Chapter 4

I slipped into the bathroom, barely making it into a stall before the tears came. My hands trembled as I locked the door, then pressed my back against it, sliding down until I sat on the cold tile floor, not caring what happened to the Valentino dress.

The memory of Gabriel's hand on Anna's back, the pride in his voice as he called her 'indispensable'—it was too much. I covered my mouth to muffle the sobs that tore through me.

How had we come to this? The man who once looked at me like I hung the moon now paraded his mistress in front of me, forcing me to smile through my humiliation.

The bathroom door swung open, heels clicking against marble.

'Victoria?' Anna's voice, dripping with false concern. 'Are you in here?'

I froze, holding my breath as if I could disappear.

'I know you're in here,' she continued, her voice closer now. 'Gabriel sent me to check on you.'

Of course he did. Another twist of the knife.

I wiped my tears, straightened my dress, and unlocked the stall door. I wouldn't give her the satisfaction of finding me on the floor.

Anna stood at the mirror, reapplying her lipstick—the same shade of red that had been smeared across Gabriel's mouth that day in his office. Her eyes met mine in the reflection.

'Oh, Victoria,' she sighed, turning to face me. 'You really should use waterproof mascara for these events. Your eyes are all... puffy.'

I moved to the sink, splashing cold water on my face. 'Thank you for your concern.'

She leaned against the counter, watching me. 'You know, you're still quite pretty. Just... not what Gabriel needs right now.'

The casual cruelty of her words stung worse than any insult.

'And what does Gabriel need?' I asked, meeting her gaze directly for the first time.

A slow smile spread across her face. 'Someone who understands ambition. Who can be a true partner in building his empire.' She reached out, adjusting a strand of my hair with calculated familiarity. 'Not someone who cries in bathrooms.'

Before I could respond, the door opened again, and Gabriel appeared—in the women's bathroom, of all places. My heart lurched traitorously at the sight of him.

'There you are,' he said, his voice soft with concern. He crossed to me, cupping my face in his hands. 'What's wrong, darling? You disappeared.'

For a moment, I saw a flicker of the old Gabriel—the one who would move heaven and earth to see me smile. But then I caught the glint in his eyes, the subtle curl at the corner of his mouth. He was enjoying this.

'I'm fine,' I managed. 'Just needed a moment.'

'She was quite upset,' Anna offered helpfully. 'I tried to comfort her.'

Gabriel's thumb brushed away a tear I'd missed. 'My poor Victoria. Let's get you back out there. The Hendersons are asking for you.'

'Actually,' I said, finding a thread of courage, 'I think I should go home. I'm not feeling well.'

His expression didn't change, but his fingers tightened imperceptibly on my wrist, hard enough to make me wince.

'Nonsense,' he said pleasantly. 'You look beautiful, and everyone wants to see you.' His voice dropped to a whisper only I could hear. 'Don't embarrass me in front of my clients, Victoria. Not if you want to remain the future Mrs. Blackstone.'

The threat hung between us, clear as crystal. I swallowed hard and nodded.

'Anna,' Gabriel said, not taking his eyes off me, 'give us a moment, please.'

She left with a knowing smile, and we were alone. Gabriel's grip on my wrist relaxed, but the pressure of his gaze did not.

'What game are you playing?' I asked, my voice barely audible.

He brushed his lips against my forehead. 'No game, my love. Just reminding you of your place.' His smile was gentle, his eyes were not. 'Now fix your makeup. We have a long night ahead.'

---

Two hours later, I stood on the balcony of the venue, gulping in the cool night air. I'd played my part perfectly—the adoring fiancée, laughing at all the right moments, standing by Gabriel's side while he and Anna charmed potential investors.

My phone buzzed with a text from Chloe: 'How's it going? Need an emergency extraction?'

Before I could reply, I heard Gabriel's voice from just inside the French doors. He hadn't seen me in the shadows.

'I miss you already,' he murmured into his phone, his voice low and intimate. 'Yes, right now. I can still taste you on my lips.'

I stood frozen, unable to move or breathe.

'Tonight,' he continued, 'I want you wearing only those pearl earrings I gave you. Nothing else.' A pause, then a soft laugh. 'Yes, baby. I love when you beg for me.'

Words he'd never said to me. Tenderness he'd withheld for months.

'I have to go,' he said finally. 'Victoria's somewhere around here, probably crying again.' Another pause. 'I know. It's exhausting. But necessary.'

Necessary. The word echoed in my head as he ended the call. What was necessary about torturing me this way?

I must have made a sound because Gabriel turned, spotting me in the shadows. For a split second, surprise flashed across his face—then satisfaction.

He'd wanted me to hear.

The realization broke something inside me. I crumpled, tears flowing freely now.

Gabriel was at my side instantly, gathering me into his arms as if he were my protector rather than my tormentor.

'Baby, what's wrong?' he asked, his voice convincingly concerned. 'Are you stressed about work?'

I pushed against his chest, trying to break free, but he held me tighter.

'Let me go,' I whispered.

'Never,' he replied, and for just a moment, I thought I glimpsed genuine emotion in his eyes—something raw and desperate beneath the calculated cruelty.

Then it was gone, replaced by the mask of the caring fiancé.

As he led me back inside, his arm possessively around my waist, I realized with chilling clarity that this wasn't just about hurting me or controlling me.

Gabriel was methodically dismantling every piece of my reality, replacing it with his own twisted version. And the most terrifying part?

A small, broken part of me still hoped for his redemption—still believed that somewhere beneath this monster was the man I had fallen in love with.

That hope, I was beginning to understand, might be the most dangerous thing of all.