CHAPTER 98: JUST AN ACCIDENT

Braelyn’s POV

"I am just a bit clumsy today." Fucking liar. She might have been subtle in her actions but I was the last to believe her.

Raphael was still dancing gracefully on the floor. An evil whisper crossed my head. I ’accidentally’ tripped myself. In the same way, Amelia has been accidentally messing with me.

I also had a little accident. My heels stepped on Raphael’s feet after I lost my bearings from accidentally tripping.

He hissed out in pain and his calm exterior cracked at the moment. Raphael was an excellent dancer and would normally not have an accident but it was unavoidable. His hold slipped and I accidentally lost my bearing. In the process of preventing my fall

My hand grabbed the nearest thing to me, Amelia’s hair. She shrieked as the sudden pain struck her skull still processing the fall. Raphael was able to gain control once more and prevented my fall.

He was as reliable as I had predicted. While pulling back my feet ’I accidentally’ stepped on Amelia’s long dress and a rip immediately tore through the dress

I gasped immediately at the accident I had caused. My hold tightened around Raphael, our pace slowed down, but we didn’t stop dancing. "I am sorry. I didn’t expect that to happen." I immediately apologise

Gasps erupted, the tear was a slit reaching up to her thighs. Amelia froze, her body trembled slightly as she looked at Raphael expecting him to seek justice for her.

"It’s an accident, the same as the several accidents you almost caused. I am sure you can handle it." I chimed before glancing at Raphael whose jaw clenched a bit too hard.

Amelia was smart, but it looked like a pure accident; there was nothing she could do. In the end, she only gave me a polite smile and then excused herself from her partner.

"Pardon my clumsy skills." She said before walking off the dance floor with her head still held up. Eluding grace with every step. I scoffed before drawing my eyes to my dance partner who still had a poker face with a knowing gaze

He could not call me out because he knew she started it. I arched my brow at him holding his gaze

He didn’t even acknowledge her as she left, but I, on the other hand, did. Amelia wasn’t the only one who could scheme with a straight face.

"You shouldn’t upset her," I whispered lightly, a taunt laced with false sweetness. "Her love for you is boiling. The poor thing might melt." I clicked my tongue then glanced in her direction again.

She was immediately surrounded by her fan club who led her away from the hall. Angela made sure to shoot a glare at my side, which I returned with a polite smile, which infuriated her. She huffed then left

"You should at least console your lover." I chimed before drawing my eyes to him.

Raphael barely glanced at Amelia before letting out a soft snort. "We’re married. It’s expected that we dance at least once for appearances." His attention returned solely to me as if Amelia wasn’t humiliated after trying to set herself on fire for him.

"She was being clumsy, and she had a backup dress; she would be fine." He said, freeing his hold on my back. I didn’t push further and could only hope this dance would end soon so that I could be freed of him.

The music eased to a close, but instead of releasing my hand, Raphael lifted it to his lips and pressed a slow kiss to the wedding band we wore for the sake of the public. He held a soft smile on his lips. "Thank you for honouring our agreement." He chimed

I did my best to still keep that serene smile. But my brows twitched. He was the one who snatched me into the dance.

My breath hitched as his lips brushed my skin. It was not from the softness, but from the sheer audacity. I’d expected him to drop my hand the second the dance ended. "The dance is over, you can stop pretending now." I didn’t bother to sugarcoat my words.

He smiled, then leaned forward, his lips brushing my ears. "Are you sure you know who is pretending around you? A lot of people live with masks on. " He whispered, puzzling me, before he pulled back, placing a peck on my eyes.

To my dismay, in the end, he didn’t let go of me. Instead, he offered another excuse, tone maddeningly calm. "We’re hosting this event as a family. Gregor’s fundraiser is next. It is expected that we attend together."

My smile didn’t budge, but tension coiled tight beneath it.

As he led me off the floor, I hissed under my breath, "You shouldn’t abandon your date. She’s been glowering holes through my skull all night."

He spared me a sideways look, unimpressed. "I accompanied her for the project launch. It’s over. You and I have responsibilities. Don’t forget you’re my wife."

There it was, that cold reminder pulling chains I thought I’d snapped long ago.

Guests began to drift toward the auction hall, chatter rising as champagne glasses clinked. I kept my expression pleasant even though I was secretly glaring at Raphael the entire walk.

Just as we reached the entrance, a hand wrapped around my wrist, yanking backwards, but Raphael’s hold faltered. My eyes immediately fell on him, I could feel Raphael’s grip tighten as he stared at Lucien who held a calm expression devoid of smiles or smirks

His touch wasn’t harsh, just firm enough to indicate he didn’t have any intention of letting go. Their gaze locked with a silent tension brewing between them.

"It’s about time you returned my dance partner you stole from me." Lucien calmly said. Raphael’s lips curled into a smile.

"It was a simple dance with my wife." He shrugged, still holding on. Lucien’s voice lowered but still carried that calm, eerie tone.

"You shouldn’t force her to stay with you. The dance is over and you have your date. Stealing others’ dates is pretty rude." he taunted a smirk finally curling up his lips

Raphael let out a dry, humourless scoff. "Stealing dates." He mused, acting like he heard a freaking joke. " Someone shouldn’t forget that he is just a lover." He stated that before his eyes turned cold.

" Know your fucking place."

Heat crackled instantly between them, the air thick enough to choke on. For a moment, I genuinely believed they were going to throw punches right there in front of the donors and the cameras.

Lucien stepped closer, shoulders rigid, eyes burning with something unhinged and dangerous.