Chapter 120 #120
Chapter 120
~Shailyn's POV~
The video was sped up, audio muffled and distorted.
But the visuals were crystal clear.
Dante. In his office. Furious.
And me.
Backed against the wall.
His hands went around my throat.
I watched myself struggle. Gasping. Clawing at his hands.
Watched my face turn red. Then purple.
Watched him squeeze harder.
Until someone knocked on the door and he let go.
The footage cut off.
The lights came back on.
For a moment, nobody moved. Nobody spoke.
Then chaos erupted.
"Oh my God—"
"Did he just—"
"Was that his wife?"
"He was choking her!"
I stood frozen on the dance floor, Dwayne's hands still on my waist.
I knew what I was doing when I chose this footage.
Hannah didn't know. I told her it was the assault on the staff member.
If she'd known it was me, she never would have allowed it.
But people needed to see the real Dante. Not the polished version he showed the world.
The monster underneath.
It was sadly funny, really. Watching yourself being abused on a giant screen while hundreds of people gasped in horror.
But I had a role to play.
The broken wife.
I pressed my hand to my mouth, letting my eyes fill with tears.
"Shailyn!" Dante pushed through the crowd toward me. "Shailyn, let me explain—"
"Explain what?" My voice shook perfectly. "Explain that?"
"It's not what it looks like—"
"Not what it looks like? Dante, you were choking me!"
"I wasn't—I didn't—you're taking it out of context!"
"What context makes that okay?"
People were staring. But unless you’re close, he tried to keep his image. He was speaking gently.
Dante grabbed my arms desperately. "Please. Please, just listen to me. It wasn't like that. I was stressed. You said something that upset me. I just—I reacted badly."
"Reacted badly? It looked like you almost killed me!"
"No! No, I would never—"
Tears streamed down my face now. Real ones, remembering that day. The fear. The pain. But I didn’t want it to seem like I remembered.
"Shailyn, please—"
"How could you?"
"I'm sorry! God, I'm so sorry. I never meant to hurt you. I love you. You know I love you."
"That's not love!"
"It was a mistake! A horrible mistake. Please, just—"
Tyler wheeled himself onto the stage, grabbing the microphone.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" His voice boomed through the speakers. "There has been a severe technical malfunction. That footage was unauthorized and taken completely out of context."
Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
"We are investigating how this breach occurred," Gramps continued. "But I assure you, the matter will be handled internally. Now, please, let's not allow this unfortunate incident to ruin our celebration. The countdown is about to begin!"
Music started again. Forced. Awkward.
But people slowly turned their attention to the clock on the screen.
11:58 PM.
Two minutes until midnight.
Two minutes until the new year.
What a year it had been.
Amnesia. Pregnancy. Discovering my father's murder. Learning the truth about everything. Dante and Dwayne.
And now this.
Destroying Dante piece by piece.
"Shailyn." Hannah appeared beside me, her face pale. "Was that—"
"Not now," I whispered.
"But—"
"Hannah. Not now."
Dante grabbed my hand again. Dragging me away from everyone slowly. "Please. Come with me. Let me explain properly. Away from everyone."
"I don't want to hear it—"
"Please!" His voice cracked. "I'm begging you. Just five minutes. That's all I'm asking."
Tyler appeared on Dante's other side. "Son, maybe give her some space."
"I can't! She won't even listen to me!"
"Dante—"
"Everyone saw that video! Everyone thinks I'm a monster!"
"Then maybe you shouldn't have acted like one," Dwayne's voice cut in coldly.
Dante spun around. "Stay out of this!"
"Someone needs to step in since you clearly can't control yourself."
"This is between me and my wife!"
"Your wife who you were choking on camera?"
"I said it was out of context!"
"There's no context that makes that okay."
"Dwayne, I swear to God—"
Gramps wheeled over quickly. "Boys. Not here. Not now."
"He started it—"
"I don't care who started it. We have a room full of investors and board members watching our family implode. So everyone smile and act normal until this damn party is over."
The countdown started.
"TEN!"
People began gathering on the balcony for the fireworks.
"NINE!"
Dante pulled me toward the balcony doors.
"Come on. Please. Just stand with me for the countdown."
"EIGHT!"
I let him pull me outside into the cold night air.
"SEVEN!"
The family clustered together. Tyler. Cynthia. Monica. Gramps.
"SIX!"
Dwayne stood off to the side, jaw clenched, watching us.
"FIVE!"
Hannah tried to approach me, but Dante blocked her path.
"Not now," he hissed at her.
"FOUR!"
"Dante, let her through—"
"No. She's had enough interference tonight."
"THREE!"
Hannah's eyes met mine. Worried.
"TWO!"
I gave her a small nod. It's okay. I'm okay.
"ONE!"
Fireworks exploded across the sky.
Gold. Silver. Red. Blue.
Beautiful and loud and perfect.
"HAPPY NEW YEAR!"
Dante turned to me immediately, hands cupping my face.
"I love you," he said desperately. "I love you so much. Please forgive me. Please."
Before I could respond, he kissed me.
Hard. Possessive. Claiming me in front of everyone.
I stood there frozen, not kissing back, fireworks exploding overhead.
When he pulled away, his eyes were wild.
"Say something. Please. Say anything.
"I don't know, Dante. I just…I need to process—" I was pretending of course. I’m here for his ruin.
"I'll give you all the time you need. Just don't leave me. Please don't leave me."
He pulled me into a crushing hug, his whole body shaking.
Over his shoulder, I saw Dwayne.
Watching us.
His expression was dark. Dangerous.
And then he started walking toward us.
Fast. Purposeful.
"Dante," I said quickly. "Let go—"
"No. Not until you say you forgive me—"
Dwayne grabbed Dante's shoulder and ripped him away from me.
"She said let go."
"Get your hands off me!"
"She doesn't want you touching her."
"She's my wife!"
"She's a person who deserves respect!"
"Stay out of this, Dwayne!"
"Make me."
They stood there, face to face, tension crackling between them.
"Stop it," I said. "Both of you—"
Dante shoved Dwayne backward. "You've been waiting for this, haven't you? Waiting for me to mess up so you could swoop in—"
Dwayne's fist connected with Dante's face.
The crack echoed across the balcony.
Dante stumbled backward, blood pouring from his nose.
"What the hell!" Tyler shouted.
Cynthia gasped.
Dwayne stood there, chest heaving, fist still clenched.
And God help me, he looked dangerous.
And maybe a little sexy.
Focus, Shailyn. Focus.
"You want to put your hands on women?" Dwayne said quietly. "Try putting them on me instead."
Dante wiped blood from his face, eyes blazing. "You're going to regret that."
"Am I?"
"Boys!" Gramps's voice cut through sharply. "Dwayne!"
Everyone froze.
Gramps wheeled forward slowly, his expression colder than I'd ever seen.
The temperature on the balcony dropped ten degrees.
Nobody moved.
Nobody breathed.