Chapter 1
Garrett did not crawl.
For several seconds he remained among the broken silver trays, water dripping from his hair onto the marble.
Alessia stood twenty feet away.
Her breathing had already slowed.
That frightened the room more than the punches had.
Miriam touched her daughter’s wrist.
“Alessia.”
Her voice was soft.
A warning.
Alessia looked down at her mother.
There was redness along Miriam’s palm where she had tried to catch herself.
One knee of her modest gown was stained from the floor.
Alessia’s jaw tightened.
“Are you hurt?”
“I’ll survive.”
Miriam squeezed her wrist.
“Don’t become something worse because of me.”
Across the room, Garrett started laughing.
Not loudly.
A wet, breathless laugh.
Everyone turned.
He dragged himself upright against the ruined banquet console.
Evelyn hurried toward him.
“Garrett—”
He raised one hand.
His eyes remained on Alessia.
“You really couldn't help yourself.”
Alessia said nothing.
Garrett wiped blood from the corner of his mouth.
Then smiled.
“Your mother.”
A pause.
“That’s all it took.”
Alessia’s gaze sharpened.
“What are you talking about?”
Garrett reached slowly inside his soaked tuxedo jacket.
Three bodyguards shifted at once.
Alessia lifted two fingers.
They stopped.
Garrett removed his phone.
The screen was cracked but still lit.
A video was playing.
Miriam on the floor.
Alessia punching Garrett.
Garrett crashing into the fountain.
Only those moments.
Not the kick that started it.
Not Evelyn’s insult.
Not Garrett’s laughter after Alessia told him to kneel.
Just Alessia attacking her husband in front of a ballroom full of guests.
Garrett held up the screen.
His hand trembled slightly from pain, but his smile remained.
“You wanted me out of your house?”
He drew one shallow breath.
“Now explain to everyone why you should still control it.”
The room went completely still.
Alessia’s eyes moved from the phone to Garrett.
Then toward the ceiling.
A small event camera was blinking above the ballroom.
One of her bodyguards looked at his tablet.
His face changed.
“Boss…”
Alessia turned.
The man swallowed.
“The clip was already sent.”
“To who?”
He hesitated.
May you like
Garrett answered for him.
“Everyone who matters.”
