Chapter 8

Kate's POV

Scowling, I declined the call. I knew I would have to face her sooner or later. After all, Vera can't keep sleeping over at her boyfriend's forever. But right now, I wasn't in the mood for her trash talks.

The phone rang again. And again. And again.

“Who's that?” Dante asked.

“My aunt,” I replied.

He turned back to the road, his face expressionless like usual. But I thought I detected the ghost of a grin.

“She was royally pissed at being disgraced that way, you know. From what I gathered, she's trying hard to keep it under wraps,”

I felt a sort of vindictive joy to hear she was suffering because of me. I shrugged nonchalantly.

“Suits her right.”

Mr Benedetto agreed with me. “Unfortunately, I had to help her with it. If I didn't, everyone would know you were not originally my bride,”

I thought that was a pity. A comfortable silence settled between us. Only I could almost hear the sizzle of the electricity between us.

I glanced at his side profile. Though I looked away the next instant, I didn't miss the way his jaws tightened.

Good.

I wasn't the only one feeling it. Unfortunately, that didn't make me feel better. It made me wonder if I could thaw his cold handsome face sometime, enough for the passion I had seen in his eyes to show once more.

I shook my head, but the intrusive thoughts stubbornly clung to my mind. I had just opened my mouth to try when he beat me to it.

“I would say Max is a big fool for cheating on such a jewel as you are,” Mr Benedetto said.

I blushed, then froze. Blinked. How did he know? Even though he's powerful and likely has ears everywhere, Arya, Max and I were the only ones that knew the reason I ran away from the wedding.

“You're not going to say thank you?” Mr Benedetto asked, casting a quick look my way.

“How did you know?” I returned.

“Know what?”

“That I ran away from the wedding because Max cheated on me,”

Mr Benedetto turned to look at me and his brows furrowed ever so slightly.

“Why wouldn't I know? You told me yesterday night, under the influence of alcohol,” he said.

Oh.

I felt myself blush to the roots of my hair as I thought of what might have happened between us last night. I barely remembered the activity, but I did remember how I felt about it.

Amazing.

I regretted it now, looking at what it got me into. But still…

‘Not so bad for a first time,’ I tried to console myself.

“How come you're still a virgin at twenty three though?” Mr Benedetto asked abruptly.

I blushed again, thinking I might remain red eternally if I blushed anymore today.

“Shut up!” I snapped at Mr Benedetto.

“I haven't said what I had in mind,” Mr Benedetto responded coolly, his face inscrutable as usual.

“So, how are you going to deal with Max? He seems pretty intent on having you back,” he said.

I shrugged. “I can take care of myself.”

Mr Benedetto chuckled. “Like you did back there? He would have raped you if I wasn't there to save you,” he said.

Once again, I was reminded of how insensitive he could be. I instantly banished all thoughts of what might have happened between us in the hotel room and focused on memorizing the route to his house.

In case I needed to escape after the party. He had been reasonable back in the apartment, but I didn't expect him to remain so. I didn't doubt he might lock me up in his house to make sure I remained his wife.

As if to prove my point, he continued. “Be my wife. That's the surest way to protect yourself from Maxwell. He won't dare to touch what's mine,”

*****

Soon, we arrived at his house…wait, is that a house?

My jaws dropped open as I took in the sprawling mansion on the hill. Damn. Shouldn't that be a palace or something?

I looked at Dante curiously. Who would have thought he was also extravagant? I added the trait to my list of his vices. I was making a strong case for me to say no to myself when he tries to reason with me after the party.

Because if I was being honest with myself, Dante di Benedetto was one helluva attractive man. Of course, attractiveness wasn't the only thing to consider when going into marriage.

But unfortunately, my body wasn't getting the message. Every time I think about him, my body tingles in places that have no business tingling.

Mr Benedetto led me to the house, where the various cars parked indicated some guests had already put in an appearance.

“We’ll go in through a side door so you can get your makeup done before coming down to meet the guests. And remember, we're couples now.” Mr Benedetto said.

I had just stepped out of the car, Dante holding my door open, when I saw another car pull up. I recognized it instantly.

My heart skipped a beat. What were they doing here?

I tried to walk away quickly, but Dante slipped a hand around my waist, trapping me beside him.

“It's rude manners to shy from greeting guests,” he whispered into my ears fiercely, as though admonishing a child.

My heart sped up as we walked towards my aunt and uncle who had just gotten out of the car.

My uncle's eyes lit up in delight when he saw me. That, I had expected. I smiled back at him.

What I didn't expect was the bright smile on my aunt's face. Where was her usual scowl?

Then she did the absolutely unbelievable. She spread her hands, expecting me to run into them as though I was some long lost daughter or something.

I froze in surprise, then sneered as I realized what she was trying to do. Maybe because I hesitated longer than was appropriate, Mr Benedetto gave me a slight push.

Taking advantage of the momentum, I took a step and slid under the witch's outstretched arms.

I quickly dashed for the side door Mr Benedetto had pointed out to me in the car.