Chapter 3
The silence in the opulent reception room stretched until it felt like a physical weight pressing against the guests' chests. Nobody dared to breathe. Harrison stood like a dark monolith beside Lena, his broad shoulders completely shielding her from the predatory stares of the room. The artistic tattoos on his hands stood out starkly against his dark suit as he adjusted his cuffs.
"You intercepted her," Harrison stated. It wasn't a question. It was an executioner's verdict delivered in a low, guttural murmur.
"I did what was necessary for this family," Celeste fired back, though her voice shook. She took a step toward him, her diamond earrings flashing. "My father and you built an alliance on our engagement, Harrison. You cannot throw that away over a momentary lapse in judgment with the help!"
"Do not speak to me about judgment," Harrison commanded, his voice slicing through the heavy air.
Suddenly, an older, heavily built man pushed his way through the frozen crowd. Arthur Wren, Celeste's father and a formidable underworld boss in his own right, stepped into the clearing by the tree. His face was purple with rage.
"Harrison, what is the meaning of this disrespect?" Arthur barked, placing a protective hand on his daughter's arm. "You are humiliating my daughter in front of the entire syndicate over a servant's lie."
"It is no lie, Arthur," Harrison said, his dark eyes locking onto the older man. "Your daughter threatened the mother of my unborn child. She lied to my face for five months. The disrespect started with her."
"She is a maid!" Arthur roared, gesturing wildly at Lena. "She is nothing! You will honor the blood pact we made, Harrison, or there will be severe consequences."
Harrison’s jaw clenched so hard a muscle feathered beneath his short stubble. He slowly reached down and placed his large, warm hand directly over Lena's trembling fingers where they rested on her bump. The deeply intimate, protective gesture sent shockwaves through the gathered mafia elite.
"The engagement is over," Harrison declared, his voice echoing off the gilded mirrors. "The alliance is dead."
Celeste gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. "Harrison, no! You're making a mistake!"
"My only mistake was letting you near my family," Harrison said coldly. He turned his attention to his heavily armed lieutenants stationed around the perimeter of the room. "Escort the Wren family off my property. Now."
"You will regret this, Vale," Arthur spat, his fists clenched as three massive guards in tailored suits stepped forward, their hands resting on concealed weapons. "I will burn this house to the ground."
"If you so much as look at my gates, Arthur, I will end your entire bloodline," Harrison promised softly.
Without another word, Arthur grabbed Celeste by the arm and dragged her toward the grand doors, the heiress sobbing in humiliation as her burgundy gown swept across the marble floor.
Harrison ignored the murmurs of the stunned guests. He turned his back on the room, entirely focused on Lena. She was pale, her clear eyes wide with a mixture of shock and sheer terror. Archie was hugging her leg, looking up at his father.
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"Come with me," Harrison ordered gently, his tone softening entirely as he addressed her. "Both of you."
He didn't wait for a response. He placed a protective hand against the small of her back, guiding her away from the towering Christmas tree, away from the staring eyes, and deep into the private sanctuary of his home.
