The air crackled. Ravenna's chilling declaration hung heavy, slicing through the festive atmosphere of the Winter Wonderland. Snow felt a familiar wave of nausea, the cold dread of her past rising to engulf her. The silver dress suddenly felt like a target, and the magical snowflakes seemed to mock her fragile moment of peace. Her hand instinctively tightened on Andreas's arm, seeking reassurance.
Andreas felt her tremor. His expression, which had been grim, transformed into something far more dangerous. His eyes, usually stormy, now blazed with a cold fury that promised absolute retribution. He took a step forward, subtly positioning himself further between Snow and Ravenna, his formidable presence radiating an undeniable warning.
"Ravenna," Andreas's voice cut through the stunned silence, low and resonant, carrying an undeniable authority that made even the most seasoned executives pause. "Your presence here is unwelcome. And your threats are empty." He didn't raise his voice, but the steel in his tone was sharper than any blade. "Snow White is no longer a child you can manipulate. And her company, EdenTech, is under the protection of Charm Global. Any attack on her or her ventures will be considered an attack on me, and on my entire organization."
His words were a clear, public declaration of war. A ripple went through the crowd, a collective gasp as the unspoken rivalry between Ravenna and the Charm empire was suddenly laid bare, with Snow at its heart.
Just as Ravenna opened her mouth, a sharp, sardonic laugh cut her off. Alex Charm stepped out from a nearby cluster of guests, his face a blend of amusement and a predatory gleam. He strolled casually towards the trio, a rogue element in the meticulously controlled environment.
"Well, well, well," Alex drawled, his eyes glinting as he surveyed the scene. "Mother dearest, always one for the dramatic entrance. And dear brother, still playing the chivalrous knight." He stopped beside Ravenna, his gaze sweeping over Snow with a possessive intensity that made her skin crawl.
"But Ravenna," Alex continued, his voice losing its mocking edge, taking on a surprisingly cold, authoritative tone, "you clearly haven't been keeping up with the family gossip. Snow White is not to be trifled with. Her past… it's messy, yes. But it's her mess. And she's our mess now, isn't she, brother?" He glanced at Andreas, a challenging glint in his eye, before turning back to Ravenna.
"You may have played your games in the past, Ravenna," Alex continued, stepping slightly closer to Snow, a calculated movement to put himself between her and Ravenna, mirroring Andreas's earlier move. "But my brother and I… we have very specific interests in protecting what is ours." He put a hand, casually, almost possessively, on Snow's lower back, just above Andreas's arm, sending a jolt of alarm through her. It was a subtle, unsettling claim, a direct challenge to Andreas's more overt protection.
Ravenna's eyes narrowed, a flicker of genuine surprise at Alex's unexpected defense of Snow, intertwined with his chilling proprietary tone. She had underestimated the brothers' dynamic, and their collective interest in Snow.
Andreas's jaw tightened at Alex's touch, his eyes flashing a silent warning to his half-brother. But he held his temper, understanding that Alex, for all his toxicity, was currently directing his venom at Ravenna.
"This is a private matter, Alex," Ravenna hissed, regaining her composure, but her voice was strained.
"Oh, but nothing is truly private in this family, is it?" Alex countered, a triumphant smirk returning. He glanced back at Andreas, a silent, knowing challenge passing between the brothers – a complex dance of rivalry and an unspoken, shared objective to repel an outside threat.
The ballroom was now buzzing with whispers, the corporate elite avidly taking in the unfolding drama. Two Charm brothers, notorious rivals, were openly defending Snow White against the formidable Queen Ravenna. The very air vibrated with raw power, old resentments, and a potent, complex protection that now surrounded Snow. She was no longer just standing in a Winter Wonderland; she was at the epicenter of a very public, very dangerous family war, with two powerful men, for very different reasons, standing fiercely by her side. The fear was still there, but now, mixed with a dizzying sense of being both exposed and utterly, powerfully defended.