Nicolas continued his speech, oblivious to the silent amusement happening in the corner.

Nicolas declared, his voice swelling with arrogance. "I will soon achieve a status that many thought impossible. I will surpass those who have stood in my way. I will prove that I am not just a businessman, I am a force to be reckoned with."

Dominique leaned toward Leo, his voice barely a whisper. "He’s going to be so embarrassed when he finds out."

Leo’s lips twitched. "I know."

Dominique whispered, his voice gleeful. "He’s going to cry."

Leo replied, his voice flat but amused. "I hope so."

Dominique added, his voice filled with mischief. "He might even throw a tantrum."

Leo said, his voice dry. "Even better."

Bella bit her lip, trying not to laugh out loud. She was happy because Leo looked lighter. He had been cold and distant because of Jay and Jace’s truth. Now seeing him happy, seeing the faint amusement in his eyes, she felt happy too. She squeezed his arm gently.

Hazel watched Nicolas with an expression of pure disbelief. Her scar was barely visible tonight, her features soft and elegant in the dim light.

Hazel murmured to Dominique, her voice low and incredulous. "This guy’s behavior is super cringe. I can’t believe I almost married him."

Dominique grinned, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "You dodged a bullet."

Hazel shook her head, her voice dry. "I dodged a nuclear bomb."

Nicolas kept talking, his voice rising with excitement, his words growing more grandiose with every sentence.

After his speech, Nicolas basked in the applause, his chest puffed out like a peacock who had just discovered his own reflection. He made his way through the crowd, accepting congratulations and handshakes, his smile wide and self-satisfied. He was in his element, surrounded by admirers, convinced that he was the center of the universe.

Then his eyes landed on the corner where Leo and his group were standing.

He walked toward them, his steps confident, his chin lifted. The crowd parted around him.

Nicolas spoke subconsciously, the words slipping out before he could stop them. "How are you, my dear brother-in-law?" He had been rehearsing this moment in his head for weeks, imagining the look on Leo’s face when he finally acknowledged him as an equal.

Dominique said smoothly, his voice calm and cold. "Not your brother-in-law."

Nicolas’s face turned cold. His smile faltered, replaced by a sharp, irritated glare.

Nicolas said, his voice dripping with contempt. "I am speaking to Leo. Not you, you so-called cheap model."

Dominique didn’t flinch. He simply raised an eyebrow, his expression one of amused indifference.

Leo repeated, his voice low, almost thoughtful. "Cheap model?" He swirled the wine in his glass, watching the deep red liquid catch the light. A small smile appeared at the corner of his lips, a smile that held no warmth, only dark amusement.

Nicolas’s eyes narrowed. "What’s so funny?"

Leo took a slow sip of his wine, savoring the moment.

He said finally, his voice smooth and magnetic. "Nothing. I was just thinking... how interesting it is that you’ve been so focused on me, on my family, on my life. Yet you know so little about the people around you."

Nicolas’s jaw tightened. "What are you talking about?"

Leo just shook his head, a faint, cold smile playing on his lips. He didn’t answer.

"Excuse me," Leo said, his voice flat. "I need to breathe."

He took Bella’s hand and pulled her gently through the crowd, leaving Nicolas standing frozen, his face a mask of confusion and barely concealed rage.

They walked through the grand doors and out into the cool night air. The garden was vast and quiet, lit by soft lanterns that cast golden pools of light on the manicured lawns. The distant sound of the party music faded behind them, replaced by the gentle rustle of leaves and the chirping of crickets.

Leo exhaled slowly, his shoulders relaxing, the tension easing from his frame. "Finally! I thought I was going to suffocate in there."

Bella nodded, her hand still clasped in his. "I know what you mean. The air in there was so thick. Full of pretension and bad intentions."

He nodded, agreeing with her.

Bella asked, her brow furrowing with worry. "Is it okay that we left Hazel and Dominique alone with him? What if he tries something?"

Leo’s expression didn’t change. "Don’t worry. Hazel isn’t someone to be messed with."

Bella nodded slowly, but the worry lingered in her eyes. "I know. But still..."

Leo said firmly, his voice reassuring. "Hazel has faced worse than Nicolas."

Bella was silent for a moment, then nodded again, more firmly this time.

"You’re right," she said. "I’m sorry. I just—"

Leo said gently, his voice soft. "You care about people. That’s not something to apologize for."

Meanwhile, Dominique stood near the edge of the party, his glass of champagne untouched, his dark eyes scanning the room with quiet suspicion. Something felt wrong. The air was too calm, too easy. Nicolas had gone through all this trouble, the grand party, the smug speech, the fake partnership announcement and yet nothing had happened.

No traps? No confrontation? Odd.

Dominique didn’t believe it.

Nicolas was not the type to throw a party just to show off. He was the type to plot, scheme and strike when least expected. The fact that nothing was happening made Dominique more uneasy than if something had happened.

Hazel said, her voice low, her expression uncomfortable. "I need to use the restroom." She was pale, her hand pressed lightly to her stomach.

Dominique looked at her, concern flickering in his eyes. "Are you okay?"

Hazel waved a dismissive hand. "Just something I ate. I’ll be fine."

He nodded, but his eyes followed her as she walked away.

He didn’t feel good letting her go alone.

He pulled out his phone and quickly hacked into the estate’s CCTV system. It took him less than thirty seconds, a simple bypass, nothing challenging. The footage appeared on his screen, a grid of camera feeds showing the various corridors, rooms and hallways of the grand house.

He found Hazel walking down a quiet corridor, her red dress trailing behind her.

He watched her for a moment, ensuring she was safe.

Then his eyes caught something else...