Chapter 52: The storm within

Kael didn't move.

Didn't speak.

Didn't react the way everyone expected him to.

He simply stood there, watching, absorbing everything. The weight of the moment pressed down on the air around them, thick with tension, with unspoken words. He could still hear the sharp slap echoing in his ears, still see the fire blazing in Esme's eyes.

His bride.

His wife.

The woman who had just stood in front of an entire room and claimed him.

Possessively. Boldly. Without an ounce of hesitation.

It did something to him.

A slow, insidious burn spread through his veins, something raw and unfamiliar clawing at the edges of his control.

He should have been angry.

Should have reprimanded Esme for making a scene. Should have told her to act like the perfect, well-behaved wife she was supposed to be.

But he wasn't angry.

No.

What he felt was far, far more dangerous than that.

Kael's eyes flickered to Sophia, her expression a mix of disbelief and humiliation. The red imprint of Esme's hand was still stark against her skin, and for the first time, she looked… shaken. Not by the slap itself, but by something deeper.

Sophia had always believed she had some control over him. That she could get under his skin, bend him to her will with just the right words, the right touch.

But tonight, standing there with the entire room watching, she finally realized the truth.

She had lost her hold on him.

Esme had taken it. Without even knowing

And Kael?

He let her.

His gaze returned to Esme, scanning every inch of her. The way her chest rose and fell in shallow breaths. The way her lips were slightly parted, as if even she couldn't quite believe what she'd just done.

The way she had defended him.

No—claimed him.

Something primal twisted inside him, dark and intoxicating. He had spent so long trying to break Esme, to make her fall first. But now, standing before him with that fire in her eyes, he realized something.

She wasn't breaking.

She was fighting.

And God help him, he liked it.

He took a slow step forward.

Esme stiffened but didn't back down.

His gaze dropped to her lips.

Still trembling from anger.

Still parted from breathless exertion.

He could kiss her right now. Right here, in front of everyone. Make it clear who she belonged to.

He wanted to.

But no—Esme was already burning. And Kael wanted to see just how far she would go.

The silence stretched, heavy and suffocating. Then, finally, Kael turned to Sophia.

"You should leave."

His tone was unreadable, but there was no mistaking the finality in his voice.

Sophia flinched. "Kael—"

"Now."

Sophia looked between him and Esme, her face twisting with anger, with wounded pride. But she knew.

She had lost.

Without another word, she turned on her heel and stormed out, the click of her heels echoing through the hall.

Kael didn't watch her go.

His eyes were locked on Esme.

His wife.

The woman who had just challenged him in the most public way possible.

And now…

It was his turn.

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