"If you don't mind your words, Violet," Raymond snarled, his voice low and shaking with rage, "you'll see a side of me you're not ready for. Don't make me angry."
His tone wasn't just threatening—it was dangerous. The way his eyes glared down at her, the way his chest rose and fell in tight, short breaths—Violet could feel it. He meant every word.
She stood there, frozen. Her legs felt numb, and her arms hung useless by her sides. The slap, the insults, the humiliation—none of it hurt as much as the truth. She had truly believed Raymond cared for her. That beneath the arrogance and the sharp tongue, there was someone who actually saw her, needed her, maybe even loved her.
But now… it was all clear. The anger in his voice wasn't disappointment. It wasn't betrayal. It was annoyance. She wasn't a person to him—just a pawn. A deal. A key to a company he wanted to swallow.
Her chest tightened. Her lips parted, but she couldn't say a word. Her voice was gone. Her pride shattered.
