"That son of a—"
Tessa shot to her feet, fury blazing in her eyes. She was halfway to the dance floor before Lily grabbed her wrist.
"Maybe we should handle this in a more rational manner, Tess."
Tessa let out a frustrated grunt, yanked herself free, and stormed toward Benjamin. She grabbed the girl he was dancing with and pulled her out of his arms.
"Tessa, w–what are you doing—"
The slap echoed through the music.
Benjamin stumbled back, stunned.
"What the hell did I do to deserve this, huh, Benjamin?" Tessa demanded, her voice shaking with rage.
"Tess, it's not what it looks like!"
"Then what is it?" she shot back. "Tell me!"
The DJ cut the music. Conversations died. All eyes turned toward them.
The girl Benjamin had been with looked between them in confusion."Wait… who are you to him?"
Tessa didn't hesitate.
"His fiancée."
The word landed like a bomb.
Benjamin's face drained of color. The girl stepped back, horrified.
And then Tessa lost whatever restraint she had left.
She lunged at him, shoving him to the floor."You son of a bitch! I did everything for you!"
She started hitting him. Some people gasped. A few cheered. The girl he'd been dancing with began crying, covering her mouth in shock.
Lily rushed forward, trying to pull Tessa off him, but heartbreak fueled her strength. She kept breaking free, her fists landing over and over.
***
Michael pushed the door behind him shut and stopped dead in his tracks.
In the middle of his club, a woman was sitting on top of a man, beating him senseless.
"Tessa?" Michael muttered, glancing at the man beside him.
Jonathan had a smirk on his face."So I'm guessing that's Benjamin," he said smoothly. "And he was probably caught cheating."
Michael sighed."Let's go break this up."
***
"Tessa, come on! It's enough!" Lily pleaded, gripping her friend's arm.
But Tessa wasn't hearing anything.
Then a voice boomed across the club.
"Everybody stop!"
Michael stepped forward, authority radiating from him. The room fell silent instantly.
"Micheal, you own this place?" Lily asked, folding her arms.
"Yeah," he replied evenly. "And I'd appreciate it if this continues outside my club. Or I'll ban all of you."
"Come on, Tess. Let's go," Lily said softly.
Tessa stood, chest rising and falling rapidly. She looked down at Benjamin, who lay on the floor dazed and humiliated.
"I'll send your stuff to your house," she said coldly. "Don't ever come near me again."
She gave him one final kick before turning away, tears finally spilling down her cheeks.
"Rosalinda."
Lily froze.
Her breath caught in her throat.
No one knew that name. No one except her mother and—
Slowly, she turned.
He was standing just behind Michael.
Tall. Muscular. Calm.
The club lights flickered across his face, carving shadows along his jaw and cheekbones. His gaze was steady, intense — not curious, not confused. Certain.
Like he had known her long before this moment.
Like he had been waiting.
Their eyes locked.
The noise of the club faded into nothing. Her heartbeat pounded in her ears.
He didn't smile.
He didn't look away.
"Lily, let's go," Tessa whispered, her voice trembling.
The spell broke.
Lily forced herself to move, tearing her gaze from his. She followed Tessa toward the exit, but even as the cool night air hit her skin, she could still feel it —
His eyes on her back.