ALLURA POV
Xavier came home, his pristine white shirt clean, yet I could smell the sharp, metallic scent of blood clinging to him. Perhaps he had been torturing someone to death, and the smell hung on him like a dark, expensive perfume. He walked past me, aloof, as if we were strangers, and a faint, unwelcome ache pulsed in my chest.
Get your act together, Allura. You're not here for love or any foolish sentiment. You're only here for revenge, and that's all you'll get.
I turned and walked back into my room, the self-admonishment a necessary lash.
Speaking of Magnus, it was about time I took things up a notch.
TWO DAYS LATER, TASHA'S HOME PARTY
The soft clinks of glass champagne flutes and the murmur of polite chatter filled the air. People from all social circles—business partners, media personalities, and society acquaintances—had filled the living room of Magnus and Tasha Dawson's home.
Xavier and I were the star guests at the party, celebrating the supposed signing of a major contract between Magnus and a new foreign investment firm, 'Volterra Global.'
We had, however, changed the arrangements at the last minute: the fool, Magnus, had been completely deceived by 'Volterra Global'—a company that Xavier himself had secretly created only weeks ago. It was a ghost firm with an account based in fraud, meaning all his funds were about to vanish, and he was investing in a sham. But this was all part of the plan: incapacitate him financially, then swoop in with false help.
We walked out of the car and into the home with a synchronised, elegant confidence. My hand rested securely in his, and we both flashed the crowd a warm, calculative smile. The chemistry between us was so blindingly convincing that no one could possibly sense the venom beneath.
"Tasha must have spent a fortune, despite Magnus's financial instability, just to impress the media," I murmured, leaning slightly into Xavier.
He smirked, his eyes scanning the room. "Truly a materialistic diva. I bet they're drowning in debt already. It's only a matter of time before the loan sharks start knocking."
He paused as a cluster of paparazzi focused their lenses on us. Xavier smiled for the camera, gently kissing the top of my head before stroking a stray strand of hair away from my face. It was a perfect, intimate gesture.
We walked toward the celebrating couple. Tasha was dressed in a shimmering blue dinner gown with a high slit, clutching a black purse, adorned with loud gold jewellery. Magnus, meanwhile, wore a sleek, expensive-looking grey suit and pants, his brown curly hair slicked back.
My breath hitched. The suit. That was the custom-made suit I had bought him from a high-end designer during the 2018 Milan show. He'd never worn it to a public event, always using the flimsy excuse that he was 'too busy' or 'saving it for a special day.' I had landed multiple deals, thinking an alliance was special enough, but all I got was a cold shoulder.
My smile faltered, my fist clenching, the resentment a bitter taste in my mouth. Magnus, you'll get what's coming to you. I promise.
The hard, resentful wall I'd built came crashing down when that familiar scent—masculine, leather, and fresh shave cream—crashed hard into my nostrils. My mind instantly drifted back to Xavier. He squeezed my hand, his ocean-green eyes locking with mine, searching deeper than anyone ever had. For a fleeting moment, I saw genuine worry in their depths.
"Breathe, Samantha," he commanded, his voice low enough only for me to hear.
I obeyed, inhaling a shaky breath, realizing I hadn't been breathing for the entire minute.
Magnus and Tasha finished greeting their last guest and turned to us, their faces alight with false warmth.
"Oh, hello! You came! I'm super excited to see you, Samantha, and you too, Mr. Xavier," Tasha purred, a sly feline hiding beneath silk.
Xavier, ever the grump when the moment didn't demand charm, didn't raise a hand to accept her greeting.
Magnus, however, smiled broadly, extending a hand to Xavier. "Xavier! It's great to have you. We're thrilled you could join us and our friends tonight."
Xavier ignored his handshake and instead tightened his grip on my hand, pulling me closer. "It wasn't a choice, Magnus. I'm quite obsessed with my wife. I couldn't risk letting her attend such a critical meeting without me. We would both simply miss each other too much."
Tasha giggled, a soft, affected sound that made me internally cringe. A snake. Why is she laughing like that was funny?
I managed an awkward smile in real life before leaning into Xavier's frame. "My husband, Xavier, is very caring and supportive of me," I confirmed, the lie practiced and smooth. I then turned to Magnus, my voice dripping with congratulatory curiosity. "Magnus, truly, congratulations! That must be quite the deal with Volterra Global. How did you manage to secure a partnership with a foreign firm?"
He puffed out his chest. "Oh, well, it was actually a friend of a friend who introduced us. A very loyal friend."
I scoffed internally, but my outside smile was wide and excited. A friend indeed. Such a fool.
Xavier and I took our reserved seats, ready to watch the drama unfold—slowly, but devastatingly.
Magnus stood up, his body language ringing with pride, exactly as expected from a man who believed he had landed a billion-dollar deal. I smiled secretly, my hand tucked firmly beneath Xavier's large, warm palm.
"Good evening, everyone! I'm super excited to announce the start of the ceremony. I want to thank all of you who stood by me, despite all the challenges, and especially my lovely wife, Tasha Dawson. She is my greatest fan and motivation."
Big lie, I thought, remembering how he'd locked me up, hit me, and starved me in the storage room while telling the media this same lie.
"Tasha has been my greatest pace-setter, a true partner," he continued, another huge lie. "I also want to thank my esteemed guests, Mr. and Mrs. Giovanni, for their patience, prayers, and motivation. Securing a deal with Volterra Global has always been my dream—to take Frost Industries higher and higher. I mourn my beloved wife, Samantha, who passed away last year after a gang shootout by a small group, the Scorpions. She… she didn't care much about Frost Industries, unlike her parents, so I took over the business."
I almost flared up, ready to scream the truth. I didn't die! You stole my home! You lied!
But Xavier's grip tightened around my wrist—a silent, urgent warning to stay calm. I heaved a shuddering sigh, forcing a faint, placid smile as I watched Tasha. Then, I returned my gaze to the big liar on the makeshift pulpit.
Just as he finished his elaborate speech, the main lights dimmed, plunging the room into shadow. A sudden, blinding white light hit the wall behind him, projecting a video. The murmuring crowd went silent.
The video showed Magnus misbehaving with his female secretary. But it wasn't just her—it was a succession of female employees, some of them married, with audio clips of him threatening to sack them if they didn't comply. Text messages flashed across the screen confirming the coercion and affairs.
"Oh my God!" a woman screamed from the crowd.
"How crude, Magnus!" a prominent businessman called out. "With such an elaborate speech, one might think you were on the right path, but no one suspected you were such a liar and an unfaithful monster at most! Mrs. Dawson must be devastated."
Magnus was shocked. His face paled, and he stammered, running toward the projector like a madman.
"Hey! Get this thing to stop working! It's not the truth, Mr. Myers! I'm not a cheater! This is all Photoshopped to attack my reputation!"
Mr. Myers, the prominent businessman, didn't listen; he was already walking out, followed by many other embarrassed guests.
Tasha, her face a mask of furious betrayal, landed a slap on Magnus's cheek that echoed throughout the rapidly emptying living room.
Ignoring the sting, Magnus walked straight over to us, his eyes wide with a desperate plea.
"Samantha, Xavier, I can explain! Please, this is a setup! You're my biggest support, mr! Please, tell everyone please, tell everyone especially the me!"
Xavier didn't give him time to utter another word. He stood up slowly, a formidable presence, and simply placed his hand on the small of my back, guiding me away from the man who had ruined my life, ignoring Magnus's desperate pleas.