Chapter 32
Chapter Thirty-Two
Levi
The ballroom is a glittering spectacle of polished marble floors, sparkling chandeliers, and the quiet hum of calculated conversations. It’s another high-profile charity event, the kind of gathering where reputations are made and destroyed with a single whispered word.
Tania stands by my side, her head held high and her poise unshakable. She’s radiant in a midnight-blue dress that hugs her figure, her confidence making her even more breathtaking. But I can sense the tension in her shoulders, the way her smile doesn’t quite reach her eyes. She doesn’t like these events, and I don’t blame her. They’re a battlefield disguised as a social gathering.
And tonight, Damon is here.
I spot him across the room, his smug grin already grating on my nerves. He’s leaning against the bar, his gaze flicking to Tania every so often, like a predator circling its prey. It’s no secret that Damon thrives on tearing people down, and I know he’s been waiting for an opportunity to strike.
“Tania,” I murmur, leaning closer. “Stay close tonight.”
She glances at me, her brow furrowing slightly. “Is something wrong?”
“Just Damon being Damon,” I reply, my tone clipped. “I don’t trust him.”
She nods, her expression tightening, but she doesn’t argue. She knows as well as I do that Damon doesn’t play fair.
It happens halfway through the evening. Damon approaches with that trademark smirk of his, a glass of scotch in hand and a dangerous glint in his eye. He makes a beeline for us, and I feel Tania tense beside me.
“Levi,” Damon says smoothly, his tone dripping with mock camaraderie. “Always a pleasure.”
“Damon,” I reply curtly, my jaw tightening. “What do you want?”
He chuckles, his gaze flicking to Tania. “I just thought I’d say hello to your... fiancée. She’s been the talk of the evening, you know.”
Tania raises an eyebrow, her voice calm but firm. “I didn’t realize I was so fascinating.”
“Oh, you are,” Damon says, his smile widening. “People can’t help but wonder how someone like you ended up with someone like Levi. After all, you’ve been in some... interesting situations, haven’t you?”
My blood runs cold. The room seems to quiet, as if everyone is holding their breath, waiting for the spectacle to unfold.
“What are you trying to say, Damon?” I ask, my voice low and steady, but laced with warning.
“Oh, nothing,” he replies innocently, though the malice in his tone is unmistakable. “Just that reputations are so fragile. One wrong move, one wrong... relationship, and they can crumble.”
The insinuation is clear, and I see the flicker of hurt in Tania’s eyes before she schools her expression. It’s enough to make my vision blur with rage.
“That’s enough,” I say, stepping in front of Tania. My voice carries across the room, drawing the attention of the nearby guests. “If you have something to say, Damon, say it to me. Leave her out of it.”
Damon raises an eyebrow, clearly enjoying the scene. “I’m just pointing out the obvious, Levi. Not everyone is who they seem.”
“And yet you seem to think you’re the authority on character,” I snap, my tone sharp. “Tania is twice the person you’ll ever be. She’s smart, compassionate, and everything you pretend to be but never will.”
The room falls silent, all eyes now on us. Damon’s smirk falters, and for the first time, I see a flicker of uncertainty in his gaze.
“You think you can tear her down to get to me,” I continue, my voice steady but fierce. “But all you’ve done is show everyone here exactly what kind of person you are. And believe me, Damon, that’s not someone worth listening to.”
There’s a ripple of murmurs through the crowd, the weight of the moment sinking in. Damon’s face hardens, but he doesn’t say another word. Instead, he turns and walks away, his defeat clear in the stiffness of his movements.
Tania is quiet as we leave the ballroom, her hand resting lightly on my arm. The tension from earlier still lingers, but there’s something else in her expression—something softer.
“Thank you,” she says quietly as we step into the car. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“Yes, I did,” I reply, turning to face her. “No one gets to talk about you like that. Not Damon, not anyone.”
She looks at me for a long moment, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Levi...”
“I meant every word,” I say firmly. “You’re incredible, Tania. And if Damon or anyone else can’t see that, it’s their loss.”
Her breath catches, and she reaches for me, her hand resting lightly against my cheek. “You’re impossible,” she whispers, a faint smile tugging at her lips.
“Only for you,” I reply, my voice soft.
She leans in, her lips finding mine in a kiss that’s slow and deliberate, filled with all the emotions we’ve been holding back. Her hands slide to my shoulders, pulling me closer as the kiss deepens, and I feel every wall, every barrier, dissolve between us.
The passion doesn’t stop when we get home. It builds, slow and intense, every touch, every kiss a declaration of everything we feel but can’t put into words. The night is electric, raw and emotional, and by the time we collapse into each other’s arms, I feel like the world has shifted.
As she rests against me, her breathing soft and even, I press a kiss to her hair, my chest full of something I can only describe as peace. For the first time, I feel like we’re truly in this together.
And I know I’ll do whatever it takes to keep it that way.