CHAPTER TWENTY NINE (KILLIAN'S POV)

Killian clenched his jaw as he stared at the blurry photo on his phone as if he could burn a hole through it. The image was grainy, taken from a distance, but the content was clear enough. Elara had gone out with a stranger.

A man she had never mentioned.

A man who had his hand on her lower back in a way that was too intimate and too comfortable for Killian’s liking.

His grip tightened around the glass in his other hand, he swirled the drink then downed it in one go. The burn of the alcohol did nothing to cool the rage simmering beneath his skin. Who the fuck was he?

His first thought was that Elara had betrayed him—that she was plotting with someone else behind his back. That was a dangerous possibility, but not the one that unsettled him the most.

No, what really set his blood on fire was the thought that she might be fucking this man.

That the coldness she had been directing at him all week wasn’t because she was keeping secrets but because she had moved on from him.

He let out a sharp breath, dragging a hand through his hair. This wasn’t like him. This wasn’t part of the plan.

He has always been an impenetrable man that no one could get through.

And yet, here he was, sitting in his office long past midnight, obsessing over who she spent her time with.

"Fuck," he muttered, stepping away from his desk. He needed to get this under control.

He would get this under control.

He picked up his phone and dialed his PR strategist.

"How's the preparations for the date going?" he asked. "Don't bother sending me options, pick what you like best and have it ready by tomorrow."

"Sir?" the voice on the other end sounded confused. "Tomorrow?"

"Yesm" he bit out.

A pause. Then, "Killian, are you sure—"

"Just set it up.* he snapped before hanging up.

This would work. He would get Elara exactly where he wanted her. No more games.

But deep down, a voice whispered— you just want to see if she brings up the other man.

And if she didn’t?

He didn’t even want to consider the answer to that.

*****

The next day at his office…

Killian had no idea what the hell Elara was playing at.

She walked into his office like nothing had changed, like she hadn’t been shutting him out for over a week. Like they didn't have a heated moment in her house the other day.

She was calmer. In control. Like she knew something he didn’t.

That only pissed him off more.

"I hope this is important," she said smoothly as she placed her bag on his desk then sat herself into the chair across from him. "I had other plans."

Plans with who? The thought echoed through his mind like the devil.

He leaned forward, folding his hands together. "We're going out tonight."

Her brows lifted slightly. "Out?"

"A date," he clarified, watching her carefully. "Something for the public."

For a brief moment, something flickered in her gaze—hesitation, calculation—before she leaned back with a smirk.

"Fine.” she said simply.

Just like that. No argument. No questions.

That only made him more suspicious.

But he didn’t say anything. He wouldn’t give her the satisfaction.

Not yet.

****

Later that night…

The venue was a high-end, exclusive restaurant, the kind where cameras weren’t allowed inside but the press still moved around outside, hoping for a glimpse of high-profile guests.

It was exactly what he needed.

Elara looked stunning, she was dressed in a black silk dress that hugged her curves, the deep neckline was teasing just enough skin to make it impossible to look away.

And for a second—just one—he forgot why they were even there.

But the moment was fleeting. Because as soon as they were seated, his anger came back with vengeance.

They made it through dinner, speaking about business, Ivy, damage control—anything but the tension between them like a third person at the table.

The big fucking elephant in the room.

And then he pulled out his phone.

And placed it on the table.

The image of her and the mystery man staring up at her.

Her entire body stilled.

He watched, waiting for her reaction.

Her lips parted slightly, brows furrowing for a second before she composed herself.

"Who is he?" Killian asked, voice deceptively calm.

Elara exhaled slowly. "Where did you get this?"

"Does it matter?" he asked coldly. "Who. Is. He?"

She hesitated. And for the first time that night, she looked… uncertain.

For a moment, he thought she might actually tell him something other than what he had been suspecting. Something that would calm his rage.

But then, her lips curled into something wicked.

And she delivered the one sentence that shattered his control.

"He's my boyfriend."

The words shot him like a bullet.

His breathing stopped. The air around him became charged and everything else ceased to exist.

He didn’t realize he had gone completely still until he saw the way Elara was watching him.

Like she was waiting for him to break.

And maybe he already had.

Because for the first time in a long time, Killian Hayes lost control.