shoved the strange feeling down, his face returning to a mask of stone. He took the shopping bag from the manager and walked out.
Outside, the California sun was blinding. Athena dragged Annabel to the parking lot. She ripped open the door of the Porsche and collapsed into the driver's seat, her entire body shaking uncontrollably.
