Chapter 119 #119
Chapter 119
~Shailyn's POV~
Oh.
Oh, this was even better.
I caught Hannah's eye across the room. She was grinning, giving me the tiniest wink.
This wasn't what we planned. But God, it was perfect.
I should have been embarrassed. Humiliated. The wronged wife in front of all these people.
But I felt nothing except satisfaction.
This was Dante we were talking about.
He deserved every second of this.
Still, I had a role to play.
The broken wife.
I let my face crumple slightly, eyes widening in shock.
"What?" I whispered, just loud enough for those nearby to hear.
The woman on stage was still talking, microphone clutched in her hand like a lifeline.
"We met at a club weeks ago.” she said breathlessly. "He told me he was unhappy in his marriage. That his wife didn't understand him. That he wanted to be with me."
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
I had to admire her balls.
Standing up here in front of all these socialites, investors, board members, everyone who mattered in Dante's world, and just putting it all out there.
Bold.
Stupid, but bold.
"He promised me we'd be together," she continued. "That once the baby was born, he'd leave her. That we could finally be public."
More gasps.
Gramps shot to his feet. "Security! Get her off that stage. Now!" Gramps's face was purple with rage. "This is outrageous! Unacceptable!"
Two security guards rushed toward the stage.
The woman tried to keep talking, but they grabbed her arms and pulled her away from the microphone.
"Dante!" she screamed as they dragged her toward the exit. "Tell them! Tell them it's true!"
The doors closed behind her.
Silence.
Every single person in that room was staring at our table.
At Dante.
His face was sheet-white. Hands trembling slightly.
He turned to me desperately. "Shailyn—"
"Don't." I held up a hand, making my voice shake. "Just... don't."
"It's not true. I swear to God, it's not true. I've never seen that woman before in my life."
I stared at him for a long moment.
Let the tears build in my eyes.
Then I took his hand. "I believe you."
Relief flooded his face. "You do?"
"Of course I do. She's clearly unstable. Delusional. You have been with me.”
"Exactly. Thank you. God, thank you."
He squeezed my hand like a lifeline.
I squeezed back, playing the supportive wife perfectly.
Across the table, Dwayne was staring at me.
His expression was furious. Disbelieving.
Like I was the stupidest person alive.
Like he couldn't believe I was falling for Dante's lies.
I wanted to tell him. Wanted to let him know this was all an act.
But I couldn't.
Not here. Not now.
So I just looked away.
\---
Gramps stood, glass in hand, voice cutting through the tension.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please accept my sincerest apologies for that... disruption. Clearly, we have security issues to address."
Nervous laughter rippled through the crowd.
"But we're here tonight to celebrate. To look forward to the future. So please, enjoy the evening."
Music started again. Soft. Elegant.
People began talking in hushed tones, the gossip already spreading like wildfire.
I could hear snippets.
"Did you see his face?"
"She seemed pretty specific..."
"Poor Shailyn..."
"Do you think it's true?"
Perfect.
Even with Dante denying it, the damage was done.
The seed of doubt was planted.
\---
Hannah appeared at my side within minutes.
"Dance with me," she said.
"What?"
"Come on. People are watching. Let's give them something else to look at."
She pulled me onto the dance floor.
The moment we were far enough from the table, she grinned.
"Holy shit, that was amazing."
"Did you plan that?" I whispered.
"No! I have no idea who that was. But damn, what timing."
"Right?"
"Are you okay? Playing the supportive wife?"
"Perfectly fine. This is all part of the plan."
"Dwayne looked pissed at you."
"I know. He doesn't understand yet."
"He will. Once the real footage plays."
"Speaking of, is it ready?"
"Completely. It'll play during Dante's speech. Just like we planned."
"Good."
We danced for another minute before Hannah spun me out dramatically, making people smile.
See? Just two friends having fun. Nothing wrong here.
Dante approached as the song ended.
"May I?" he asked.
Hannah stepped aside gracefully.
He pulled me close, hand on my waist.
"Thank you," he said quietly. "For believing me."
"Of course."
"I mean it, Shailyn. That woman is crazy. I've never even met her."
"I believe you," I lied smoothly.
"Everyone's staring."
"Let them stare. We have nothing to hide."
He relaxed slightly. "You're amazing. You know that?"
"I try."
We swayed together, the picture of a united couple.
But his hand on my waist felt like a brand. Suffocating. Possessive.
I counted down the seconds until the song ended.
Finally, it did.
"I should check on Gramps," Dante said. "Make sure he's not having a stroke."
"Good idea."
He kissed my cheek and walked away.
I stood there on the dance floor, suddenly alone.
Until someone stepped in front of me.
Dwayne.
"Dance with me," he said.
It wasn't a question.
I took his hand.
\---
The moment his arm went around my waist, everything shifted.
The noise faded. The people disappeared.
It was just us.
"What the hell was that?" he said quietly.
"What was what?"
"You telling Dante you believe him. After that woman just exposed him in front of everyone."
"I had to."
"Why?"
"Because I'm playing a role, Dwayne.”
He studied my face. "So you don't actually believe him?"
"Of course not. I'm not stupid."
Relief flickered across his features. "Good. Because for a second there—"
"I know what I'm doing."
"I know you do." His hand tightened slightly on my waist. "I just... seeing you defend him like that. It made me want to—"
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Tell me."
He pulled me closer. Too close. Inappropriately close.
"It made me want to drag you out of here. Tell everyone the truth. That you're mine, not his."
My breath caught.
"Dwayne—"
"I know. I know I can't. But God, Shailyn, seeing him touch you. Seeing you hold his hand."
“I'm your sister in law Dwayne.” I said.
"I know. But it still kills me."
We moved together slowly, bodies pressed close, swaying to the music.
His eyes never left mine.
"You look so beautiful tonight," he whispered. "I couldn't even speak earlier. Seeing you in this dress. Knowing I picked it out for you."
"You look good tonight Dwayne." I said with a very sensual tone.
His jaw tightened. "Don't say things like that."
"Why not?"
"Because it makes me want to kiss you. Right here. In front of everyone."
"Maybe you should."
"Shailyn—"
The lights went out.
Completely.
The entire room plunged into darkness.
Gasps and confused murmurs erupted around us.
"What's going on?" someone shouted.
"Is this part of the program?"
Then the projector flickered to life.
A screen descended from the ceiling, glowing in the darkness.
And footage began to play.
I froze in Dwayne's arms.
"What the hell is this?" Dante's voice shouted from somewhere in the darkness.
"Turn it off!" Dante screamed. "Turn it off right now!"
But the footage kept playing.
Showing exactly what kind of man Dante Belmar really was.