Jade stormed into the penthouse like a thundercloud in heels.
The two bodyguards stationed at the entrance didn't even try to stop her, her eyes alone were warning enough. They simply exchanged glances that screamed *"Uh-oh."*
She kicked the door open with dramatic flair. Of course he was home. Of course he was waiting.
Daniel Ooman was seated calmly in the main lounge, a glass of whiskey in hand, legs crossed like some villain in a drama who already knew the ending.
Before he could say a single word, Jade launched into full attack mode.
"Okay, before you say anything, she started it. I didn't plan to turn a café into a wrestling ring, okay? But she called me a pig, A PIG, Daniel! Who says that?! She basically begged for a slap! And I was calm! I really was, until she .."
She paused, panting, hands on hips. Her mind screamed: *He's going to kill me. He's going to send me back to my mom. I'm going to be banned from rich people cafés forever.*
Silence.
Then came the last thing she expected:
A soft chuckle.
Then another.
Daniel was laughing.
She blinked. "Wait, are you laughing?!"
He set his glass down, still smiling. "Honestly… I thought you were starting to lose your spark. Becoming too elegant. Too... polished. I was worried I'd have to date a mannequin."
She gawked at him.
"Don't get me wrong," he added smoothly. "The dress, the manners, it's impressive. But that woman? She deserved it. You shouldn't have held back."
"…Wait. You're not mad?"
He tilted his head, golden-amber eyes gleaming. "Why would I be mad at my fiancée for reminding the upper class what fear feels like?"
Jade stood frozen.
Then scoffed. "You're insane."
Daniel smirked, picked up his glass again. "Takes one to marry one."
Jade was really surprised by his reaction, she thought he would have get mad but she could see that he doesn't really care about appearance.
*"Everyday he surprises me with his reaction"*
.
.
The next morning, Jade woke up to her phone vibrating like it was possessed.
37 messages. 12 missed calls.
She rubbed her eyes and opened the first one.
[Group Chat - Stylish Wives Club]
*Helena*: Jade what did you dooooo?
*Isabella*: Girl you're trending
*Celine*: They have a slo-mo video of you punching someone. It's cinematic.
She blinked. "No. No way.."
Then came the next horror.
*BREAKING NEWS: The Elegant Fiancée of Billionaire Daniel Ooman Throws Punches in Public!*
*"You can clean a pig, but it'll still be a pig" those were the last words of Mrs. Verdelin before receiving a five-star slap from Jade Lee.
"OH. MY. GOD," Jade gasped.
Her heart was racing as she opened social media her face was everywhere , Memes, slow motion edits, dramatic soundtracks.
One video had 2 million views with the caption:
"Don't mess with a former waitress turned heiress."
Jade ran out of her room, barefoot.
Daniel was on a call, pacing the balcony like a bored CEO. He glanced at her and said into the phone, "Yes. Yes, I've seen it. And no, I'm not pressing charges. Actually, send the clean version to PR. It's good press."
Jade stood there, stunned. "You're…not angry?"
He shrugged, completely unfazed. "Public loves a woman with fire. Besides, now they know you're not just some pretty doll on my arm."
"But it's a scandal!"
He stepped closer, placing a hand on her waist. "It's a headline. And soon, they'll realize my wife can slap and sip champagne. Classy violence."
She stared at him, speechless.
Then finally: "You're not normal."
"I never claimed to be," he replied, smirking.
The next minute, Jade's phone lit up again this time with a name that made her eyes widen in surprise.
Gabriel.
Her heart skipped a beat.
"Gabriel!" she gasped, grinning as she answered, completely forgetting her surroundings. "Finally!"
She was so caught up in the excitement that she didn't even notice Daniel watching her , brow slightly raised.
Without thinking, she said loudly, "It's Gabriel! He finally called!" before dashing out of the living room to take the call in private.
Daniel blinked once, leaned back on the couch, and murmured, "Gabriel again…"
Outside on the balcony, Jade put the phone to her ear. "Where have you been, idiot? I was starting to think you got abducted by aliens or fell in love with a cactus."
Gabriel chuckled on the other end, "Look at you. One little scandal and now you're a national icon. Punching people in cafés like some K-drama heroine."
Jade rolled her eyes. "Tsk. You saw that?"
"Everyone saw that. Even my neighbor's dog probably saw it. You went full action mode."
Jade laughed. "Well, she deserved it. Don't poke the pig if you can't handle the oink."
Gabriel laughed harder, but then she softened. "Still... I was mad at you."
Her voice dropped a little. "You didn't check on me. Not even once. You just disappeared."
There was a pause.
Then Gabriel replied, his tone more serious now. "I know. I wanted to… I tried. But I thought if I called, I'd say something stupid. Or worse… I'd come over and drag you out of that penthouse myself."
Jade's expression softened as her fingers gripped the balcony rail.
"Then say it now," she whispered. "Why didn't you come?"
Gabriel's voice was quiet. "Because… I didn't want to admit that someone else might be closer to you now than I am."
Jade didn't reply right away. She stared at the sky, not knowing what to feel.
Behind her, Daniel watched silently from the glass door expression unreadable.
Jade stood silently on the balcony, Gabriel's words lingering in the air.
He continued, his voice softer, more serious now.
"You know I've always looked out for you, right?"
She nodded, even though he couldn't see her.
"So yeah, maybe I was mad… not at you, but at myself. For not being able to protect you from all this. From… him."
Jade opened her mouth, but Gabriel didn't let her speak.
"Listen, I don't hate him. I don't even know him. But I know you. You hide your fears behind that sharp tongue. You smile when you're confused. And I just I didn't want to stand there watching you change for someone else, like the world expects."
Jade swallowed hard, her heart a mix of warmth and guilt.
"So… you disappeared instead?" she asked quietly.
Gabriel sighed.
"Maybe. I just needed to be sure you weren't walking into something blind."
There was silence again, the kind that only existed between people who knew each other deeply.
Then he added with a smirk in his voice:
"But hey, if that guy ever makes you cry real cry , I'm showing up with a baseball bat. Designer suit or not."
Jade laughed through her nose.
"Violence isn't always the answer."
"Yeah, well… it's a good backup."
She smiled and looked over her shoulder only to see Daniel, leaning against the glass door, arms crossed, expression unreadable.
She quickly ended the call.
"I'll call you later, Gaby."
As she turned to Daniel, he arched a brow.
"Big brother speech?"he asked, coolly.
"Something like that."
Daniel approached slowly, gaze locked on hers.
"So… who's protecting who now?"