Chapter 10
The remainder of the engagement dinner proceeded under a thick, oppressive veneer of forced celebration. The bright video colors of the room—the sparkling champagne, the rich floral centerpieces—felt entirely at odds with the dark, treacherous reality simmering beneath the surface. Adrian continued to hold Helen's hand for the first two courses, entirely ignoring the woman sitting to his right. Celeste drank heavily, her painted smile looking more like a grimace with every passing hour.
When the dessert plates were finally cleared, Adrian released Helen's hand.
"I believe it is time for you to rest, Aunt Helen," Adrian said gently. "You have had a very long evening."
"I have had a wonderful evening, Adrian," Helen smiled, genuine warmth radiating from her aged, rosy face. "Thank you."
"Grace," Adrian called out.
The housemaid immediately stepped forward from the perimeter of the room. "Yes, sir."
"Escort my aunt back to the east wing. Ensure she has whatever she needs for the night," Adrian instructed. He stood up from his chair, adjusting his tailored three-piece suit, projecting his deeply masculine authority. "And Grace? Place two of my personal guards outside her door. No one enters her wing without my explicit authorization."
"Understood, Mr. Sterling," Grace nodded. She offered her arm to Helen, gently helping the older woman up from the table.
As Grace and Helen began their slow walk toward the heavy oak doors, Adrian finally turned to look at Celeste. She was staring at her empty crystal glass, her jaw tight.
"The guests will be leaving soon," Adrian said, his voice cold and devoid of affection. "You will stand by the door with me and thank them for coming. You will smile. And tomorrow, we will have a very long conversation regarding the future of this engagement."
Celeste’s eyes snapped up to his, wide with absolute terror. "Adrian, please, don't do this. We signed the contracts. Our families are merged."
"Contracts can be burned," Adrian replied, his perceptive eyes narrowing into lethal slits. "And families can be broken."
Before Celeste could formulate a desperate response, the heavy oak doors at the back of the ballroom swung open with a violent crash.
Thomas, the senior lieutenant who had been complimenting the arrangements hours earlier, sprinted into the bright, luminous room. His fair, rosy skin was completely drained of blood, making him look like a ghost. He ignored the remaining guests, running directly toward the head of the table.
"Boss!" Thomas gasped, his American accent breathless and laced with raw panic. He stopped inches from Adrian, leaning in so only the Mafia boss could hear him.
"What is it, Thomas?" Adrian demanded, his posture instantly shifting from a cold fiancé to a wartime general.
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"The western shipment was intercepted," Thomas whispered, his eyes wide with fear. "It's a bloodbath at the docks. And Boss... they left a message. It’s the Romano family. They know about the merger. They've declared war."
Adrian’s jaw locked. He looked past Thomas, his eyes sweeping across the brilliantly lit, elegant room that was about to be plunged into a chaotic, bloody nightmare. The battle for his family's respect had just ended, but the war for their survival had only just begun.
