22/05/2026
♠️Shadows of Desire 📌
[ His obsession. His fire ]
Genre: Billionaire romance
Tags: mafia, forbidden love, power, wealth, billionaire, revenge, betrayal, kidnap.
Written by: Chacha tren.
Warning: No part of this book should be copied, published else where without my permission or Authorization.
💘 Chapter 27 💘 28 💘
Back at the estate, the atmosphere was heavier than before. Her father was waiting in the grand hall, Marcus lurking just behind him, his smirk carved in place.
The senator's voice was low, intimidating. "We'll be having dinner tonight with a few..... associates. You will sit by my side, Ariella. You will smile and you will not embarrass me. Do i make myself clear?"
"Yes, father,"she whispered.
Marcus's eyes glittered, victorious.
***
The Montgomery dining hall glittered with polished silver, chandeliers, casting golden light across a table set for power. Politicians, businessmen, and silent body guards filled the long room, laughter and sharp deals weaving through the air.
Ariella sat stiffly beside her father at the head of the table, her gown elegant, her smile carefully painted on.
Every gesture felt rehearsed, every word monitored.
Across the table, Marcus lounged with his usual arrogance, wine glass in hand. His gaze never left her.
"Ladies and gentlemen," senator Charles said, raising his glass. "To loyalty, the one currency that never loses value."
The toast echoed, glasses clinking. Ariella sipped, her stomach churning. Marcus leaned forward, voice smooth. "Speaking of loyalty, senator, your daughter was quite the star at the gala. She captivated everyone especially one man in particular."
The room hummed with curiosity.
Ariella's blood turned to ice. Her father's eyes narrowed. "What man?"
Marcus smiled like a serpent. "A stranger. Talk, dark, commanding. They shared a rather...... intimate dance."
A few guests chuckled. Murmurs spreading. Ariella fought to keep her composure. "It was nothing," she said quickly, her voice steady despite her racing heart. "A simple dance out of courtesy."
But Marcus pressed his tone mocking. "Ah, but courtesy rarely lingers in the eyes the way i saw it linger in his."
Her father's fists slammed against the table, the sound silencing the room. "Enough," his voice was steel. "My daughter's conduct is not up for discussion."
Marcus bowed his head slightly, feigning humility. "Of course, senator. I only meant to compliment her beauty. Surely, any man would be tempted."
Ariella wanted to scream. She felt like prey under a predator's gaze, trapped while everyone else laughed and drank around them. Then, out of the corner of her eyes she caught a shadow near the balcony doors.
Her pulse skipped. Dominic. He stood at the edge of the room, dressed in a waiter's uniform, tray in hand.
Only she recognized the fire in his eyes. She dropped her gaze immediately, afraid her father would notice the heat burning through her. But Dominic's presence steadied her, gave her the strength to hold her head higher.
As dinner wore on, Marcus leaned close again, his words soft enough for only her to hear. "Careful, Ariella. One wrong glance, and your father will know everything."
Her lips curved into a brittle smile. "Then perhaps you should stop staring at me so much."
His grin faltered, just slightly.
****
Meanwhile, Dominic moved silently through the room, refilling glasses, listening. At one point, he leaned over Marcus's shoulder to pour wine. "Careful," Dominic murmured low enough for only Marcus to hear. "Wouldn't want to stain your shirt."
Marcus stiffened, startled by the deep timbre of his voice, but when he glanced up, the waiter was already gone. Blending into the crowds. For the first time that night, Ariella saw unease flicker across Marcus's face.
Dinner ended with ci**rs and brandy. Her father rose, clapping Marcus on the back. "Walk with me, son. There are no matters to discuss.'
Marcus shot Ariella one last smug glance before following the senator out. The moment the room cleared, Ariella slipped out of the balcony, her lungs desperate for air. "Breathe," came a familiar voice.
She spun, and Dominic was there, pulling off the servant's jacket, tossing it aside. His eyes were molten, his presence over whelming. "You shouldn't be here,"she whispered, though every fiber of her being ached to fall into his arms.
"I had to see you,"he growled. "And i had to see him."
Her hands trembled. "He's poisoning my father against me."
"I know," Dominic said, stepping closer, his hand brushing hers. "But tonight, i planted the first seed of doubt in his mind. Marcus isn't as untouchable as he thinks."
She looked up at him, fear and hope warring in his chest. "And what happens when my father finds out you were here?"
Dominic's lips curved into a dangerous smile. "Then the real game begins."
Their eyes locked, and for a heartbeat, the rest of the world fell away__the scheming, the threats , the danger.
It was just them, standing on the edge of destruction, and yet drawn together like fire and gasoline. His hand rose, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face.
"Ariella....."
Her breath hitched. "Someone will see__"
He cut her off with a kiss, deep and searing. Stealing her breath, branding her with his fire. And though terror knotted in her stomach, she kissed him back with all the desperation of a woman dancing on the edge of a blade.
****
The morning after the dinner stretched heavy over the estate. Ariella sat at her vanity, staring at her pale reflection. Her lips still tingled from Dominic's kiss , a dangerous memory she couldn't erase.
Her maid knocked gently. "Miss Ariella? The senator requests your presence in the library."
Her pulse quickened. Requests from her father were never truly requests.
When she entered the library, senator Charles was already standing by the window, sunlight glinting off the steel of his cufflinks.
Marcus lounged in an arm chair opposite, sipping espresso with infuriating ease.
"Ariella," her father said, his tone clipped. "Sit."
She obeyed, folding her hands tightly in her lap.
"I've been considering your future," the senator continued. "It's time we arrange an engagement. A union that strengthens this family's influence."
Ariella's breath caught. "Engagement?"
Marcus's smile curved. "How fortunate. I've always been fond of family."
The implication made her stomach twist.
TBC.