Her body trembled violently, the fire inside her rising beyond control. She clung to him, helpless, every thrust sending her closer to the edge than the last.

Before her breathing had steadied, he scooped her into his arms again, carrying her back to the bed like she weighed nothing. He laid her down gently, but the look in his eyes was anything but calm.

He settled between her thighs once more, spreading her open. His mouth found her clit again—slow, rough strokes of his tongue drawing new whimpers from her lips. She gasped, her fingers threading through his hair as her hips rose toward him, completely at his mercy.

“Dante,” she moaned, but he didn’t answer.

He worshipped her with his mouth, licking her like he’d never get another chance. And in his mind, he wouldn’t waste a second. Not after what they had been through. Not after she’d looked him in the eyes and let him back into her heart.

That night, he didn’t stop.

Again and again, he made love to her—sometimes gentle, sometimes rough. Every kiss was a thank you. Every touch a vow. Every thrust a desperate promise that he would never hurt her again.

He kissed her trembling shoulders. Her wrists. Her stomach. Her thighs.

And when she lay beneath him, spent and breathless, he brushed a strand of hair from her face and whispered hoarsely, “Thank you… for giving me another chance to be yours.”

All he wanted was her—and he showed it over and over until the first light of morning painted the room with gold.

***

The sound of commotion echoed through the marble halls of Kingsley Manor.

“You should’ve just finished the damn job when I told you to ruin that girl!” Janet’s shrill voice screamed, eyes blazing as she glared at the security guard standing silently before her.

Dante froze mid-step at the entrance of the house, his brows furrowing.

Janet stood in the center of the hall, arms flailing as she barked at a security guard.

“That arrogant bitch!” Janet was seething. “If you’d just ruined her that day and tossed her to the streets, she would’ve known who I am! Howdareshe hide the fact that she’s Carter’s daughter? And then not even showing up at the restaurant when I asked her so damn nicely!”

“What the hell did you just say?” Dante’s chilling voice echoed through the house.

Janet turned around sharply, her face draining of color when she saw Dante standing there. Her throat went dry, eyes darting in panic from Dante to the guard.

“It’s nothing,” she said quickly, laughing nervously. “Just nonsense. I was upset. You—leave now!” she snapped at the guard, trying to shove him away.

“Stay.” Dante pointed a finger, freezing the guard in place as he stormed inside the house.

“What are you talking about?” Dante demanded. His tone was razor sharp. “What did you do to Anya?”

“It’s nothing!” Janet blurted again, trying to smooth it over. “I was just angry—”

Dante raised his hand in her face and then turned to the guard. “You. TALK.”

The guard looked like he might wet himself on the spot under Dante’s icy stare. Trembling, he pulled out his phone from his pocket and handed it over with shaky hands.

“S-Sir… I-I didn’t want to do it… It was Mrs. Kingsley. She made me. I had no choice,” he stammered.

Dante snatched the phone, playing the video. The sound echoed through the vast hallway. Hearing the voices, Griffin alsoemerged from his room, his brow furrowed, and came to stand next to Dante to see the video.

It showed everything that Janet had done to Anya on the day that she humiliated her.

And by the end of that video, Dante was shaking with rage.

Janet, now realizing she was cornered, looked terrified. But then her expression hardened. Her fake innocence melted away, revealing bitterness and contempt.

“So what?!” she shouted. “She’s the one who barged into our house and tried to seduce you! That street rat! Did you really think I’d let her stay in this house?”