I wanted to carve those eyes right out.
"Mrs. Morozov has real talent," Williams remarked, his gaze lingering on Noelle. "I've been navigating these circles for decades and missed that sly fox's cheating entirely. But you caught it in an instant."
My arm tightened around her instinctively, pulling her even closer to my side.
"You're too kind," Noelle replied evenly.
"You're a pro at spotting casino sleight of hand—not something you pick up casually. Looks like we'll need you at every one of these from here on out." Williams gave me a pointed glance.
I'd been reluctant to bring Noelle along, but the hosts had specifically invited her, and after the Lorenzo fallout, we had to mend the family's reputation. I knew my world meant she couldn't avoid these events, but fury still churned in my chest.
She was exceptional. No question. She despised the wheeling and dealing, the ostentatious jewels, but her composure never faltered in any setting. That's precisely why I wanted to stash her away, out of sight from anyone else.
I was on the verge of tearing into the idiot when Isabella beat me to it.
"Oh, you're so insightful! Noelle's incredible!" Her voice dripped with sweetness, her eyes wide with awe. "I was just sitting there, totally lost and panicking. But Noelle saw through it right away."
She cozied up to Noelle, linking their arms with a radiant smile. "You must've been around this stuff since you were little, huh? Unlike me—I was clueless, just sat there and looked pretty. If I had even half your brains, every guy here would be head over heels for me!"
The moment Isabella's words landed, my rage peaked. I had no idea if Noelle had been exposed to this world as a kid—and if she had, so what? But her sharpness was pulling in those repulsive stares.
I started resenting her for drawing attention. Hell, it even dredged up thoughts of her deadbeat gambler father—why the hell had she learned any of it? Did she enjoy those men's leering? Was she trying to manipulate them somehow?
The ideas collided in my mind, and I found myself questioning if she was calculating—even though, deep down, I knew she wasn't.
"Kholod?"
Sensing my prolonged silence, she called my name softly, her voice laced with hesitation and worry.
I avoided her gaze, turning to Isabella instead and softening my tone slightly. "It's late. Let's get you home."
"What?" Isabella paused, then shifted to a remorseful expression. "I'm sorry—did I mess up? I just meant Noelle's so talented... I blurt things out without thinking. If I overstepped—"
Her eyes welled up, tears glistening as if she might burst into sobs.
"It's not about you," I interrupted. "Let's go."
Noelle abruptly clutched my sleeve. "Kholod, I—"
"We'll discuss it at home," I snapped, shrugging her off, my voice like steel.
At that point, anger had devoured my rationality. Nothing was getting through.
I didn't let Dmitri drive on the way back; I took the wheel myself, racing toward the manor. Isabella rode shotgun, occasionally glancing back at Noelle with unspoken words hovering on her lips.
Through the rearview mirror, I glimpsed Noelle. She slumped against the seat, eyes shut, her dress's hem creased, the skin of her shoulders gleaming a pale white under the passing streetlights.
Those men's gazes... My grip on the steering wheel turned vise-like.
We reached Isabella's street quickly. I stopped at her door and motioned for her to exit.
"Thanks for dropping me off, Kholod." Before leaving, she turned to Noelle once more. "Goodnight, Noelle. I... I'm truly sorry."
Noelle opened her eyes and managed a weak smile. "Goodnight, Isabella."
The door clicked shut, leaving just the two of us in the confined space.
I revved the engine, accelerating even faster than before.
