I simply smiled, smoothed down my dress, and walked toward the door. Let her wonder. Let her worry.

I stepped out of the restroom into the dim lighting of the club. My heels clicked against the polished floor as I made my way toward the dance floor. A familiar silhouette caught my eye - Primo, leaning against one of the ornate pillars, his attention fixed on me.

His eyes widened when he spotted me. "Asteria? I thought you were still..." He gestured vaguely toward the booth.

"Changed my mind." I kept my voice light, casual.

"Then perhaps you'll finally honor me with a dance?" He extended his hand, a practiced smile playing on his lips. "We should celebrate. After all, in a month's time..."

I caught the calculated glint in his eye. The same look he'd given me countless times before, when he thought he held all the cards.

"Of course," I matched his fake warmth with my own. "How could I refuse?"

A flash of movement behind me drew his attention. Yesha emerged from the restroom, her face transforming from surprise to something darker when she saw us together.

"Oh, you simply must let me get you both a drink first!" Yesha's voice dripped with honey as she flagged down a passing server. She grabbed two champagne flutes, turning back toward us with exaggerated care.

What happened next seemed to unfold in slow motion. Yesha's heel "caught" on an invisible snag in the floor. She stumbled forward, the golden liquid arcing through the air in a perfect trajectory. The champagne splashed across the front of my dress, the cold liquid seeping through the expensive fabric.

"Oh no!" Yesha's hand flew to her mouth in mock horror. "I'm so terribly sorry! How clumsy of me."

I'd had enough. The champagne dripped down my dress, but my patience had evaporated faster. My hand struck Yesha's face with a crack that echoed through the club. She spun from the force, dropping to the floor with theatrical flair.

"You crazy bitch!" Yesha pressed her hand to her reddening cheek.

Primo rushed to her side, helping her up. "What the hell is wrong with you?" His face contorted with rage as he turned to me.

"Primo, please." Yesha clung to his arm. "She's obviously unstable. I shouldn't have provoked her. This is all my fault." Her voice quivered with practiced vulnerability.

The music had stopped. Dozens of eyes locked onto our little drama, whispers rippling through the crowd.

"No one treats her like this." Primo's hand shot up, ready to strike.

I didn't flinch. I wouldn't give him the satisfaction.

But the blow never came. A firm grip caught Primo's wrist mid-swing.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." Adrian's voice cut through the tension, cool and controlled.

Primo's head snapped around. "Who are you? This doesn't concern you."

Adrian released Primo's wrist with deliberate slowness. The tension crackled between them as he stepped between us, his broad shoulders blocking Primo from view.

"Are you alright?" Adrian's gray eyes met mine, his voice dropping to a gentle murmur. "I can handle this, but something tells me you'd prefer to take care of it yourself."

I blinked, caught off guard by this stranger's perceptiveness. We'd only met minutes ago, yet here he stood, defending me while respecting my agency. The champagne still dripped from my dress, but I straightened my spine.

"I've got this." I gave him a small nod.

"Who the hell do you think you are?" Primo's voice rose behind Adrian.

"Just someone who believes a gentleman should never raise his hand to a lady." Adrian's tone remained maddeningly calm. "But I'll let Miss Mitchell handle this situation as she sees fit."

Yesha clutched Primo's arm tighter, her eyes darting between us. "Primo, who is this man?"

"I don't know." Primo's jaw clenched. "And I don't care. This is a private matter."

I caught the barely perceptible quirk of Adrian's lips as he stepped aside, giving me the floor while remaining close enough to intervene if needed. The gesture spoke volumes, he wasn't here to play hero, just to ensure a fair fight.

"You know what's funny, Primo?" My voice carried across the now-silent club. "I know about you and Yesha. Did you really think I wouldn't find out?"

The color drained from his face. His eyes darted to Yesha, who gave him a small nod.

"You're only marrying me to merge the families." I smoothed my champagne-soaked dress. "Tell me, how long were you planning to keep me around after the papers were signed?"

Yesha leaned close to Primo's ear. "She knows everything," she whispered, loud enough for those nearest to hear.

Adrian's eyebrows shot up as he watched the scene unfold. Around us, the crowd pressed closer, phones appearing in hands, eager to catch every word of this public spectacle.

Primo's jaw worked back and forth. His eyes scanned the growing audience, recognition flickering across his features as he spotted several prominent family associates among them.

"This is clearly a misunderstanding." He forced a laugh, adjusting his tie. "We should discuss this in private, Asteria. Away from prying eyes."

"Why? Scared of what else I might say?"

"Enough." His voice dropped low, dangerous. "We'll talk about this later. This isn't the place."

Primo grabbed Yesha's arm and started to pull her away, his other hand extended toward me in a placating gesture. "We'll sort this out. Privately."

"Mr. Chromos." A suited man with an earpiece materialized beside us. "I apologize, but we need to ask you and your party to step outside."

The security's polite tone couldn't mask the firmness in his request.

"Of course." Primo's fingers dug into my arm as he steered me toward the exit. "We were just leaving."

Yesha followed close behind, her heels clicking against the marble floor. As we walked, Primo leaned close to my ear.

"You have no idea what you've just started." His breath was hot against my skin. "By tomorrow morning, you'll regret ever speaking my name in public."

I kept my face neutral, but something made me glance back over my shoulder. Adrian stood where we'd left him, one eyebrow raised in silent question. I gave him a slight nod.

We pushed through the heavy doors into the cool night air. The parking lot stretched before us, half-empty at this hour. Behind me, I heard the doors open again. Adrian's measured footsteps followed our group at a discreet distance.

Primo's grip tightened as we walked. "I built everything we have. You think you can just throw it all away?"

I could feel Adrian's presence behind us like a shield. Primo might not know who he was, but I had a feeling I'd just gained a powerful ally.

Primo yanked me to a stop between two parked cars. "What the hell was that in there? You're making a scene, embarrassing me in front of everyone."

"You're pathetic," Yesha chimed in. "Running around like some scorned woman. At least have some class about it."

I jerked my arm free from Primo's grip. "Class? That's rich coming from you two. You're both full of shit. Standing there acting like I'm the problem when you've been sneaking around behind my back."

"Watch your mouth," Primo snarled. "This tantrum of yours ends now. You're going to marry me, we'll complete the merger, and in a year I'll divorce you with enough money to keep you comfortable. Simple as that."

I laughed in his face. "Keep your blood money. My family has enough wealth to last generations. I don't need a single cent from you."

"You ungrateful little-" Yesha started.

"Ungrateful? For what? Finding out my fiancé is screwing someone else? Or should I be grateful that you both thought I was stupid enough not to notice?"

"This isn't about her," Primo cut in. "This is business. Our families need this merger."

"Then marry her instead. I'm sure your father would love having a gold-digging whore for a daughter-in-law."

Yesha's face turned red. "How dare you-"

"How dare I? How dare YOU! Both of you standing there acting self-righteous when you're nothing but lying hypocrites."

"You're making a mistake," Primo growled. "You have no idea what you're throwing away."

"The only mistake I made was ever trusting you. You can take your merger and your money and shove it up your ass."

The crack of Primo's hand across my face echoed through the parking lot. Pain bloomed across my cheek, and I tasted copper where my teeth had cut the inside of my mouth.

Yesha's lips curled into a satisfied smirk. "Not so mouthy now, are you?"

A shadow detached itself from between the cars. Adrian's fist connected with Primo's jaw in a brutal arc. Blood sprayed from Primo's split lip as he stumbled backward into his Mercedes.

"You son of a bitch!" Primo wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, smearing crimson across his chin. "Who the hell do you think you are?"

Adrian stood between us, his shoulders relaxed but his stance ready. The elegant art dealer was gone - this was someone else entirely. Someone dangerous.

"I asked you a question." Primo's voice dropped to a deadly whisper. "Who. Are. You?"

I stepped forward, my fingers finding Adrian's arm. The solid warmth of his muscle beneath his jacket steadied me. My cheek throbbed, but I lifted my chin and met Primo's rage-filled eyes.

"He's the man I'm going to marry."

Primo's face went slack with shock.Yesha's smug expression shattered.

"What did you just say?" Primo's hands clenched into fists.

"You heard me." I pressed closer to Adrian's side. "I'm marrying him. Not you. Never you."