The world felt lighter after the storm. Selena and Nolan walked out of the office hand in hand, the tension between them softened by the truth and the passion that followed. For once, the shadows seemed to retreat, and she let herself believe they could build something real.
But Clara wasn't a woman who gave up.
Selena learned that the very next night.
---
They were at a charity gala, a glittering event filled with the city's elite. Nolan's hand rested at the small of her back as he introduced her to business partners and friends. For the first time, Selena felt accepted—not as Nolan's secret lover, but as his partner.
"You look breathtaking," Nolan whispered against her ear as they stood near the champagne fountain.
She blushed, her body warming under his gaze. "You've told me that at least five times tonight."
"And I'll tell you five hundred more." His lips brushed her temple.
For once, Selena allowed herself to relax. She sipped champagne, laughed at his teasing, and let the glittering lights reflect hope in her eyes.
Then Clara arrived.
---
The room shifted the moment she entered. Every head turned as her heels clicked across the marble floor, her crimson dress hugging every curve. She was radiant, predatory, her smile sharp as a blade.
Selena's stomach knotted. Nolan stiffened beside her, his jaw tightening.
Clara didn't approach them right away. She mingled, laughed, kissed cheeks, her eyes flicking toward them again and again, like a cat circling prey.
When she finally approached, the crowd seemed to hush, sensing drama brewing.
"Nolan," Clara purred, her red lips curving into a smile. "You didn't tell me you'd be here tonight. And with… company."
Selena forced a polite smile. "Good evening, Clara."
Clara's eyes swept over her, cold and calculating. "Selena. You do clean up well, I'll admit. Almost as if you belong here."
Nolan's hand tightened on Selena's waist. "She does belong here. With me."
Clara's smile didn't falter. "Of course. Though I wonder if she still feels that way once she knows everything."
Selena's heart skipped. "What are you talking about?"
Clara leaned closer, her perfume cloying. "Oh, darling, Nolan may have shown you some papers, but he didn't show you all of them. There's more. Always more."
Nolan snapped, his voice low and dangerous. "Enough, Clara."
But Clara only laughed, tossing her hair back. "Don't worry, I'll save the details for later. Wouldn't want to spoil the party, would we?"
With that, she walked away, her laughter trailing behind her like smoke.
---
Selena's chest tightened, doubts creeping back in despite herself. She glanced at Nolan. His face was a mask of fury, his jaw clenched, his eyes burning.
"Don't listen to her," he said quickly. "She's trying to poison you again."
"I know," Selena whispered, though her voice trembled. "I know… but Nolan, what if she's not lying?"
His hands gripped her shoulders, forcing her to meet his gaze. "She is. I swear to you, she is. I'll never let her win."
His lips crashed against hers before she could answer, right there in the middle of the gala. Gasps rippled through the crowd, but Nolan didn't care. His kiss was fierce, claiming, his tongue tangling with hers until she melted into him.
When he pulled back, breathless, he growled, "You're mine, Selena. And no one—not Clara, not anyone—will take you from me."
---
They didn't last long at the gala. Nolan dragged her out, his hand tight around hers, his eyes dark with possessive hunger.
The drive to his penthouse was silent, charged with tension.
The moment the door closed behind them, Nolan pressed her against it, his mouth devouring hers. His hands tore at her gown, silk slipping to the floor in a pool at her feet.
"Let me erase her from your thoughts," he whispered against her lips.
Selena gasped as he lifted her, carrying her to the bedroom. His mouth trailed fire across her collarbone, his hands kneading her breasts, his thumbs flicking over her nipples until she moaned.
"Nolan—"
"I need you," he growled, laying her on the bed and spreading her thighs. His tongue teased her clit, slow at first, then faster, harder, until her cries filled the room. She came undone beneath him, her body trembling, but he wasn't finished.
He entered her in one deep thrust, making her gasp, his pace relentless, desperate. Their bodies clashed, sweat slick on skin, moans and groans mixing with the sound of the headboard slamming against the wall.
"Say you're mine," he demanded, his voice hoarse.
"I'm yours!" she screamed, her climax tearing through her.
Nolan followed, his release shaking him as he collapsed against her, his arms holding her tight.
---
Later, as they lay tangled in sheets, Selena traced circles on his chest. "What if Clara really does have more?"
Nolan's arms tightened around her. "Then we face it together. No more secrets. No more running."
Selena closed her eyes, choosing—for now—to believe him.
But deep down, she knew Clara wasn't finished.
And the next move would be devastating.
Clara is back, and she's not pulling punches. This chapter balanced the tension of public humiliation with the raw intimacy Nolan and Selena share. Their passion is a weapon, but so is Clara's cunning.
NisotWrites
Clara makes her move, and this time, she's not hiding in shadows. A scandalous revelation is about to explode, threatening to destroy Selena and Nolan's fragile bond.