Chapter 3

Dominic's face went white. He lunged forward and ripped the knife from Elena's hand.

"Doctor! Get the family doctor, now!"

He yanked off his tie, wrapped it tight around her bleeding wrist.

Elena lay surrounded by a flock of concerned women, blinking weakly.

Her eyes slid toward me. No death wish in them at all.

Just a flicker of triumph.

Once they'd settled Elena on a chaise in the resting area, Dominic came for me.

He crossed the room in three strides. Eyes like a predator's.

"Vivian!"

His hand cracked across my face before I could blink.

The sound rang through the ballroom like a gunshot.

The force sent me stumbling. I hit the ground.

My forehead caught the marble edge of a side table—skin split, blood instant.

My left cheek burned white-hot. My ear rang.

Dominic stood over me. Pointed down at me like I was trash.

"You heartless bitch. You'd rather watch a woman die than admit the truth?"

"I don't want a wife this vicious. We're done."

"We're divorcing, tonight."

The crowd piled on immediately. Some didn't even bother hiding their glee.

"Good for you, Mr. Ashford! A wife like that is nothing but a curse!"

"If her brother's a thug, what does that make her? God knows what she was doing before the marriage—probably had half the city wrapped around her finger!"

"The Ashfords and Miss Hart got dealt the worst hand, running into these two criminals!"

Venom. Pouring from every direction.

They looked at me like I was the devil incarnate—one step away from throwing rotten eggs.

Pushed myself off the floor, inch by inch, until I was standing. Looked them all in the face.

"Caught in the act means caught in the act. Where's the proof?"

"Which one of you actually saw my brother force himself on Elena?"

Silence. They all glanced at each other.

Dominic let out a cold laugh.

You won't believe it until you see the proof, will you?

He turned. Strode toward the far, dim corner of the ballroom.

Two bodyguards stood there, flanking a bulging black sack tied shut with rope.

Dominic crouched. Yanked the rope loose.

Reached inside, fishing around.

He pulled out a custom-made lapel pin. Engraved with a tiny letter M, for Moretti.

He held it high, turning to face the room.

"Everyone, take a good look! This is a one-of-a-kind piece, custom-made for Luca Moretti's twenty-first birthday."

"There is no duplicate anywhere in the world!"

"No one else owns this. Only him."

He hurled it at my feet.

"Vivian. What do you have to say now?"

My heart slammed against my ribs.

Cold sweat broke down my spine.

That pin. Luca was wearing it tonight.

I saw it on him before I tied him up.

Had someone gone to the storage room after I left? Let him out?

No. No way.

I posted guards. Told them not to leave for a second.

Mr. Hart spat at my feet.

"The evidence is right there. Still going to lie?"

I clenched my jaw. Stared Dominic down.

Let out a laugh dripping with contempt.

"Funny, isn't it?"

"Luca and I haven't been back in the country long. We don't do these society events often."

"We keep our heads down."

"But tonight—the one night I specifically asked Luca to stay by your side—this happens?"

"Who was really with Elena tonight? Who's framing my brother to make my family take the fall?"

"Bullshit!"

Dominic exploded. But behind the fury, I caught a flash of panic.

His rich-boy friends rushed in, grabbing his arms, holding him back.

The crowd shook their heads at me, disapproval written all over their faces.

"Vivian! Have you lost your mind?"

"Accusing your own husband to protect that animal?"

"She'd burn down the Ashford name just to save her brother's skin!"

"The Ashfords really drew the short straw by marrying into that family!"

A few well-meaning older women pulled at my arm.

"Vivian, honey, stop this. Just apologize to Dominic."

"There's still a way to smooth this over."

I shook them off. Smiled cold as ice.

"Apologize? I've done nothing wrong."

Someone muttered under their breath.

"Dominic and Elena are childhood sweethearts. If something were really going on between them, they'd have gotten married ages ago."

"Why would she need to lie?"

That little comment landed like a needle in everyone's ear.

The room's energy shifted. Just slightly.

People glanced at Dominic. At Elena.

Something curious flickered in their eyes.