Chapter 4 - The Gala of Wolves
The Grand Ballroom of the Drake Hotel glittered beneath crystal chandeliers, filled with Chicago’s political elite, corporate moguls, and high-society socialites. When the grand double doors opened and Adrian Moretti escorted me inside, the entire room fell into an immediate, breathless hush.
I wore an emerald velvet maternity gown that hugged my curves and framed my baby bump with regal elegance. Adrian’s hand rested possessively against the small of my back, his presence an impenetrable wall of power beside me. Every eye in the room locked onto the five-carat diamond sparkling on my finger.
Across the crowded room, Nathan and his father, Richard Vance, were holding court near the champagne tower. Beside them, Victoria looked pale, whispering frantically into Nathan’s ear.
""Breathe, little bird,"" Adrian whispered against my ear, his breath warm and steadying. ""They are wolves, but I am the hunter. Keep your head high.""
Nathan noticed us first. His jaw clenched, embarrassment and fury warring across his features. Egged on by his father’s stern nod, Nathan handed his drink to a waiter and marched directly toward us, intercepting us near the center of the ballroom.
""Claire,"" Nathan sneered, though his eyes darted nervously to Adrian. ""I'm surprised you had the nerve to show your face here after what you did.""
The surrounding guests gathered closer, sensing the explosive drama.
""Excuse me?"" I said, projecting my voice clearly, refusing to shrink away.
""You stole confidential client files from Vance Enterprises before you broke our engagement,"" Nathan declared loudly, playing to the room. ""And now you're pretending this child belongs to Mr. Moretti to shield yourself from prosecution. You were sleeping with him while you were wearing my ring!""
The crowd gasped. Victoria smirked from behind Nathan, looking triumphant.
I felt Adrian’s muscles tense beside me, his aura darkening to pure ice. But before he could speak, I took half a step forward, looking Nathan straight in the eye with complete disgust.
""You really want to talk about theft, Nathan?"" I asked, my voice ringing clear and steady across the ballroom. ""Should we talk about how you embezzled two million dollars from your father's overseas accounts to cover your gambling debts in Macau? Or should we show everyone the hotel security footage from the Peninsula, showing you and Victoria together three weeks before I called off the wedding?""
Nathan’s face turned bright red. ""You're lying! You don't have proof of that!""
Adrian stepped smoothly into the conversation, sliding a leather dossier from Luca's hands and tossing it onto a nearby cocktail table with a sickening thud.
""Every bank transaction, Mr. Vance,"" Adrian said calmly, his voice slicing through the silence like a scalpel. ""Every offshore transfer, every hotel keycard log, and every medical receipt from the clinic where you tried to force Claire to sign a non-disclosure agreement while she was carrying your former responsibilities.""
Richard Vance pushed through the crowd, ripping open the dossier. The older man’s face turned gray as he read the financial statements.
""Nathan..."" Richard gasped, his hand shaking. ""Is this true? You stole from the firm?""
""Dad, no, it's a setup!"" Nathan panicked, looking around wildly.
Adrian stepped forward, towering over Nathan, his eyes filled with ruthless finality. ""Tomorrow morning, the District Attorney will receive a copy of these files. By noon, Vance Enterprises will lose its municipal contracts. Touch Claire again, speak her name in public, or utter another lie about her child, and I will take your family's empire apart piece by piece.""
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Nathan collapsed back against his father, completely ruined.
Adrian wrapped his arm firmly around my waist, pulling me close against his chest as the room parted for us like the Red Sea. I wasn't just surviving anymore. With Adrian Moretti, I was untouchable.
