Chapter 3
The silence that swallowed the grand dining room was apocalyptic. The warm, luminous light of the crystal chandeliers seemed to freeze the scene in absolute stillness. The elite guests remained completely silent, paralyzed by the sheer terror radiating from the man standing by the fireplace.
Annelise’s polished, confident smile strained at the edges. The color drained rapidly from her fair, rosy cheeks, leaving her looking ghastly against the dark velvet of her gown. She realized instantly that the narrative was slipping violently out of her control. She maintained eye contact with Everett, refusing to back down.
"I’m the one you’re marrying," Annelise stated firmly.
She stressed the word “I’m,” her smile tightening into a brittle, defensive line. It was a desperate attempt to reassert her dominance, to remind the mafia boss of the political and social alliance their union represented.
Everett didn't blink. He didn't yell. The terrifying power of the mafia boss lay in his absolute, unyielding control. He didn't acknowledge Annelise's statement. Instead, he looked down at his son.
With slow, deliberate movements, Everett carefully transferred Owen into Bree’s waiting arms.
Bree gasped softly as the familiar, comforting weight of the baby settled against her chest. Owen immediately settled against her shoulder, burying his face into the curve of her neck with a soft, contented sigh. His tiny fingers relaxed their desperate grip on her cuff, resting peacefully against the pristine white fabric of her apron. The profound, undeniable bond between them was displayed for the entire syndicate to witness.
Everett stayed right beside Bree. He reached out, one heavy, protective hand resting lightly against his son’s small back, his artistic tattoos stark against the soft fabric of the baby's cardigan. The physical barrier he formed between the housemaid and his fiancée was an absolute declaration of war.
He slowly turned his head, his cold, observant eyes locking directly into Annelise’s frantic gaze.
"Would you punish him for loving her?" Everett asked.
His delivery was incredibly low and measured. The question wasn't a request for information; it was a lethal indictment of her character. He held her gaze, completely unblinking, his deeply masculine presence suffocating her.
Annelise’s gaze slipped downward. She looked at the peaceful child resting against the maid's shoulder, then slowly returned her eyes to Everett. Her smile had completely disappeared. Her perfectly painted lips parted, but no explanation came out. She stared back at him, utterly trapped by the truth she could not deny.
Every guest remained utterly silent. No one moved. No one dared to clear their throat. They sat frozen, watching the apex predator stare down the woman who had just signed her own death warrant.
"Are you incapable of answering?" Everett pressed, his voice dropping another octave.
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"Everett, darling, please," Annelise choked out, her voice cracking horribly. Her hands gripped the edges of her velvet gown. "She is the help! She is a maid! A child needs a proper mother, a woman of status! I was only trying to protect our future! She was confusing him!"
"Does love confuse a child?" Everett asked smoothly, tilting his head slightly. "Or does it only confuse a woman who has none to give?"
