đź“– Bound by Fate, Tied by Love
🌹 Chapter 5: Whispers of Power
The ballroom glittered with opulence, but beneath the sheen of diamonds and champagne lurked an undercurrent Isabella could almost taste. Every laugh seemed rehearsed, every smile edged with calculation.
She clung to Adrian's side, her fingers still wrapped around the cool stem of her champagne flute. His earlier words echoed in her mind—Stay close to me tonight. No matter what.
But why?
The tall man who had clapped Adrian on the shoulder earlier now turned his full attention on her, his gaze heavy with curiosity.
"So," he said smoothly, "you're the woman who finally managed to capture Adrian Cole."
Adrian's lips curved into a faint, controlled smile. "Some things are inevitable, Victor."
Victor. The name sank into Isabella's mind. His presence was commanding, the way others in the circle seemed to defer to him telling her enough—this was no ordinary guest.
Victor chuckled. "I never thought I'd live to see the day. Adrian Cole, a fiancé." He raised his glass toward her. "To you, Miss Reed. I admire your courage."
Courage. The word struck Isabella like a blade cloaked in velvet. She forced a polite smile, her knuckles whitening slightly around her glass. "I wouldn't call it courage," she said softly. "Sometimes… it's just the right choice."
Victor's sharp eyes flicked between her and Adrian, as though dissecting every nuance of her words.
"Wise," he murmured. "Very wise."
Before Isabella could exhale, another voice chimed in—light, musical, and dripping with mockery.
"Oh, Victor, don't flatter her too much. We wouldn't want to inflate a fragile ego."
Isabella's heart skipped as Chloe glided back into view, her red dress gleaming like fire under the chandeliers. She held a fresh glass of champagne, her painted lips curved in a smile that was anything but sweet.
"Chloe," Adrian said flatly, his tone clipped with warning.
Chloe ignored him, her gaze sliding to Isabella. "It's just so… charming. Our dear Adrian introducing someone new. I admit, I'm curious—what makes you so special, Isabella? Was it your smile? Your innocence?" She tilted her head, her voice lowering, intimate but poisonous. "Or is Adrian just looking for a new game?"
The group shifted uncomfortably, but none spoke. The tension was intoxicating, scandalous.
Isabella's pulse pounded, but she lifted her chin. "Maybe," she said calmly, "he wanted someone who doesn't play games."
Chloe's smile froze. For a second, her mask cracked, her eyes narrowing before she gave a sharp laugh. "How quaint. Let's see how long that innocence lasts."
Adrian's arm slid around Isabella's waist, pulling her close. His voice was low, controlled, but the steel beneath it was unmistakable. "Chloe. Enough."
The way he said her name made the group fall silent. Even Chloe, for all her bravado, hesitated. Then, with a smirk, she raised her glass toward Isabella. "Enjoy your night, darling. You'll need to."
She sauntered off, her perfume lingering like smoke after fire.
Isabella let out a shaky breath, trying to steady her trembling hand. Adrian's grip at her waist didn't ease.
"Are you all right?" he murmured, his tone unexpectedly gentle.
She looked up at him, searching his unreadable expression. "Who is she, Adrian?"
His gaze darkened. "She's the past. Nothing more."
"Then why does she still have so much power over you?" Isabella whispered, her words sharper than she intended.
Adrian's jaw clenched. He didn't answer. Instead, he guided her firmly toward another part of the ballroom.
The shift was immediate. Where the earlier circle had been full of curiosity, this new one radiated raw power. Men in tailored suits, their expressions carved with authority, women adorned in jewels that sparkled like captured stars. Conversations hushed as Adrian approached.
"Adrian Cole," one of them said, his voice measured. "I heard rumors, but I didn't believe them. A fiancée?" His eyes flicked to Isabella, assessing.
Adrian's lips curved faintly. "Rumors have a way of being true."
The man smiled thinly. "Congratulations. Though forgive me if I say… marriage doesn't seem like your kind of business move."
Business move. The words chilled Isabella. Was that all this was to them? To him?
But Adrian's hand tightened slightly at her waist, grounding her. "Some deals are worth more than money," he said smoothly.
Isabella's heart lurched. She didn't know if he meant it—or if it was just another carefully spun lie.
As the conversation flowed, Isabella remained silent, smiling when required, nodding politely. But inside, questions gnawed at her. Why had Adrian dragged her here? Why Chloe? Why the warning to stay close?
And then she felt it. A gaze.
She turned slightly, scanning the room. At the far edge of the ballroom, half-hidden in the shadows near the grand staircase, a man stood watching them. He was tall, dressed in black, his eyes fixed sharply on Adrian.
The moment Isabella noticed him, a chill ran down her spine.
"Adrian," she whispered, leaning subtly toward him. "Someone's watching us."
Adrian followed her gaze. The instant his eyes landed on the shadowed man, something shifted in his expression—controlled, yes, but beneath it, a flash of recognition. And anger.
Without looking away, Adrian murmured to her, "Stay with me. Do not let go of my hand."
Her pulse spiked. "Who is he?"
Adrian's lips barely moved, his voice low enough only she could hear. "A problem."
Before she could press further, the man in the shadows disappeared into the crowd.
Adrian straightened, his grip on Isabella unyielding. To the guests, he was still the composed billionaire, his smile easy, his words smooth. But to Isabella, who now felt the tension radiating off him, the truth was undeniable.
This night was more than a show. More than a charade.
Adrian Cole wasn't just battling whispers and rumors. He was battling enemies.
And by becoming his fiancée, Isabella had just stepped into their crossfire.