Chapter 14 Just be mine?
As they entered, people around them began to take notice. Dante’s presence was rare, and now seeing him at an auction without his bodyguards made people even more curious. His every step seemed to draw attention, and whispers filled the air, trying to figure out why he was here.
They reached the VIP seating area, and Anya couldn’t help but glance around nervously. A few seats away, she spotted Luca and Danny. Their eyes immediately landed on her, and she quickly widened her eyes, discreetly signaling them to act like they didn't recognize her.
Dante noticed them, he gave Danny a small nod in recognition. Danny returned it.
Thankfully, Dante didn’t seem to notice that Luca and Danny were actually staring at her. He was too focused on the event.
As the auction began, it started with some lower-priced items. The crowd was casually bidding, but as the stakes grew higher, the tension in the room also intensified. Eventually, the prices soared into the millions.
Then, the auction slowed when a ruby ring was presented.
“This ring was designed by the prestigious luxury house Velarne Jewels,” the auctioneer announced, as a ripple of excitement moved through the crowd. “Owning it today means owning a piece that could increase in value tenfold within a year.”
"I should get it. The return on this investment is huge," one bidder whispered.
"It's so expensive. I don't think many people will bid," another murmured. "The starting price is already twenty million dollars."
“That’s gorgeous,” Anya whispered under her breath, staring at the ring in awe.
At once, Dante turned to her.
“You like rubies, don’t you?” he asked, his voice low but steady. "The necklace you were wearing the other day was ruby too."
"Yeah, but—" She started to protest, but he was already raising his hand to place a bid.
“Thirty million,” Dante called out, his voice cutting through the room.
Anya gasped, her heart racing. “No, Dante, that’s too expensive!” She reached for his hand, trying to stop him. “You don’t have to buy it for me.”
"It doesn't matter." He frowned. “This is a birthday gift for you. Won’t you accept it?"
"I can’t accept it." Her voice softened. “Dante, leave it. I don’t need it.”
"Forty million," another voice rang out across the auction. Heads turned as all eyes searched for the bidder. It was Luca.
Dante’s gaze snapped to Luca, his eyes narrowing. Without a second thought, he raised the bid again. "Fifty million."
The bidding war between the two men escalated, each of them bidding higher and higher.
"Eighty million," the auctioneer called.
"A hundred million," Dante bid, his voice calm, unbothered.
Anya couldn’t take it anymore. "Goddamn it," she hissed, her hands flying to grab his arm. "Leave it. Please, come with me." She stood up, trying to pull him away from the auction.
“Anya, sit down. Where are you going?” Dante’s eyes locked onto her.
"Dante, stop bidding," she pleaded. "I don’t want the ring. Don’t worry about it."
But Dante remained unmoved. "Sit down. I’m getting you your gift."
In a moment of desperation, Anya snatched the bidding card from his hand, pulling him out of the auction room with all her strength.
Dante had no choice but to follow, though a deep scowl darkened his face.
"It doesn’t matter what gift you give me," Anya said quickly, but softly, her voice carrying a trace of frustration. "The price doesn’t matter at all, I promise."
Dante turned his head, his eyes flicking to Luca, who was still watching them intently. As Anya pulled him toward the exit, Luca’s gaze never left her, and he raised his bid one last time, the number jumping to one hundred and fifty million just as they were about to leave the hall.
Anya pulled him toward the exit, her hand gripping his as they neared his car. Before she could even catch her breath, grabbed her shoulders, spinning her around and pinning her against the side of the car. His gaze was intense, burning into her as he leaned down, his voice low and dangerous.
“Anya, do you like me?”
She froze, stunned.
"Do you like me? Love me?" he repeated, his voice low, almost possessive.
Anya didn’t know how to respond. "What’s going on? Why are you acting like this today?"
Dante’s glare intensified as his mind replayed Luca’s every move. He’d noticed the way Luca had kept his eyes on Anya since they entered the auction. The man hadn’t looked at him once, not even when Dante had raised the bid. But the moment Luca saw him bidding for the ring, he immediately jumped in, trying to match Dante’s offer. As if he was waiting to see what Anya would choose, then swooping in with his own bid.
It was well-known that Luca Stanson was one of the richest men in the country. Dante had always known about Luca's influence and his partnership with Mr. Carter, but the way Luca looked at Anya made Dante’s chest tighten so painfully that he could barely breathe.
He couldn't pinpoint the emotion, but the mere thought of that bastard looking at Anya like that again stirred something dark in him—a consuming rage that twisted inside him.
"Answer me," Dante said, his voice low and hard. "Tell me... Do you like me?"
“Why are you suddenly asking me that?” Anya asked, her brow furrowed.
His grip on her tightened, pulling her closer. His eyes burned into hers, as if he was trying to search her soul. “I will never marry into Carters’. You’re the one I want to marry, Anya.”
Anya stiffened, her heart pounding in her chest. Dante's words hit her like a cold splash of water, and for a moment, she felt something inside her break.
‘What he means is, he's trying to use me as a shield for his arranged marriage…’ Her face fell, and the sadness that swept over her was deep, darkening her expression. ‘Is that all I am to him? A shield for his arranged marriage?’
She looked up at him, meeting his gaze directly. Her lips quivered slightly as she forced a smile, though it hurt. "Give me some time," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'll tell you after my birthday. It’s just two days away. You won’t have to wait much longer."
Dante’s jaw clenched at her words. His eyes darkened, and his grip on her tightened even more.
He wanted her for himself. The very thought that she might be trying to avoid it, that she might not feel the same way, was tearing him apart. The burn in his chest was unbearable, but he couldn’t stop it.
He fought to keep his emotions in check but failed. He looked away, trying to regain control, when her fingers gently touched his cheek. She pulled his face down to look into her eyes, a teasing smile on her lips.
“What if you regret confessing to me after seeing Annie?” she asked, her voice playful yet soft. "She might be prettier, richer, and the perfect match for you."
Dante’s fingers slid from her forehead down to her ear, tucking a stray lock of hair behind it. He smiled, but it was a smile full of tenderness and something deeper. “Do you really think I haven’t seen all kinds of women?” he murmured, his lips just inches from hers. “I’ve seen a million women in my life, but the only one I’ve ever wanted more than my next damn breath… is you.”
Anya’s breath caught in her throat, and she felt her entire body flush with warmth. Her grip on his shirt tightened, her body pressed against his, unable to move, unable to breathe properly under the intensity of his gaze and touch. His fingers moved from her face to the back of her neck, pulling her even closer.
“When did you first feel attracted to me?” she asked, her eyes glinting softly with curiosity.
Dante’s face tightened as if the question caught him off guard. He shook his head, his voice soft but filled with truth. “I don’t exactly remember,” he murmured, the memory clouded in time. “But I think it was the very first day I saw you. You had tears in your eyes. I wanted to pull you to myself and stop you from hurting, no matter what it took.”
Anya’s heart fluttered at his words. “Alright then,” she said with a teasing grin. “I’ll also tell you when I started liking you... Ever since I saw you, I started feeling attracted to you.”
A small laugh escaped Dante’s lips. “Is that before you saw me naked, or after I was clothed?”
She laughed lightly, her fingers tightening around his waist. “Definitely because of your naked body.”
Dante’s smile faded slowly, and his expression darkened.
He grabbed her tighter, his fingers digging into her waist as his lips crashed onto hers with a fierce urgency that stole her breath away. Licking, sucking, biting in heated strokes that left her trembling.
His tongue flicked against her lower lip, coaxing a soft, needy moan from deep inside her. “Ahh...” she gasped, her body pressing closer, desperate for more.
Without breaking the kiss, his mouth trailed down her jawline, leaving a scorching path of wet kisses and teasing flicks of his tongue along her neck.
“Hahhh...” she whimpered, her head falling back as his warm breath mingled with the slick trail his tongue left behind. Each lick sent jolts of heat through her veins, making her skin tingle and her heart pound like a wild drum.
He bit gently at the sensitive skin just below her ear, his teeth grazing and nibbling in a deliciously cruel way, and she shivered, caught between pleasure and need.
Her breaths came fast, shallow, unable to catch up as he claimed every inch of her neck with ravenous hunger, leaving her gasping.
Just then, Luca stepped out of the auction room, the ruby ring still in his hand. His eyes scanned the scene, stopping when he saw Dante and Anya.
Dante had his arms wrapped tightly around Anya, and they were kissing, completely absorbed in each other. Luca’s grip on the ring tightened, his face darkening with jealousy.
He had bought the ring for her birthday, for her. But now, seeing this, his chest burned with a fierce, unrelenting anger. He wanted to look away, but his gaze remained fixed on Anya.
‘Why can’t you just be mine?’ His heart ached as the pain surged through him. ‘I would give you anything, everything. Just come to me and be mine.’
But those words were never spoken, lost in the silent air of the night.
Eventually, Luca turned and walked away, unable to bear the sight.
***
“Here.” Luca offered a small box to Anya, his smile warm and affectionate as they sat in a lavish restaurant. They were seated on opposite sides of the table, but his eyes never left her face.
“Happy birthday, Annie,” Luca said, his voice soft.
The restaurant was on the top floor of Max Mall, for the richest guests only. Big windows showed the bright city lights. Soft, warm lights hung from the ceiling, shining on the shiny marble floor.
Tables were covered with clean white cloths, set with crystal glasses and fine plates. Soft velvet chairs made sitting comfortable and private. Quiet classical music played softly.
Anya’s eyes lit up as she smiled, accepting the box. She opened it, and her gasp echoed in the quiet of the room. Inside the box was the ring from the auction the day before.
"This... this is the ring from yesterday?" she asked, her voice filled with surprise.
Luca’s smile grew wider as he watched her reaction. "Yes. Do you like it?"
Anya hesitated, her fingers brushing the velvet box before she slid it back across the table. “I can’t take this,” she said quietly. “It’s way too precious.”
Luca’s brows furrowed, the lightheartedness in his gaze quickly replaced with confusion and a touch of hurt. “It’s your birthday gift. Why not?”
His frown made her smile, despite herself. There was something endearingly stubborn about Luca—like a child pouting when things didn’t go his way. She chuckled, shaking her head.
Her laugh was soft but teasing. "No, Luca. I mean, gift me something reasonable—not something you won in the most expensive auction of the year. I can’t take it."
“You have to take it,” he insisted. “Or I’ll assume you don’t like me. That would be very tragic for my ego.”
She shot him a playful glare. "You're blackmailing me now?"
“How can I not like you?” she murmured, her playful tone fading. Her eyes held a soft, aching sincerity now. “Don’t do this, please.”
But Luca only grinned at her, his fingers gently pushing the box back to her again. “I don’t care,” he said, his voice softer than before. “It’s a gift. Don’t refuse it. When it’s my birthday, I’ll accept whatever you give me without question. I’m a good boy like that.”
Anya couldn’t help but snicker.
She sighed, then reluctantly picked up the ring, holding the box against her chest. “Thank you so much. I love my gift a lot.”
Luca grinned at her, satisfied.
She held the ring in her hand, admiring the pretty little thing.
Luca watched her quietly, then said after a moment, trying to sound casual, “How’s it going with Dante?”
Just then, the waiter arrived with two steaming cups of coffee, placing them gently on the table. “Thanks,” Luca muttered without looking up, his gaze fixed on Anya.
Anya’s eyes flickered to him, a hint of nervousness behind her smile. "He proposed to me last night." Her voice lit up, and the bright smile that followed made Luca’s heart tighten painfully.
His heart clenched. That was the smile he’d always wanted for himself. But it didn’t belong to him.
‘I wish it was me you loved, Anya,’ he thought, but the words remained stuck behind the walls of restraint he’d built for her sake. He felt the sting of jealousy twist through him, but he buried it deep, forcing a smile.
"Are you sure he’s going to marry you?" Luca asked, his tone careful but laced with concern. "You haven’t even revealed to him yet that you are Annie. You’ve only known each other for a few months. Maybe you should take some time and not rush into it."
Anya’s fingers wrapped around the coffee cup, her eyes meeting his without hesitation. “He loves me, and that’s all that matters,” she said with conviction, as if that alone could shield her from every possible storm.
Luca nodded slowly, though his lips curved into a bittersweet smile. "Alright then. But after your marriage, are you going to hand over your family business to him to manage?"
"Of course not," she replied, a frown forming on her face. "It’s mine. My dad wants me to take care of it, so I will. I won’t give it to him. But I also know that Dante isn’t that type of person. He doesn’t want any of it."
Luca took a slow breath, trying to mask the hurt he felt.
“If that’s what you believe,” Luca said gently, reaching across the table to brush her hair away from her face. His hand lingered, fingers resting lightly on her head, protective and affectionate. “I just want you to live a happy life, Anya. You’ve already endured too much. From now on, the only thing you should worry about is which shoes to match with your bag.”
Anya giggled, the tension in her shoulders easing. “I’m sure I will. With Dad, you, and Uncle Danny always watching over me, what could go wrong? I’ll just call you, and you'll show up like a knight in shining armor, won’t you?”
Luca raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into a knowing smile. "Do you even need to ask?"
Anya grinned brightly, and for a second, the warmth between them felt like something that belonged in another lifetime.
But just outside the restaurant space, hidden behind a row of large potted plants and designer mannequins, Zara paused in her tracks. Her arms were loaded with glossy shopping bags, but they nearly slipped from her grasp when she caught sight of the scene.
Her gaze zeroed in on Luca’s hand resting so delicately on Anya’s head, the way his fingers moved tenderly, almost like a lover’s touch. The way Anya was smiling, relaxed and radiant, made her chest tighten with rage.
"Is this bitch two-timing?" she muttered under her breath. "Who is that guy?"
Zara started digging her phone out of her purse. She raised it quickly, the camera clicking softly as she snapped several photos of them from behind the plants, her jealousy flaring as she looked at the couple, her heart burning with resentment.
“What a bitch,” she muttered under her breath. “Seducing Dante wasn’t enough? Now she’s got another man fawning over her like a puppy?”
She scoffed, her lips curling into a cruel sneer. “She’s not even trying to hide it. A private booth? Really? If I hadn’t walked this way, I wouldn’t have caught her red-handed.”
Lowering the phone, Zara’s eyes darkened with fury.
“Enjoy it while it lasts,” she whispered to herself, venom lacing her voice. “I’m not going to let you live a happy little life, you two-faced slut. You’ll pay for this.”
***
"Mr. Charles Carter, owner of Carter Diamonds, has officially handed over his billion-dollar empire to his daughter!"
"The billionaire magnate has finally crowned his long-lost daughter as the sole heir to his vast business empire!"
The news flashed across every channel. Anchors repeated the same line again and again—this was the breaking news of the day.
"On her birthday, Charles Carter gave his daughter the most extravagant gift any parent has ever given: full ownership of his billion-dollar empire, effective immediately."
Janet sat frozen on the couch, her eyes glued to the screen. Her hands trembled as she clutched the tablet tighter, her excitement bubbling dangerously close to obsession.
Her heart pounded in her chest.
“I have to act fast,” she whispered under her breath. Her voice was urgent, low, almost panicked. “Before someone else snatches that girl away, I have to make sure she marries Dante. If she slips out of my hands now… there won’t be another chance like this.”